Traveling to Paris—or anywhere!—with kids can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. 

Paris offers plenty of kid-friendly sights, as well as lots of quiet spaces where you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. From hotels to museums, shops and playgrounds, we’ll show you where to head to with a family in tow. Here’s everything you need to know about making the most of Paris with kids. 

Where to Stay in Paris with Kids

1. Les Jardins de la Villa Hotel

Les Jardins de la Villa is conveniently located around the corner from the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. This chic hotel has spacious rooms (for Parisian standards) and plenty of family amenities: baby cots and monitors, bottle warmers, nightlights and even welcome gifts for little ones. 

2. Gardette Park Hotel

Kids will love this boutique hotel overlooking the Maurice Gardette square, which has a playground where they can let off steam. Brightly colored rooms, a breakfast buffet and babysitting options make it a great choice for families with children.

3. Paris Louvre Opera

The Toulouse-Lautrec themed hotel is located in an incredibly charming 17th-century townhouse near the Louvre. Families get interconnecting rooms with either two twin beds or one double bed each. Kid-friendly amenities include cribs, baby cots and babysitting services.

4. Hotel Montalembert 

Montalembert Hotel, perfectly situated by the Luxembourg Gardens, goes the extra mile for families. The youngest guests get a teddy bear and a child-sized bathrobe and slippers. The room service menu includes options for kids, and the hotel can arrange in-room babysitting. 

5. Novotel Paris Centre Eiffel Tower 

A short walk from the Eiffel Tower, Novotel Paris Centre is an ideal option for a family-friendly vacation. Accommodation and breakfast are free for children under 16. The hotel features indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a game room and a playground, making it a true gem for families. 

Where to Eat in Paris with Kids

1. Les Niçois

Les Niçois, a laid-back Mediterranean restaurant, is a parent’s dream come true where little ones are always greeted with a smile. There is a petanque pit and foosball table, and even weekend visits from animators who keep your kiddos entertained while you’re enjoying brunch. 

2. Les 400 Coups

Restaurants in Paris don’t get much more kid-friendly than Les 400 Coups, a relaxed cafeteria located inside the Cinémathèque Française. Children get to eat in a separate area equipped with kid-sized furniture. A pile of books, games and a giant blackboard are there to keep them happy after the meal.

3. Le Bichat

This canteen-like restaurant focuses on serving organic, seasonal foods and is a great option for families who have kids with allergies. The interior decorated with colorful pendant lights will also appeal to the little ones. 

4. Le Cafézoïde

The first Parisian children’s café, Le Cafézoïde keeps the youngest visitors busy with fun activities, games and workshops, while you sit back and enjoy a bite from their lunch menu.

5. La Crêperie de Josselin

La Crêperie de Josselin is an ideal lunch spot for even the fussiest eaters. Choose between the authentic Breton-style savory galettes and sweet crepes with tasty toppings such as ice cream and salted-butter caramel.

5 Museums to Visit With Kids in Paris

1. Cité des Enfants

The Cité des Enfants is a hands-on exhibition space for kids with a water play area, robot programming, ant farm tunnels, and even a TV studio where they can make recordings. Need we say more? Note that you have to book your session in advance—you’re only allowed an hour and a half in the exhibition space. 

2. Centre Pompidou

In addition to its major modern art exhibitions, Centre Pompidou houses a dedicated kids’ gallery (Galerie des enfants), kids’ workshops (Atelier des enfants) and art programs for teenagers (Studio 13/16). Admission is free of charge for under 18s.  

3. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle 

If you are looking for a place to spend the whole day with kids, head to the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. They have everything from superb collections of minerals to fossils, skeletons and a large zoo. Don’t forget to visit the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution with its stunning displays of endangered and extinct animals. 

4. Musée Gourmand du Chocolat

A chocolate paradise, Musée Gourmand du Chocolat explores the history of every child’s favorite treat from its Aztec origins until today. The best part? A demonstration of chocolate making, including free samples!

5. Musée des Arts Forains

This enchanting museum takes you straight into the magical world of the carnival. There are no labels and no display cases—kids are welcome to touch the exhibits. In the spotlight are 14 antique carousels, including a bicycle merry-go-round that you have to pedal to get going.

Best Children’s Parks & Playgrounds in Paris

1. Luxembourg Gardens

This amazing park has everything kids need: a puppet theater, pony rides and the oldest carousel in Paris. The highlight? Steering antique sailboats around the Grand Bassin duck pond with sticks, just like French children used to do in the past.

2. Parc de la Villette

The largest green area in Paris, Parc de la Villette has three playgrounds complete with pedal-powered windmills, kid-sized hamster wheels and ziplines. The main attraction is the enormous dragon slide which propels kids out of its mouth through the 11-meter-long tongue tube. Part of the garden is also accessible to children with reduced mobility.

3. Parc de Belleville Playground

This Belleville playground (47 Rue des Couronnes) is built on a steep slope—much less dangerous than it appears—including nettings, balance beams, climbing holds and echo tubes. This incredible space allows for kids’ imagination to run free: it can become a mountain range, a pirate ship or a medieval castle. 

4. Terrain d’Aventures 

The newly-opened adventure playground next to the Forum des Halles (Jardin Nelson Mandela, Rues Rambuteau et Coquillière) includes boulder walls, a log forest with ladders, and rope climbing bridges. Attempting to create a universe “halfway between the Wizard of Oz and Mario Bros,” its designers have incorporated elements of electronics as a way to motivate outdoor play. Parents are not allowed in the playground, but kids are supervised by animators. 

5. Parisian Carousels

A family trip to the City of Lights is not complete without a carousel ride or two. Here are some of the most beautiful Parisian carousels: 

• Forum des Halles’ old-fashioned carousel with hand-carved horses (101 Porte, Rue Berger) 
• Double-decker carousel dating from 1897 at the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, one of the biggest carousels in the city

• Traditional double-decker carousel with a Venetian theme at the foot of the Sacré-Cœur (Place Saint-Pierre)
• The carousel in front of Gare Montparnasse (17 Boulevard de Vaugirard) featuring wooden horses and carriages. The central pillar is decorated with reproductions of Impressionist paintings.

Where to Shop in Paris with Kids

1. Bonton

Bonton is a fashionable concept store with a hand-picked selection of toys, kids clothes, linen, furniture and everything in between. You can have your picture taken at the vintage photo booth (photomaton) or treat your little ones to a cute haircut in the in-store hair salon. 

2. Nature & Découvertes

Made for tiny explorers, Nature & Découvertes stores offer an amazing array of educational toys, outdoor equipment, experiment kits and books. Their aim is to reconnect urban dwellers to nature, and they succeed in doing just that. After visiting the store, your kids (and you!) will be ready for an adventure. 

3. Pain d’Epices 

Pain d’Epices specializes in miniature dollhouses. Even more impressive than the houses themselves are the incredible details like tiny furniture, pots and pans, rolling pins and—believe it or not—miniature French pastries and cheese boards. 

4. Tikibou Jouets

One of the oldest toy stores in Paris, Tikibou is a perfect place if you are looking for traditional French toys. This eclectic shop is packed to the brim with old wooden toys and games, snow domes, music boxes and miniature trains.

5. Les Fanfans

A charming store in the heart of the Marais, Les Fanfans is a true treasure trove for kids. Here they’ll find magic tricks, metal carousels and all the games they could ever wish for.