40x Paris with kids
Paris is magic and neither parents as children can escape the magic of Paris. Whether this magic comes from the vintage style, the historic buildings, the beautiful parks or the merry-go-rounds scattered throughout Paris, Paris breathes magic. A city trip to Paris is guaranteed to be a great experience for children.
The best activities and sights in Paris for children
Just strolling through Paris along the Seine and the cozy terraces is just great fun to do with children, but if you are still looking for some extra tips what to do with children, view all our tips below to do with children when you are in Paris.
40x to do in Paris with kids
Eiffel Tower, the one and only must-see in Paris
The Eiffel Tower must of course be at the top of our list, because this is of course THE highlight of Paris. You really can't miss the Eiffel Tower when going to Paris.
There are several ways to visit the Eiffel Tower. You can of course just walk around it or you can go up.
Going up you again can choose from different options. Walking, with the stairs you can go to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. Now the first floor may sound a bit low, but this is really high enough to enjoy a nice view over Paris.
You can also take the elevator. Then you can choose from the second floor, which is really quite high, or the top.
We went all the way to the top and we would really recommend that to everyone. Because standing on the top of the Eiffel Tower is truly an unforgettable experience. And if it is unforgettable for us, it's definitely unforgettable for kids. For our boys, this was definitely the highlight of our city trip to Paris.
Adress: Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France.
The merry-go-rounds in Paris
There are several merry-go-rounds in Paris spread over the city. And the merry-go-round is always a hit with children. The two most famous places to find a merry-go-round are at the Eiffel Tower and at the foot of the Sacre Coeur. And these merry-go-rounds with these iconic buildings in the background are of course also great for photos.
In our opinion, the most beautiful merry-go-rounds are; The classic carousel with horses at the Hôtel de Ville, the beautiful vintage carousel with a submarine and a hot-air balloon in Parc Monceau and the unique merry-go-round in Jardin des Plantes with all kinds of extinct animals, including mammoths.
Finding the Hunchback of Notre Dame in Paris
The Notre Dame is an important landmark for children in Paris. If they haven't seen the film The Hunchback of Notre Dame, it might be useful to watch it before you go to Paris, because it makes visiting Notre Dame so much more fun for children. They can then just visit a historic church, which they know from a Disney movie and the character from the movie really comes to life. They may even see Quasimodo... Moreover, it is also one of the main attractions of Paris, which enjoys a beautiful location along the Seine. Unfortunately, since the fire in 2019, you can temporarily not go inside, but you can still admire Notre Dame from outside.
Adress: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France.
Jardin du Luxembourg, playing in Paris
Jardin du Luxembourg is truly a paradise for children, the ultimate play paradise. Do the children need to lose some energy? Then this is the place to do it. You can find these gardens in the 6th arrondissement of Paris.
You will find different playgrounds for different ages in this park. In addition, there is also a pond where you can feed the ducks and you can buy something tasty at one of the various food stalls. In Jardin de Luxembourg you can easily enjoy yourself for a few hours.
Adress: 75006 Paris, France.
The Louvre, a collection of history in Paris
The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world. The Louvre museum in Paris is no less than 160,000 m2 in size and has no less than 600,000 different works of art and history. If you go here with children, some preparation is necessary. Check in advance what the kids find interesting and what works of art you would like to see, because the Louvre is big enough to keep you entertained for a whole day. And because it's so big, you quickly get lost in it and you might miss the works you really want to see.
Adress: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France.
The Catacombs, underground in Paris
This may not be an outing for all children, as it may be a bit scary for some children. The Catacombs of Paris are a collection of underground tunnels totaling 290 km in length. From 1785 until the 19th century, these tunnels were used as cemeteries, because the cemeteries in Paris were overcrowded.
In total there are more than 6 million dead Parisians buried in these tunnels, which makes it a bit spooky. The welcome message in these tunnels, after descending 130 steps and no daylight can be seen anymore, reads;
“Arrête, c’est ici l’empire de la mort” In other words: 'Stop, this is the realm of death',
You can visit these catacombs. Unfortunately, there is often a long queue, so it is wise to go here a bit earlier in the day.
