City break to Paris with children
10 tips for a citytrip to Paris with Eurostar
Visiting Paris with kids is an adventure. Children love travelling by train and many hotels and museums in Paris are child-friendly.
What can you do with children in Paris? Where can you go sightseeing with kids? We have tips to make your visit to Paris an unforgettable one for the whole family.
1. Travel comfortably by train
No traffic jams, no fear of flying, only comfort! Eurostar will take you to the heart of Paris in a few hours. For children, the train is a fun experience, because there is so much to see on the journey. And on the way, there is plenty of room to play a game, for example.
You can also walk around on the train and have a drink or a snack in the Welcome Bar. There is a baby changing area in the centre of the train. A relaxing journey for the whole family!
2. Prepare yourselves for transport in Paris
Bear in mind that a buggy in an old city like Paris can be cumbersome. A baby carrier is much more mobile and saves a lot of lifting and carrying. In the Eurostar bar, you can buy individual tickets for the metro.
If you are staying in the city for longer, you can also buy a pass for a number of days. The vast distances in Paris can quickly become too tiring for children and the metro is a great solution.
3. Book a flat or a child-friendly hotel
A flat as accommodation is ideal if you want to prepare your own meals. Do you prefer to spend the night in a hotel? A family room in a child-friendly hotel can also relieve you of a lot of worries. In the centrally located Novotel Paris Gare De Lyon there is, for example, a special breakfast room for families with children, a games room, a children's buffet and even child care.
4. Take regular breaks in a city park or playground
In Paris, there are city parks everywhere and at all major tourist attractions you will find a playground. So, it is a good tip to take a picnic blanket with you. After a visit to the Eiffel Tower, you can settle down at the playground in park Champ de Mars. The playground behind the Notre-Dame or the adventure playgrounds in Jardin Nelson Mandela, near Centre Pompidou, are also very popular with children.
5. Take the underground into a submarine
The most adventurous ride on the Paris metro is line 3 or 11 to Arts et Métiers metro station. At this metro station, it is like stepping into an old submarine. Above ground, there is a fun, eponymous museum dedicated to technology and inventions. Children (and adults) can marvel at crazy instruments and objects such as old cars, aeroplanes and more clever inventions.
Park Champ de Mars
6. Make time for aquatic fun
In the water of Bassin de la Vilette, you can swim and rent a pedalo or a boat. Also fun: in the city garden Jardin de Tuileries children can steer a boat by remote control and in the children's paradise Jardin d’Acclimatation the fountain and the boat trip on the "enchanted river" provide water fun. A boat trip on the River Seine is also a great idea, as you can see a lot of the city.
Address Jardin d'Acclimation: Bois de Boulogne
7. Plan a day trip to Jardin des Plantes
In the beautiful gardens of Jardin des Plantes, you can easily spend a whole day with children. There is plenty of room to play and picnic, there is a zoo, Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, and there are great museums for children. Plan quite some time for your visit to the natural history museum. In the impressive large hall, all kinds of animals, from all over the animal kingdom, are displayed.
Address Jardin des Plantes: 36, 38, 40 rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire
8. See the museums' children's programmes
Many objects in museums are just as much fun for children as they are for adults, such as the famous Mona Lisa and the mummies in the Louvre. The Petit Louvre children's programme is specially designed for 7- to 12-year-olds. The artificial pond at Centre Pompidou is an experience in itself, as is the escalator to the top floor with a view of Paris. Children are also well taken care of inside, for example with art workshops in the Atelier des enfants.
Jardin des Plantes
9. Child-friendly restaurants, 6 tips
1. Chez He
At the Asian restaurant Chez He, you can enjoy your meal in peace, while the children enjoy themselves endlessly in the huge playroom in the basement.
Address: Chez He: 4 Cité de l'Ameublement
2. Les 400 Coups
On weekends, the theatre restaurant Les 400 Coups also has an extensive play area with toys like Kapla, and there are high-chairs for the little ones.
Address: Les 400 Coups: 51 Rue de Bercy
3. Crêperie Breizh Café
Children can feast on typical French pancakes at crêperie Breizh Café.
Address: Crêperie Breizh Café: o.a. op 109 Rue Vieille du Temple (3 vestigingen)
4. Les Niçois
Colourful Mediterranean restaurant with many games for younger and older children and organised activities on weekends. Address: 7 Rue Lacharrière
5. Le Cafézoïde
Cultural children's café that engages the youngest visitors with fun activities, games and workshops. Address: 92 bis Quai de Loire
6. Une Mère Une Fille
Lunch and brunch restaurant with a special children's brunch on weekends, children's clothes, toys, books and more. Address: 43 boulevard Garibaldi
10. Shopping with children in Paris, 3 tips
1. Bonton
Large concept store for children offering clothes, accessories, furniture and toys.
Address: 24 Rue de Sèvres
2. Le Bonhomme de Bois
Charming toy shop where all the toys are made of wood.
Address: Several branches in the centre of Paris, including on 43 Boulevard Malesherbes
3. Le Ciel est à Toute le Monde
Beautiful children's shop offering clothes, games, cuddly toys, accessories, tableware, books and gifts.
Address: 7 Avenue Trudaine
Booking online tickets
Enthusiastic about a city break to Paris with children? Board Eurostar together for an experience that will stay with you for a long time. For an adult, you pay € 35 for a one-way trip.
The ticket price for children will change for train journeys from 4 November 2024. You will then get 50% off the adult fare in Eurostar Standard and Plus. Children will not receive a discount in Eurostar Premier.
Book from the local train station near you for the best deal. For an adult, you then pay € 9 extra, so € 44 in total for, for example, a one-way ticket from Groningen to Paris (2nd class). For a child, you pay € 3 extra for the outbound journey to Amsterdam, Schiphol or Rotterdam one-way tri¨p (2nd class).
Paris with children
With kids to Paris
Laura visited Paris together with her daughters Pip and Juup. And what did this threesome discover? That Paris is the perfect family city.
Museums in Paris
Would you like to visit other museums in Paris besides Le Louvre and Musée d'Orsay? These 9 Paris museum tips will help you do just that.
South of France with kids
On holiday to the South of France with the kids. Very enjoyable and super-fast with Thalys.