Field guide
Running in Paris: Routes in the city’s parks
Plan your run in Paris with details on routes in Bois de Boulogne, Bois de Vincennes, Jardin du Luxembourg, and Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
Paris offers large forested parks on its edges for long-distance running. The Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes contain loops over 12 km, hiking trails, and paved tracks suitable for extended efforts.
For shorter runs or routes with varied terrain, the city has several central gardens. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is known for its rugged landscape, while Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Tuileries provide routes in a formal garden setting.
| Place | Distance (official) | Hours | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bois de Boulogne | 6 km | 24/24 h (24 hours a day) | Paved tracks |
| Bois de Vincennes | 13.692 km | Not listed | Not listed |
| Jardin du Luxembourg | Not listed | Changes with the seasons on the 1st and 16th of each month. | Not listed |
| Parc des Buttes-Chaumont | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Jardin des Tuileries | Not listed | 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Not listed |
Bois de Boulogne
This large park has a 12km outer loop on paved tracks. A dedicated sports course has an elevation gain of 47m. For trail runners, the GR1 trail passes through the park for 6 km, and there are more than a dozen km of shorter hiking trails. An additional 17 km of roads are closed to cars, offering more space.
The park is open 24 hours a day. Potable water points are available for hydration. There are no restrooms listed. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash.
- Type of place
- One of Paris's 'lungs'
- Location
- Paris 16e
- Outer loop length
- 12km
- GR1 trail length through park
- 6 km
- Short hiking trails length
- More than a dozen km
- Sports course elevation gain
- 47m
- Running path surface
- Paved tracks
- Park hours
- 24/24 h (24 hours a day)
Sources: Le grand tour du Bois de Boulogne (paris.fr), Bois de Boulogne (paris.fr). Official pages, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Bois de Vincennes
As the largest green space in Paris, this park contains a 13.692 km running loop with 58 m of elevation gain. The paths also feature sports equipment, including wall bars, beams, and pull-up bars. Access is available via metro line 8 or tram T3a at Porte Dorée.
A safety warning is in effect regarding damaged trees from a recent storm, and visitors should be vigilant. Restrooms and drinking water points are available. Dogs are allowed in the alleys if they are on a leash.
- Place name
- Bois de Vincennes
- Description
- the largest green space in Paris
- Area
- 995 hectares
- Location
- Porte Dorée, Paris 12e
- Running loop length
- 13.692 km
- Running loop elevation gain
- 58 m
- Metro access
- Line 8, Porte Dorée
- Tram access
- T3a Porte Dorée
Sources: Bois de Vincennes (paris.fr), La boucle du Bois de Vincennes (paris.fr). Official pages, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Jardin du Luxembourg
This central garden offers themed trails for running. Certain activities are prohibited, including walking on the lawns, cycling, and using scooters, so runners share the paths only with pedestrians. Entry is free.
Opening hours change twice a month with the seasons, so it is important to check the schedule before a visit. Free public toilets are available. Dog access is limited to a specific designated zone, and parking for bicycles and scooters is provided around the park.
- Opening hours schedule
- Changes with the seasons on the 1st and 16th of each month.
- Entry fee
- Free
- Bicycle and scooter parking
- Numerous spaces provided around the park for parking bicycles and scooters.
- Public transport access
- Metro: Odéon station (lines 4 and 10), Mabillon station (line 10) and Saint-Germain-des-Prés station (line 4). RER line B: Luxembourg-Sénat station. Bus: 21, 27, 38, 58, 82, 83, 84, 85, 89.
- Restrooms
- Free public toilets available in chalets.
- Dog rules
- A designated "dog zone" between the Gay-Lussac and Observatoire gates where dogs on a leash are permitted (excluding lawns and flowerbeds). Assistance dogs without a leash but with a vest are allowed in this zone. Outside this zone, dogs are strictly prohibited.
- Prohibited activities
- Cycling, scooters
- Prohibited activities
- Walking on the lawns, picking the plants
Source: Practical information (jardin.senat.fr). Official page, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Full notes: Jardin du Luxembourg hours and running information
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
This is the most rugged garden in Paris, offering varied elevation for training. Some infrastructure and a portion of the circular path are currently closed due to soil instability, but 95% of the park remains accessible.
Bicycles and other electric devices are only allowed if you are walking with them. Dogs must be on a leash and are permitted on paths and in the designated dog area. The park has restrooms and drinking water points.
- Park description
- The most rugged and largest garden in the City of Paris.
- Park name
- Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
- Main address
- Place Armand-Carrel, Paris 19e
- Metro access (Botzaris)
- Botzaris
- Metro access (other stations)
- Laumière, Buttes-Chaumont, Armand Carrel – Mairie du 19ème
- Restrooms available
- Yes
- Drinking water points
- Yes
- Dog rules
- Dogs allowed only on paths and in the dog area, and must be kept on a leash.
Sources: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (paris.fr), La rénovation historique du parc des Buttes-Chaumont (paris.fr). Official pages, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Jardin des Tuileries
Located in the heart of Paris, this formal garden provides a flat, central running location among more than 3,000 trees and numerous statues. Entry is free all year round.
The park's hours change seasonally, with much later closing times in the summer. An announcement is made asking visitors to leave 30 minutes before the park closes. Two free public toilets are open year-round, with four additional ones available in the summer.
- Description
- A breath of fresh air in the heart of Paris
- Type of place
- From Royal Garden to Public Park
- Location
- in the heart of Paris
- Opening hours (April, May, September, October)
- 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Opening hours (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec)
- 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Opening hours (June, July, August)
- 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Entry fees
- Free all year round
- Public toilets
- Two public toilets, free and accessible during opening hours, near Place de la Concorde and Rue de Rivoli entrances.
Sources: The gardens (louvre.fr), From Royal Garden to Public Park (louvre.fr). Official pages, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Before you go
- Check park opening and closing times before you go, as they often change with the seasons.
- Verify current park alerts for any path closures or safety warnings, particularly for Bois de Vincennes and Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
- Be aware of rules for wheeled devices, as some central parks prohibit cycling or require them to be dismounted.
- Dogs are generally required to be on a leash and may be restricted to designated zones.
- Drinking water is available in most locations, but the provision of restrooms varies between parks.
- Entry to all these parks and gardens is free.
More cities: City running and hiking guides.