Jardin d'Acclimatation

About Jardin d'Acclimatation

Jardin d'Acclimatation opened in 1860 in the Bois de Boulogne, on the western edge of Paris, and it remains one of the oldest amusement and leisure gardens in the city. It started life as a zoological garden under Napoleon III and has gradually shifted into a family park that mixes landscaped gardens, small animal enclosures, playgrounds, and old-fashioned rides. Part of it still feels like a 19th-century botanical garden, with rose beds, water features, and shaded walking paths, while the rest runs on the energy of children heading from one ride to the next.

The park sits between the Porte Dauphine and Porte des Sablons sides of the Bois de Boulogne, in the 16th arrondissement. Attractions are spread across the grounds, so there is a fair bit of walking involved, and it works best as a half-day or full-day outing rather than a quick stop. Rides range from gentle carousels and a little train to a few that suit older kids, and there are plenty of green spaces to sit down between activities. The Fondation Louis Vuitton, the Frank Gehry art museum, shares the same grounds, so it is easy to pair a cultural visit with time in the garden.

Entry to the garden and some individual rides are usually charged separately, so it is worth checking the current ticketing setup before you go, especially if you are visiting with children who will want to try several attractions. The easiest way in is by Metro to Les Sablons, a short walk from the Porte des Sablons entrance. Weekends and school holidays get busy, so earlier in the day tends to be calmer if you are travelling with young kids.