Jardin des Plantes Tours
Originally known as the Jardin du Roi, the Jardin des Plantes was founded in 1626, and was used as King Louis XIII’s personal herb garden. Today, the expansive botanical garden is the largest and most important in France. It encompasses several gallery spaces, a zoo, numerous garden areas and hothouses, and a working botany school.
The Basics
Located along the Seine in Paris’ 5th arrondissement, the Jardin des Plantes is an oasis-like green space that makes for a perfect urban retreat. Covering a total of 69 acres (28 hectares), it’s the largest botanical garden in France, and it has been a registered Historic Monument since 1993. The Jardin des Plantes comprises numerous individual gardens that showcase both native French species as well as exotic specimens from around the globe. Additionally, it houses several museum spaces (including the Gallery of Evolution, the Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology, the Gallery of Paleontology, and the Gallery of Botany, and the Children’s Gallery), as well as a botanical school and the Ménagerie, a zoo.
You can admire the Jardin des Plantes on a river cruise down the Seine; although it’s free to enter, guided tours provide detailed insight about what’s before you.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Jardin des Plantes is free, although the Ménagerie is ticketed separately.
- The garden’s collection comprises more than 10,000 plant species, and it’s home to one of the oldest and largest herbariums in the world.
- The majority of the garden spaces are wheelchair-accessible; while the Jardin des Plantes doesn’t have its own parking spaces, there are lots nearby.
How to Get There
The nearest station to the Jardin des Plantes is the Gare d’Austerlitz, a major transit hub that’s served by Métro lines 5 and 10, by the RER C, and by numerous SNCF trains. It can also be reached by the 24, 57, 61, 63, 67, 89, and 91 bus lines. As with the majority of Paris’ centrally located attractions, it’s also easily accessible by foot, by car, or by Vélib’.
When to Get There
The Jardin des Plantes is open daily from 7:30am–8pm in summer, and from 8am–5pm in winter. While the majority of its garden spaces are open during that period, some (like the Alpine Garden and the Irises and Perennials Garden) have shorter hours. Depending on your interests, it’s worth researching individual opening times in advance of your visit; the garden complex also hosts temporary exhibitions that change throughout the year.
The Ménagerie
Having opened in 1694, the Ménagerie at the Jardin des Plantes’ is one of the world’s oldest zoos. Following the French Revolution, the first animals were transferred here from the Palace of Versailles, where they had been kept by French royalty. Today, the Ménagerie is still home to thousands of animals, ranging from orangutans and red pandas to snow leopards and crocodiles.
Address: Paris, France
6 Tours and Activities to Experience Jardin des Plantes
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Seine River Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise in Paris
See the major sights of Paris from the water on a hop-on hop-off Seine boat cruise. With either a 1- or 2-day ticket, glide leisurely along the river, hopping off and on when you wish to visit the attractions that most interest you, such as Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre. Or simply stay on the boat to admire Paris’ World Heritage-listed riverbanks.
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From
$20.37
From
$20.37
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
On the path of a lost river. Latin Quarter private tour.
You will discover the Landmarks of Latin Quarter, learn about Paris from Roman times, enjoy a colourful street market with restaurants & shops with French cheese, find out where the brand intellectuals lived, where the steps from Woody Allen's 'Midnight in Paris' are, following the natural waterway in the heart of Paris (a river who existed until the beginning of the 20th century).
The American author Hemmingway, lived in the area just steps from the market street (rue Mouffetard). I will show you Gothic and Romanesque churches, secret streets, places connected with Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code and Priory of Sion, Roman roads, Roman ruins and a torture chamber, right downtown ! We will stroll the cutest part of Latin Quarter following the lost river Bièvre, that still flows under the street of Paris !
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From
$240.31
per group
From
$240.31
per group
Sports, fun and educational discovery of Paris
Combine your workout with sightseeing on this private running tour of Paris. As you burn some energy hitting the sidewalks of Paris along your customized route, your guide will provide enlightening information about the city and make stops at such landmarks as the Place de la Concorde, Musee d'Orsay, and the Domaine National du Palais-Royal.
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From
$103.52
Price varies by group size
From
$103.52
Price varies by group size
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Quartier Latin Stroll - 3h Private Tour
Discover the oldest of Paris' neighbourhoods and it's transition in time
In this tour we will see the main attractions of the Latin Quartier. While walking through this throbbing neighbourhood you'll be right where the Romans settled 2000 years ago, there are still some ruins standing! In this part of town you'll find parks, old middle-age streets, the Paris' most famous University, charming boutiques and stores, as well as one of Paris greatest monuments: the Pantheon.
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From
$394.54
per group
From
$394.54
per group
Foodies in the 5th
See the often ignored special Paris spots that will open a new door of possibilities for those who have already seen all the major monuments. Get a feel for local life and culture while walking thru history. The same cobblestone streets that Musketeers and Hemingway shared also provides you with wonderful foods to keep your senses aline. I will happily guide you thru the foodies heaven in the 5th.
*Los recorridos en español y francés deben organizarse previamente
*Les visites en espagnol et en français doivent être organisées à l'avance
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From
$41.94
From
$41.94
Paris at the First Lodges - Ducasse sur Seine dinner cruise
Let yourself be guided during a dinner aboard the first 100% electric boat on the Seine. Your table will allow you to enjoy the most beautiful view of the monuments of Paris. A pleasant and silent journey, to rediscover the falsely asleep capital at night and finish at the foot of the illuminated Eiffel Tower. At the table, the story unfolds like a scenario, in several acts, punctuated by the cuisine of chef Pierre Marty.
Example of a 4-course menu:
Amuse bouche
Starter: Hot guinea fowl, pigeon and foie gras pâté
Main course: Back of turbot, purple artichoke, squid ink marinière jus
Dessert: All chocolate Paris with crispy praline
Example of a 5-course menu:
Amuse bouche
1st Starter: Bean, cherry and fresh almond salad
2nd Starter: Buckwheat cookpot, zucchini, black olives and bitter sprouts
Main course: Blue lobster, radish, fennel and lemongrass
Main course: Culoiseau poultry, chanterelles and corn
Dessert: Strawberry Melba our way
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From
$243.24
From
$243.24
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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