Rick Steves Says 'Nothing Beats' This Cute Garden In The Heart Of Paris For A Sightseeing Break

If there's one thing you can spend hours upon hours doing in Paris, it's sightseeing. While this is what most travelers come to the city to do, it can be exhausting spending all day walking endlessly from sight to sight. So, why not kick up your feet and take a load off? While there are many different places to choose from, travel expert Rick Steves suggests one quaint garden at the heart of the City of Love. According to Steves, his favorite spot in Paris for a full-fledged urban break is Luxembourg Garden (known as Jardin du Luxembourg) — which he describes as a "color-filled Impressionist painting brought to life". While you can rest here, there is also no shortage of sights to see — as the entire garden is like one large museum. With 106 statues spread throughout the park, a large pond, greenhouses, a rose garden, and an array of fountains, it is easy to see how one might simply decide to spend an entire day here. 

Luxembourg Gardens have their own interesting historical background. Queen Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV, missed the Italian gardens of Florence and thus decided to commission the Jardin du Luxembourg in 1612. The garden has seen many changes over its 400 years, with landscape designs now including influence from French and English styles as well. Set between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter and spanning about 25 hectares, this beautiful oasis in the center of Paris is the perfect place to perch yourself upon one of its many famous green chairs, smell the flowers, and watch Parisians and tourists alike enjoy a beautiful sunny day.

Aside from simply taking in the sights at this gorgeous park, there are also ample activities for adults and children alike to enjoy. The park offers activities such as a puppet theatre (with shows Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 2 p.m. and every day from 4 p.m. during school holidays), pony rides, a park (with swings and slides open to children aged 7 to 12), a carousel, tennis courts, chess, and perhaps the most iconic activity in the area — model yachts you can sail in the large pond (and adults are welcome to join in on the fun here as well). 

For those looking to enjoy even more activities, the park hosts cultural events, concerts in the bandstand, and free photography exhibitions at The Grilles of the Garden. The park is home to thousands of trees, numerous flower beds, an orchard containing differing varieties of pear and apple trees, and a honey bee apiary. Not only that, but the park also houses the Luxembourg Palace, as well as the Musèe de Luxembourg, which was the first public art museum in Paris. Now, visitors can access the museum and see differing art pieces with themes surrounding modernity in the 20th century, photography, female artists, and more through its rotating exhibitions. Most who visit Luxembourg Gardens will probably want to meander their way towards the Fontaine Médicis (or Medici Fountain), dating back to the 17th century. This Italian-style grotto is a fabulous place to enjoy not only some shade, but also some stunning architectural design as well. Nearby to the Medici Fountain, visitors will see the Reines de France et Femmes Illustres — 20 beautiful marble statues featuring important women in French history. 

Access to the gardens is free, but its hours change depending on sunrise and sunset. Before your visit, check the schedule on the website to make sure it's open when you plan to go. If you're planning on picnicking in the Paris gardens, be aware that most of the grass is off-limits due to preservation purposes — however, just past le Grand Bassin (the main pond) is an area where Parisians and locals alike come to enjoy an afternoon snack on the grass. If you don't feel like fighting for a spot, you can post up at one of the green chairs dotted throughout the park. If you decide bringing a picnic is too annoying, visitors can dine at either La Table du Luxembourg or La Terrasse de Madame — both restaurants are located inside the gardens. For those seeking something less expensive, kiosks serving drinks and snacks can be found scattered throughout the park. The nearest metro stations to access the park are Odéon, Mabillon, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and the closest RER stop is Luxembourg-Sénat.

If you're looking to continue your sightseeing from the park, the lively Latin Quarter is about a 10-minute walk from the park. Pay a visit to the iconic bookstore Shakespeare and Company or listen to jazz at a cellar bar, Le Caveau de la Huchette. Explore the Panthéon, a stunning neoclassical building just a seven-minute walk from the gardens, or another architectural beauty — Saint-Sulpice Church, a five-minute walk away. About 15 minutes by foot from the park is Rue Mouffetard, the oldest street in Paris, where visitors can find plenty of food stalls, cafés, bakeries, and boutiques. The next time you are in Paris and are looking for something free and relaxing, follow the advice from Rick Steves and enjoy some time wandering, picnicking, or simply soaking up the sun in Luxembourg Gardens.