Looking for things to do with kids in Paris? Its idyllic parks, architectural landmarks and historic museums make it an excellent city to explore with children. Just wandering around provides lots of opportunities to take in what this beautiful city has to offer and there’s more than enough to keep adventurous kids in Paris having fun. We’ve visited this great city many times and our daughter has relished her time there.
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The best places to visit with kids in Paris
You can squeeze plenty into a visit with kids in Paris. For those that love theme parks, there’s Disneyland Paris and Parc Astérix on the outskirts. Or you could meet the animals at one of the oldest zoos in the world – Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes. There’s also exploring the fabulous city itself, visiting some of the famous landmarks, museums, parks or having a wander in the wonderful city. In this post, you’ll find 20 things to do with kids in Paris – there are of course many, many more!
Visit the famous landmarks
Paris wouldn’t be Paris without its famous landmarks. From the Eiffel Tower to Sacré-Cœur and the Arc de Triomphe, these majestic monuments are a delight to see both during the day and at night when they illuminate the skyline. Here are just a few of our favourites.
Eiffel Tower
Our last trip to Paris was daughter POD’s first so we had to take her up the Eiffel Tower. Thankfully the glass-bottomed lift has been replaced so the journey up was much less terrifying than I remember. The views from the top of the Eiffel Tower, designed and built in the 19th century to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, are truly spectacular. Standing 324m tall, it’s recognised as one of the most iconic monuments in the world, much like the Empire State Building in New York, The View From The Shard in London and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. If you want to see more of the Eiffel Tower, check out this post.
Montmartre
With its magnificent Basilica, cobbled paths and an array of interesting street artists, Montmartre is a fascinating place for kids in Paris. Perched on the top of a hill, this well-known district has retained its village feel even if it does get busy at times. It’s an absolute delight to wander around here and we have fond memories of Montmartre, from way back when, having had a portrait done. POD was fascinated by the singers and entertainers although we walked a little quicker when she insisted on giving change to all of them!
Sacré-Coeur Basilica
The Sacré-Cœur Basilica, or the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, is perched on the highest point of the city at Butte Hill where there are impressive views of the Eiffel Tower, La Défense and the Montparnasse Tower. The Sacré-Cœur is one of the most popular in Paris and having visited several times before, we headed to the steps of Amelie of Montmartre. The Square Louise Michel gardens are great for taking some time out and there are plenty of bistros and cafes nearby if you need a bite to eat.
The Arc de Triomphe
Overlooking the Champs-Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe is the biggest arch in the world at 50 metres high, 45 metres long and 22 metres wide. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, it was built to celebrate his Austerlitz victory. Beneath the arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the flame of remembrance is rekindled every evening. From the terrace, there are panoramic views across Paris. There’s lift access to all levels including the museum.
Notre Dame…one day
Much like the rest of the world, we were heartbroken to see the medieval Notre Dame Cathedral ravaged by fire but we couldn’t exclude this iconic landmark from our list. We have fond memories of gargoyle spotting outside Notre Dame while listening to a couple of nearby opera singers. The atmosphere was just lovely. With the restoration of this magnificent structure now underway, we hope one day we will see Notre Dame return to its former glory.
See a Parisian museum
The museums in Paris are an excellent way to introduce children to the arts with digital technology, apps and touchscreen guides making the exhibits easier to understand. On the first Sunday of the month, most of the city’s national museums, open their doors to the public free of charge.
Musée Grévin
This waxwork museum is fun for all the family is located in the most beautiful setting and has over 200 waxworks of famous people, both past and present. From Mozart, Louis XIV of France and Jean Reno to Katy Perry, Ryan Gosling or Jean-Paul Gaultier, there are stars from film, sport and cinema with immersive scenery and entertaining staging. Excellent fun for all the family with tours for 7 to 12-year-olds showing how the wax figures are made.
Musée du Louvre
Most famous is, of course, the Louvre which provides older children with the opportunity to appreciate a treasure trove of artwork and canvases including the celebrated Mona Lisa. The museum also has entertaining children’s trails like La Petite Galerie which presents original artwork with adapted interpretation and cultured programmes in the auditorium.
Centre Pompidou
The Pompidou Centre has activities for all ages, making it easy to explore modern and contemporary art. The Galerie des Enfants (Kids Gallery) and Atelier des Enfants (Kids Studio) have interactive exhibitions and there are numerous activities for families. There’s even an open space with free programmes for older children (13-16-year-olds). The views from the 6th floor are also pretty special.
Musée d’Orsay
Renowned for its collection of impressionist art, the Musée d’Orsay houses paintings, sculptures and photography from the period 1848 to 1914. It was renovated in 2011, reopening with some additional rooms such as the Pavillion Amont, the redesign of the Impressionists Gallery with aquatic decor for the Café des Hauteurs. There is a treasure trail specifically designed for families wand fun shows, suitable for children aged 5-18 years.
