Parks and nature
Ride a pony by the lake
Île de loisirs de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines · Trappes (78)
Around the lake at Saint-Quentin, this 600-hectare estate brings together cycle paths, play areas, mini golf and treetop adventure courses.
Free days out with kids around Paris
Country parks, forests, farms, riversides and playgrounds: around Paris, many great outings are completely free. Here are 24 ideas picked from over 650 places on the Trottimap map.
Parks and nature
Play by the Étangs de Hollande
Base de loisirs des Étangs de Hollande · Les Bréviaires (78)
Deep in the Rambouillet forest, these ponds dug under Louis XIV to supply the fountains of Versailles are lined by a free sandy beach.
Parks and nature
Play in the former Rothschild park
Parc Edmond de Rothschild · Boulogne-Billancourt (92)
This 15-hectare park was laid out in the 19th century for the Rothschild family, whose château has since disappeared.
Parks and nature
Picnic between two arms of the Seine
Parc départemental de L'Île-Saint-Denis · L'Île-Saint-Denis (93)
This 25-hectare park runs the length of the island, between two arms of the Seine, with rolling lawns and banks where many birds nest.
Parks and nature
Walk round the Meudon ponds
Forêt de Meudon · Meudon (92)
The closest state forest to Paris, it covers more than 1,100 hectares of chestnut and oak trees.
Parks and nature
Play on the Île Saint-Germain
Parc de l'Île Saint-Germain · Issy-les-Moulineaux (92)
This departmental park of more than twenty hectares occupies an island in the Seine.
Castles and heritage
Climb to the ruins of Montfort castle
Montfort-l'Amaury · Montfort-l'Amaury (78)
This medieval village on the edge of the Rambouillet forest is best explored on foot, along cobbled lanes that climb towards the castle ruins and the tower of Anne of Brittany.
Castles and heritage
Stroll through the painters' village
Barbizon · Barbizon (77)
Barbizon's Grande Rue lines up galleries, stone houses and studios that recall Millet, Rousseau and the painters who came to work in the forest in the 19th century.
Castles and heritage
Explore the gardens at Villarceaux
Domaine de Villarceaux · Chaussy (95)
Owned by the Region, this Vexin estate brings together an old manor house, an 18th-century château, terraced gardens and spring-fed ponds.
Parks and nature
Cross the footbridge in the Parc des Impressionnistes
Parc des Impressionnistes · Rueil-Malmaison (92)
Facing the Île des Impressionnistes, this small one-hectare park recalls Giverny with its pond, wooden footbridge, gazebo, rose garden and white garden.
Castles and heritage
Visit the great pagoda of Évry
Pagode Khánh-Anh · Évry-Courcouronnes (91)
On the edge of the Parc aux Lièvres, the Khánh-Anh pagoda, funded by donations from Vietnamese worshippers, stacks up its glazed tile roofs.
Parks and nature
Scramble over the Fontainebleau rocks
Forêt de Fontainebleau · Fontainebleau (77)
The forest covers more than 22,000 hectares of oak, pine, sandy heath and jumbled sandstone boulders.
Parks and nature
Picnic facing the Grande Cascade
Domaine national de Saint-Cloud · Saint-Cloud (92)
This 460-hectare park combines formal French gardens, woodland and wide lawns with views of Paris in the distance.
Castles and heritage
Discover the Tinh Tâm pagoda
Pagode Tinh Tâm · Sèvres (92)
Hidden behind apartment blocks in Sèvres, this Vietnamese pagoda opened in 1990 surprises visitors with its 14-metre stupa and glazed tile roofs from China.
Parks and nature
Cool off in the Tremblay water play area
Parc du Tremblay · Champigny-sur-Marne (94)
Spread across 73 hectares in Champigny, this sports park combines big lawns, a play area and water games for the youngest.
Also worth a visit
- Visit the Ferme des ChanterainesFerme des Chanteraines · Villeneuve-la-Garenne · All ages · Animals and farms
- Build sandcastles in the forestSables du Cul de Chien · Noisy-sur-École · All ages · Parks and nature
- See the goats at the Jardin du PiqueurJardin du Piqueur · Garches · All ages · Animals and farms
- Wander among the Buddhas of LugnyWat Thammapathip · Moissy-Cramayel · All ages · Castles and heritage
- Look out for herons at the Saclay pondsÉtangs de Saclay · Saclay · From age 3 · Parks and nature
- Walk to the Ferme d'OrsignyFerme d'Orsigny · Saclay · From age 4 · Parks and nature
- Cross the park on a little trainParc départemental des Chanteraines · Villeneuve-la-Garenne · All ages · Parks and nature
- Follow the murals along the Canal Saint-DenisStreet Art Avenue · Saint-Denis · From age 6 · Museums and science
- Watch the birds at the Étang de VillebonÉtang de Villebon · Meudon · All ages · Parks and nature
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