Adress: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France.
Jardin du Palais-Royal, climbing and scrambling in the center of Paris
Jardin du Palais-Royal is a nice park close to the Louvre. In the courtyard of the palace you will find black and white poles in different heights, where you can see children climbing on the poles all day long.
The rest of Jardin du Palais-Royal is also very nicely laid out. On the other side of Jardin du Palais-Royal you will also find a nice toy shop and a shop that sells music boxes.
Adress: 43 Rue de Valois, 75001 Paris, France.
Versailles, the royal side of Paris
The Palace of Versailles is the ultimate royal palace. And this palace can be found in Paris. Unfortunately a bit outside of Paris, so you will have to get here by public transport or by car.
Versailles is the most famous palace in France and perhaps the most famous palace in Europe. In total, Versailles covers no less than 800 hectares. So it really is a gigantic estate and an immense palace, with no fewer than 700 rooms, 70 stairs and 5,000 pieces of furniture.
You can visit part of the castle and gardens of Versailles. It can be very busy, especially during the holiday periods. No less than 10 million tourists visit this palace every year. The advice is to visit the gardens in the morning and the palace in the afternoon, because it is often less crowded in the palace then. You will need at least 2 to 3 hours to visit the palace, so keep that in mind in terms of time.
For children it is undoubtedly a special experience to see how these kings once lived in France. And especially for the girls it is of course the ultimate princess palace. All the gold, the majestic sleeping quarters, the large statues and the immense gardens undoubtedly make an unforgettable impression.
Adress: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France.
Hop On Hop Off city tour Paris, all the sights in Paris without having to walk
The Hop On Hop Off City tour bus is one of the easiest and most fun ways to see as much of Paris as possible. It takes you past the main sights of Paris, drops you at the door and you hardly have to walk. Our children always run upstairs quickly, because sitting upstairs in the bus is of course the best.
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, spotting animals in Paris in a different way
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature is a museum that is unexpectedly fun for children. Despite the fact that the name of the museum insinuates that it is a hunting museum, today this museum mainly focuses on the conservation of nature.
This museum was completely renovated in 2021. You can see many stuffed animals, which are humorously combined with paintings and other modern art. A very nice museum to visit with children in Paris.
Click HERE for more informaton.
Adress: 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris, France.
Seine River Cruise, floating along the most beautiful places in Paris
A cruise on the Seine is something you actually should just do when visiting Paris. You can also see the main sights of Paris from a boat on the Seine and that is what makes it so much fun. The boats are also all covered, so even in bad weather a Sein River Cruise is a good idea to explore Paris. There is even a Hop On Hop Off boat, which sails across the Seine. So instead of taking the bus, you can get off by boat at the various sights of Paris. A nice alternative to the Hop On Hop Off City tour bus.
Sacre Coeur, the sacred heart of Paris
The Sacre Coeur may not be the most fun for small children, but a visit to this beautiful church should be part of a trip to Paris.
When you arrive at the foot of the Sacre Coeur, the way up is perhaps the easiest. There are several ways to get to the top. You can go up using the regular stairs, but there are also some more adventurous, hidden stairs to be found on the sides. But the most fun for the children is perhaps the funicular of Montmartre. A vertical funicular that takes you to the top.
You can also visit the Sacre Coeur and admire the inside. And don't forget to walk around it, because the different views of this special basilica are definitely worth it.
Click HERE for more information about the Sacre Coeur, the sacred heart of Paris.
Adress: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France.
Montmartre, the cutest neighborhood in Paris
Montmartre is the cozy neighborhood that you can find near the Sacre Coeur. As far as we are concerned, this is the nicest district of Paris. Especially the square where all the artists gather has a great ambiance and atmosphere. Children will certainly be delighted to see the artist who are drawing live or the cartoonists who make the craziest creations. A tour of Montmartre is definitely part of a city trip to Paris.
Parc Zoologique: the largest zoo in Paris
Parc Zoologique is the largest zoo of Paris. The zoo is a little bit out of the center of Paris, but it's well worth the trip.
The park was only reopened a few years ago, after years of renovation.