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris
The Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris is a collection of museums, gardens, galleries and zoos in the Île-de-France region. With spaces dedicated to plants, animals, minerals and humans, it comprises of the Jardin des Plantes, the Grande Galérie de l’Évolution and the Parc Zoologique de Paris to name a few.
Explore a Parisian park or garden
It might seem hard to believe in a city like Paris but there are numerous parks and gardens to explore whether you fancy a walk along the river, chilling out over a picnic or just enjoying some green space.
Jardin d’Acclimatation
The Jardin d’Acclimatation is the oldest park in Paris and extends over more than 18 hectares. With long winding paths, ancient trees and lush green lawns, its home to 40 rides and a train that dates back to 1878. Plus there are pony and donkey rides, puppet shows, a small farm and an aviary. New rides were recently added with outdoor play areas all over the park for younger children.
Le Jardin de Luxembourg
The 60-acre Le Jardin de Luxembourg, for example, is quintessentially Parisian. Originally created for Queen Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry the IV, it’s split into French and English gardens with an enormous pond separating the two. It’s located in a chic district between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, and a wonderful place to unwind. There’s a geometric forest, an orchard, an apiary, an Orangerie and a pavilion with over a hundred statues. Highlights for us included sailing a small boat in the pond and listening to a band in the forest.
Le Jardin des Plantes
Founded in 1626 by Louis XIII’s doctor as a medicinal garden, Le Jardin des Plantes was opened to the public in 1640. This 400-year-old nature retreat and botanical garden comprises of plants and trees, some of which are hundreds of years old. There are 2.5 hectares of garden and even a Ménagerie with zoo animals.
Jardin des Tuileries
These relaxing gardens, which separate the Louvre from the Place de la Concorde, take their name from the tile factories that stood on the site where the Palais des Tuileries were built. There are two ponds and the Musée de l’Orangerie, where visitors can admire the works of Monet. The Fête des Tuileries, with its carousel, carnival and Ferris wheel, takes place from June to August.
Parc Floral de Paris
Popular with nature lovers, the Parc Floral de Paris spans some 28 acres and is a great to walk in. It has several play areas for children, including a mini-golf course resembling a miniature version of the city. Numerous free events are held here including the Paris Jazz Festival.
See the attractions
If you’re in the French capital for more than a long weekend and don’t fancy Disneyland Paris, there are many other ways to entertain the kids. Like a trip to an aquarium, the zoo or even a flea market.
Aquarium de Paris
Situated in the Trocadero gardens, a stone’s throw from Eiffel Tower is the Paris Aquarium. Alongside an impressive shark collection with 32 specimens held in three million litres of water, there are 500 species of fish and invertebrates with over 40 pools containing thousands of specimens and coral. There’s even a petting pool where children can touch fish and two cinemas.
Parc Zoologique (Vincennes Zoo)
This zoo has been part of Parisian heritage for over 80 years. Following five years of renovations, visitors can watch and learn about the behaviour of the zoo’s thousand or so animals (180 species) in the wild in their natural environments. The principles behind the zoo’s design, which has five biozones, are to show mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates in surroundings that replicate their natural ecosystems.
Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen
The St Ouen Flea Market is thought to be the biggest in the world with 15 markets and over 3,000 traders in an area that covers seven hectares. Steeped in history, the markets bring together antique dealers, designers, artisans and artists in an authentic and unique location.
Bateaux-Mouches
Founded in 1949 by Jean Bruel, Compagnie des Bateaux-Mouches was originally a single steamboat. These days there is a fleet of 15 boats which offer tours of Paris along the Seine. Typically lasting an hour, tours encompass the Eiffel Tower, the Conciergerie and the Alexander III bridge with its golden statues and streetlights reflecting in the water.
Paris Plages
In the summer months, the riverbanks in Paris (Parc Rives de Seine and La Villette canal basin) resemble a seaside resort what with all the deckchairs, parasols and palm trees. With activities for both adults and kids, these artificial beaches have plenty to keep everyone occupied including three large swimming pools!
Explore Paris on foot
We stayed at the 4 Star Meliá París La Défense in the Courbevoie province when we were last in Paris. This is between the two main avenues that lead from the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees (the Esplanade de La Défense Metro is also close by). This meant we could reach the historic centre of Paris in ten minutes which is ideal for exploring and meant we didn’t need to stay right in the centre.
We always find one of the best ways to explore a city is by walking, and more often than not, by getting lost. There’s so much to see in Paris and there’s an abundance of cafes, squares and carousels dotted around the city. We’ve been to Paris many times but it was POD’s first visit and she loved it. Heading there on Eurostar worked well too as it meant she could have a little nap on the way home. If you want to see more of our trip, including our visit to the Eiffel Tower, check out this video from our previous visit.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our post with the best 20 things to do in Paris with kids. Why not check out our city breaks to Venice (including the Venetian Islands and sunrise in St Mark’s Square), Prague and Verona. Browse our France category here.
