Paris has plenty to enthrall kids of all ages.
Here are some less obvious but fascinating sights to see.
1/9 Canal Saint-Martin
In the 10th arrondissement, you’ll find the delightful Canal Saint-Martin. Swing by Du Pain et Des Idées for a chocolate and pistachio “snail” before searching for quirky gifts in the pastel-fronted Antoine et Lili shops on Quai de Valmy and Pop Market on Rue Bichat.
2/9 Le Musée Gourmand du Chocolat
This charming chocolate museum reveals the 4,000-year history of the delicious treat with demonstrations and tastings. For something more hands-on, little chocolatiers can sign up for a chocolate-making workshop.
3/9 Ballon de Paris
For spectacular views high above the rooftops, take a short flight in a tethered giant helium balloon in the Parc André Citröen in the 15th arrondissement. This flying science lab carries passengers to an altitude of 500 feet.
4/9 Jardin du Luxembourg
Home to a 17th-century palace built for Marie de’ Medici, this vast park in the 6th arrondissement is now a haven for kids. There’s a pond where they can sail boats, a carousel created by the designer of the Paris Opera where animals swing from the ceiling and numerous playgrounds.
5/9 Jardin D’Acclimatation
This charming 1860 amusement park in the bucolic Bois de Boulogne is another kids’ paradise. Expect to find old-fashioned puppet shows, a narrow-gauge railway and dozens of rides. Stop o at La Terrasse du Jardin for a bite de plein air.
6/9 Philharmonie de Paris
The vast Parc de la Villette, in the northeast of the city, has gardens, the Cité des Sciences and the Philharmonie, a 2,400-seat concert hall with weekend events and workshops designed to develop a love of music in even the tiniest tots.
7/9 Le Petit Souk
On the same block as the cool Librairie de Bandes Dessinées bookshop on Rue de Charonne, you’ll find one of the prettiest toy stores in town. Le Petit Souk is an Aladdin’s cave of colorful clothes, gifts and homewares for les enfants.
8/9 La Crêperie Bretonne
Visit this charming slice of Brittany in the 11th arrondissement for tasty sweet crêpes in a room stuffed with nautical maps and knickknacks. Kids can opt for simple lemon and sugar, while parents enjoy theirs flambéed in Calvados.
9/9 Mama Shelter
This budget designer hotel in the up-and-coming 20th may feel remote, but the 26 bus from Gare du Nord drops you at the door. All-day pizza and free films will appeal to older kids, and there are connecting rooms for younger charges.
Written by By Amber Dalton