Here is my ultimate guide on what to do in Paris with kids – as a mom of 3 who lives in Paris and is always looking for things to do with my kiddos!
As a mom of two small children, I am always on the lookout for fun and exciting things to do with my kids that are good for sunny days and cold rainy days!
Paris is a great place to take the whole family for a vacation. From theme parks to museums to boat rides, there is something for everyone in the French capital. With so many amazing places to visit and things to do, it can be hard to narrow down the best options.
But, fear not, I have compiled a list of my favorite things to do in Paris with kids.
1. Visit the Jardin du Luxembourg With Kids
My absolute favorite way to spend a day with the kids in Paris is to visit the Jardin du Luxembourg.
This beautiful garden is a perfect place to take young children for a walk, to see some ducks/fish, play in a playground, sandboxes, picnic, and go for pony rides. The garden also has puppet shows (called marionnette theatre)and a large jungle gym with a small zip line (This is called the Ludo Jardin). You’ll even find a carousel and lots of sandboxes that are a great option for younger kids.
There are sandboxes next to the entrance to the puppet theater which are totally shaded during sunny days. And there are other sandboxes in the sun in the part of the garden called the “roserie”).
In the summer in the Rosarie, two sandboxes are turned into mini splash pools for small kids with water about 10 inches deep.
Sailing Toy Boats in the Duck pond:
Inside the Jardin du Luxembourg is also where you find the little boats that you can rent along with sticks to sail around the main fountain right in front of the chateau.
There are also lots of ducks and fish which is always a big hit with any littles (if you have extra bread you can feed them!). And you’ll find TONS of chairs to sit and enjoy a picnic or have a coffee. It really has something for everybody.
Takeaway Coffee Next to Jardin du Luxembourg:
My 3 FAVORITE takeaway coffee shops right next to the Luxembourg Garden are:
1. Le Pont Traversée – This is a fully gluten free café in Paris where you can even find gluten free croissants and gluten free cinnamon rolls here! Their egg sandwich is very yummy! I love getting their iced lattés (with oat milk) in the summer.
2. Treize au Jardin – All local fresh ingredients. The food is great here too, lots of healthy options, vegan options, vegetarian options, and southern American comfort food! They have a baby changing table too in the upstairs bathroom. This is not frequent in Paris!
There tend to be long lines to get into Treize au Jardin during the weekends, but this wouldn’t effect you if you’re getting coffee to-go. The sit down service here can sometimes be long. But truly TRULY, it’s worth the wait. The food is SO good. The cakes are also incredible. A true gem. (Can you tell I’ve been countless times over the last decade? haha)
3. Mona Café – This café is really cool because it’s located inside an old preschool that they’ve turned into a building that houses associations helping women and children in domestic abuse situations. There is a whole area inside for young kids with books, highchairs, a baby rocker. And outside, just like you’d find in a preschool, you have a big courtyard for the kids to run and you to sit down with coffee (or of course you can get to go coffee and head back to the garden just a half a block away).
Mona is open Thursday – Sundays. I love the cause and the coffee was great! I will absolutely be back with my kids. I love that there’s a safe and welcoming space for them indoors and outdoors.
Where is the Jardin du Luxembourg?
The Luxembourg garden is located near multiple Metro stations, making it very easy to access from almost anywhere in Paris.
Metro Stations by Jardin du Luxembourg:
12, Notre-Dame-des-Champs
4/10 Odéon
RER B Luxembourg
The Luxembourg gardens is in the heart of the 6th arrondissement in Paris. It’s a great area to stay around if you’re traveling here as a family. It’s safe, calm, and very accessible to other parts of Paris on foot or via the metro. There are tons of hotels and BNBs in the areas.
It’s about a 15 minute walk from Notre Dame de Paris and really truly a treasure in the summer months when it’s HOT. Jardin du Luxembourg has loads of shady tree coverage in the back parts of the garden. This makes it such a good spot for picnicking and cooling off while the kids run free!
