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, France 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), a large jungle gym with a small zip line (This is called the Ludo Jardin), a carousel, and lots of sandboxes that are a great option for younger kids (You have sandboxes next to the entrance to the puppet theater which are totally shaded during sunny days, and you have other sandboxes in the sun in the part of the garden called the "roserie"). In the summer in the Rosarie you have two sandboxes that are turned into mini splash pools for small kids with water about 10 inches deep. 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. In that fountain you have lots of ducks and fish which is always a big hit with any littles (if you have extra bread you can feed them!). There are 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 tends to be long lines to get in during the weekends but this wouldn't effect you if you're getting coffee to go service. 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. (Paris Metro stations: 12, Notre-Dame-des-Champs, 4/10 Odéon, RER B Luxembourg), making it easy to get to and from. 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 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 where you can sit, picnic, and cool off and let the kids run free!

Fun Facts:

• The Luxembourg Garden is the home of the French Senate. Because of this it's managed by the state of France and not the city of Paris and 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!

• Originally the home of the Duke of Luxembourg, Marie de Medici bought the land and a small home in 1612 as a "country home" outside the hustle and bustle of Paris after her husband, Henri the IV was assassinated. She then 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.

• 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 men who run the carousel who are super nice and I find that they do the rides for really long. 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!

• For snacks you have multiple stands inside the park along that serve delicious ice cream, candy, hot dogs, crepes, and lots of other stuff! You also have 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 (this 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!), making it 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. With the Disneyland App it's really convenient to buy the tickets, reserve the restaurant (do this in advance because it'll surely all be booked on the day of), and see wait times for ride. 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 that are 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 or on the Disney campus so you can walk to them. You can find a ton of helpful info on their website.

3. All About 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 you 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, you have beautiful and huge 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 (where you can see some 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. There is a LOT of space for them to run and play but be aware there is NO lawns (it's all dirt or fenced gardens). There is a large playground, a carousel, a trampoline park, and lots of ice cream and sandwich vendors. 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. And, 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 that is the twin to the one in New York City. We like this company.

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, where you can visit the graves of famous French people like Oscar Wilde and Edith Piaf. 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 (and an Update on the Works Post Fire)

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. Since April 2019 there have been massive construction and restoration works going on with the goal to have the cathedral open to the public for the 2024 Paris Olympics. While there have been massive works finished, and you can now go close to the front of the building, as of now (March 2023) it's not yet open to the public. I definitely think they'll have part of it open for the Paris 2024 Olympics however I doubt it'll be the whole cathedral as it was before. As one of the Paris attractions that draws the most visitors, it's still absolutely worth taking the walk over to see the cathedral from the outside. Almost 1000 years old, it's massive, 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!!!