Buttes-Chaumont

Updated on September 13, 2026

In the northeast of Paris, in the 19th arrondissement, you'll find one of the capital's largest green spaces: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Opened in 1867 under the reign of Napoleon III, this park was designed by engineer Jean-Charles Alphand. It spans nearly 25 hectares and has 6 main entrances. Streams, caves, a lake, waterfalls, ducks, and lush greenery… a true haven of peace.

Highlights

The lookout point

Get your legs ready and climb, climb, climb all the way to the top of the Île du Belvédère. At the summit stands the Kiosque de la Sybille, built by Gabriel Davoud and largely inspired by the Italian Temple of Vesta in Tivoli. The view over Paris is breathtaking!

Rosa Bonheur

Rosa Bonheur is the must-visit spot in the Buttes-Chaumont. This charming, bohemian-chic bar is set up in a small house at the top of the park. Rosa Bonheur offers a varied wine list and tapas you can enjoy while taking in the magnificent view! In summer, the bar gets packed and the line can get long.

The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont cave

Also in the lower part of the park, south of the lake, is a cave 14 meters wide and 20 meters high. It's actually a former underground quarry, decorated with fake stalactites. A waterfall runs inside it — the perfect place to cool off in the middle of summer.

The Buttes-Chaumont lake

In the lower part of the Buttes-Chaumont, you'll find a 1.5-hectare lake surrounded by weeping willows and other tree species. At its center sits a 30-meter-high island, which you can reach by rowboat — a lovely romantic activity to enjoy as a couple.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Sports enthusiasts, and joggers in particular, will find plenty to satisfy their training needs at Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. With a loop of nearly three kilometers, the park is full of varied slopes, steep climbs, and stairs. What's more, the ground surface isn't sandy, unlike most Parisian parks.

How to get there

The main entrance to the Buttes-Chaumont opens onto rue Botzaris. The park is easily accessible by metro, via the "Buttes Chaumont" station (line 7bis), and by bus, via lines 26, 60, and 75. Driving is not recommended: parking spaces in the neighborhood are hard to come by.