Is the Jardin du Dragon free?

Yes — the dragon garden and all of Parc de la Villette are free to enter. Only indoor venues like the Cité des Sciences have admission fees.

How old should kids be to enjoy the dragon slide?

Best for ages 2 to 11. Younger toddlers can explore the base; kids 4–10 tend to get the most out of the climbing and sliding.

Where is the Jardin du Dragon in the park?

It's in the Galerie de la Villette section — check the park map at the entrance or look for the Géode as a nearby landmark.

Jardin du Dragon

Name: Jardin du Dragon
Address: Paris, France, US
Telephone: 01 40 03 75 75
Rating: 4.2

Rating

4.2(247)

Price

Free

Duration

1–2 hours

Best Ages

2–11

About

The Jardin du Dragon is one of the most beloved children's areas in Parc de la Villette — a 55-hectare green park in the 19th arrondissement that's one of the largest parks in Paris. The garden is named for its centerpiece: a massive steel dragon that serves as an elevated climbing and sliding structure. Kids can climb up inside the dragon and come barreling out the tail.

It's dramatic and a lot of fun.

Pauvres de la Villette was built in the 1980s and 90s as part of a major urban renewal project, and the park has a modern design sensibility with interesting sculptures, follies and themed gardens throughout. The Jardin du Dragon is in the Galerie de la Villette section of the park, surrounded by lawns where you can spread out a picnic.

The broader Villette complex includes the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (one of Europe's best science museums, excellent for kids), the Géode IMAX theater, and concert venues. A family could spend an entire day here moving between the free outdoor areas and the paid attractions. The Cité des Enfants section of the science museum is particularly well regarded for ages 2–12.

Open from 8am to 7pm daily. Easy to reach by metro — Porte de la Villette or Porte de Pantin (line 5).

Age Suitability

Infants (0-1)Toddlers (1-3)Little Kids (4-6)Big Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13-17)

Parent Logistics

Stroller-Friendly

Nursing / Changing

false

Kid Meals

false

Setting

Outdoor

Rainy Day

Not ideal

Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit

Weekday mornings before school groups arrive

Wait Times

5–15 min for the dragon slide on busy days

Nearby Food

Several cafes and snack kiosks inside Parc de la Villette, especially near the Cité des Sciences. The canal-side area has casual restaurants and brasseries.

Why Kids Love It

Hidden inside the massive Parc de la Villette complex, the Jardin du Dragon is named for its enormous dragon-shaped slide that kids absolutely go nuts for. The dragon is climbable and the slide is genuinely fun — longer and faster than most playground slides in Paris. The surrounding Villette park has lawns, other play structures and plenty of space to run.

Pro Tips from Parents

The dragon slide can have a queue on weekends — go early or on a weekday
Combine with the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie for a full day — the Cité des Enfants section (ages 2–12) is one of the best kids' museum experiences in Paris

What to Bring

Picnic lunch — lots of lawn space in the park
Sunscreen and layers (the Villette is exposed and can be breezy)
Comfortable shoes for the kids

Cost Info

Free Admission

Estimated Cost (Family of 4)

USD 0 (free admission to the garden and park)

Tips to Save

The Jardin du Dragon and Parc de la Villette are free to enter.
If you combine with the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie nearby, budget ~USD 60–80 for that separately.
The park itself is a full half-day without spending anything.