15 Best Things to Do in Paris With Kids
Paris and romance: the two just seem to go together. But as it turns out, this city is also surprisingly child-friendly. Kid details abound, like the manèges (kiddie rides, for a €2 coin) in all covered markets, such as Marché Saint-Quentin, and the multiple parks sprinkled across the city (the second oldest zoo in Europe is at the Jardin des Plantes, and even the 19th-century amusement park, the Jardin d’Acclimatation, holds its charms). Even the very core of Paris, the Seine, is framed by the Berges, car-free stretches home to all sorts of family-friendly fun. Here, we've rounded up a list of the best things to do in Paris with kids—so next time, don't just book tickets for two.
Courtesy Kasia DietzactivityKasia Dietz Bag Painting Workshops
How better to have a veritable Parisian experience than to sit in a Haut Marais designer’s atelier and get tips straight from her hand? If your kids love to draw, you can reserve a private bag-painting workshop in Kasia Dietz’s charming, intimate workshop. A native New Yorker who has lived in Paris for more than a dozen years, Dietz is clearly passionate about her creations. She sets the stage well at the beginning, and she’s wonderfully patient with kids. Make a day of it by tacking on brunch at the expat-darling Trieze, on the left bank, or follow it up with a spa treatment or stroll along the river.
Courtesy Pictours ParisactivityPictours Paris
Lindsey, a talented, upbeat American expat (and a mother, herself) will lead you on this private photo tour of the city, bringing you to sights like the Louvre—bright and early, before the place is swarmed—to experiment with different backdrops. It's a good experience for anyone; Pictours Paris offers everything from quick 30-minute shoots to three-hour sessions to workshops where kids and parents can learn to take amazing vacation pictures themselves. But the best part might be seeing the city at such an early hour, when it feels like you have it all to yourself.
activityParc Rives de Seine
Stretching between the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, the Berges de Seine (banks of the Seine) are a playful, pedestrianized promenade with a little something for everyone, whether you're a jogger, a biker, or a flâneur. There's plenty here for the kids, too: aside from the usual fun and games (think, mazes, hopscotch, and ping-pong tables), they can amble along on scooters, taking advantage of the climbing walls and free 3D time-scope binoculars, a virtual-reality experience that plugs you into the heart of 17th-century Paris.
Courtesy ZiarestaurantZia
$$A welcome break from the beaten Eiffel Tower track, this airy little cafe just off the Champs de Mars appeals with tiled walls, tall ceilings, and art for sale. Owned by former Arpège and Verjus chef Justin Kent—who regularly pops out of the kitchen to say hello—the restaurant expresses some of Kent’s New Mexican roots, from the ram’s skull above the coffee counter to the Zia logo, which recalls the state flag. Grab the kids a light snack, like homemade yogurt or avocado toast, and order yourself a nitro cold brew to fuel your next round of sightseeing.
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GettyactivityJardin des Plantes
The French do formal well, and when it comes to their green spaces, visitors benefit from all the formality. Paris’ royal Jardin des Plantes, the immaculately manicured botanical garden on the Left Bank, is a great example of this. Originally designed in 1635 by Guy de la Brosse, Louis XIII’s doctor, the garden was planned with scientific exactness—and incidentally, that's what make it great for kids. (See: the Art Deco hot house to the enormous network of hollowed-out bushes, where Parisian tots love to hide, or the conical maze leading up a hill.) There's a little something for parents to appreciate, too: As the Parisian flâneur always needs to take a break, there’s no shortage of benches.
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Centre Pompidou: Private Tour
This private Centre Pompidou visit kicks off early (before the tour itself starts, at 9:30 a.m.) with a walk-through of what to expect before you arrive: there's a tour of the permanent collection before the museum opens to the public, followed by photo ops from the phenomenal fifth-floor deck. Everything you see will impress you; the space and its collection are staggering, from Louis Bourgeois sculptures to Paul Klee paintings to architectural plans by Le Corbusier. Guides are knowledgeable about the art as well as the wider art world, and are able to make the tour fun and enjoyable for kids, too.
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GettyactivityJardin d'Acclimatation
Jardin d’Acclimatation, set in the Bois de Bologne, is the only calm and pleasant amusement park we know of—it’s fun yet orderly, making it a pleasure for parents and kids alike. Hop aboard Le Petit Train (tickets are €2.90) from Porte Maillot—it’s by far the most charming way to arrive. Then, it’s onto the mini–roller coasters, mirrored funhouse, pony rides, and more. The entry fee is €5 (for adults or kids over 3), as are the actual rides, which you can buy in bulk at varying rates. Tack on a visit to the nearby Fondation Louis Vuitton, which has exhibitions, cafes, concerts, and great views.
