Paris with kids? Yes, Paris with kids!
Contrary to popular belief, Paris is actually a city that loves children and there are countless things to do and see with children of all ages, even without speaking a word of French.
Let's start with the obvious: the parks. Paris Full of “green lungs” – wonderful and beautiful gardens, more famous and less, with what they all have in common is that they provide many activities for children without detracting from the enjoyment of adults. Alongside modern and beautifully maintained playgrounds, there are also classic activities that have not changed or faded since the cheerful days of the “Belle Époque”, such as the carousel (manége), pony rides, sailing small sailboats on the lake, feeding ducks and swans on the lake, clean and well-maintained sandboxes for small children and much more. Some of the gardens also have a puppet theater on weekends, but this would be more suitable for children who speak French. French.
Here are some recommended gardens (only a partial list and certainly not exhaustive):
Luxembourg Gardens – Jardin du Luxembourg
Perhaps most famously, a paradise for adults and children – a carousel (the oldest in Paris, from 1879, designed by the architect of the Opera Garnier), pony rides, sailboats, a large playground, sandboxes, ducks, a puppet theater (in French) that has existed for over 80 years under the same family ownership.
In July and August, in an indoor garden called La Roseraie, next to the sandboxes, there are water pools for children. Every day the water is emptied and refilled so that the water is clean.
In the heart of the vibrant Jewish Quarter (and the falafel!), a studio equipped down to the last detail.
Luxurious and beautifully equipped. Also suitable for Sabbath keepers (ground floor and mechanical key).
Rare in Paris: quiet air conditioning and unlimited hot water. First floor with elevator.
We have carefully filtered and selected dozens of additional recommended apartments in all the equal districts of Paris.
We have collected for you the most recommended hotels in Paris – from intimate boutiques to absolute luxury.
Tuileries Gardens – Tuileries garden
In a very central location, across from the museum The Louvre And to the Place de la Concorde, beautiful gardens. In the summer months there is a small amusement park, in the winter months there is a Ferris wheel in Place de la Concorde, and all year round there is a trampoline complex, a playground and of course a carousel.
Montessori Park – Parc Montsouris
Less famous, the most belle epoque there is, it seems like time has stood still in the most positive and aesthetic sense there is. There is also a playground, a carousel, a puppet theater, ponies, a lake with ducks and swans, and more.
Floral Park – Parc floral de Paris
A little out of town (last stop on metro line 1) but worth a visit. Besides the excellent botanical gardens, there are very well-equipped playgrounds suitable for older children, with swings, high slides, swings and a ropes course.
André Citroën Park – Parc André Citroën
A relatively new, ecological park on the banks of the Seine, not far from the Eiffel Tower. What's special about it is that it has a hot air balloon with a rope and an exciting view of Paris, and in the summer months it has water fountains for play.
We will continue with additional activities with children, which are also suitable for rainy weather:
Science Museum in La Villette
A large and impressive museum with changing exhibitions, a planetarium, an aquarium, and the main attraction for children is this –The Children's City – An interactive science play area for children with guaranteed fun. There are two areas according to age groups (2-7 and 5-12).
IMAX
In the same complex there is an IMAX cinema, which shows spectacular nature and space films on a 180-degree screen, as well as XNUMXD films, a special and spectacular experience. The IMAX is currently closed for renovations, but will open soon.
The Paris Aquarium
A very nice aquarium located in a strategic location, right in front of The Eiffel Tower, in Trocadero. Very suitable for children, not huge but big enough to provide a few hours of fun activity. It has an impressive shark pool, and at the end of the visit even a kind of “petting corner” where you can touch the fish.
Paris Botanical Garden
Another complex in the Fifth District, where you can spend a whole day, providing indoor and outdoor activities. Broadly speaking, these are The botanical gardens the central areas of Paris. But there are also Small zoo And charming, over 200 years old. It is the second oldest zoo in the world (the first is in Vienna). Museum of Nature and Evolution – a museum that displays skeletons and stuffed animals in their natural size. The museum also has a children's gallery that provides interactive activities for children.
Another area where you can also have fun spending a whole day is Acclimatization garden. There is plenty to do with the kids: playgrounds for all ages, pony rides, a small farm with animals, a small amusement park, and more. In the summer, there are water fountains for play.
French-speaking children have creative workshops at almost all major museums, film workshops at the Cinematheque in Bercy, music workshops at the Philharmonic, and more.
And all this without a word about visiting the Eiffel Tower or Eurodisney.
Recommended observation point as an alternative to the Eiffel Tower It is the observation of Montparnasse Tower In the 14th arrondissement. Both less crowded and a stunning view that includes the Eiffel Tower in all its glory, unlike the observation deck from the Eiffel Tower, from which you see Montparnasse in all its ugliness. As the Parisians say, “La tour montparnasse c'est le meilleur endroit á Paris pour ne pas voir la Tour Montparnasse.” In other words, the Montparnasse Tower is the best place in Paris not to see the Montparnasse Tower.
A little tip for moving around with strollers: Buses. The metro is not suitable for moving around with strollers. There are too many stairs and almost no elevators. The buses, on the other hand, reach every corner and are very comfortable. There is a designated space for strollers and there is no charge for children under 4.
Restaurants with children: While Paris loves children, if you walk into a small, crowded restaurant with snotty-nosed children or, worse yet, babies in strollers, they will probably miss your face. One solution to the problem is to simply ignore it. Another solution is to go to places that are geared towards families with children. The city is full of such places, you just have to look for them.
Enjoy!
Keren Segal Cohen, lived in Paris for several years, mother of three children, Mia and Adam and Daniel – twins, who were born and raised in Paris.