Paris is one of the most entertaining cities in the world, but it often gets dismissed as a city exclusively for couples and art lovers. And while The City of Love is a romantic place for those in relationships, and the sheer number of museums is almost mind-numbing, youngsters (and the young at heart) will fall in love with Paris, too.
There are many great activities you can do here as a family, and Paris has striven to make the city more welcoming for children. If you have kids and are traveling to Paris, here are our ten favorite things to do – they’ll quickly become your favorites, too!
Centre Pompidou
This museum is one of the most widely visited attractions in Paris, with over 6 million visitors each year. It is the home to the largest museum of modern art in Europe, a large public library, and a music museum, but kids love being outside the museum even more. The large public grounds host miniature carnivals and street performers all spring and summer, and the Stravinsky Fountain features kinetic sculptures and dazzling water-fed mobiles.
Rent Bikes And Ride Around The City
Paris is a great city to explore and nothing can be better than renting a bike and touring the city. You can rent a sturdy bike at one of the hundreds of self-service Velib stations around the city, or from the numerous bike shops dotting the tourist areas. Riding a bike through the beautiful Parisian parks and bike lanes is a rare treat that everyone must try.
Visit Local Playgrounds
Playgrounds have always been a hit with kids, and the playgrounds in Paris are wonderful. In an urban wonderland like Paris there are small neighborhood playgrounds seemingly around every corner. Plus the opportunity to meet a local family and chat for a few minutes is something that they will never forget.
Eiffel Tower
Paris is synonymous with the Eiffel Tower and your visit is incomplete without a visit. Kids under three are free and children aged between three to eleven are charged discounted rates. You can climb the Tower as much as you want and soak in the sights of Paris from its heights.
Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie
The Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie is the largest science museum in Europe. Its main objective is to spread scientific and technical knowledge, and it has special areas for teenagers and children. Children under age six are free, and between the rotating exhibits, planetarium and inventorium, they have an unbelievably good time.
Luxembourg Gardens
The Luxembourg Gardens is the largest park in Paris and there are many fun filled activities for kids. They can go in for pony and boat rides, sail toy boats, or even attend a puppet show. You can also find rest rooms made especially for children here.
Musée du Louvre
The Musée du Louvre is the largest art museum in the world, and other than perhaps the Eiffel Tower one of the must-visit attractions in Paris. Between the crowds and the sheer immensity of the grounds, the challenge is making the visit worthwhile for the kids. If they can understand the charms of the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, go for it. But the crowds can be crushing. For a break visit the Egyptian Wing and the Foundation of the Chateau, they are less crowded and much for fun for kids!
Paris Sewer Tour
A truly fascinating tour, the Paris Sewer Tour isn’t a great choice for those with smaller kids, but older kids will probably see it as the highlight of their trip. Not only do you learn what exactly happens to the dumped refuse in Paris, but you can see (and smell) the live processes. You can also take a tour of the Paris Sewer Museum that covers 500 yards of over 1300 miles of sewer lines.
Jardin d’Acclimatation
This is an old children’s park made way back in the 19th century. There have been a number of new attractions installed for kids however when you visit the park you will still get a touch of old Paris. Attractions include miniature golf, archery, zoo animals, shooting galleries, or pony and boat rides.
Parc de la Villette
The Parc de la Villette is a large industrial park that has been made with the insight of a child’s imagination by Bernard Tschumi. Paris’ largest park, it contains wonderful play park structures, fountains, gazebos, and the occasional outdoor movie.
About the author: Randall Pinkston is editor of Neotravel.com Travel Deals, a travel deal aggregator specializing in rental car coupons.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Rudy Tiben.