1/10 Centre Pompidou
The street performers, caricaturists and mime artists outside the Pompidou Centre – not to mention its inside-out rolling staircase – will have your children hooked before they step inside. Once through its doors, the art gallery is great for the whole family. The ground floor houses a center dedicated solely to children, to help them understand exhibits running through the rest of the building. There are also workshops designed for two-12 year-olds, while for teens there is the 13/16 Studio.
2/10 French Army Museum
Originally a hospital for disabled soldiers set up by Louis XIV, Les Invalides now houses a military museum, as well as the tomb of Napoleon. The collection of weapons, armor and artillery models span seven rooms, which are divided chronologically or in themes, so you can pick out favorites. The audio guide’s interactive trails are designed specifically for children and will help bring the museum to life. Perfect for kids that love history!
Facilities: There’s a café on site for snacks and an elevator for stroller access.
3/10 Notre Dame
Sit your kids down to Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame (if they haven’t already seen it) and then take a trip to Paris’ most famous cathedral, which will prove even more exciting. Start by feeding the pigeons that swarm outside the building, then climb the 387 steps up to the tower – pointing out gargoyles as you go – to see Quasimodo’s bell.
Facilities: There’s no elevator, so this isn’t for the stroller-bound or those with mobility difficulties.
4/10 Eiffel Tower
To add to the fun for children visiting the Eiffel Tower, a route around the monument has been created (targeted at six-10 year olds) by a character called Gus. Follow his yellow footprints to discover clues, which will help answer questions in an activity booklet and teach them about the building. The best way to get there is either by Metro, on the Batobus, which links up all the major tourist attractions by boat. If you’re with older children, travel by bicycle.
5/10 Musée D’Orsay
Musée d’Orsay, right in the centre of Paris on the right bank of the Seine, has walls full of famous impressionist paintings and is a great introduction to art for children. Aside from the art, there is plenty in the former train station to capture a child’s imagination, from the striking architecture to the kid’s bookshop.
Facilities: If you’re travelling with younger children, it’s worth knowing that strollers are allowed through the disabled entrance (which also has a shorter line) and there are ramps all over the museum.
6/10 Disneyland Paris
Forget ancient architecture, world-class museums, Michelin-starred food. What the kids really want from a visit to Paris is life-sized cartoon characters, giant pink castles and an endless stream of rides. So to Disneyland Paris it is. Split over five magical lands, the theme park really is every child’s dream and as a parent you’ll get serious brownie points. Go for a day from Paris on the train, which takes 35 minutes or the Eurostar will take you straight from St. Pancras. There are seven on-site hotels to choose from, including the fantastical Disney Hotel, with themed bedrooms and breakfast with Mickey.
7/10 Cité des Enfants
Based in the Science Museum just outside the center of Paris at La Villette, the Cité des Enfants is designed to introduce children to science in a fun way. It’s split into two age categories, two to sevens and five to 12 year-olds. Both are made up of interactive exhibits divided into themes such as the body, water games, the garden and the factory. The museum is so popular that it’s timed; you have an hour and a half to soak up as much science as you can. Book tickets online.
8/10 Jardin d’Acclimatation
Even the theme parks in Paris are chic, as proven by this 152-year old amusement park in the north of the Bois de Boulogne, which will transport you back in time. Steam trains, magic mirrors, dodgems and flying swings create a vintage carnival feel in the park. There are plenty of cafés to refuel at, too.
Don’t miss: La Prévention Routière, a miniature roadway where children drive small cars following street signs and stopping at lights.
9/10 Paris Plage
Every summer, the banks of the River Seine are transformed into a man-made beach. From July to August the stretch from the Louvre to Pont de Sully and the Rotonde de Ledoux to the former Magasins Généraux (Bassin de la Villette) are decorated with bucketloads of sand, deck chairs and ice cream sellers.
Facilities: There’s a swimming pool suspended over the river, volleyball and free evening concerts, while the site at Bassin de la Villette offers water activities, with kayaks, pedal boats and small boats to hire.
10/10 Jardin des Plantes
Paris’ botanical gardens are lovely to walk around or play in at any time of year. They also house The Galerie de l’Evolution (the city’s natural history museum) and the Menagerie, a little zoo that has been around since the mid-19th century and hasn’t changed since. Full of charm, it has 1,800 species, which include orangutans, big cats and nearly 400 birds.