The 16th is where Paris sprawls, draws a deep breath and comes to rest. This regal corner of the city is characterised by leafy boulevards, landscaped parks and gardens that seem to exist in a different era. Whether you’re taking a walk along the wooded paths here, stopping by a fountain, passing through ornate greenhouses or gardens, the 16th does offer quite a few places to get away from the hum of the city. It’s Paris at its most spacious, refined, and unexpectedly peaceful.
Why Choose the 16th for Green Space Lovers
If central Paris might seem hectic, the 16th does a stellar job of balancing it all out with room to breathe. In Paris, parks are not just patches of grass, they are cultural institutions, historical retreats and playgrounds. There are expansive forests in the Bois de Boulogne, dainty rose gardens at the Parc de Bagatelle and grand fountains in the Jardins du Trocadéro. Each green space also has its own rhythm, if you are seeking a morning jog, an afternoon picnic or a quiet time among sculptures. And this arrondissement shows that greenery and grandeur can sit side by side in the heart of the city.
Essential Parks & Gardens Every Visitor Should Experience
Bois de Boulogne: Paris’s Ultimate Green Playground
Size: 2,000+ acres
Access: Multiple metro stations
Perfect for: Families, outdoor enthusiasts
Metro: Porte Maillot (Line 1), Les Sablons (Line 1), Porte Dauphine (Line 2)
The Bois de Boulogne, which covers more than 2,000 acres, is Paris’s great green playground. It’s so huge that once inside the city, it almost disappears, giving way to lakes, forests and meadows that can be wandered for hours. Locals use it for jogging, cycling, or taking the kids out for a weekend expedition, and visitors come for a combination of pure nature and hidden gems.
Among the park’s highlights are the two lakes, including the dreamy Parc de Bagatelle, an 18th-century garden that is home to world-class roses and wandering peacocks. Just next door, the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil features glorious 19th-century greenhouses with exotic plants from every corner of the planet. Together, they represent the bedrock of the Bois de Boulogne’s history, horticulture and leisure.
Boat rentals are available on Lac Inférieur, and cycling trails, some through shady areas, beckon on the grounds, but you might just want to pack a picnic and lay claim to a patch of grass, instead. Families can enjoy playgrounds and pony rides, while culture enthusiasts can venture to the Fondation Louis Vuitton at the park’s edge. The Bois de Boulogne isn’t just a park; it’s a little world of its own, and it has something for every mood.
Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil: 19th-Century Greenhouse Paradise
Location: Southern edge of Bois de Boulogne
Specialty: Exotic plants & historic greenhouses
Perfect for: Garden enthusiasts, rainy day activities, photography
Nestled along the southern edge of the Bois de Boulogne, the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil is a step back into the 19th century. Its eye-popping greenhouses, with their graceful iron-and-glass curves, are works of art in their own right. Inside, the air is filled with the intoxicating perfume of exotic plants, from rare orchids to towering palms, a veritable paradise for anyone who has a hankering for botany.
Exploring the gardens around the greenhouses is similarly rewarding, complete with lovingly planted beds and quiet nooks in which to pause. Compared to some of the busier gardens in central Paris, this one has a calm, almost scholarly air, ideal for musing or sketching. It’s the kind of place where time seems to stand still, where you understand how intrinsically Paris appreciates beauty in all things, even its greenery.
Parc de Bagatelle: Fairytale Rose Garden Sanctuary
Location: Within Bois de Boulogne
Famous for: 10,000+ rose varieties
Best time: Early summer for peak blooms
Perfect for: Romantic strolls, photograph
If Paris had a hidden fairytale garden, this would be it. Set in the Bois de Boulogne, this romantic spot revolves around a small 18th-century chateau with a long history that includes being built within 64 days, following a bet between Marie-Antoinette and her brother-in-law. The grounds that surround it are even more captivating: winding paths, strutting peacocks and seasonal blooms make the park look different on every visit.
Its rose garden is world famous, with more than 10,000 different varieties bursting into vibrant life in early summer. It also holds classical music concerts and contributes to Yoyogi Park’s eternal grace and beauty. It is smaller and more intimate than the Bois de Boulogne itself, if you want to linger for a more extended visit. Whether taking in the architecture, bird-watching or just lounging by a fountain, there’s something about Parc de Bagatelle that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon one of Paris’s hidden gems.
Jardins du Trocadéro: Iconic Eiffel Tower Views with Gardens
Location: Facing Eiffel Tower
Famous for: Most photographed Paris panorama
Access: 24 hours
Metro: Trocadéro (Lines 6, 9)
Facing the Eiffel Tower, the Jardins du Trocadéro offer one of the most famous panoramas of Paris. With broad terraces, vast fountains and statues hidden among the greenery, these formal gardens are an idyllic setting to take a stroll or the ever-important photo opportunity in front of the Iron Lady. On a bright day, the fountains sparkle in front of the tower, while in the evening, the entire space glows with a calm mood.
Visitors and locals gather here to rest on the steps, take in the water displays, and admire seasonal flowerbeds that line walkways. It’s not so much about immersing yourself in nature and more about lounging in the city at its most theatrical.
Making the Most of Your Green Paris Experience
What’s lovely about the 16th is how readily its greens connect. You could begin at the Jardins du Trocadéro for Eiffel Tower scenes before rambling west to the Bois de Boulogne, stopping in either at Parc de Bagatelle or at the Serres d’Auteuil. Cycling makes it even easier, with generous paths connecting the parks. Break at a neighbourhood café or bakery, or infuse some culture into the day with a stop at the Fondation Louis Vuitton.
For vacation rental and holiday apartment guests seeking the perfect balance of urban sophistication and natural beauty, the 16th arrondissement delivers elegance and fresh air hand in hand.
