Paris is one of those cities that will enchant you with its beauty instantly. The variety of historic sites, museums and art galleries, with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre as the most recognized landmarks, make Paris one of the top travel destinations. When you’re visiting Paris with your kids, the first destination would be Disneyland, but the city is full of surprises and there many other things you can add to your itinerary and have a perfect family vacation.
Arriving in Paris
There are three airports serving Paris area: Roissy Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Beavuis airport. Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Orly are major airports and located closer to the city, 23 km and 18 km respectively, while Beavuis airport is mainly used for charter and low-cost flights and is located 70 km from the city centre.
You can use public transport, airport taxis or private airport transfer to get from the airport to your accomodation. There is a dedicated train line available from both Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Orly airport and depending on your destination, you might need to organize additional transport. Busses are departing from all three airports and you will need to check their timetable and bus map. Airport taxis are located in front of the terminals at the taxi ranks and they drive by the meter. However, in peak season it might be harder to get a taxi immediately, so you need to take this fact into consideration.
However, travelling with children includes carrying a lot of luggage and sometimes strollers as well. In this case, the most convenient way would be to book a private Paris airport transfer. You can book the service online and the Paris airport transfer provider will arrange everything prior your trip, including special inquiries like child seats. The taxi driver will be waiting for you at the airport and take you directly to your destination.
Top things to do
Jardin du Luxembourg
Jardin du Luxembourg is a very popular park in Paris, especially among parents. It’s a perfect place to spend a day out in the sun, away from the crowded streets of Paris. In the centre of the park, there is a large pond, where kids can take a ride in small boats. But that is just the beginning. The park offers a wide range of activities for kids like puppet shows, pony rides and playing on the spacious playground.
Fun night at Cirque d’Hiver
There’s nothing more exciting than a night out at the circus, with acrobats, clowns and trapeze artists performing. The Cirque d’Hiver dates back to 1852 and it is one of the few remaining constructed circuses in the world. It has been run by the Bouglione family all these years and they are gathering the most talented artists for a unique show filled with music and laughter. You will never see a show two times, as each one is different. Another interesting fact is that they still use lions in their shows. The circus is opened during the winter period, from October to March.
Aquarium de Paris
The Aquarium de Paris will take you to the magical undersea world with more than 10,000 fish where the sharks are the main attraction. It is located across the Eiffel Tower, under the Trocadero Gardens. This is a wonderful educational place as well, as there are intercative shows, projection of National Geographic movies and educational workshops. Another interesting thing is that the kids can actually touch the fish in the Touch Tank.
Musée Gourmet du Chocolat
Just saying the words chocolate museum will instantly draw you into visiting this magical place of chocolate. The Musée Gourmet du Chocolat houses over 1,000 artifacts and traces the origins of the chocolate in South America, as well as, its introduction to Europe and the industrialization process in the 19th century. The tour around the museum also includes a demonstration of today’s chocolate making process and finally the best part – the chocolate gift shop. You and your kids will be able to taste the finest chocolate and take gifts with you along with the sweet memories from the visit.
Treasure hunt in the Louvre
While in Paris, visiting Louvre is a top priority. However, when you’re travelling with kids it might get tricky as they can easily get bored. Fortunately, there is a new way how to make your Louvre visit a fun activity for you and your kids. The THATLou organize a scavenger hunt in Louvre where you need to follow the treasure trail and take photos in front of various art works. At the end, the scores are summazrized at a cafe together with the organizer. This a fun way for the whole family to learn more about art and go beyond the famous Mona Lisa.
Musée de la Magie
This magical place is a perfect opportunity to spend time with your kids, especially Harry Potter fans will be excited. Located in a 16th century cellar, the Magic Museum displays magic artifacts and everything related to optical illusion performance from 18th century today. Magic wands, magicians’ hats and secret boxes are just a part of the collection. They also organize magic demonstrations, so your kids can enjoy a true magic show.
Coffee-break in kid-friendly cafe
Everybody needs a coffee break from the busy schedule. There are many places to enjoy your coffee in Paris, but for parents we recommend few kid-friendly cafes where they can relax while the kids have fun in the children’s corner. Les 400 Coups and Le Poussette Café are perfect for parents where the kids can have fun time playing games andcoloring, and the parents can have quiet coffee time. Le Petit Café du Monde Entier is perfect for Sunday brunches and some family time. They serve great food for both adults and picky kids.
