Family holidays
Paris with kids: parks, museums and hotels that make it easy
Paris is better with children than its reputation suggests. There are puppet shows in the parks, a science centre built for small hands and Disneyland a train ride away. Here is what we would do, and where we would stay.
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A small boy in a rain jacket pushes a wooden boat with a red sail onto the pond in the Luxembourg Gardens with a long stick. The wind catches it, it circles and drifts back to the edge. He has already forgotten that he was grumpy on the metro ten minutes ago.
Paris lacks the giant play centres other capitals advertise, but it has plenty that children remember: puppet shows, dinosaur skeletons, a carousel on every other square and a tower as tall as they imagined. This guide covers what works for different ages, and the hotels that make the days easier.
Short answer: what to do in Paris with kids
Start in the Luxembourg Gardens with toy boats and the puppet theatre, spend a morning at the science city at La Villette or the Grand Gallery of Evolution, and book Eiffel Tower tickets ahead. With three days or more, Disneyland Paris is an easy day trip on the RER A train.
Best for toddlers: the Luxembourg Gardens
Best rainy day: Cité des sciences at La Villette
Best for animal lovers: the Jardin des Plantes
Best hotel in the city: Shangri-La Paris
Best at Disneyland: Disneyland Hotel
The Luxembourg Gardens: toy boats and puppets
The large pond in front of the Senate is where Parisian children have sailed model boats for generations. You rent a boat at the edge and get a stick to steer it. Nearby are a playground and the Théâtre des Marionnettes, a puppet theatre where shows are in French, though the stories are easy to follow.
The gardens sit in Saint-Germain, close to crêpe stands and bakeries. Start your first day here: the pace is slow and children can run.
Shangri-La Paris
The Eiffel Tower view from Shangri-La Paris.
The Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro
The tower is the goal for most children, and timed tickets booked in advance are worth it. Queues without a ticket can be long, and waiting is what children cope with worst. Take the stairs to the second floor if they are old enough, then the lift to the top.
Afterwards, cross the bridge to the Trocadéro, where a carousel and the view back to the tower make a good pause. See our guide to Eiffel Tower tickets.
Shangri-La Paris: the tower in your window
Shangri-La occupies a former palace built for Prince Roland Bonaparte, just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. From the best rooms you watch the tower sparkle at night, which children talk about for a long time afterwards. It is expensive, but you can walk to the Trocadéro and the river boats.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Shangri-La Paris
La Villette and the Jardin des Plantes for rainy days
The Cité des sciences et de l'industrie in the Parc de la Villette is Europe's largest science museum, and its Cité des enfants section is designed for children from two upwards. They build, pump water and test things with their hands. Book a time slot, as the section runs set sessions.
At the Jardin des Plantes, the Grand Gallery of Evolution parades stuffed animals through a vast hall, and the small zoo next door is among the oldest in the world. Both are good on a grey day.
The catch: museums are busy during school holidays and on Wednesdays, when many French children are off school. Go early.
Disneyland Hotel
A room at Disneyland Hotel.
Disneyland Paris: one day or three
Disneyland Paris is in Marne-la-Vallée east of the city, and the RER A train runs from central Paris to the station by the parks. There are two parks, Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, so one day suits younger children while older ones may want two.
Many families end a Paris trip with a couple of nights by the parks to avoid the train morning and evening. See our guide to Disneyland Paris hotels.
The catch: weekends and French school holidays are packed. Choose a weekday if you can.
Disneyland Hotel: the castle above the gate
The pink hotel sits above the entrance to Disneyland Park and reopened in 2024 with a royal theme. Rooms facing the park look towards the castle, and you walk from breakfast to the first ride. It is the most expensive hotel in the resort, so save it for a big occasion.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Disneyland Hotel
Disney Hotel New York, The Art of Marvel
The pool at Disney Hotel New York.
Disney Hotel New York: for Marvel fans
The hotel stands by Lake Disney, with Marvel art in the corridors and about ten minutes' walk to the parks through Disney Village. It suits school-age children and teenagers who want Avengers Campus more than once. The indoor pool is welcome after a long day.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Disney Hotel New York, The Art of Marvel
Staycity Aparthotels
The pool at Staycity near Disneyland Paris.
Staycity: a kitchen and a pool
Staycity is one of Disney's partner hotels, with apartments that have their own kitchen, a pool and a free shuttle to the parks. It works for families staying several days who want to make their own breakfast. With small children, being able to heat food in the room helps.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Staycity Aparthotels
Marriott Village d'Île-de-France
An apartment at Marriott Village.
Marriott Village: room for the grandparents
These apartments are laid out like small terraced houses near Val d'Europe, with a kitchen, living room and several bedrooms. They suit large families travelling together who want a bed each. Check the transport to the parks when you book, as it varies.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Marriott Village d'Île-de-France
Good to know before you go
Book ahead: the Eiffel Tower, Cité des enfants and Disneyland all use timed tickets.
Buggies on the metro: many stations only have stairs. A light folding buggy beats a big pram.
Wednesday is children's day: French children are often off school on Wednesdays, and museums fill up.
Eat early: restaurants open for dinner around half past seven. Bakeries and crêpe stands rescue the afternoon.
Paris with kids: frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Paris with young children?
The Luxembourg Gardens with toy boats and puppets, the Cité des enfants at La Villette and the animals at the Jardin des Plantes work well for children under seven.
How long does it take to get to Disneyland from Paris?
The RER A train takes around 40 minutes from central Paris to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy station by the parks.
Where should you stay in Paris with kids?
Stay near a metro station with a lift or within walking distance of a park. If you are spending several days at Disneyland, stay by the parks.
Is Paris child-friendly?
Yes, though not in the way many expect. It has few big play centres but many parks, carousels and museums made for children.