The image of Seine-Saint-Denis is one of an urbanized, concrete-packed Parisian suburb, filled with high-rise apartment blocks. But beyond the clichés, the département is rich in cultural and sporting outings, large parks and green spaces, and historic monuments. Just a stone's throw from Paris, in the capital's inner suburbs, discover this sometimes unloved department, but always full of ideas for family outings in the area.
A land of heritage, Seine-Saint-Denis is home to the necropolis of the kings and queens of France - the Basilique de Saint-Denis - as well as the world's largest antiques market (Puces de Saint-Ouen), and vast green spaces that would make the Jardin du Luxembourg pale in comparison... With its rich history, the department has a particularly strong industrial past, but above all, a very dense cultural and associative life, with numerous festivals and events scheduled throughout the year.
Barely beyond the Parisian ring road, it's off to Seine-Saint-Denis!
Heritage, cultural outings & walks



Jardin21, season 2026: a week of celebration, nature and cultural discoveries at the heart of Parc de la Villette
Sponsored - In May, Jardin21, the festive and green community hub perched along the Canal de l’Ourcq in the 19th arrondissement, extends the season with a rich and varied program. Take the chance to fully enjoy these fine days: engaged initiatives, gardening workshops, youth activities, festive evenings, a yoga session... Everything’s in place to escape without leaving Paris! Free admission. [Read more]



Centurion: the amateur MMA tournament featuring single-elimination bouts in Aubervilliers
The hopefuls of French MMA will try to make their mark at CENTURION, a tournament that upends the rules by bringing together 100 amateur fighters through single-elimination galas, throughout the year. [Read more]



A festival blending music and circus arts takes over an open-air theater for Rendez-Vous aux Jardins 2026.
In Montreuil, the Girandole’s open‑air theater is offering a festive pick designed for both kids and grown-ups during Rendez-vous aux jardins, the weekend of June 5–7, 2026, in the heart of the famous Peach Walls. [Read more]



Rendez-vous at the Gardens 2026: activities at the Maison des Sciences de l'Homme in Saint-Denis (93)
From 5 to 7 June 2026, plan a visit to the most beautiful squares, parks, and gardens of Paris and the Île-de-France region for the 2026 edition of Rendez-vous aux Jardins. In Saint-Denis, discover the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme and the program waiting for you at this event. [Read more]



La Ferme Caillard: festive venue, vegetable garden and educational farm in Bondy (93)
In Bondy, in Seine-Saint-Denis, Caillard Farm welcomes you year-round to its semi-urban setting, between the city and nature. [Read more]



Saint-Denis Open Farm: a nature escape for families near Paris
The open farm in Saint-Denis is like an oasis in the middle of the city: just a few minutes' walk from metro line 13, it's a place where nature seems to have reclaimed its rights, with fields full of vegetables, large greenhouses and, above all, animals. [Read more]



A free exhibition dedicated to Korean digital art, housed in the heart of a former boiler room!
The Fiminco Foundation and the Korean Cultural Center present "Illumination," a digital art exhibition you can explore for free until June 21, 2026. Located within easy reach of the metro in Romainville, it reveals three monumental installations alongside interactive works. [Read more]



Dream Nation 2026 in Paris Nord: Pendulum, Todiefor, The Bloody Beetroots... the first acts announced
Good news for night owls! The Dream Nation festival is returning to the north of Paris. Mark your calendars for this autumn, Friday October 30 and Saturday October 31, 2026, at Parc des Expos Paris Nord to enjoy this iconic electronic-music festival. On the lineup for this new 13th edition, Halloween-themed perhaps? Pendulum, Todiefor, The Bloody Beetroots, Novah, Marion Di Napoli, Dirtyphonics, and Vini Vici. [Read more]



Coupe de France 2026: which channel will broadcast the final between Lens and Nice at the Stade de France?
The 2026 Coupe de France is nearing its end, with the final just around the corner. After months of clashes between smaller clubs and giants, Lens and Nice will close out the competition on May 22, 2026, at the Stade de France. [Read more]



The Cherqui Foundation: the kinetic art museum just outside Paris!
Sponsored - The Cherqui Foundation is a genuine museum housing a private collection of 5,000 optical and kinetic artworks that opens to the public. The grandson of collector Jean Cherqui leads guided tours at the heart of his grandfather’s vast collection. Discover the upcoming dates! The museum is open during the Spring holidays! [Read more]



La Prairie du Canal, the eco-farm — Bobigny’s open-air electro event: the lineup of DJ sets
La Prairie du Canal, in Bobigny, is the place to go green and party this summer! Discover the musical program for the coming weeks in this giant open-air venue, surrounded by nature. [Read more]



Free gardening workshops at Jardin 21: everything you need to know about germination and sowing…
To mark its reopening with the arrival of sunny days, Jardin 21 is offering gardening workshops for everyone. [Read more]