It is now a beautiful and modern park to see. It is a spacious zoo, where the animals live together in large biozones. You will have a good view on the different animals from different viewing points and in some places you can get really close to them. The zoo looks really nice and as a bonus there is also a very nice tropical greenhouse.
If you are visiting Paris with children, a day trip to the Parc Zoologique in Paris is definitely recommended.
Adress: Av. Daumesnil, 75012 Paris, France.
Center du Pompidou, an unexpected piece of architecture
The Center du Pompidou in Paris is a very different building in the center of Paris. A completely different building from its surroundings. It's a bit of a crazy building with different, eye-catching, colored tubes on the outside. It was designed by UK architects Richard Rogers and Italy Renzo Piano. The idea behind the special exterior is that they wanted to turn the building inside out. So all pipes have a function, which pipes normally have inside. For example, the blue pipes are air pipes, the green pipes are water pipes and the white pipes are ventilation pipes.
This crazy exterior will especially appeal to children.
The Center du Pompidou is located in the 4th arrondissement. It is a museum of modern art. You will find various paintings, sculptures, movies, theater and many other art forms.
In any case, the museum is a special sight in Paris.
Adress: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France
Parc de Belleville, a little bit of peace with a view over Paris
Parc de Belleville is located in the hip Belleville district of Paris in the 20th arrondissement. It is a park to escape the bustle of Paris for a while, also because this park is not very touristy. The children can run around here for a while. And while the kids can run off some energy, you can enjoy the views over Paris. This park is located at a height of no less than 108 meters and therefore offers really nice views over Paris.
Adress: 47 Rue des Couronnes, 75020 Paris, France.
Musée en Herbe, art for kids in Paris
Musee en Herbe is a small museum near the Louvre. Musee en Herbe is a museum that explains modern art to children. There are several, changing exhibitions in this museum and the nice thing is that children in Musee en Herbe can touch almost everything and don't have to keep their hands to themselves for once..
Click HERE for more information.
Adress: 23 Rue de l'Arbre Sec, 75001 Paris, France.
Eating crêpes in Paris
When you eat in Paris, there are of course a number of things that you should eat. And a crepe certainly belongs in this list. All over Paris you will find food stalls selling these delicious Crepes with chocolate or Nutella. A delicious snack in Paris and few children don't get excited about a crepe with Nutella.
Eiffeltoren by night, the most magical part of Paris
The Eiffel Tower is of course already a very impressive structure during the day, but you should also visit the Eiffel Tower in the evening. The Eiffel Tower is completely lit up and the lights flash every hour, making the Eiffel Tower a true light show. A Must See in Paris.
Musée de la Magie, More magic in Paris
Musee de la Magie is a museum for children from about 6 years old. This magic museum with magic show can be quite an exciting outing for children. And maybe they can discover some magic secrets. Musee de la Magie is located in Village Saint-Paul. This is also a very nice neighborhood, where there are many brocante shops. Nice to stroll through, after a visit to the Musee de La Magie.
Click HERE for more information about Musee de la Magie Parijs.
Adress: 11 Rue Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris, France.
Disneyland Paris, more magic in Paris with Mickey
If you have the chance, I would definitely go to Disneyland Paris for a day or two. It's certainly not a cheap day out, but Disneyland is the most magical amusement park in the world. If you already felt the magic in Paris itself, Disneyland Paris will only make it better. We have been to Disneyland a number of times and it remains great, no matter how many times you come. The attractions are of course exciting, beautiful and special. But it is above all the atmosphere, the decoration and the fairytale castle that really make Disneyland a one of a kind amusement park..
Adress: Bd de Parc, 77700 Coupvray, France
Streetartist at Centre du Pompidou
Center du Pompidou is located on a pleasant square with terraces and restaurants. The atmosphere of this square is very cozy and many tourists walk across it every day. So that means it's the perfect place for street performers. Dancers, acrobats, living statues, you will find all kinds of different street performers here. For children, these street performers bring the magic of the circus with them. The cheerful and colorful Stravinsky Fountain, which stands next to the Center du Pompidou, is also always a hit with children during a Paris city trip.
Adress: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France.
