Best Paris Parks for a Relaxing Finals Season
With the end of classes approaching and finals season just around the corner, we all need to find a relaxing place to take a break once in a while. And where better to relax in the Spring than in one of the amazing parks Paris has to offer? Here are five great parks for relaxing in Paris.
Jardin des Plantes
Image credit: Mia Baccei
Located in the 5eme arrondissement, this garden is not only lovely to walk through, but it also has some of the most amazing cherry blossoms in all of Paris! It has a small area for you to sit and picnic with friends, and it is also surrounded by museums, including the Museum de l'Evolution, the Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology, and even a labyrinth with an incredible view at the top.
“I like the Jardin des Plantes because it feels like you are out of the city for the time that you sit there." said Sara Crawford, a first-year student at AUP. "I like going there with my friends to read, hang out, and have picnics. The last time we went we explored the labyrinth which was a lot of fun."
Jardin du Luxembourg
Image credit: Mia Baccei
One of the most popular gardens in all of Paris, not only does it have grass to sit on and relax but also plenty of chairs surrounding a large fountain with views of the gorgeous palace. It can get quite crowded but is one of my favorite places to sit with a book early in the morning, and also a fantastic place to go on a run.
"I like Luxembourg because it is a really calming place to go on a sunny day. I also love people watching and this is the best place in Paris to do it," said Caitlin Lam, a freshman Art History major at AUP.
Invalides
Image credit: Sara Crawford
Although Invalides is in a busy section of Paris, it is extremely easy to relax on the grass and forget about the bustling city around you. Especially with its proximity to the campus, it is the perfect place to stop by in between classes to catch some sun.
“It's one of my favorite parks in Paris, I just love the open space and the view of Musee de L'armée," said Luken McGuire, a freshman economics major at AUP. "The big grass allows you to mess around and do stuff like handstands, spike ball, beer pong and so many other fun things. Its also super close to some of my favorite bakeries in Paris."
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Image credit: Emi Martinez
This is one of the lesser-known parks in Paris, located in the 19eme arrondissement. The main attraction is the large pond located in the park. Sitting around it when the sun is shining is very relaxing, and there are many benches you can sit on as well as a path to walk or run along.
“Buttes-Chaumont is a serene and beautiful space where people from all over Paris gather with their friends, family, and pets for a healthy dose of a natural environment within a busy city life,” said Emi Martinez, a freshman at AUP.
Parc Monceau
Image credit: Sukhi Borse
The last, but certainly not least, park on the list is one in the 8eme arrondissement. It is much quainter than the others, and it is filled with small ponds and bridges along with beautiful rotunda. On top of that, it has tons of fields to hand out on!
“Normally in spring when it's nice and warm, it's a perfect park for a day long picnic as it can be less populated than the Tuileries or Luxembourg, but it has more grass and softer spaces to lay out in the sun,” said Chandler Sumpter Gillyard, a junior at AUP.