Music Day 2026: DJ set by the South Korean artist Didi Han at the Fiminco Foundation (93)
The Fiminco Foundation, located in Seine-Saint-Denis, will celebrate Music Day on Sunday, June 21, 2026. On the menu? A DJ set by South Korean DJ and producer Didi Han. [Read more]



Night of Museums 2026: Poster design workshop at the Museum of Living History in Montreuil
The Living History Museum, the historic museum located in Montreuil's Parc Montreau, invites you to celebrate Night of Museums this Saturday, May 23, 2026, with an exceptional late-night program we’re revealing to you. [Read more]



BattleKart Paris Nord: immersive Mario Kart-style go-karting at the gates of Paris
Sponsored - In Villepinte, BattleKart Paris Nord blends electric go-karting, immersive video gaming and indoor entertainment near Paris for a family outing, a friends’ day out, or a colleagues’ event. Come test classic go-karting as well as the more unusual options during mini-games! And enjoy a weekend offer. [Read more]



Gardening and a concert: the Night of Museums 2026 program at the Paul Éluard Museum of Art and History
At the Paul Éluard Museum of Art and History in Saint-Denis, a host of activities has been organized for Museums Night. Explore the schedule for this all-are-welcome nocturnal event on Saturday, May 23, 2026. [Read more]
Spots where to sleep and have fun with the kids



Le Charmant, the cosy hotel and refined restaurant in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine (93)
On Rue du Landy, in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, Le Charmant is a beautiful place, one of those where you immediately feel at home. Opening in spring 2025, Le Charmant lives up to its name. [Read more]



Meïda, chef Mohamed Cheikh's Mediterranean-influenced brasserie in Saint-Ouen
In September, chef Mohamed Cheikh officially set up shop in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, opening Meïda, the brasserie that brings the Mediterranean to Paris (well, right next door). [Read more]



Good plan for families: a kids' club at the MOB House in Saint-Ouen, every Sunday
A new meeting place for families - and above all, children - the MOB House now opens its kids club every Sunday afternoon. [Read more]



Discover CinqSens Café's gourmet brunch by Nicolas Paciello
Discover the gourmet Sunday brunch at CinqSens Café, launched by Nicolas Paciello in Pantin. Available every Sunday, with options for the whole family and services dedicated to parents. [Read more]



Le Bloom Café, a family restaurant in Saint-Ouen's Docks district
Just a stone's throw from Saint-Ouen's largest park, Les Docks, Bloom Café is the perfect address for any occasion of the day: breakfast, lunch, brunch, afternoon tea... Family-friendly, affordable and generous, it's a neighborhood restaurant just the way we like them: with an extra soul, good food and a welcome just like home. [Read more]



La Grande bouffe, the Sunday lunch of the MOB House in Saint-Ouen
As we all know, Sundays are family lunchtime, a time for getting together, catching up on the latest news and, above all, enjoying generous, home-cooked meals. At Feuille de Chou, the MOB House's organic brasserie, this same spirit is behind the new Grande Bouffe: a no-frills lunch, à la bonne franquette, to share. [Read more]
Zoos and aquariums
Amusement parks and fairgrounds



FunBox: the world's largest inflatable park arrives in France, offering 4,000 m2 of fun
Sponsored - Fun awaits in Paris. From March 12 to May 31, Westfield Rosny 2 shopping center is hosting the world’s largest inflatable park. After making a splash in the United States and Spain, Funbox is making its debut in France, brought over by Productores de Sonrisas, Spain’s leading family entertainment producer. And until March 23, it’s Happiness Week — all tickets are just €11. [Read more]
Sports outings



Boat rental without a license for a bucolic cruise on the Marne, near Neuilly (93)
From April 18, 2026, the meetup is planned on the Neuilly-sur-Marne side for a boat ride not along the Seine but on the Marne, aboard a license-free boat you don’t need a license to operate. [Read more]



Tepacap Coubron, the only tree-top adventure park in Seine-Saint-Denis, located in the Bondy forest (93)
Located in the heart of the Bondy Regional Forest, in a wooded setting just 25 minutes from Paris, Tepacap Coubron (formerly Plaine Forme) is a nature-forward sports site. On the agenda? Tree-top courses, urban stilts, a bike-stepper... To be explored starting with the venue’s reopening on March 29, 2025. [Read more]



Paddling the Canal 2026: Descending the Ourcq Canal by canoe, kayak or stand-up paddle this summer
L'Eté du Canal kicks off with a new edition of Canal en pagaies, this fun paddle down the Ourcq Canal, on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Are you ready to paddle 10 kilometers? [Read more]



The Île-Saint-Denis departmental park, for a green walk along the Seine River
With its 25 hectares of lush greenery, the Parc de l'Île-Saint-Denis offers a place to unwind, just a few kilometers from the capital. Immerse yourself in this little-known park, which has all the makings of a green interlude in the Paris region. [Read more]
Parks and gardens



