This week’s podcast theme is one that we’ve been wanting to do for a while… Paris for kids. These recommendations were put together with an eight-year-old in mind, but each recommendation is family friendly for all ages.
Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts, and keep an ear out at the end to hear Bertrand d’Aleman from My Private Paris talk about the ultimate day-trip from Paris: Versailles (also great for kids!).
We’ve divided our 21 tips into specific segments. Here we go.
Best Paris museums and galleries to visit with kids
This covers museums, art galleries, cabinets of curiosities etc. All of which, of course, are interesting at any time, but can be particularly helpful on rainy days. Just a heads up, we didn’t intentionally choose more than one place specialising in taxidermy, it just worked out that way…
- Atelier des Lumières – an art gallery, housed in a large industrial space, where paintings by famous painters (such as Van Gogh, Chagall and Monet) are projected on the floor, walls and ceiling. It feels like you’re inside the artworks.
- Palais de Tokyo – an expansive art museum, near the Eiffel Tower, with plenty of space and lots of interesting exhibitions.
- Aquarium – an aquarium in central Paris? It doesn’t get much more fun that that.
- Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature – a fun, adventurous museum which you might not initially consider, but there’s a full-size stuffed polar bear. What more could you ask for?
- Deyrolle – technically a shop, but you are welcome to visit. It’s off the beaten path and stuffed full of fascinating creatures.
Five most interesting places to visit in Jardin des Plantes
Don’t let the serenity of the Jardin des Plantes deceive you, this area is a complete goldmine of activities for children and adults alike. You can easily spend an entire day exploring this area (and if you’re quick, you’ll see a huge dinosaur display across the park itself (until January 2025). Otherwise, there’s:
6. Natural History Museum – nothing short of stunning. An exceptional interior and captivating exhibits.
7. Zoo – across the park from the Natural History Museum, this is a compact zoo, which has been entertaining families for over 150 years.
8. Greenhouses – five tropical greenhouses with plants from across the world.
9. Maze – yes, you read that right, a maze in central Paris. Amazing.
10. Natural Science Museum – weird and wonderful. The displays will leave you spell-bound.
Five top outdoor activities for kids in Paris
When the weather is good, nowhere is better than Paris. So, get out and about and enjoy all the excitement of these outdoor activities.
11. Bateaux Mouches – avoid walking too much and getting tired. The most thrilling and beautiful way to see the best of Paris.
12. Pony Riding – in Parc Monceau, Luxembourg Gardens and the Champ de Mars, which also offers go-karting.
13. Jardin d’Acclimatation – not a garden, but an amusement park. Fairground rides and rollercoasters galore.
14. The Paris Zoo – in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes. Exceptionally good, for a city zoo.
15. Ice skating at the Grand Palais – returning after a long closure. Is there a more beautiful place to ice skate in the world?
The best places to eat and drink with kids
16. Ground Control – not especially central, but worth the commute. A huge abandoned train depot that houses diverse food stands, with interesting shops and games.
17. Comptoir Général – a roomy, buzzing canal-side club by night and restaurant by day. Keep your eyes peeled for the pirate ship.
18. Crèpes on the go – if in doubt, pick up a crèpe and go.
Where to shop for children in Paris
19. Pain d’Épices – a charming, independent toyshop in one of the most beautiful passages in Paris.
20. Red Wheelbarrow – three connected bookshops, next to the Luxembourg Gardens, including a shop for children’s books only. You’re sure to find our books there.
21. Le Bonmarché – an iconic, Left Bank department store which sells children’s books, toys and clothes. What makes this place different is it offers a babysitting service.
That’s all for this week. There’s a lot of choice here, enough to keep even the most energetic kids occupied.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.
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