Park Asterix, Galliers in Paris
In addition to Disneyland, there is also Park Asterix, a cheaper alternative to Disneyland. You can't quite compare it with Disneyland, but it is certainly a very nice amusement park. The park has a number of fun roller coasters and there is plenty to do here, especially for the smallest children. The park is unfortunately not fully equipped for foreign tourists, because everything is in French.But well, you are in France.
The theme of Asterix and Obelix is certainly not to be missed in this park.
Adress: 60128 Plailly, France/
Jardin des Plantes, greenery, culture and unexpected animals in Paris
Jardin des Plantes is a botanical garden in Paris. This botanical garden is located in the 5th arrondissement, on the banks of the Seine. It is a green paradise in the middle of Paris, although it is not even as small as you would expect. Jardin des Plantes has a wide variety of plants and flowers. There are three different greenhouses, a very cool museum and even a small zoo.
Jardin des Plantes is definitely recommended to go with children in Paris.
Adress: 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
Musée de l’Armée, for kids in Paris that love knights
Musee de l'Armee can be found in the beautiful Hôtel des Invalides. Interesting fact; Napoleon is buried under the golden dome in this building. But besides the fact that this is of course already very cool, you can also visit the Musee de l'Armee in Hôtel des Invalides. Musee del'Armee is all about the military. So a lot of swords, armor, medals and weapons from the First and Second World War. A museum in Paris for the tough kids.
Adress: 129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, France
The animal cabinet of Deyrolle
The animal cabinet is perhaps the strangest sight on our list. This is a shop with stuffed animals and old-fashioned school posters. The stuffed animals can be found on the first floor, where they are displayed in the craziest way. There are stuffed tigers, rabbits and even elephants. This is certainly a very special store in Paris to visit.
Adress: 46 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France
Macarons, the sweet treat in Paris
The French really have a sweet tooth. They often start the day with a pastry, croissant or pain-au-chocolat.
Macarons are another delicious sweet French specialty. You can really buy them just like the crêpes on every street corner in Paris. Paris is also known as the macaron capital of the world. But there are a number of places where you can eat the most delicious macarons, according to experts. According to the experts, you can really get the very best macarons at Ladurée, Carette and Pierre Hermé.
Parc Rives de Seine, playing on the banks of the Seine in Paris
Parc Rives de Seine is a park on the banks of the Seine, which is closed to traffic. You will find all kinds of playground equipment for children here. For example, there are climbing walls and floating gardens for the children. But there are also nice terraces for the parents to have a drink on the edge of the Seine. A nice place to sit and enjoy Paris with children in Paris.
Musee des Arts Forain, a bit of old school fun in Paris
Musee des Arts Forain is a very special museum in Paris. It is a museum full of old fairground stuff. It contains a very colorful antique fairground collection with rides and fairground items that were used from 1850 to 1950. Old carousels, hundred-year-old bicycles, an organ and antique swings can all be admired here. Here you will find the old, vintage fairground atmosphere, which is hard to find at most fairs these days. If you have time to spare, this is definitely a nice museum to visit with the kids.
Click HERE for more information about Musee des Arts Forain Parijs.
Adres: 53 Av. des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris, Frankrijk
Cité des sciences et de l'industrie, experimenting in Paris
Cité des sciences et de l'industrie is a fun museum for children where they can learn everything about nature, the human body, technology and so much more. The children learn a lot about the different subjects through games and experiments. There is also a real submarine on display in this museum and a planetarium cinema. Really cool and informative museum for children.
Adress: 30 Av. Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris, France
Opéra Garnier, one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world is located in Paris
Opera Garnier is one of the most famous opera houses in the world and is an important symbol of Paris. Everything about this building is exaggerated, grand, opulent and extravagant. This beautifully decorated building was the inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera. And especially for children who dream of a career in theater, a visit to Opera Garnier is a must do in Paris.
Buy your tickets for Opera Garnier Paris HERE
Adress: Pl. de l'Opéra, 75009 Paris, Frankrijk
Jardins du Trocadero, taking a picture with the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Jardins du Trocadero were created in 1937 for the International Exhibition of Art and Technology. Jardins de Trocadero are located on the former garden of Palais de Trocadero.
