The Best Places to Run in Paris

Paris’s riverbanks, a road runner’s paradise

© Bir-Hakeim Bridge © Jean-Baptiste Gurliat / City of Paris

Paris’s riverbanks, which follow the Seine for around 13 kilometres, between Suresnes Bridge to the west and Tolbiac Bridge to the east, are ideal territory for road runners. With their long, straight sections, perfectly smooth surfaces and uninterrupted views of the capital’s iconic landmarks, they appeal both to runners chasing a fast session and to those who simply want to enjoy the scenery. The lack of traffic is their biggest advantage, as Julie, a student who runs here regularly, explains: « It’s great because you’re not constantly being stopped by cars and traffic lights. You don’t have to think about which way to go. You’re out in the open instead of feeling hemmed in by little streets ».

From the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower via Notre-Dame, every stride combines sport and heritage in an atmosphere that is uniquely Parisian. On the Right Bank, the quays begin around Sully Bridge and run as far as Austerlitz Bridge, and sometimes beyond. On the Left Bank, they stretch from Bir-Hakeim Bridge to Tolbiac Bridge. The variety of scenery is a particular favourite of the finisher of several 10Ks mentioned earlier, who lives in the 15th arrondissement and enjoys her regular 8-kilometre route: « Champ de Mars, the quays, then Les Invalides ».

Whether you are building up for a marathon and need to string together the miles, or looking for a harder interval session, these landscaped riverbanks give you the perfect space to focus solely on your run. One thing to bear in mind: in spring and summer, the quays fill up with casual runners and tourists enjoying the barges moored near Paris’s bridges.

Green space, and a taste of nature in the 14th arrondissement

© Montsouris Park © Clement Dorval / City of Paris

The first time you see the entrance to the Cité Universitaire, its imposing main building is often the first thing that catches your eye. It houses the swimming pool, student restaurant and theatre, among other facilities. Once that initial surprise has passed, a walk through the grounds offers views of the different pavilions representing countries from around the world.

The paths are busy with groups of runners making the most of the space, although there is a little elevation to contend with. Cross the bridge to reach the second part of the park, which is ideal for extending your run. A complete loop from the bottom of the park, near Charléty Stadium, to the far end covers around 1.5 to 2 kilometres.

For a change of scenery, simply cross the road to reach Montsouris Park. With its small waterfalls and lake, it is a lovely place to run, although its hills demand more effort than some other locations, even if they seem less steep than those at Buttes-Chaumont in the 20th arrondissement. Bruno, who trains at Charléty Stadium and lives in the 14th, likes having two parks « with some climbs » nearby. The presence of paths, rather than just roads, is a real bonus for this part of Paris.

Two forests less than 30 minutes from central Paris

© The Bois de Vincennes loop © Jean-Baptiste Gurliat / City of Paris

The Bois de Vincennes and its 995 hectares are a favourite playground for Parisian runners. Less out of the way than the Bois de Boulogne, crossed by the Paris Marathon route and easily reached via Metro lines 1 and 8, it offers a privileged natural setting, with lakes and shaded paths. «  There’s Lac Daumesnil in the Bois de Vincennes, which is great for people from south-east Paris!  » says Albena, who usually runs in Parc de Choisy, closer to home. « Lac Daumesnil is nice, but it’s too crowded, adds Julien, a member of Paris Université Club. But there are loads of green spaces in the woods, between Avenue de Saint-Mandé, Avenue Daumesnil, Route de la Pyramide and Avenue de Gravelle  ». The Parisian has no shortage of ideas for adding variety to his runs, immediately suggesting: « Otherwise, the banks of the Marne or Lac des Minimes! »

For trail runners in training, the Gravelle plateau, in the south-east of the Bois de Vincennes, near Pershing Stadium and the racecourse, is a must for hill work. Between the first climb, Route des Barrières, relatively gentle at an average gradient of 5% but tough on the legs at 500 metres long, and the second, shorter at around 100 metres but with a gradient close to 7% that really gets the heart rate up, there is something for everyone. Whether you are in the middle of cross-country season or simply a trail enthusiast, this unique spot just outside Paris delivers exactly what you need.

Smaller parks, perfect for a short run

The Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries Garden are excellent places to run in well-maintained spaces managed by the city. With flowers, gravel paths and occasional sections of packed earth or paving, they are perfect for a 30-minute run at a moderate pace.

These parks are particularly popular with runners living in central Paris, such as Louise, a middle-distance runner based in Châtelet. She alternates between long runs along the quays « because there are no cars  » and roughly 1-kilometre loops in the Tuileries Garden, « because it’s on paths and, above all, it’s close to home  ». Julie also favours these parks to avoid tarmac, even if « they’re not very big » and do not allow her to « get the miles in » , despite sometimes running up to around 15 kilometres in a single outing.

Take the RER to some unusual forests

Although the Paris region is largely urban and flat, several popular spots attract trail and off-road runners. The Forest of Fontainebleau, 60 km south of Paris, is the essential destination: varied trails, rocks, elevation and wild landscapes make it ideal for trail running, orienteering and even climbing. Closer to the capital, the Chevreuse Valley, 30 to 50 km south-west, draws runners with its wooded trails and worthwhile climbs. This year, it celebrated its 40th anniversary with its 65,000 hectares and the Château de la Madeleine, a fortress built between the 11th and 14th centuries that is open to the public free of charge.

© Sénart Forest © City of Vigneux-sur-Seine

Other forests are also well worth the trip, including Sénart Forest, one of the largest state forests in the Île-de-France region. Covering 3,000 hectares to the south-east, it is easy to reach and perfect for long runs, with wide concrete paths and a maze of smaller trails where it is easy to lose your bearings. Further west, the vast and mostly flat Rambouillet Forest offers marked routes for all levels, while Meudon Forest, closer to Paris in the south-west, is smaller but ideal for intervals thanks to its rolling terrain.

Finally, the French Vexin Regional Nature Park, to the north-west, is an Île-de-France area renowned for hiking. More than 70 walking, hiking, GR and GRP routes make it a vast playground for walkers and trail runners alike. Its natural landscapes deserve the spotlight: marshes, quarries, woods and chalk hillsides combine to create a park that is well worth exploring. « It’s lucky to live in the suburbs and have access to this huge expanse of forest every day, I never get tired of it », says Baptiste, who lives in Essonne, near Sénart Forest.

Whether you are looking for a simple run in nature or a demanding training session, it often takes no more than an RER ride to escape into the countryside.

Forget the clichés about running in Paris: between the riverbanks, woods, forests and the wealth of landmarks in the City of Light, there is no shortage of scenery to enjoy while getting a proper workout. All that remains is to lace up and get moving!

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