Fun Facts about the Luxembourg Gardens
- 1. The Luxembourg Garden is the home of the French Senate. It’s managed by the state of France (not the city of Paris), so they have to keep it prepared for state visits. You’ll see them changing the flowers often and always having the garden beautifully done. This also means it’s very safe!
- 2. Originally the home of the Duke of Luxembourg, Marie de Medici bought the land and a small home in 1612. She wanted a “country home” outside the hustle and bustle of Paris after her husband, Henri the IV was assassinated. So she ordered the construction of the massive and gorgeous chateau, which was transformed a few hundred years later into the Senate.
Today most of the rooms are offices, though you do still have lots of relics of the original palace.
Once a year in September, Paris opens the doors to many of it’s great monuments for free. The senate is part of this and I’d HIGHLY recommend doing the walking tour if you are here during the journées de la patrimoine. In the back of the gardens behind black gates you’ll find a few greenhouses which you can also visit during this weekend. These are STUNNING and you can see orchids that are decades old. - 3. The carousel inside the Jardin du Luxembourg is the oldest working carousel in Paris! it’s still crank operated to start.
You’ll find it open daily and each ride is 2€ or you can buy a 10 pack of “jetons” or coins for 15€. You can pay with a card.
There are three super nice men who run the carousel and they let the kids ride for a long time. If your kid sits on one of the outside horses (or elephant!) they will get a stick to hold where they can then use it to catch metal rings. The kids LOVE this. It’s really fun for them! - 4. For snacks, there are multiple stands inside the park along that serve delicious ice cream, candy, hot dogs, crepes, and lots of other stuff!
There are also 2 restaurants where you can sit down for a meal or even just a drink. These restaurants are in shady parts of the garden so they’re really lovely on hot summer days.
What To Do in the Latin Quarter in Paris With Kids:
If you are looking for a fun way to spend a day with the kids in Paris (just next to the Luxembourg Garden), be sure to check out the street performers in the Latin Quarter.
The area is known for its vibrant culture and art, and there are often street performers and musicians to entertain the kids.
The area is also home to the Pantheon and the Sorbonne University. The Sorbonne is one of the oldest universities in the world, and it is also where I took an intense french class my first year here. Now i’m fluent!! I think the university is a great place to explore and learn about the history of Paris. Walking along the seine around here, you can find lots of street vendors and book sellers.
If you’re looking for English Books and Bookstores in Paris you have a few right there! Some of the best known ones are Shakespeare and Co., and The Red Wheelbarrow.
2. Disneyland Paris with Kids
One of the best places to visit around Paris with kids is Disneyland Paris.
Disneyland theme park is a great option for kids of all ages (and adults!), and is a perfect way to spend a day with the whole family.
It is absolutely a FULL DAY affair (or even better, stay the night!). And it’s about an hour outside of Paris accessible via RER A (pub lic transport). Or you have disney transfers available when you book your tickets. The park has plenty of fun activities and attractions to keep your little ones entertained. And the longer lines are worth the wait for the fun rides and shows.
The Disneyland App
With the Disneyland App, it’s really convenient to buy the tickets and see wait times for rides. You can also make restaurant reservations! Do this in advance because it’ll surely all be booked on the day of. For older kids, what they can do will depend on their height. And for younger kids and babies, there are a few rides and attractions accessible to all.
On a recent trip we had 2, 3 year olds, a 16 month old, and a 9 month old with us. We did the carousel, boat rides, labyrinth, character show, and playground with everyone. The “big kids” did the teacups and they LOVED IT. We had 2 strollers with us and 2 baby carriers and we definitely used everything. We split up the adults so the dads got an hour to do rides on their own and then the moms did the same! We went on Indiana Jones and then Space Mountain and it was great!
Be sure to check out the gift shop for some Disney souvenirs to take home. We didn’t leave without a proper princess dress that now my youngest is wearing all day every day at home.
Again, I’d HIGHLY recommend the app that will tell you wait times which is ideal for kids.
There are a bunch of hotels easily accessible to Disney park by navette (shuttle). Or on the Disney campus so you can walk to them. You can find a ton of helpful info on their website.