The most striking thing about this garden is the large fountain in the center, fountain Warsaw. The garden measures no less than 93,930 m2, making it an ideal park for a walk and a place to escape the bustle of Paris. There are several footpaths and bridges over which the children can run around. There are also several statues of both bronze and stone in the garden.
Trocadero is best known for its view of the Eiffel Tower. Family photo shoots are organized here daily with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
Click HERE for more information about Jardins du Trocadero Paris.
Adress: Pl. du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris, France
Parc des Tuileries, a moment of piece in Paris
Parc des Tuileries are the gardens of the former Palais des Tuileries. Also known as the Tuileries Gardens, these gardens are now best known as the Louvre Gardens. This large park is a popular spot for tourists and can therefore be quite crowded at times. The best place to relax in these large gardens is on the chairs that surround the large fountain and are free to use. Lovely to sit and let the kids run, while you can watch the passing touriss.
Adress: Pl. de la Concorde, 75001 Paris, France
Jardin d’Acclimatation Paris, the oldest amusement park in the world
Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris is the oldest working amusement park in the world. This old amusement park is mainly known for its wide range of attractions, especially for younger children, up to about 10 years. There are even miniature roller coasters for the little ones and they can ride pony. It is a neatly maintained and beautifully landscaped park, with colorful flowers and nice pavilions scattered throughout the park.
Adress: Bois de Boulogne, Rte de la Prte Dauphine à la Prte des Sablons, 75116 Paris, France
Musée d’Orsay, a museum in the historic station of Paris
According to many, the Museeee d'Orsay is a must-see museum. This museum is beautifully situated on the banks of the Seine, in the 7th arrondissement. The facade of this museum is very striking because of the large, impressive station clocks. This historic building was once a railway station, but today you can see art from the 19th and 20th centuries. You can see paintings, photos, films and many other art forms. It is mainly the building and the decoration that give this museum the great atmosphere.
Adres: 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, Frankrijk
Seine dinner cruise, floating with the lights of Paris
A Seine river cruise during the day is of course very nice, but in the evening it is also very special. Sail on the Seine with a snack and a drink, looking out over the lights of Paris. The Seine dinner cruises are not cheap, but we think they are worth it. From this Seine Dinner cruise you really get the magical Paris feeling.
Musée de l’Orangerie, Monet's Water Lilies in Paris
Musée de l'Orangerie is located in the Jardin des Tuileries, close to the Louvre. In the museum you can see works of art from the 19th and early 20th century. The most important work of art you can see here are Monet's Water Lilies. These colorful paintings hang in a prominent room at Musee de L'Orangerie. The oval shape of the room brings extra depth to these paintings, Monet's Water Lilies. There are also works by Picasso and Renoir in this museum.
Adress: Jardin Tuileries, 75001 Paris, France
Shapespeare and Company, the smell of history and old books
Shakespeare and Company is a historic bookstore near the Notre Dame. Shakespeare and Company is probably the best-known bookshop in Paris, perhaps for its location on the Seine or perhaps for its cool, antique look. They also have a nice children's corner, where you can choose a children's book with the children while sitting on a bench.
Adress: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris, France
Take a kid-friendly bike tour of Paris
A child-friendly bike tour through Paris takes you to the most important sights of Paris in a short time. For example, you can do the kids tour from Paris by Bike or do a bike tour for families at Baja Bikes. The nice thing about a family bike tour through Paris with a guide is that you also learn all kinds of fun facts about Paris that you probably didn't know.
Eating ice cream at Berthillon, the best ice cream in Paris
On the Ile de France, you will find the most delicious Glacier in Paris, Maison Berthillon. You can't miss Maison Berthillon as the long queue is unmissable as you stroll the side streets of Notre Dame. It always seems to be busy here. The ice cream is prepared according to a secret family recipe and according to the ice cream lovers, this is really the best ice cream in Paris.
Adress: 31 rue saint louis en l'ile, 75004 Paris, France
Are you still looking for other fun trips in Paris, click HERE for even more Paris inspiration.
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