Any traveling parent wants to know what to do with kids in Paris.

Rest assured, your children are going to have a great time in Paris. The city is full of fun activities.

Parks & Playgrounds

Paris's many parks, large and small, are designed with children in mind. Many have playgrounds with things to climb and swing on, fences and gates to keep the little ones from wandering off, and benches for parents. More...

Jardin des Tuileries

At the large pool in the Jardin des Tuileries they can rent little toy sailboats, and there are always plenty of pigeons to feed! More...

Jardin d'Acclimatation

Childhood reigns at the Jardin d'Acclimatation (children's amusement park) in the Bois de Boulogne (Métro: Les Sablons, then a six-minute walk). More...

Jardin du Luxembourg

This large, very central park has an extensive playground (small admission fee) and a Marionette Theater. More...

Carousels
(Merry-Go-Rounds)

Rare in most cities, they're common in Paris! Your little ones can enjoy a ride in many parts of the city while you rest on a bench and watch. More...

Zoos

Jardin des Plantes

Stop here for a look at the Ménagerie (zoo).

Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle

France's Natural History Museum has lots of kid-oriented programs.

Parc Zoologique de Paris

Paris's major zoo in the Bois de Vincennes (Métro: Porte Dorée).

Toys

Au Nain Bleu

Au Nain Bleu is the largest toy store in Paris. More...

Disneyland Paris

This huge amusement park on the outskirts of Paris is the most popular tourist attraction in Europe. More...

Panoramic Views

Everybody enjoys panoramic views, so if your children are toddlers or older, head for the high spots:

Eiffel Tower

Your kids may be old enough to climb the stairs to the mezzanine level, which means no waiting in line (which kids hate). After that, there's a carousel (merry-go-round) at the foot of the tower between it and the bridge over the Seine. More carousels...

Look also for the many souvenir sellers nearby, especially on the spacious Champ-de-Mars—they often have fun action toys like little kites, airplanes and rubber-band rockets to shoot into the air in the spacious park.

Across the river, the Jardins du Trocadéro has an Aquarium (Métro: Trocadéro).

Arc de Triomphe

Another fine viewpoint, and with lots of military and national history thrown in. More...

Circus

Paris has a good schedule of circus shows throughout the year. Look in the entertainment listings such as Pariscope to see which shows are currently in town.

The marvelous Musée des Arts-Forains is wonderful for children: antique traveling-fair entertainments with animatrons, carousels, games, calliopes and more. Most of these marvels still operate and some of them you can ride! More...

River Cruises

Who doesn't like boat cruises? With some of the lines, you can hop on and hop off as you like—perfect for childish attention spans... More...

Museums

The Palais de la Découverte, Avenue Franklin D Roosevelt between the Champs-Élysées and the Seine (just behind the Grand Palais, Métro: Franklin D Roosevelt or Champs- Élysées- Clemenceau) is an institute with working demonstrations in various branches of science, including astronomy, physics, biology, computers, medicine, and dentistry.

There's a planetarium here as well.

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