3. Musée de l’Histoire Naturelle: The Natural History Museum in Paris
For a more educational outing that’s indoors and outdoors, the Natural History Museum is a great option with plenty of things to see and do.
There’s an entire building that’s all skeletons of living and extinct beings. They have a few dinosaurs too! This is called La Grande Galerie de L’Evolution or The Big Gallery of Evolution. The museum has a second floor dedicated to kids, making it a perfect place to take older children.
The museum also has a fun treasure hunt that kids can participate in, making the visit even more interactive. And, the museum is located inside the Jardin des Plantes, a beautiful botanical garden that is worth a visit.
What to do in The Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is great and such a family friendly place.
In the spring we have absolutely STUNNING and huge cherry blossoms. It’s a learning garden, so you have a ton of different species of plants and flowers. In addition to the Museum, there are huge beautiful greenhouses (called serres in French) that you can visit.
You’ll need a ticket for entry.
They’re really big and great for rainy and cold days as they’re so lovely and warm inside. Another option inside the garden is to check out the menagerie. This is a small outdoor zoo with an array of different animals! It’s small enough to do it all (even with small legs), and big enough to be an interesting outing on it’s own!
4. Musée du Louvre with Kids
Of course, no Paris trip with kids would be complete without a visit to the Louvre Museum.
For a first time in Paris, I’d highly recommend this. While the Mona Lisa may be crowded and hard to see, there are plenty of other things to see and do in the museum. The second level has a fun scavenger hunt for kids (ask at the museum or look on the app). And the ground floor has the Venus de Milo and other famous works of art.
Be sure to take a short walk across the Seine River to the Musée d’Orsay for even more art and a different perspective of the city.
Walking across the river seine between the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay (which contains Van Gogh, Monet, and lots of impressionists!) is one of the best views of Paris. On either side you see these incredible buildings and stunning Tuileries garden views.
What to Do in the Tuileries Gardens with Kids
The Jardin des Tuileries is great for kids.
This garden has a LOT of space for them to run and play. But be aware, there are NO lawns (it’s all dirt or fenced gardens). You’ll find a large playground, a carousel, a trampoline park, and lots of ice cream and sandwich vendors. And there are often carnivals with rides and a ferris wheel coming and going too!
During winter there is a Christmas carnival and during the summer there are kids rides. Also, the park is located near the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre Museum. Making it easy to combine with other sights in the city.
5. Grevin Wax Musem in Paris With Kids
On a rainy day, the Grevin Wax Museum is a great option for kids.
Located in central Paris, the museum has wax figures of famous French people and scenes from the French Revolution. The museum also has a fun gift shop and is a short walk from the Metro station.
6. Take a Boat Ride on the Seine River (Fun Idea For Families in Paris)
For a fun outing on the banks of the Seine River, be sure to take a boat ride.
The boats have a small fee, but offer a great way to see the city from a different perspective. And, be sure to stop and take some pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower. From the boat, you can see the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, the Champs de Mars, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais, Notre Dame, Pont Neuf… And even the Statue of Liberty, which is the twin to the one in New York City.
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7. Visit the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont with Kids
For a truly unique experience, be sure to visit the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
This beautiful park has a lovely garden and a fun adventure trail for kids. The park is located near the Père Lachaise Cemetery. This cemetery is so cool because you can visit the graves of famous French people like Oscar Wilde and Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Gertrude Stein, Frederic Chopin… And the list goes on!
And, the park is a short walk from the Metro station, making it easy to get to from central Paris.
8. Notre Dame with Kids
Of course, no trip to Paris with kids would be complete without a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The cathedral is a beautiful and historic landmark, and is a perfect place to take the whole family. The cathedral has a second level that is accessible to visitors, offering stunning views of the city. And, the area around the cathedral is a great place to grab a bite to eat at one of the many family-friendly restaurants.
