Keeping your children occupied while having a good time with them… why not kill two birds with one stone?
To delight children of all ages, here is a list of activities to do with children in Paris.
In a hurry? Here are my recommendations in a nutshell:
- The most fun and instructive activity: The Children’s Gallery of the Museum of Natural History
- Children/parent activity for a good time as a family: Parent/child macaron workshop at Galeries Lafayette
- To let off steam: Ninja Warrior obstacle course
1) Painting ceramic tableware: Harry Potter theme
Why go there?
You will have a great time with your family in the world of Harry Potter in a quiet and pleasant place.
Just follow Geneviève’s detailed instructions and let yourself be guided!
What to do?
You can choose to decorate a bowl, a plate or a mug by painting little characters from the famous saga or write the name of your house!
You will get your creations back a week later after cooking.
Who is it for?
From 7 years old
Check the price (site in French)
2) The Cité des Enfants (at the Cité des sciences)
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Why go there?
You can accompany your child in areas specially designed for their age group. Pictograms will encourage you to play with them or stand back and simply observe them.
What to do?
Your children will be able to freely explore the 1700m2 surface organized in 5 thematic rooms which allow them to interact at any time with objects that they can explore in complete autonomy.
Who is it for?
From 2 to 7 years old
3) The Jardin d’Acclimatation
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Why go there?
The Jardin d’Acclimatation is a must-see amusement park in the Parisian region.
Thre are multiple activities you can do, and you can choose to take an unlimited pass or pay for each attraction separately, which allows you a certain freedom of movement within the park.
What to do?
The park will satisfy both children and parents thanks to its wide selection of roller coasters (flying chairs, carousel and other rides), play areas and stands, discovery areas with nature (aviary, vegetable garden, beehives, small farm) and even shows.
Who is it for?
No age restrictions but some rides may have size restrictions
4) The Atelier des Lumières
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Why go there?
Raising children’s awareness of art is always a delicate undertaking, but thanks to its desire to “un-compartmentalize art”, the Atelier des Lumières offers a playful, unique and original experience full of lights that captivate the attention of the youngest.
What to do?
You can choose between several exhibitions on different artists: Cézanne, Van Gogh and even the adventures of Tintin.
You will be able to admire all these works in the form of digital projections on the wall and on the floor, creating swirls of movement and color.
Who is it for?
No restrictions and free for children under 5
5) Buttes-Chaumont Park
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Why go there?
Buttes-Chaumont park is a must-see park in Paris.
The charm of this park is its many trees which offer a lot of shade, creating multiple small places sheltered from the eyes for a quiet family moment.
What to do?
There are playgrounds all over the park as well as merry-go-rounds and even a bandstand. You can walk on the suspension bridge, sit on the grass, or go up to the top of the dome to enjoy an amazing view.
Who is it for?
No restrictions
See more information (site in French)
6) Laser Game – Paris 11th district
Why go there?
The laser game offers 3 labyrinth areas where your children will be able to expend their energy chasing an opposing team in a safe environment.
It is a physical activity that is particularly appealing to teenagers looking for an adrenaline rush.
What to do?
After a short briefing, you and your children will be equipped with chest protectors and laser guns and during a 20-minute game, chase and hunt the other team!
The team that scores the most points will be declared the winner.
Who is it for?
From 6 years old, but very popular with teenagers
Check the price (site in French)
7) Street Art Initiation
Why go there?
This initiation allows the family to discover a little-known art form, ideal for stimulating children’s creativity and, who knows, perhaps even their vocation as artists.
What to do?
The workshop consists of creating a mural in a group under the supervision of a professional and learning the different graffiti techniques. The necessary materials are provided on site.
Who is it for?
From 10 years old
Check the price (site in French)
8) Escape Game “The Pirate’s Secret”
Why go there?
this is perfect for a family activity: this escape game will pique the interest of young and old alike to exercise your ability to think and concentrate.
What to do?
You have one hour to escape from the room changed into a ship’s set, which you will have to send afloat agan and find the murderer of the previous captain, while his ghost will do everything to stop you.
You will have to search and analyze the room from top to bottom to find the clues.
Who is it for?
All the family from 9 years old
Check the price (site in French)
9) Creating a ring: parent/child duo
Why go there?
This workshop is perfect for a relaxing, bonding time with your child while focusing on creating something just for you and your child that will remind them of this moment for a long time.
What to do?
You will make two rings with a silver wire that you will take out of a nice stone that you can match with your child’s. It’s an opportunity to leave with some jewelry knowledge.
Who is it for?
From 7 years old
Check the price (site in French)
10) Parent/child macaron workshop at Galeries Lafayette
Why go there?
This is the perfect opportunity to discover a new side of Galeries Lafayette and to share a special moment with your child over an ever popular pastry.
What to do?
You will spend 1h30 making macarons with a pastry chef who will have provided a recipe and simple explanations so that your children can understand everything.
Who is it for?
Specially designed for children between 5 and 12 years old
Check the price (site in French)
11) Make your own wooden train
Why go there?
