Palais-Royal Gardens

All Ages / All Types / Artists / Casual / Courtyard / Free / Outdoor Activity / Park / Restaurants / Sightseeing / Snack Food / Sunbathers / Tourists
Palais-Royal Gardens After a day of shopping on Rue de Rivoli or a cultural dip into the Louvre, nothing beats a refreshing reprieve in the serene and slightly surreal gardens behind the Palais-Royal, the former childhood home of Louis XIV. Paris France 48.865236 2.3372016
4.4 8
Palais-Royal Gardens - Outdoor Activity | Park in Paris.
Collapse map / See photo gallery
4 User Reviews
+
Add to list
Ratings:
Lucas
Adriana
Jonah
Emma

Party Earth Review After a day of shopping on Rue de Rivoli or a cultural dip into the Louvre, nothing beats a refreshing reprieve in the serene and slightly surreal gardens behind the Palais-Royal, the former childhood home of Louis XIV... ... read full review

  • Metro:

    Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre

  • Hours:

    Sunrise to sunset

  • Recommended as:

    • Day Spot

Party Earth Palais-Royal Gardens Review

The Scene

After a day of shopping on Rue de Rivoli or a cultural dip into the Louvre, nothing beats a refreshing reprieve in the serene and slightly surreal gardens behind the Palais-Royal, the former childhood home of Louis XIV.

Les Halles / Rivoli - 1er / 2eme, Paris –

After a day of shopping on Rue de Rivoli or a cultural dip into the Louvre, nothing beats a refreshing reprieve in the serene and slightly surreal gardens behind the Palais-Royal, the former childhood home of Louis XIV.

The crème de la crème of French society used to hang here in Louis’ time, and while the palace itself is not open to the public, the gardens are open to all.

Accessed via the Place Colette – a square named for the famous French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette – visitors find themselves in the midst of a fantastical art installation created by French artist Daniel Buren. His striped columns of various heights dot the courtyard and offer an irresistible temptation for tourists in search of the perfect photo op.

The exquisite gardens beyond the courtyard feature a bucolic fountain, modern art exhibits scattered about on the lawns, flower-bordered rectangles of grass, and manicured pathways perfect for leisurely walks.

Properly refreshed, visitors can venture back into the bustle of Paris, or just spend hours behind the Palais-Royal Gardens nursing a book and dreaming of royalty.

read less
read more

Tip from Emma:

Take the time to fully appreciate the art and architecture in this park – it’s like a free museum! The best time to go is late afternoon, just before the end of the work day when there is almost no one there and visitors practically have the place to themselves.

  • Crowd

    People of all ages and types. A younger crowd tends to gather by the fountain, while families congregate on the small grassy areas.

  • Entertainment / Music

    Relaxation.

  • Food / Miscellaneous

    Many cafés are located around the perimeter of the garden and on Place Colette.

  • Prices

    Café prices vary by venue.

  • What to Wear / Dress Code

    Casual.

  • Hot Nights / When to Go

    This popular park is full seven days a week.

  • Close By

    Rue de Rivoli, Louvre Museum, and Rue Saint-Honoré.

Tags:
All AgesAll TypesArtistsCasualCourtyardFreeRestaurantsSightseeingSnack FoodSunbathersTourists

Palais-Royal Gardens User Reviews

Average rating:
So much cooler than your average garden
Christina W.
Christina W. Dec 13, 2012
It hardly seems fair to call the Jardin du Palais-Royal a garden. The place is so much more than that! It’s like a garden and a park and a sculpture garden and everything all rolled into one. In the summertime there are flowers blooming, and the grand fountain is great spot for sunning yourself and doing some people-watching. The Louvre in the backdrop is truly impressive and almost regal looking, and the sculptures scattered throughout the gardens make it feel like an artists’ paradise. Make sure you’re not visiting the gardens as a “tourist,” however. Unless you can completely relax and forget the time and your agenda for a while, you won’t be able to truly soak this beautiful place in.
lovely gardens
Tara R.
Tara R. Dec 11, 2012
Jardin de Luxembourg’s more touristy twin, the Jardin du Palais-Royal offers all of the former’s activities with a more central location and more diverse population. The backdrop of the Louvre is impressive and stately, and the gardens are of course lovely. There are plenty of plants and sculptures, winding paths beneath expertly trimmed trees and a boat pond where the children that didn’t get their racing on in Luxembourg manage to do so here. I saw two engaged in a particularly epic combination boat race/ lightsaber battle that ended with both in tears. Come here to amble through the grounds on your way to another destination; it’s not really one of the places to spend all afternoon reading a book.
A perfect place to relax
Rachel S.
Rachel S. Dec 1, 2012
If you aren't concerned with seeing all of the tourist sites in Paris, do your best to stop by this charming park. Bring a book, walk around, or observe the lives of Parisian children playing by the fountain. I don't remember it to ever be too congested, so the setting can be very peaceful. The garden entrance may be a little hard to find, but you'll forget about that once you make your way inside the gates. And, as is customary of the culture, you will always have food somewhere close by thanks to the cafes located around the park.
One of the Best Parks Ever
Sara G.
Sara G. Aug 29, 2012
I adore this park - both in the winter and summer. In the summer, expect Parisians and tourists alike to sit and enjoy the fountains in the small pool. I loved watching Parisian children putting their toy sailboats in the pool. There are tables and chairs out for everyone, and some cafes throughout the park. Similar to elegant cafes in any nice park, they are a bit expensive, but convenient. Many couples sit on benches throughout the park and enjoy each other's company, or simply read and enjoy the day. I could spend all day in this park in the summer. In the winter, the pool is still there but half frozen at times. Less tourists, but some determined Parisians still sit - on more mild days expect to see older men conversing over cigars. Grab some vin chaud - sold on the streets of Paris around the holidays - bring it back to the park, and feel like a Parisian.
Load more comments

Book Now and Save at Hotels.com
Are we missing a venue or event?
Find your scene