In 2019, the cathedral had a massive fire and the iconic spire fell. They did a massive construction and restoration project and succeeded in having the cathedral open in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
As one of the Paris attractions that draws the most visitors, it’s absolutely worth taking the walk over to see the cathedral from the outside. Almost 1000 years old, it’s massive and stunning. And a must see if you want a full feel of the history of the city.
As you can see, this is a short but extensive list of some of the best things to do in Paris with kids. You have a TON of variety for sunny days, rainy days, winter, summer, for all ages, little legs, crawlers, and strollers.
Paris is a walking city, enjoy the strolls, stopping for a café, playing in parks! We do often have a stroller and baby carrier with us and we find the city pretty accessible. And when it’s not.. we just figure it out and roll with it. Have fun!!!
Best Summer Things to do in Paris with Kids:
Paris truly comes alive in summer, with longer days, outdoor festivals, and plenty of kid-friendly activities that are especially fun during the warmer months. If you’re visiting Paris with children in June, July, or August, these summer experiences add something extra beyond the city’s classic attractions.
Cool Off at Paris Plages
Every summer, parts of the Seine River transform into “Paris Beaches” complete with sand, lounge chairs, misting stations, games, and family activities.
Kids can play in pop-up playgrounds or enjoy ice cream while parents relax by the river. It’s a fun way to experience Paris like a local during the hottest weeks of the year.
Have a Picnic Near the Eiffel Tower: Summer in Paris with Kids
Summer is the perfect time to pick up fresh baguettes, cheese, pastries, and fruit from a local market and enjoy a picnic on the Champ de Mars.
Children can run around on the open lawns while parents soak in views of the Eiffel Tower. Staying until sunset is especially magical when the tower begins to sparkle.
Explore the Jardin d’Acclimatation
This family amusement park in the Bois de Boulogne is ideal in summer thanks to its outdoor rides, splash areas, playgrounds, and shaded walking paths.
Younger children love the miniature train and water play zones, while older kids can enjoy roller coasters and carnival-style attractions.
Watch an Outdoor Movie: Summer in Paris with Kids
During summer, Paris hosts several open-air cinema events where families can watch movies under the stars.
The most famous is the outdoor cinema festival at Parc de la Villette, where locals gather with blankets and snacks for evening screenings. It’s a memorable way to enjoy a warm Parisian summer night.
Rent Bikes and Ride Along the Seine: Summer in Paris with kids
With longer daylight hours and sunny weather, summer is one of the best times to explore Paris by bike.
Many areas along the Seine become pedestrian-friendly in summer, making family bike rides safer and more enjoyable. You can stop for crepes, playground breaks, or riverside photos along the way.
Obviously, this idea is best for slightly older kids who are confident and comfortable on bikes.
Visit an Outdoor Market for Summer Treats
Seasonal markets are filled with colorful fruit, macarons, fresh lemonade, and picnic foods during summer.
Kids often enjoy trying French strawberries, pastries, or artisanal ice cream while wandering through lively neighborhood markets.
Want to Know About Outdoor Markets in Paris?
Check out our blog post HERE with everything you need to know about Paris outdoor markets where you can find produce, cheese, bread, and all sorts of artisanal products! These make the best treats for a Paris summer picnic with kids.
Spend a Day at the Tuileries Funfair
In July and August, the Tuileries Garden hosts a traditional summer funfair with carnival rides, bumper cars, trampolines, games, and cotton candy.
The giant Ferris wheel offers incredible views over Paris, making this a favorite seasonal activity for families.
Take a Day Trip to Versailles Gardens
While Versailles is beautiful year-round, summer is particularly special because the famous Musical Fountain Shows are running.
Children can explore the enormous gardens, watch fountains dance to music, and enjoy the wide-open spaces far beyond the palace interiors.
Ready to book your Paris photoshoot?
Click HERE to book your Paris portrait session with us at Katie Donnelly Photography!
A professional portrait session is THE best way to capture memories with your kiddos in Paris. And you will enjoy them for the rest of your life. Let’s make your dream a reality in the most gorgeous city in the world! (Yes, I may be a bit biased since I live here).
