7 Fantastic Activities for Kids in Paris

Paris is an amazing destination for family travel, offering a variety of activities designed for children of all ages, whether indoors on rainy days or outdoors exploring the city.

From the top kid-friendly spots to essential tips on where to stay and how to navigate, this is your ultimate guide to discovering the French capital with les enfants (children).

Is Paris family-friendly for kids?

As Europe's most densely populated city, Paris excels in accommodating the needs of both children and parents. You'll find plenty of parks and playgrounds, many restaurants offer children's menus (though high chairs are less common), and numerous hotels can provide lits bébé (baby cots) or interconnecting rooms. Many museums and cultural venues also host specific activities designed for kids.

Where are the best areas in Paris for families?

All of Paris' arrondissements (districts) are well-connected, but the most central ones—from the 1er to the 8e arrondissement—are particularly family-friendly, reducing travel time and making it easy to return to your accommodations for snacks or naps. The 5e (the Latin Quarter) and 6e (St-Germain) are excellent choices due to their closeness to the Jardin du Luxembourg, various family-oriented restaurants and hotels, and a delightful geography-themed sweet shop, Le Bonbon au Palais.

Top activities for families with babies and toddlers

Visit Jardin du Luxembourg, a park designed for children

Paris' most magical park, the 23-hectare chestnut-lined Jardin du Luxembourg, was dedicated by Napoléon to the children of the city. Enjoy charming old-fashioned activities like sailing 1920s boats on its octagonal pond, pony rides, carousel fun, and watching a puppet show at its theater.

Other parks in Paris featuring puppet shows include Parc Monceau, Parc Montsouris, and Parc du Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower. Parc de la Villette offers futuristic playgrounds, attractions, music venues, and museums.

Family-friendly boat trips on the Seine are a blast

For an unforgettable view of the City of Light, a river cruise through the heart of Paris is unbeatable. Options include Bateaux-Mouches, Bateaux Parisiens, the hop-on, hop-off Batobus, and Vedettes de Paris, which offers hour-long tours designed especially for families with kids.

Another exciting adventure is a canal cruise with Canauxrama, starting from Bastille and going through an underground section, navigating the locks and swing bridges of Canal St-Martin, eventually reaching Parc de la Villette.

Top activities for elementary school-aged children

Stroll through the city's gardens, forests, and playgrounds

The city's botanical gardens, Jardin des Plantes, feature a small zoo called the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes. On the outskirts of Paris lie two expansive forests: Bois de Boulogne to the west and Bois de Vincennes to the east. Younger children will love the amusement park Jardin d’Acclimatation in Bois de Boulogne, which offers 44 attractions, including 'rafting adventures,' 'speed rockets,' and classic fairground rides, all accessible via a charming mini train from Porte Maillot. Bois de Vincennes is home to the Parc Floral de Paris, boasting excellent playgrounds, an open-air concert venue, the largest zoo in Paris, Parc Zoologique de Paris, and the impressive moated medieval Château de Vincennes.

Discover engaging, hands-on art and culture museums

Children's museums like the enchanting Musée de la Magie and the art-focused Musée en Herbe offer permanent and temporary exhibitions, activity sheets, guided tours, and workshops. You'll also find fantastic hands-on workshops at Palais de Tokyo; the architecture museum, Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine; and the iconic Centre Pompidou, which has a dedicated kids' space for ages two to ten. The grand Musée du Louvre features a special family area called the Studio and an app tailored for children aged 7–11.

Top activities for tweens and teens

Explore the city's engaging science museums

Science becomes fun for kids, tweens, and teens at the Cité des Sciences in Parc de la Villette, which features a planetarium. Also check out the Galerie des Enfants, located within the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, a part of the natural history museum, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, at Jardin des Plantes. Additionally, the Palais de la Découverte (for ages 6 and up) is currently at Parc André Citroën while its main location undergoes renovations for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Musée des Arts et Métiers, Europe's oldest science and technology museum, offers a special audioguide designed for children.

Enjoy a day filled with magic at a theme park

No list would be complete without Disneyland Resort Paris, which includes Disneyland Park, featuring all the beloved rides, characters, and pays (lands), along with the film-focused Walt Disney Studios Park.

Located 35km (22 miles) north of the city and accessible by shuttle bus, the summer-opening Parc Astérix offers shows and thrilling rides for all ages, inspired by the famous comic books.

On a rainy day, visit Cinéaqua or Centre Pompidou

Cinéaqua is a hit with kids thanks to its cinemas showcasing ocean-themed films and a shark-filled aquarium. One of the most exciting cinematic experiences for kids is the self-guided behind-the-scenes tour at the iconic 1930s cinema, Le Grand Rex, where you can step behind the big screen and engage in film-making, from recording to special effects.

In addition to its first-floor area designed for children up to 10, Centre Pompidou features a lower-ground multimedia and performing arts section for teens aged 13 to 16.

Helpful tips for visiting Paris with kids

Paris boasts an efficient and budget-friendly public transport system that makes it easy to navigate the city. Children under four ride for free, while those under ten enjoy half-price fares. The front carriage of the driverless metro lines (1, 14, and soon line 4) is particularly entertaining for kids, and the above-ground sections of lines 2 and 6 offer fantastic views, though be prepared for long stairs and corridors at underground stations.

For parents with strollers, buses provide a more convenient option. Try to avoid peak hours when public transport can become overcrowded. Exercise caution when crossing streets, as drivers often overlook pedestrian crossings and signals. Kidelio offers stroller and car seat rentals with five convenient pick-up locations across the city.

If you’re in Paris between October and March, don’t miss the chance to see clowns, trapeze artists, and acrobats at the historic winter circus, Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione, which has been entertaining audiences since 1852.