# Parc de la Villette, Paris > La Villette is the third-largest park in Paris, 55 hectares in the north-east of the city where science, music and leisure meet. It holds Europe's largest science museum, the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, the mirrored Géode sphere with its IMAX cinema, Jean Nouvel's Philharmonie de Paris, the Cité de la Musique and the Zénith concert hall. Between them are lawns, themed gardens, playgrounds and 35 bright red pavilions by the architect Bernard Tschumi. The park is free, museums and concerts are ticketed, and it's ideal with children. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/paris/parc-de-la-villette - City: [Paris](https://yesgo.io/france/paris), France - YesGo score: 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Park free, museums ticketed - Hours: Park always open, museums by day - Area: 55.5 hectares - Visitors: ≈ 10 million a year - Duration: Half a day with a museum - Location: 19th arrondissement, metro Porte de la Villette or Porte de Pantin - Coordinates: 48.89306, 2.39056 - Facts checked: 12.11.2026 ## Key facts - **55.5 ha** — area of the park (source: English Wikipedia) - **36 m** — diameter of La Géode (source: English Wikipedia) - **35** — red Tschumi follies (source: English Wikipedia) - **2,400** — seats in the Philharmonie (source: English Wikipedia) ## About the Parc de la Villette La Villette is a **55.5-hectare** park in the 19th arrondissement on the north-eastern edge of Paris, the city's third largest. It's one of the biggest cultural hubs in Paris, with museums, concert halls, theatres, a circus, cinemas and gardens. Around **10 million** people visit each year. The Swiss-French architect **Bernard Tschumi** designed the park, completed by 1987, as an experiment in deconstructivism built on 'points, lines and surfaces': the points are 35 bright red **follies**, the lines are paths and galleries, the surfaces are lawns. Instead of a conventional garden, he created a space for play, rest and discovery. ## What to see - **The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie** — Europe's largest science museum. - **La Géode** — a mirrored sphere with an IMAX cinema. - **The Philharmonie de Paris** — Jean Nouvel's concert hall. - **The Cité de la Musique** — a museum of musical instruments. - **The red follies** — Bernard Tschumi's 35 pavilions. - **Themed gardens** — play areas and gardens for children. ## The science city and La Géode In the park's north stands the **Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie**, Europe's largest science museum, with interactive exhibitions on space, the human body, climate, maths and technology, a planetarium and the separate **Cité des Enfants**, where children from two upwards can touch and try everything. Before the museum, by the water, gleams **La Géode**, a giant mirrored sphere **36 metres** across, made of thousands of triangles. Inside is an IMAX cinema with a huge dome screen showing films on nature, space and travel. Reflecting sky and trees, it has become one of the most recognisable shapes of modern Paris. > **Planning your day** The park itself is free and always open, but buy tickets for the Cité des Sciences, Cité des Enfants and Géode ahead online, especially at weekends and in school holidays. Many museums close on Mondays. In summer an open-air cinema shows free films on the lawn. Bring a picnic, as the lawns are for relaxing. ## Music and concerts La Villette is the main music quarter of Paris. In the south stands Jean Nouvel's **Philharmonie de Paris**, opened in 2015, a shimmering building with a **2,400-seat** hall for symphonies, jazz and world music, and a rooftop view over the park. Nearby are the **Cité de la Musique**, with a conservatoire and a museum of historic instruments, the 6,300-seat **Zénith** for rock and pop, the Trabendo club and the Cabaret Sauvage. Circus companies perform under a permanent big top, and the 19th-century Grande Halle hosts exhibitions and festivals. ## Gardens and family fun Between the buildings stretch lawns, avenues and **themed gardens**, dunes, a bamboo grove, gardens of mist and water, and playgrounds with slides and mazes. Tschumi's red pavilions dot the park as landmarks: some house cafés and information points, others children's studios. The **Canal de l'Ourcq** crosses the park, lovely for a walk or bike ride. Follow it on foot to the Bassin de la Villette and the [Canal Saint-Martin](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/canal-saint-martin), and in summer sightseeing boats come this way. There's also an equestrian centre. ## How to get there 1. Metro line 7 to **Porte de la Villette** or **Corentin Cariou**, for the science city. 2. Metro line 5 to **Porte de Pantin**, for the Philharmonie and Cité de la Musique. 3. Tram T3b stops by the park. 4. On foot along the Canal de l'Ourcq from the Bassin de la Villette, about 25 minutes. ## Tips for your visit With children, allow half a day: the Cité des Enfants or Cité des Sciences in the morning, a picnic on the lawn and the play gardens after lunch. Adults should look into the Philharmonie for a concert or a tour of the building. The park is big, so use the red pavilions and signs to find your way. In summer check the programme of open-air films and festivals: screenings are free and lawn spots fill early. La Villette combines well with a walk along the Canal Saint-Martin, one of the best routes through modern Paris. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Book the Cité des Sciences - [ ] Photograph La Géode - [ ] Find a few red follies - [ ] Picnic on the lawn - [ ] Check the Philharmonie programme ## Places in Paris: compare and choose Places in Paris rated by YesGo. - [Luxembourg Gardens](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/jardin-du-luxembourg) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free - [Tuileries Garden](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/tuileries-garden) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free - [Palace of Versailles](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/versailles) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 6 h · Timed ticket, online - [Champ de Mars](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/champ-de-mars) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Parc Monceau](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/parc-monceau) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 50 min · Free - [Musée Rodin](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/musee-rodin) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Museum and garden ticket, free under 18 - [Parc de la Villette](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/parc-de-la-villette) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Park free, museums ticketed ## Don't mix it up The Parc de la Villette is the modern museum park on the city's edge; the Bassin de la Villette is the wide basin by Place de Stalingrad at the start of the Canal Saint-Martin. ## Tips - The park is free. - Book ahead. - Museums closed Mondays. - Summer cinema on the grass. ## Questions ### How much does the Parc de la Villette cost? The park is free; museums and concerts are ticketed. ### What is there for children? The Cité des Sciences, the Cité des Enfants, La Géode and the play gardens. ### What is La Géode? A 36-metre mirrored sphere with an IMAX cinema. ### How long do I need? Half a day with one museum and a walk in the park. ### How do I get to the Parc de la Villette? By metro line 7 to Porte de la Villette or line 5 to Porte de Pantin. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Museum prices and hours and the film and festival programme weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Parc de la Villette - Park official website, lavillette.com --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.