Paris is beautiful in spring.
In fact, it is beautiful all year round.
However, Paris in spring has a special charm you won’t find it in winter. The blossoms and the parks make this city the perfect backdrop for an outdoor romance.
For couples, springtime Paris offers a canvas for love that rivals any other season.
From April through June, the city reveals itself in layers of blossoms, fragrances, and golden light that turn even the simplest moments into memories that last a lifetime.
I took many of my best photos of Paris in April and May.
When Cherry Blossoms Transform the City
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If you can’t go to Japan for the cherry blossom season, try Europe instead.
Paris is a good choice when it comes to cherry blossoms.
Timing Your Visit for Peak Bloom
If cherry blossoms factor into your romantic Paris fantasies, timing is everything.
These flowers typically begin their show in late March and reach their peak in early to mid-April, though exact timing varies with each year’s weather patterns.
For the most magical experience, plan your visit with flexibility if possible.
Follow Paris parks’ social media accounts or our weekly newsletter updates to catch these ephemeral blooms at their finest.
Where to Find the Most Romantic Blooms
While many visitors flock to the obvious spots, we’ve discovered several locations where you can enjoy these fleeting beauties with a bit more intimacy:
Square Jean XXIII: This often-overlooked garden behind Notre-Dame Cathedral offers magnificent cherry trees with the bonus of architectural splendor as backdrop. The Seine-side setting creates perfect lighting for both photos and quiet moments together.
Parc de Sceaux: Just a short RER ride from central Paris, this park boasts over 150 cherry trees in its magnificent “Bosquet de cerisiers.”
Time your visit for early morning to experience the pink blossoms catching first light. In addition, keep an eye on the news, in order to attend Hanami, and maybe picnic under the cherry trees. Here’s an article about the Hanami celebration that took place in April 2025 in Parc de Sceaux.
Square Marie-Trintignant: This hidden gem in the Marais district features several cherry trees that are very beautiful in the spring. Once the blossoms are gone, the square looks rather dull.
Nonetheless, Marais is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Paris, so it is definitely worth a stroll any time of year.
Jardin des Plantes: Beyond its already famous magnolias, the botanical garden’s collection of cherry varieties offers a longer blooming season than most locations, increasing your chances of catching this ephemeral beauty.
Beyond Cherry Blossoms: Spring’s Floral Romance
Paris in spring isn’t just about cherry blossoms.
The city transforms with numerous flowering trees and gardens that create romantic backdrops throughout the season:
Magnolias at Palais-Royal Garden: These magnificent blooms, appearing even before cherry blossoms, create a stunning contrast against the palace’s classic architecture. The symmetrical garden design naturally frames couples for unforgettable photographs.
Wisteria Hunting: Between late April and May, purple wisteria cascades across buildings throughout Paris.
Check out rue de l’Abreuvoir in Montmartre, Square Marie-Trintignant, and the often-overlooked Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole café on Île de la Cité, where the entire façade transforms into a purple fantasy.
Shakespeare Garden in Pré Catelan: Hidden within the Bois de Boulogne, this romantic English-style garden reaches its peak in late spring, with roses and seasonal flowers creating secluded alcoves perfect for intimate conversations.
Click here to see the location of this garden on the map.
Picnic Perfection: Creating Memorable Outdoor Moments
Spring weather invites one of Paris’s most cherished romantic traditions: the artfully arranged picnic. While summer sees parks filled to capacity, spring offers the perfect balance of pleasant temperatures and available space to spread your blanket.
Where to Picnic
The Banks of the Seine: The river’s edge at Square du Vert-Galant offers unmatched ambiance. The sound of water lapping against stone as boats pass by adds a soundtrack to your meal. Arrive early evening to secure a spot for sunset views that silhouette Notre-Dame.
There are many picnic spots alongside the river. One of my favorite picnic spots alongside the Seine is near L’Institute du Monde Arabe.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont: This 19th-century romantic park features dramatic landscapes, hidden grottos, and a temple perched high above a lake. Its varied elevations create naturally private nooks despite its popularity with locals.
If you’re seeking for a romantic spot to enjoy nature with your date or with your life partner, choose Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. You won’t regret it.
Parc Monceau: Favored by affluent neighborhood residents, this refined garden offers classical statuary, an elegant rotunda, and perfectly maintained flower beds. There’s plenty of space for spreading a blanket without feeling crowded.
Jardin de Reuilly-Paul-Pernin: This park attracts lots of people in search for a slumber space. It boasts a circular lawn surrounded by several themed gardens.
You can reach the Reuilly Paulk Pernin garden by walking along the Promende Plantee, starting from Opera Bastille.
Romantic Terrace Culture: Spring’s Café Renaissance
As temperatures rise, Paris’s famous café terraces reclaim sidewalks across the city. While many guidebooks direct visitors to the same overcrowded establishments, spring offers opportunities to experience authentic terrace culture at less touristy addresses:
Les Jardins des Tuilleries
La Terrasse de Madame: Overlooking the southwestern section of Luxembourg Gardens, this hidden café offers front-row views of spring blooms with remarkably reasonable prices considering its prime location. Arrive mid-afternoon when locals typically surrender their tables between lunch and evening service.
Pavillon Puebla: Set within Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, this seasonal establishment opens its expansive terrace in spring, offering couples craft cocktails surrounded by park greenery. Visit Thursday evenings when acoustic musicians often perform as sunset approaches.
Le Moulin de la Galette: While tourists photograph the windmill from the street, few discover the charming terrace hidden behind this Montmartre landmark. Spring evenings here offer quintessential Parisian romance without the crowds of more famous viewpoints.
Seasonal Activities for Couples
Beyond passive enjoyment of spring’s beauty, consider these seasonal activities designed for couples:
Vintage Car Tours: Several companies offer spring-exclusive convertible tours of blooming Paris neighborhoods. We recommend Paris Authentic for their 1970s Citroën DS models with retractable roofs—perfect for photographing blooms from unique vantage points.
Rowing at Bois de Boulogne: From April through October, rowboat rentals at the Lac Inférieur provide a quintessentially romantic activity. Spring offers fewer crowds and plenty of shade from newly leafed trees along secluded coves.
Evening Photography Walks: The “golden hour” extends longer each spring evening, creating perfect conditions for couples photography. Consider booking a private photographer for an hour-long session capturing your moments against blooming backdrops, or simply bring a tripod and experiment yourselves.
Outdoor Cinema Previews: While Paris’s famous outdoor cinema in Parc de la Villette operates primarily in summer, several venues hold “spring preview” events in gardens across the city. Follow our weekly events newsletter for pop-up screenings announced just days in advance.
Spring Weather Contingency Plans
Spring in Paris, for all its beauty, occasionally brings rain showers. Rather than seeing these as disappointments, embrace them as opportunities for different kinds of romance:
Museum Greenhouse Visits: The often-overlooked greenhouses at Jardin des Plantes offer tropical warmth on cooler spring days, with exotic flowers and intimate walking paths regardless of outside weather.
Covered Passages: Paris’s historic shopping arcades provide shelter while maintaining the feeling of outdoor strolling. Passage des Panoramas and Galerie Vivienne are particularly atmospheric when rain patters on their glass ceilings.
Passage Choiseul
Rainy Day Café Extensions: Many establishments transform into all-day havens during spring showers. We particularly recommend Le Zimmer near the Palais Royal, where Belle Époque interiors and wall-length windows let you watch rainfall while remaining perfectly dry.
