Accompanying our little ones’ first steps into the wonderful world of play and curiosity is a magical adventure! Paris is full of havens of peace and spaces designed for the well-being of our little ones from 3 to 6 years old. From pony rides under the trees to small traditional puppet theatres, here are our favourite stopovers for tender family moments.
Our favorites
- Noah’s Planet (immersion in the animal world, from 1 year old)
- Jazz and afternoon tea at the Sunset Sunside (concerts for 2-6 year olds)
- The City of Babies (at the Cité des Sciences, for 0-2 year olds)
- The Menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes
- The Paris Zoological Park
- The Grande Galerie de l’Évolution (in the Jardin des Plantes)
The must-sees
- The Aquarium of Paris (at the Trocadero)
- The City of Children (for the 2-7 year old course)
- Le jardin d’acclimatation (dans le bois de Boulogne)
- The Paris Farm (free)
- The merry-go-rounds (or carousel)
- Puppet theatres (Guignol)
- Pony rides
Sensory awakening workshops
These are places where children of 1, 2 or 3 years old will be able to manipulate, touch, experiment, with or without the help of their parents.
Small plays and musical tales
These are often tales or small musical shows that are offered to toddlers. The duration of the show is adapted to young children (often less than 40 minutes) to capture their attention. These shows are interactive and participatory.
Concerts for a toddler
Several venues in Paris offer music awakening concerts for the little ones. A great moment and a nice parent-child activity.
Cinema for children under 3 years old
Awaken children through sound and image! These sessions are adapted to the youngest, with themes that are familiar to them.
Animals: zoological parks and aquariums
Children, even very young, love to go and see animals. If the weather is good, zoological parks are preferred. And if the weather leaves something to be desired or it’s a heat wave, aquariums are perfect.
Educational farms
They are mostly found outside Paris (except the Ferme de Paris, in the Bois de Vincennes). It is the ideal outing with very young children. It is a low-cost activity because the entrance fee is generally less than 10€. Some are free.
Toddler Hobbies
Some leisure parks are accessible from the age of 1, with areas designed and secured for little ones. The swimming pool, with their small pools and baby swimming lessons, allow babies to familiarize themselves with the aquatic environment very early.
Kid friendly cafes and restaurants
Family friendly addresses that we recommend if you are looking for places where children will be welcomed.
A selection of activities at reduced rates
Take advantage of discounts and promotions on certain outings in Paris and outside Paris.
All year round with a baby or toddler
Are you looking for ideas for outings with your baby ! Below, a selection of activities to do with a baby under 1 year old, under 18 months, etc… (up to 3 years). Among the activities popular with parents, zoological parks such as the Menagerie in the Jardin des Plantes or the Paris farm in the 12th arrondissement or the Aquarium de Paris. Outside of Paris, all the educational farms are an ideal outing with children under 2 or 3 years old. Many small theaters in Paris program shows for babies. Too young to go to the museum? In Paris in the 1st arrondissement, the Musée en Herbe offers exhibitions for very young children. For musical awakening, the Lamoureux Orchestra offers 30-minute baby concerts. A must at the weekend for young parents remains baby swimmers. Unfortunately, we don’t have any good plans for a weekend with baby near Paris (your addresses are welcome).
For a gentle first initiation, we suggest you go to the Musée en Herbe: the courses are entirely designed to be touched and manipulated by little hands. The musical storytelling shows and sensory awakening sessions at the Philharmonie des Enfants are also great engines of awakening that are very complicit.
Guignol is a true Parisian institution that crosses generations! We love the puppet theatre in the Jardin du Luxembourg for its historic atmosphere and fairytale décor, as well as the small theatre in the Parc de Choisy or the one in the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Suspended moments full of laughter!
Yes! The City of Paris has equipped most of its green spaces with closed motor skills development areas reserved for toddlers. The Jardin des Tuileries and the Parc André Citroën have magnificent low wooden structures, miniature slides and secure swings perfect for our little ones.
Paris has wonderful gifts in store for families! In addition to the outdoor playgrounds, access to the magnificent butterfly greenhouse of the Parc Floral or strolling along the pedestrian banks of the Seine to meet the boats are completely free. Enough to marvel at without moderation.
To celebrate his candles with complicity, offer him a small session of early learning cinema (short 30-minute sessions with soft lights) followed by a shared snack at the Jardin d’Acclimatation. It is an enchanting, secure and magical setting that will delight all the little guests without over-exciteing them.
The Cité des enfants in La Villette : an interactive and fun space to discover science. The National Museum of Natural History: to admire stuffed animals and dinosaurs. The Musée en Herbe in the 1st arrondissement : a very small museum adapted to very young children
Creative leisure workshops are offered by many museums and cultural centres. Libraries and media libraries which offer hours of storytelling and entertainment. The trampoline park or the Cité des bébé in La Villette.
Plan picnics in the parks. Choose restaurants with children’s menus and high chairs, especially restaurants that advertise themselves as Kid friendly or Family friendly. Pack snacks and drinks for those who are hungry.
It depends on the mode of transport. Buses and trams are more suitable for strollers than the metro, where elevators are very busy. Soft transport is recommended, but if you use your car, it is better to book a car park in advance, as it is often saturated.
The Parc zoologique de Paris (Zoo de Vincennes) or the Menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes, La Ferme de Paris in the Bois de Vincennes (free) and of course aquariums such as the Aquarium Ciné Aqua at the Trocadéro or Sealife in the 77