Is Bois de Vincennes worth it?
Worth it. 4.5 across 41,000+ reviews; locals and visitors love it on sunny days. It's a woodland, not a manicured showpiece.
Been to Bois de Vincennes? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
Rowing boats, the farm, Parc Floral playgrounds and the zoo make an easy, varied day.
Why Reality is 76
What people loved
Real woodland, lakes and wide lawns on a metro line — the biggest green escape inside ParisLots to combine: rowing boats, Parc Floral, a working farm, the zoo and a medieval châteauFree and popular with runners and picnickers on sunny daysFar fewer tourists than central parks like the Tuileries or LuxembourgWhat wore them down
So big and spread out that you need a plan or a bike; sights are kilometres apartParts feel neglected or unsafe after dark, with known prostitution along some roadsLess polished than central Paris gardens; it's a city woodland, not a formal parkParking & getting there
Driving is possibleThe metro is the better choice, but driving is possible: Google lists free parking areas and street parking inside the woods, and the hippodrome has a large lot on the southeast side. Use paid garages in Saint-Mandé or Vincennes if you're going to the château.
- Hippodrome de Paris Vincennes – Parking P1lot · about 27 min walk · ★ 4.3 (26)Price not publishedMap
- Q-Park Charles Digeon (Saint-Mandé)garage · about 28 min walk · ★ 3.8 (138)Price not publishedMap
Without a car: Metro 8 to Porte Dorée (Lac Daumesnil, zoo) or Metro 1 to Château de Vincennes (château, Parc Floral); bus 46 to Place Edouard Renard
Driving rules in Paris
Don't drive in Paris as a visitor: the Metro/RER reaches every central sight within minutes, street parking is capped at 6 hours and runs about €6/h in the central zone (€18/h for heavy cars, which pay triple), and underground garages cost more. A car only makes sense for day trips such as Giverny or Disneyland — leave it at the hotel or a garage while you're in the city.
- Low-emission zone (ZFE) and Crit'Air sticker. Everywhere inside the A86 ring road (including the Périphérique and the Bois de Boulogne/Vincennes, but not the A86 itself) cars need a Crit'Air air-quality sticker, and Crit'Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles are banned Monday–Friday 8:00–20:00 (not public holidays); weekends are unrestricted. Buses and coaches are restricted 7 days a week 8:00–20:00. The Métropole has extended its 'pedagogical period' to 31 December 2026, so checks are informational and no fines are applied this year. Order the sticker only from the official site certificat-air.gouv.fr. Rental cars are normally Crit'Air 1 or 2 and already carry one. paris.fr
- On-street visitor parking. Street parking is paid Monday–Saturday 9:00–20:00 and free on Sundays and public holidays (August included). Visitors may stay at most 6 consecutive hours in the same spot. Zone 1 = Paris Centre and the 5th–11th arrondissements, zone 2 = 12th–20th. Pay by app (PayByPhone, EasyPark or Indigo Neo) or at a meter with a chip or contactless bank card; enter your plate exactly as on the registration. Going unpaid triggers a forfait post-stationnement (FPS) equal to the 6-hour price, whatever time you actually stayed. paris.fr
- Heavy-car ("SUV") parking rate since 1 October 2024. Visitors in heavier cars pay triple: €18/hour in zone 1 (arr. 1–11) and €12/hour in zone 2 (arr. 12–20), billed in 15-minute slices. It applies to cars over 1,600 kg kerb weight (petrol/diesel/hybrid) or over 2,000 kg (electric). The FPS penalty for these cars is €225 in zone 1 and €150 in zone 2 (cut by 30% if paid within 9 days). Many rented SUVs and large estates/minivans fall into this band. paris.fr
Know before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: No booking for the woods; buy zoo and château tickets separately
In their words
“Huge park with loads to see. Would take several days of walking and visiting to see all the special spots.”
“The best place to be in paris when it's sunny :)”
“The morning air is so fresh, and the lovely scent makes everything feel even more soothing.”
Tips from people who went
No tips yet. Be the first to share one.
Questions people ask
How do I get to the Bois de Vincennes?
Metro 8 to Porte Dorée for Lac Daumesnil, or Metro 1 to Château de Vincennes for the château and Parc Floral.
Can you rent boats in the Bois de Vincennes?
Yes, on Lac Daumesnil for about €13–14 per hour with a €20 deposit; closed from mid-November to mid-February.
Is the Bois de Vincennes safe?
During the day, yes, around the lakes and main paths. It is known for prostitution after dark on some roads, so avoid the wooded interior at night.
Is the Bois de Vincennes free?
Yes. Only attractions inside, such as the zoo, château and boats, charge.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- Wikipedia – Bois de Vincennes
- Paris je t'aime – Lac Daumesnil boat rental
- Google Maps – Bois de Vincennes