Visiting the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris? This beautiful French garden is located between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde and is one of the most famous gardens in Paris.
You’ll find wide avenues, formal flowerbeds, fountains, statues and thousands of green chairs. The Musée de l’Orangerie is also located at the edge of the garden. The Jardin des Tuileries is free to visit.
But what shouldn’t you miss when visiting the Tuileries? How much time do you need, what are the opening hours and is the garden a good place to visit with children?
In this guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know about visiting the Jardin des Tuileries, including the most beautiful spots, its history and practical tips.
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1. What is there to see in the Jardin des Tuileries?
The Jardin des Tuileries is much more than just a green passage between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. The garden covers more than 23 hectares and is essentially an open-air museum with dozens of statues and works of art.
During a walk, you’ll come across:
• the Grand Bassin and other fountains
• the long Grande Allée
• various flowerbeds and wooded areas
• numerous statues and vases
• terraces with views towards the Seine
• the famous green chairs
• the Musée de l’Orangerie
The garden is laid out symmetrically, and its long sightlines make it clear why it is considered one of the best-known examples of a formal French garden.
The Grand Bassin
One of the most famous spots in the Tuileries is the large round basin. Around the water you’ll find the famous green chairs where you can sit and relax.
It’s a lovely place to take a break during a walk through Paris. From here, you also have beautiful views along the garden.
2. Jardin des Tuileries and the Louvre
The Jardin des Tuileries is located directly next to the Louvre, making it ideal to combine with a visit to the museum.
For example, you can visit the Louvre first and then walk through the Tuileries towards Place de la Concorde. Of course, you can also do it the other way around.
The garden creates a beautiful transition between the museum and the rest of central Paris.
Tip: After spending a few hours at the Louvre, set aside some time for the Tuileries. You can sit down and relax here before continuing your walk.
3. Musée de l’Orangerie
The Musée de l’Orangerie is located on the western side of the Jardin des Tuileries. The museum is particularly famous for Claude Monet’s monumental Water Lilies paintings.
This makes it an excellent combination with a walk through the garden. If you enjoy art, you can easily visit both on the same day.
4. The statues of the Jardin des Tuileries
One of the nicest things about the Tuileries is that you’ll constantly come across art while walking through the garden.
The garden contains around 140 statues and vases from different periods. Some works date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, while others are much more recent.
You don’t need a museum ticket to see art here: a large part of the collection is simply displayed among the trees, flowerbeds and avenues.
That’s why the Jardin des Tuileries can also be considered an open-air sculpture museum.
5. Jardin des Tuileries with children
The Jardin des Tuileries is also a nice place to stop during a day in Paris with children.
There is plenty of space to walk around, and children can enjoy themselves around the basin. The garden is also a pleasant place to take a break between visits to the Louvre and other attractions.
For families, the location is particularly convenient: you don’t need to make a separate detour if you want to visit the Louvre and the Tuileries on the same day.
6. The famous green chairs
Just like in other Parisian gardens, you’ll see the famous green chairs throughout the Tuileries.
There are around 3,000 benches, chairs and armchairs in total.
You can sit down for a while and enjoy your surroundings. The chairs have become such an iconic part of the Tuileries that they are almost as recognisable as the statues and fountains.
A little history of the chairs
Sitting in the Tuileries has a surprisingly long history. The garden was one of the first public gardens where chairs and benches were made available to visitors.
Today, of course, you can simply take a seat for free.
7. Jardin des Tuileries: almost 500 years of history
The history of the Tuileries dates back to 1564. Catherine de’ Medici had a palace and garden built here. The name Tuileries refers to the former tile-making workshops that once stood on this site.
From 1664 onwards, the garden was redesigned by André Le Nôtre, the famous landscape architect of Louis XIV. He transformed the Tuileries into a formal French garden with wide avenues, symmetry and long sightlines.
Over the centuries, the garden changed several times. The Tuileries were closely connected to the royal and imperial history of France and eventually became a public garden.
Today, it is one of the most famous green spaces in Paris.
8. Jardin des Tuileries opening hours and practical information
How much time do you need?
Allow around 1 to 2 hours for a walk through the Jardin des Tuileries. If you combine the garden with the Louvre or Musée de l’Orangerie, allow some extra time.
Is the Jardin des Tuileries free?
Yes, admission to the garden is free. You do need a separate ticket for the Musée de l’Orangerie.
Opening hours
Opening hours vary by season. The garden generally opens around 7:00 or 7:30 am and closes between approximately 7:30 pm and 11:00 pm. Check the latest opening hours before your visit.
Where is the Jardin des Tuileries?
The Jardin des Tuileries is located in the 1st arrondissement, between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. This makes it easy to combine with the Louvre, Musée de l’Orangerie, Palais Royal and Champs-Élysées.
What is the best time to visit?
Visit early in the morning or later in the day if you want to avoid the busiest times. Spring and summer are particularly beautiful when the gardens are in bloom, but the park is also lovely in autumn.
9. Frequently asked questions about the Jardin des Tuileries
• Do you need a ticket for the Jardin des Tuileries?
No. Admission to the garden is free. You do need a separate ticket for museums such as the Musée de l’Orangerie.
• Is the Jardin des Tuileries suitable for children?
Yes. The garden offers plenty of space to walk around and is a pleasant place to take a break during a busy day in Paris.
• How large is the Jardin des Tuileries?
The Jardin des Tuileries covers approximately 23 hectares.
• Is the Jardin des Tuileries near the Louvre?
Yes. The garden is located directly next to the Louvre and is one of the nicest ways to walk from the museum towards Place de la Concorde.
• Which is more beautiful: the Jardin du Luxembourg or the Jardin des Tuileries?
It depends on what you’re looking for. The Jardin du Luxembourg has a more relaxed and local atmosphere, while the Tuileries stand out for their symmetry, wide avenues, statues and location between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde.
• What are the opening hours of the Jardin des Tuileries?
Opening hours vary by season. The garden generally opens around 7:00 or 7:30 am and closes between approximately 7:30 pm and 11:00 pm. Check the latest opening hours before your visit.
10. Visiting the Jardin des Tuileries: our tip
In our opinion, the Jardin des Tuileries is a place that’s easy to include in your itinerary during a first visit to Paris.
For example, combine the garden with the Louvre and Musée de l’Orangerie, then continue walking towards Place de la Concorde. Along the way, make sure to sit down on one of the green chairs and enjoy the views.
This way, you’ll discover not only a beautiful garden, but also a little piece of Parisian history and atmosphere.