This workshop is ideal for a family activity and a bonding moment with your child, who will be able to create an object that they will use every day with pleasure with you.
What to do?
With your help, your child will imagine a small wooden train that you will assemble and paint together.
You just have to screw some pieces of wood, add the wheels and decorate it to get a nice handmade object that was fun to create for your child.
Who is it for?
From 6 years old
Check the price (site in French)
12) The little sailboats of the Luxembourg Garden
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Why go there?
The little sailboats are a historical must-see of the Luxembourg Garden. In addition to the boats, it is an opportunity to walk outside with your family in this beautiful park.
What to do?
For only 4€ for half an hour, you can rent a small sailboat that your child can sail on the basin in front of the Senate palace in a well maintained park.
Who is it for?
No restrictions
See more information (site in French)
13) The Chocolate Museum
Why go there?
This is a small, fun and interactive museum that will delight the most greedy children (and parents), and which offers a fun tour with an educational booklet and a treasure hunt.
What to do?
You can choose to solely visit the museum or also take part in workshops to create chocolate bars or personalized Easter eggs, which is often a big hit with children.
Who is it for?
There are no age restrictions for visiting the museum (free for children under 3 years old), but the workshops are accessible from 6 years old only
14) The Philharmonie des Enfants (The Children’s Philharmonic)
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Why go there?
If you want to introduce your child to music, the Philharmonie des Enfants offers a vast space for musical awakening that introduces children to the world of sound and music.
What to do?
You will discover 5 thematic worlds and your child will be able to interact with the thirty or so playful and manipulable installations about music, instruments, sound and performance.
Who is it for?
For children from 4 to 10 years old only, accompanied by an adult over 18 years old (maximum of 2 adults per child ticket)
Check the price and see more information
15) The Aquarium de Paris
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Why go there?
The Paris Aquarium is the best place to introduce your children to marine animals and make them aware of the need to protect marine life in a fun way.
It is also an ideal activity for rainy days.
What to do?
You can observe more than 13,000 fish and about 40 large sharks, as well as jellyfish and corals.
You can even visit the aquarium at night to make the experience even more unique.
Who is it for?
No restrictions + prams allowed
Check the price (site in French)
16) Children’s Gallery at the Natural History Museum
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Why go there?
The Children’s Gallery has all the hallmarks of a museum, but without the off-putting aspect that often scares off the youngest visitors.
It is a space specially designed to attract the attention of children by offering them the opportunity to interact with their environment to better learn the history of the world.
What to do?
You can discover thematic areas about specific continents, their history and biodiversity.
These areas contain naturalized animals, simple scientific data, animations and interactive installations that will entertain the whole family.
Who is it for?
The entire family is welcome, but the gallery is specifically designed for 6-12 year olds.
Check the price and see more information
17) Discover and taste wild plants
Why go there?
This is the ideal activity for a nice outdoor family walk in the Bois de Vincennes.
What to do?
You will follow an artisan wild picker to discover the wild plants of the Bois de Vincennes and learn to recognize and identify them.
At the end of the walk, you will taste a snack made with the plants you have learned about and with other organic and seasonal ingredients.
Who is it for?
Ideal workshop for children from 5 to 12 years old
Check the price (site in French)
18) Ninja Warrior obstacle course
Why go there?
The Ninja Warrior obstacle course will allow your children to let off steam by imitating the famous ninja agility show in a safe and supervised environment.
What to do?
The activity is for both children and adults, and will introduce you to the world of parkour, the urban obstacle-crossing discipline that inspired the famous TV show Ninja Warrior.
The obstacles progress in difficulty but they are never impossible and the atmosphere remains friendly, just for fun.
Who is it for?
From 6 years old
Check the price (site in French)
19) Paris Zoo (Vincennes Zoo)
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Why go there?
If there is one activity that the whole family can agree on, it is the zoo, which is interesting for children.
There are playgrounds and even a play area where the youngest (from 4 years old) will discover how animals move.
What to do?
On 14 hectares, discover the park’s 3,000 animals and its Patagonia, Africa, Europe and Amazon zones as well as its aviary, where your family can observe lions, otters, birds, lemurs, pumas and many others.
Who is it for?
No restrictions
20) Trampoline park
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Why go there?
It is the ideal activity to let off steam with your family in a safe and supervised environment, in a gigantic room covered with trampolines.
What to do?
You can jump and bounce from trampoline to trampoline, jump over obstacles, do somersaults or even play basketball on a bouncing surface, and many other attractions.
Who is it for?
There are special time slots for children aged 18 months and 6 years, otherwise everyone is welcome following certain safety rules
Check the price and see more information (site in French)
21) Aquaboulevard
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Why go there?
This is one of the largest water parks in Paris and a good alternative to just a swimming pool, as there are plenty of attractions to keep the kids busy, and you can spend the whole day there.
What to do?
You can enjoy many water activities with your children such as slides, artificial waves, geysers, Jacuzzis, outdoor pools in summer, counter-current rivers and much more.
Who is it for?
Accessible from 3 years old
Check the price (site in French)
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