Didier MartiactivityJardin des Tuileries
It’s hard to imagine a trip to Paris without a stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries, sandwiched between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde along the Seine. From a kid’s point of view, the garden has plenty to offer, from a wonderful playground (with a jungle gym and hammock) to two lovely ponds for feeding the ducks or pushing vintage boats with sticks. There are also goats who roam around and graze under the supervision of watchful park attendants, plus a carousel.
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Arthur Enard/Courtesy Les MaquereauxrestaurantLes Maquereaux
If you sit at Les Maquereaux's bar facing Île Saint-Louis, you can’t get closer to being in the heart of Paris. What sets the restaurant apart, though, is its placement: set in a moored houseboat on the Right Bank of the Seine, there are 12-person mini-boats that pick up diners and zips them to where it's stationed. Starting at €45 per head, the intimate rides can last anywhere between 45 minutes and three hours. And unlike some of Paris' other fine dining establishments, it's also a dinner you won't dread bringing the kids along for. They can scoot about on the wide, traffic-free terrace; nearby climbing walls and playgrounds are another plus.
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THATMuse: Beauty and the Bestiary Louvre Treasure Hunt
The Louvre draws 28,000 visitors a day, and for good reason: some of the most famous artworks in the world reside at this behemoth cultural institution. THATMuse—an abbreviation for “Treasure Hunt at the Museum”—offers themed treasure hunts that help make sense of it all. The groups, which are limited to 10 people, split into teams that are tasked with taking photos in front of as many “treasures” as possible, all while learning about—and interacting with—the art. After 90 minutes or so, the scores are tallied and prizes are doled out. Families with kids younger than five might want to wait a few years before booking.
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Cyrille WeineractivityMusée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac
The Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac is perhaps best known for its unusual design by Jean Nouvel; the exterior of the building almost seems alive with plant walls and wild gardens, while the interiors are dark, winding, and dramatically lit. The modern structure stands in sharp contrast with the treasures housed inside: ancient art and artifacts and relics of bygone civilizations (with a specific focus on non-European cultures). If you've brought the kids along, take one of the family guided tours the museum offers (one caters to children three to five years old, and the other, those older than six). During the hour-long amble, you'll discover objects from different continents, from rare pieces to temporary exhibits.
GettyactivityJardin du Luxembourg
Inspired by Florence’s Boboli Gardens, the Jardin du Luxembourg was originally planned to accompany Marie de Medici’s Palais du Luxembourg. Today there are too many kid-friendly delights to count: a pony trail, 1920s vintage boats (€3 per rental), a puppet show that’s been around since 1933 (€6.60 per ticket) and, most excitingly, the city’s best playground, tailored to all ages, which was entirely refurbished for a May 2019 opening. A nominal entrance fee to the latter ensures ultimate safety and protection—a guard makes sure that tots can’t wander off and that solo adults can’t enter.
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Courtesy La Cuisine ParisactivityLa Cuisine Paris – Éclairs: Choux Pastry!
When you arrive for your two-hour cooking lesson at La Cuisine Paris, a charming receptionist brings to your classroom, actually the homey downstairs kitchen. The teachers, who are patient, pleasantly chatty, and extremely helpful, then lead you through the pastry-making process—in this case, eclairs. Kids will have a ball getting their hands dirty as they mix the dough and, of course, they’ll love to feast on their sweet treat. But what’s most memorable is really the setting: a 17th-century house overlooking the Seine.
shopMarché Saint-Quentin
If you’re looking for picnic supplies en route to the nearby Canal Saint-Martin, make this 19th-century covered market your first stop. The ground-floor food stalls are bustling and energetic, with local families shopping for groceries, idle tourists, and well-clad businessmen browsing their goods for high-end specialty gifts like foie gras d’oie or premium saucisson. Conveniently, the smooth pathways between stalls also serve as a maze for the kiddos, and there’s a tot-size ride in the center, too—a miniature two-seater fire truck, complete with sirens and turning wheels—for €2.
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William Beaucardet/Courtesy Parc de la VilletteactivityParc de la Villette
It’s hard to decide if the Parc de la Villette, up in the 19th Arrondissement (and so pleasantly lacking in tourists) is an urban, modern park or a collection of cultural centers with some wonderfully creative patches of green between. The Canal de l’Ourcq runs through the center of the complex, which offers plenty for kids, including the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, the largest science museum in Europe, and a playground where a dragon tongue doubles as a slide.
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