Montfermeil Arboretum: An Unconventional Natural Retreat in Seine-Saint-Denis
In Seine-Saint-Denis, the Montfermeil municipal arboretum stretches over 11 hectares of greenery, featuring a unique botanical trail, open to visitors free of charge year-round. It's a perfect nature getaway to the east of Paris, especially during this sunny season. [Read more]



Parc Georges-Valbon, one of the largest green spaces in Ile-de-France, at La Courneuve (93)
It's the third largest green space in Île-de-France, after the Bois de Vincennes and the Bois de Boulogne in the inner suburbs: the Parc Georges-Valbon, also known as the Parc de la Courneuve, is located in the northern suburbs of Paris and is a real gem for walks, bike rides and family outings... [Read more]



Parc de la Légion d'Honneur, a green lung a stone's throw from the Stade de France, Saint-Denis (93)
Just a few minutes' walk from the famous Stade de France or the historic Basilica of Saint-Denis, the Parc de la Légion d'Honneur is a little-known green space, yet it offers a truly exotic stroll around Saint-Denis. [Read more]



Parc départemental de la Fosse Maussoin, 14 hectares of greenery in the heart of Seine-Saint-Denis
Nestled in the heart of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, Parc de la Fosse Maussoin is Clichy-sous-Bois' largest green lung. [Read more]



Parc Jean Moulin les Guilands, the large green space between Bagnolet and Montreuil
To the east of Paris, in the towns of Montreuil and Bagnolet, the Parc Jean Moulin les Guilands brings together two originally separate green spaces: the Parc Communal des Guilands in Montreuil and the Parc Départemental Jean Moulin in Bagnolet, for a lovely green stroll in this part of the region. [Read more]



Josette and Maurice Audin Park, the public garden of a 19th-century manor house in Bagnolet (93)
Originally the private garden of a 19th-century manor house, the Josette et Maurice Audin park is now one of Bagnolet's public parks, and the manor house, still visible, is proof of this. [Read more]



Parc de la Butte Pinson, the green spot to feel like you're in the forest, in Villetaneuse (93)
Just north of Saint-Denis, in the town of Villetaneuse, lies a lovely wooded park that makes you feel like you're strolling through a forest. Welcome to the Parc de la Butte Pinson, a favorite haunt of Impressionists and city dwellers in search of greenery. [Read more]



Parc départemental de la Bergère, Bobigny's (93) green lung on the water's edge
On the banks of the Canal de l'Ourcq in Bobigny, Seine-Saint-Denis, Parc de la Bergère is the city's largest green space, perfect for a stroll or picnic in fine weather. [Read more]



Parc de la Sapinière, an island of greenery in Romainville (93)
In Romainville, just east of Paris, nestles a green space ideal for city walks, jogging or picnicking in the open air in fine weather. [Read more]



Parc Montreau, one of the oldest landscaped parks in the Paris region, in Montreuil (93)
During a walk in Montreuil, discover the Parc Montreau, a huge 15-hectare park where you can enjoy a stroll all year round, as well as an outdoor picnic in fine weather. [Read more]



Montreuil: discover the Parc des Beaumonts and its breathtaking view over Paris
East of Paris, the town of Montreuil boasts a number of green spaces, perfect for a stroll, a picnic in the sun or a jog: discover the largest of them all, the Parc des Beaumonts. [Read more]



The Grand Parc des Docks de Saint-Ouen, a green oasis in the heart of the new Docks district
Right in the middle of the Docks eco-neighborhood in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine (93), the Grand Parc offers a genuine natural setting for jogging, family walks and picnics... [Read more]



Parc de la Haute-Île, a magnificent wild green space in Neuilly-sur-Marne (93)
Just a few kilometers from Paris, take the RER A towards Marne-la-Vallée and discover the Parc Départemental de la Haute-Île in Neuilly-sur-Marne: with its beautiful playground, wide paths for jogging and observatories, it's one of the most beautiful parks in the area! [Read more]



Parc de la Poudrerie, a listed green nugget in Sevran (93)
Fifteen kilometers from the Bassin de la Villette, along the Canal de l'Ourcq, lies a lovely 137-hectare forest park in the Seine-Saint-Denis municipalities of Livry-Gargan, Villepinte, Sevran and Vaujours. Combining remnants of the area's industrial past with immense tree-lined avenues, it's one of the green spaces not to be missed for a bike ride, family outing or jogging session... in the 93. [Read more]
Current activities



Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Grand Paris Express with a free tour of the Fabrique du Métro.
In Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, among the various warehouses of the Docks industrial zone, you'll find the Fabrique du Métro. The Fabrique du Métro is a genuine laboratory for experimenting and testing the future metro lines of the Grand Paris Express, and offers free tours of what our future public transport systems will look like. [Read more]



The world's largest inflatable park is making its debut this spring in Seine-Saint-Denis
From March 12 to May 31, 2026, Rosny-sous-Bois shopping center will feature the world's largest inflatable park! Spanning 4,000 square meters of indoor play areas, children and adults alike are invited to conquer towering slides and navigate a challenging obstacle course — fun for the whole family. [Read more]