Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg)

No sightseeing tour of the Latin Quarter and the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood would be complete without a stroll through the manicured Luxembourg Gardens, a perfect spot for walking tour or biking tour. In addition to admiring the sculptures and monuments—including the Marie de Médicis fountain and the Pavillon Davioud—visitors can explore the Luxembourg Palace (Palais de Luxembourg), tour the Luxembourg Museum (Musée de Luxembourg), and stroll around the Orangerie, a 19th-century building that still houses citrus trees. Feeling romantic? Take advantage of the scenery and renew your wedding vows here—it’s become a popular trend in recent years.

• There is no admission fee to enter the park, but opening hours vary throughout the year.

• The park is fully wheelchair accessible, and accessible restrooms are located at the Auguste-Comte entrance.

• Free Wi-Fi is available in the park.

The Luxembourg Gardens straddle Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter in Paris’ 6th Arrondissement on the Left Bank of the Seine River. Bordered by Rue de Vaugirard to the north, Rue Auguste Comte to the south, and Rue Guynemer and Boulevard Saint-Michel to the west and east, the park is reachable on foot from the Latin Quarter and nearby attractions such as the Panthéon (a 10-minute walk). The closest metro station is the Odeon (Line 6) and the nearest RER station is Luxembourg (Line C).

The park is open year-round; each season has its charms. You’ll find open-air entertainment and festivals in summer, flowers in spring, foliage in autumn, and Christmas decorations around the holidays. The park gets busy on sunny afternoons, so if you’re hoping to take photos with crowd-free backgrounds, aim for an early-morning visit.

The park has a number of family-friendly activities. Take the kids to visit the beehives, try their hand at a pony ride, steer a rented model sailboat around the Grand Bassin lake, or play tennis. There’s also a playground, plus puppet shows, at the pint-sized Théâtre du Luxembourg.

The main attractions to see in the Luxembourg Gardens include Luxembourg Palace, the regal-looking building where the French senate meets, the Little Statue of Liberty on the park’s western side, and the Medici Fountain, which is popular for photos and those seeking a shady spot.

Yes, many guided tours pass through the Luxembourg Gardens—it’s a popular stop on tours of the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. Some Luxembourg Gardens walking tours spend around two hours there, scouting out photo points and revealing the history of French nobility.

Most of the grassy lawns are off-limits, but there are quiet nooks and little chairs where you can sit and eat discreetly. If you want to lay down a picnic blanket on the grass, observatory lawns are sometimes opened up to accommodate picnickers. Follow the locals to get it right.

Yes, in summer there are often events and activities in the Luxembourg Gardens. Puppet shows take place at the Théâtre des Marionnettes du Jardins du Luxembourg, you can rent model sailboats to sail on the pond, and concerts take place in the bandstand. There are also photo and art exhibitions in the gardens’ Orangery.

Nearby attractions to visit after exploring the Luxembourg Gardens include the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. In the Latin Quarter, you’ll find the Paris Panthéon and the Saint-Étienne-du-Mont Church. In Saint-Germain-des-Prés, there’s the Musée Delacroix, a lesser-known art museum dedicated to the French Romantic artist of the same name.

In the peak summer months between June and August, the Luxembourg Gardens are busy—especially on sunny days. Aim to arrive in the morning if you want crowd-free photos, the chance to roam with fewer other people around, and to bag a prime picnic spot.