Its orientation is north–south, and joins boulevard Saint-Germain with place Denfert-Rochereau whilst traversing 7th, 6th and 14th arrondissements.

The Allée Claude-Cahun-Marcel-Moore is situated on the boulevard, in front of the Alliance française.

The boulevard was named after François-Vincent Raspail (1794–1878), French chemist, physician and politician.

The modernist architect Le Corbusier criticizes the Boulevard Raspail in Toward an Architecture for its disregard of proper proportion and capriciousness.

[1] In 1933, the enlarged part of the Boulevard Raspail surrounding n° 51, where it meets the Rue du Cherche-Midi, was named the Place Alphonse-Deville.