Jardin du Luxembourg

Pull up a green chair and rest like a Parisian

Hours: Changes every two weeks with daylight, e.g. 16 Oct to the last Saturday of Oct 08:00–18:15, 1–15 Nov 08:00–17:00, late June 07:30–21:30
Tickets: Free
Address: 6th arr.; main gates on Place Edmond Rostand, Rue de Vaugirard and Rue Guynemer

In front of the Luxembourg Palace, now the French Senate, an octagonal pond is ringed by flower beds. Green metal chairs are scattered everywhere; drag one wherever you like. Children push little wooden sailboats across the water with sticks while readers and joggers pass by. At the end of the shady eastern alley the Medici Fountain sits beside a long, narrow pool. Plenty of visitors say it is the place that rescues their legs on a museum-heavy day.