Bois de Vincennes: Access, Opening Hours, Free Entry and What to See

The Bois de Vincennes is a 995-hectare park with free, open access, open every day; metro line 1 (Château de Vincennes) or line 8 (Porte Dorée). It is the largest green space in Paris, far ahead of the Tuileries or the Luxembourg. In the east of the capital, it combines lakes, wooded paths, a zoo, a flower park and, on its edge, the imposing Château de Vincennes (the zoo, the flower park and the château charge admission). You can stroll for hours without ever going in circles, on foot, by bike or by rowing boat on one of its lakes.

Highlights

Lac Daumesnil

The largest body of water in the woods is lined by two islands connected by bridges, including Île de Reuilly with its Buddhist temple. You can rent a rowboat or simply walk along its shaded banks.

Paris Zoological Park

Reopened in 2014 after renovation, the Vincennes zoo is dominated by its artificial Grand Rocher, a 65-meter rock formation visible from far away. It houses close to 1,000 animals grouped by geographic zone.

Château de Vincennes

At the northern edge of the woods stands the tallest medieval fortress still standing in Europe, with its 14th-century keep. It's a destination in its own right, reachable directly from the metro station of the same name.

Our guides that feature it

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Cycling in Paris: the Practical Guide

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Zoo de Vincennes: the Family Guide

Officially called the Parc Zoologique de Paris but known to everyone as the Zoo de Vincennes, this zoo reop...

Season & events · 2 min read

The Foire du Trône in Paris: France's biggest funfair

Set up every year from April to late May on the Pelouse de Reuilly, on the edge of the Bois de Vincennes, t...

Nearby

See on the map →

We Love Green: dates, line-up and getting to the Bois de Vincennes festival We Love Green is a music and ecology festival held in early June in the Bois de... 5 min walk

Parc floral de Paris: 2026 prices, opening hours, gardens and access The Parc floral de Paris is a large botanical garden in the Bois de Vincennes, in the... 17 min walk

Parc zoologique de Paris (Vincennes Zoo): hours, prices and access The Parc zoologique de Paris, better known as the Vincennes Zoo, is run by the Muséum... 18 min walk

Château de Vincennes: keep, tickets, opening hours and metro access The Château de Vincennes can be visited every day from 10am to 5pm (6pm from 21 May to... 21 min walk