Paris Family-friendly activities

Family-friendly activities: Things to do in Paris with kids

Searching for things to do in Paris with kids? Let your kids shine in the City of Lights. They can reach for the skies from the top of the Eiffel Tower or the Montparnasse terrace. Inspire their creativity with masterpieces at the Louvre or by watching aspiring artists along the Seine. Share a sweet tooth? Learn how to make eclairs from world-famous pastry chefs or sample tasty delights at the Chocolate Museum Paris. Paris is for love – the love of families and family-friendly things to do.

Visit Musée Grévin: Rub shoulders with your favorite stars 

Hundred-year-old entertainments still delight at this wax museum. Let your imaginations take hold for a picture-perfect moment. Sing karaoke with Katy Perry or Jimi Hendrix jamming along. Walk the red carpet with Angelina Jolie or interview Al Pacino, then go to the House of Mirrors. This moving kaleidoscope of wax figures against elaborate backdrops has been thrilling kids long before television, smartphones, and virtual reality goggles. Show the kids how a little creativity, and a lot of mirrors, can amaze.

There’s a coat room to store bags for a fee, and strollers are allowed inside. You’ll be happy to hear that baby changing facilities are available, and children under 5 can get in for free. Food and drink are not allowed, but there is a café offering a children’s menu.

Visit Musée du Quai Branly: Discover the explorer in everyone

See the world on a walk. With thousands of items on display (there’s around 9,000 musical instruments from around the globe.), it may be hard to know where to begin. The museum offers an app and a guide to help focus young minds as they walk through the museum. A Maori dugout canoe from New Zealand, a cobra headdress made of lucky stones from Tibet, a voodoo doll from Morocco – each item is selected to spark kids’ curiosity so that they’ll explore more. After exploring inside, you’ll want to walk through the gardens outside that extend up the walls of the building.

There is a coat room to store bags and strollers for free, although strollers are welcome in the museum. There are baby changing facilities, and you should check the calendar for family-focused activities. There’s also a café looking out over the terrace and a more upscale restaurant with city views on the roof that requires reservations.

Visit Jardin d’Acclimatation: Fifty acres of fifty amusements

Actually, it’s more like 49, but 50 is a nice round number. Jardin d'Acclimatation is an ideal family-friendly thing to do in Paris. Your little thrill-seekers can ride with you on rollercoasters designed just for kids. They can also test their skills at duck fishing and the shooting gallery for prizes or get their hands dirty in the Kitchen Garden. Spend some time in the fresh air and let your kids explore at an amusement park, French-style.

Strollers are welcome, and there are baby changing facilities. There is food and drink for sale and a first aid station on site. The park is open all year round, but you should check ahead if any attractions are closed, especially if the weather gets hot or cold.

Visit Flyover Paris: Take to the skies on a jetpack

Soar over the city and see Paris from above. Everyone gets fitted with their own jetpack and flies virtually – an awesome way to see Paris’s landmarks. With VR technology, this flight simulator ride takes you to all the sites. You and your kids can explore angles you’d never get in real life. Fly up and around the Eiffel Tower or between the towers of Notre Dame. Cruise along the Seine or glide along the Champs Elysée to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

There is no age limit, but you must be at least 4 feet tall. Note that food and drink are not allowed, and there is no restaurant on site.

Visit the Paris Catacombs: Go deep beneath the city

See the darker side of the City of Lights. What started out as quarries ended up as cemeteries, specifically boneyards. It is an integral part of Paris history, as the expansion of the city and the French Revolution increased the need for graveyards. This visit takes you through a small part of this network, but it still holds six million people. This will definitely fascinate young minds, but not too young or too impressionable.

This is recommended for children 10 years and older, but you know your kids best. There’s no coat room, and strollers aren’t allowed in. Be prepared to walk for about a mile, including up and down a lot of stairs (over 100 each way). Food and drink are not allowed.

Read our complete guide to Paris, or discover the city's best experiences.