Spring in Paris: a user’s guide
Spring in Paris is a wonderful time ... The long days, the first sunbathing, the gardens in bloom, the café terraces, the festive aperitifs, the unknown smiles, the picnics on the quays of the Seine, the outdoor sports ... in spring, Paris has fun and we tell you how to enjoy it!
Get your trainers and picnic baskets! We take you on a tour of the most beautiful green spaces and places that will make you feel what spring is like in Paris. You will discover a fun, festive and authentic Paris!
1/ Relaxing, sunbathing, and idleness with your family or friends in the best parks and squares in Paris
2/ Apéro time or when Paris turns into a giant bar
3/ A selection of the best terraces to enjoy the first rays of sunshine
4/ A bit of sport in the middle of nature?
- Relaxing, sunbathing, and idleness with your family or friends in the best parks and squares in Paris
As soon as the sun shines, the Jardin du Luxembourg slowly but surely fills up with walkers, joggers, readers, tennis players, petanque players ... to become a monumental solarium. Around its Grand Bassin, Parisians like to have a quick lunch or read a good book.
This magnificent palace was built at the request of Marie de Médicis, Queen of France (wife of Henry IV), who, coming from Florence, wished to have her Italian-style palace in Paris. The statue of the Queen, as well as those of illustrious women from French history, adorn the perimeter of the Grand Bassin.
The Jardin des Tuileries, located in the heart of the historic axis of Paris and a true extension of the Louvre Museum with more than 100 statues or installations, is a garden that is particularly popular with families on sunny days. Since the end of the 19th century, children have loved to play with wooden boats on the large basin or to ride ponies. Lately, the Ferris wheel and the funfair have become a regular feature.
The Parc de la Villette, located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, is a huge green space built around the Canal de l'Ourcq. It is home to many cultural institutions, such as the Philharmonie de Paris, the Cité de la Musique, and the Cité des Sciences. Ideal for a relaxing, sporting and/or cultural day out!
- Apéro time or when Paris turns into a giant bar
In spring, Parisians like to enjoy the long, mild evenings. As soon as the first ones arrive, they gather in the parks but especially on the quays of the Seine and along the Saint-Martin and Ourcq canals, to drink a toast and enjoy an aperitif until late at night, in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.
The quays of the Seine are an institution of Parisian life. Parisians enjoy walking, picnicking and even dancing there. Part of the quays on the right bank has recently been developed for pedestrians and cyclists. On the left bank, near the Jardin des Plantes, you can come and dance, coached by a professional dancer. Salsa, samba, rock ... the choice is yours. You will undoubtedly meet many nice people!
The quays of the Seine on the Île Saint-Louis offer a magnificent view of the Île de la Cité, the Seine and many of the bridges in Paris. Sitting down with friends with a bottle of wine, some sausage and of course a good baguette, you will have a front row seat to watch this spectacle.
The Canal Saint-Martin and the Canal de l'Ourcq also offer many options. The Place de la Rotonde de la Villette, the many restaurants, the Parc de la Villette or the barge bars will allow you to fully enjoy the sweetness of a spring evening in Paris.
- A selection of the best terraces to enjoy the first rays of sunshine
If the parks and the quays of the Seine are popular with Parisians, the café terraces are no less so. To enjoy the first rays of spring sunshine on a terrace, you will be spoilt for choice. Here are some of our favourite addresses, in the heart of secret Paris!
The Place Dauphine, located at the western end of the Île de la Cité, is probably one of the most discreet and little-known royal squares. You will find charming little terraces, particularly sunny at lunchtime!
In the Latin Quarter, the Place de la Contre-escarpe is a student landmark. Around the fountain, you can move from one terrace to another to enjoy the sun all day long.
On the Butte Montmartre, from rooftop terraces to small pedestrian squares, the options are numerous. If the Place du Tertre (or place des artistes) is an obvious choice, the tortuous and burlesque landscape of Montmartre allows for some originality. Thus, you will discover terraces in dead ends or even in the stairways. For instance, in the lower part of rue du Mont Cenis or in rue Ravignan, not far from the famous Bateau-Lavoir.
- A bit of sport in the middle of nature?
Mild weather, blooming trees, sunshine ... it's the perfect time to get active again! Here are some of our favourite outings:
For running, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a real treasure. The hilly and wooded aspect of the largest intra-muros park of Paris allows joggers to vary their route around the lake and the caves. Early in the morning, you can also practice tai chi!
The Bois de Vincennes, located in the south-east of Paris, is a huge forest with numerous sports and cultural facilities. During your jogging or cycling trip, you can discover the 14th century castle or the Palais de la Porte Dorée. On the lake, you can hire a boat to enjoy the rural setting.
The Esplanade des Invalides, located in the axis of the Hôtel des Invalides and the Pont Alexandre III, is a rugby field for all lovers of the oval ball.
And the Champs de Mars, located between the Eiffel Tower and the Ecole Militaire, is certainly the most spectacular of the Parisian parks!
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