Cherry Blossoms in Paris: When and Where to Find Them

Are there Cherry Blossoms in Paris?

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Yes, there are cherry blossoms in Paris. Most of them a beautiful shade of pink. You’ll also find the white variety scattered throughout the city although not as common (or photogenic) as it’s pink cousins. Spring also brings with it the blooming of other flowers such as the magnolias, but they are more of an entree to the main cherry blossom course… in our opinion, anyway.

When is the season for Cherry Blossoms in Paris?

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While it changes slightly every year depending on the weather, the first three weeks of April are usually the peak bloom for cherry blossoms in Paris. Some varieties, like the delicate white cherry blossoms bloom early in the season, other types and regions come a little later. Most last anywhere from two to three weeks so if you’re visiting Paris in the first few weeks of April, there’s bound to be some pretty pink cherry blossoms blooming somewhere in the city while you’re in town.

Best places to see Cherry Blossoms in Paris

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Here’s a quick summary of our favourite places to find cherry blossoms in Paris. The list is broken down into a few simple categories that we hope will make finding them a little more intuitive. We’ve tried to include a little bit of info on each, including the likely time in the season that they typically bloom where this is known. We’ve also added a handy map of cherry blossoms in Paris for you to easily plan which ones you’d like to see.

Map of Cherry Blossoms in Paris

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Here’s a simple map of our favourite cherry blossom spots in Paris. If you click on each one, you’ll get a picture of each location, the address and some additional information where available.

Cherry blossoms with a view of the Eiffel Tower

Cherry blossoms near the Eiffel Tower, Paris.

The Eiffel Tower is probably the most iconic structure in Paris. So, what better way to capture Spring in this beautiful city than with cherry blossoms with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Here are our favourites:

Jardins du Trocadéro / Trocadéro Gardens: there are a number of cherry blossom trees scattered through these gardens. Our favourites are those on either side of the main fountain area that line the main walkways. These cherry blossoms give you an opportunity to capture these beautiful pink flowers with the Eiffel Tower lurking in the background. Blossoms with an iconic Parisian landmark… What more could you want!? These blossoms are also some of the first to blossom (around the end of March) and longest lasting (through to the middle of April) in the city.

Cherry blossoms near Notre Dame

Cherry blossoms near Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.

While Notre Dame may be temporarily under reconstruction since the fire of 2019, it’s still a stunning landmark and in a beautiful part of Paris that is worth visiting even without being able to see inside the Cathedral.

Square John XXIII, Notre Dame: [Currently closed due to reconstruction as of April 2019 – check https://www.paris.fr/equipements/square-jean-xxiii-35 for current status]. The park that surrounds the eastern and southern side of Notre Dame is probably the most popular spot for cherry blossom viewing and photography in the city. The area with benches and large sandbox is the best spot and one you’ll want to visit as early as possible for a chance of a clear picture. The park opens at specific times, depending on the day so I suggest getting there five minutes before opening to beat the crowd. The cherry blossoms at Notre Dame tend to reach peak bloom slightly later, around the first, or sometimes second, week of April.

Shakespeare & Company Bookstore: Just across the River Seine from Notre Dame on the south bank is one of the cutest bookshops in Paris. This famous English-language bookstore is even cuter during spring with it’s very own cherry blossom trees right outside it’s already charming facade. Early mornings are best to avoid crowds but also to capture the morning sunlight as it shines beautiful down the street and hits blossoms, giving them an extra little glow. We found these trees tend to bloom, like those next to Notre Dame, around the first or second week of April.

Parks, squares and gardens with cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms in Jardin Des Plantes, Paris.

Jardin Des Plantes: Even in a botanical garden full of beautiful flowers, the giant cherry blossom tree in the Jardin Des Plantes is a stand-out, literally! Walking amongst the massive branches almost makes you feel like you’re floating in a sea of pink petals – probably the largest cherry blossom tree in the city and a must see for any cherry blossom fanatic. This beauty generally blooms in the first week of April but if you are a little early, you’ll be able to admire its white sibling across the pathway which blooms a week or two earlier.

Square Gabriel Pierné: Often described as a green oasis in the heart of Paris, the Square Gabriel Pierné adds a touch of pink during spring. You’ll find this spot just steps from the Pont des Arts bridge and behind the Institut de France. Named after a famous french musician, it is a great spot to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. If you frame it just right, you can get a great shot of cherry blossoms with the beautiful dome of the Institut de France in the background.

Parc de Sceaux: Easily the best day trip from Paris city centre to spot cherry blossoms, Parc de Sceaux (pronounced “sew”) is found in one of the Ile de France region’s prettiest towns. Here, you will find an entire orchard of pink cherry blossom trees blooming in mid to late April. On a warm sunny day, pack a picnic and dine below a canopy of fluffy pink petals that will make you think you died and arrived at cherry blossom heaven. And in case you needed to ask, yes, it is well worth the half hour train ride south on the RER line B. One of our favourites.

St. Simonians Square: hiding in a corner of the 20th arrondissement, you find a park frequented by locals that sees it’s cherry blossoms blooming around the first week of April. Probably not worth a trip out from the city centre, but if you’re staying close by or in Paris for a longer stay, add it to your cherry blossom hit-list.

Clichy-Batignolles Parc (Martin Luther-King Park): in the north west part of Paris, you’ll find a grouping of cherry blossom trees well off the tourist trail. Like St Simonians Square, it’s worth checking out if your staying nearby or in Paris for a little longer.

Metro stations with cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms near Metro St Paul, Paris.

Metro St Paul: Cherry blossoms and cute Parisian facades, what else do I need to say!? As you exit Saint Paul station on metro line 1 it will be on your left and blooming earlier than most from the end of March/beginning of April.

Metro Falguière: An unexpected highlight to any commute is exiting a station to a canopy of pink cherry blossom petals. If you see a dusting of pink on the stairs of the Falguière metro station (line 12) as you leave the station, you’ll know you’ve accidentally on purpose timed it just right.

Metro Cambronne: Across the road from the Cambronne metro station (line 6), you’ll find Place Cambronne and probably won’t be able to avoid at least a slight detour to soak in the pink hues decorating the park in early April.

Cherry blossom streets in Paris

Beautiful cherry blossom street in Vincennes, Paris.

Rue Villebois Mareuil, Vincennes: Probably our favourite cherry blossom spot in Paris is a street in the upmarket neighbourhood of Vincennes. Found at the end of line 1, east of the city, it is well worth a visit to capture the entire street in bloom around the first week of April. We went early in the morning and had the street to ourselves, minus the locals on their way to work.

Alley Vivaldi: A cute stretch of sidewalk known as the Promenade Plantée, the Alley Vivaldi is a perfect spot at sunset to capture the light hitting the cherry blossoms and giving them that little extra pop!

Do you have a favourite cherry blossom spot in Paris we missed? Let us know in the comments.