Why

Paris is a superb city for children and adults alike and is a very family friendly city break. It is also a great opportunity to combine sightseeing such as seeing the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa with fantastic structures such as the Eiffel Tower and some fun theme park experiences in . Paris is not only a city full of romance for couples and singles but is also full of stimulating activities and fun for all the family.

Parisians are very family friendly and most famous sites can be ticked off without much stress. There are lots of places for free play as well including the gardens, pony rides, puppet shows, boating, swings and carousels in the Luxembourg and Tuileries gardens.

If you are planning on doing a lot of sightseeing in an intensive period of time say over two or three days the Paris Pass might be worth considering as it offers free entry to over 60 of the best tourist attractions in Paris, free Metro travel and public transport within Paris, queue-jumping rights at the busiest Paris tourist attractions and a range of exclusive discounts, deals and freebies. If you have a baby remember a changing mat when you are out and about as good baby changing facilities are not common.

When and How

This is an amazing year round destination but can get crowded and hot in July and August. A lot of Paris shuts down in August when the locals escape to the countryside. There are still plenty of places to escape to though and you can cool off in the temporary beaches set up along the Seine from mid July. Try to catch a festival or even better still Bastille Day which has fantastic fireworks which the kids will love. Christmas is also great but do wrap up as it can be extremely cold. April, May and June are best.

You can fly to Paris Charles De Gaulle or Beauvais (about an hour from the city) and there are lots of flights from Ireland and the UK ranging from scheduled to budget flights. You can check special offers or deals on flights here. If you are coming from the UK Eurostar is a great high speed and hassle free way to travel right into the city centre.

If you decide to take the ferry from Ireland and combine a trip with a camping holiday or a stay in a Gite for a few days you can take the ferry from Rosslare or Cork to Cherbourg in Brittany. From the UK there are several ferry routes. Camping operator prices can include a return ferry crossing. You can book ferry crossings here independently and do check out our guide to travelling with the kids by ferry .

Family Friendly Accommodation
There are a wide range of family friendly accommodation options available. Most hotels welcome children even if there are no special facilities and you can check for special offers and deals here with booking.com.

Serviced apartments are offered by the Apartment Service and they are a great alternative to city hotels which can be short on space.

Citadines Apart'hotel Louvre hotel is located close to Opera, the Stock Exchange and the French Ministries of the left bank. This three star hotel is set in a building from the 1900s beautifully restored. Its facilities include 51 apartments located on 7 floors. The Louvre Museum and the Louvre des Antiquaires are close by. The Tuileries Garden and the Seine are just 5 minutes away. You can book this here with booking.com for good value specail offers and deals.

HotelHome Paris 16 in a 19th century Haussmann style building offers various sizes of furnished flats to accommodate from one to six people and you can also book this here.

Saint-James & Albany Hotel-Spa in the heart of Paris offers 194 rooms and suites in a 17th century building and is a good family option. Families can stay in junior suites or family quadruple suites. Most of the rooms overlook the hotel’s lovely inside garden and numerous courtyards. It features an eco-friendly spa and is opposite the Tuileries Gardens, a few minutes from the Louvre and Orsay Museums and the Opéra Garnier and Champs Élysées. There is a pool and children under three stay for free. Book this here.

The Napoleon Paris is located a minute away from the Arc de Triomphe and the famous Avenue "Les Champs-Elysées" combining charm and character of a hotel which belongs to a private family. The Hotel Napoleon has suites for families and the location really is great. All children under 12 years stay free of charge when using existing bedding and cots are free. Book this here.

What to do with the kids in Paris

To book tours and attractions before you depart and for some inspiration have a look at the tours and activities offered by isango. This will save you time and hassle and help you plan while you are on holidays.

The Eiffel Tower is a Paris landmark and certainly should be first on your list. Older kids will know it is an instantly recognizable icon and will enjoy climbing it and gazing at the traffic and buildings below.

Take a trip to the zoo will which has more than 600 species and a mini train.

Visit the George Pompidou Centre with its wacky architecture and the Galerie des Enfants which features beautifully thought out exhibitions by artists and designers introducing children to design, architecture and modern art.

Take some time out in the parks including the Jardin du Luxembourg which has boating, donkey rides and puppet shows and of course the fabulous Tuileries Gardens.

Go underground and visit the Paris catacombs.

Visit the Jardin d’Acclimatation amusement park with pony rides and roller coasters.

The Muse d’Orsay is a fabulous museum which older children should enjoy. If you are on a short timeframe make a beeline for the Monet exhibitions.

Take a trip to the Parc de la Villete which contains the Cite des Sciences et de L’Industrie a science museum and the Cite des Enfants which has lots of interactive play zones including a building site with foam blocks and wheelbarrows. Older children can explore the working TV studio or walk in Ant Hill.

Take a trip on the Seine to see the city from a different angle
Visit the Musee de la Magie which is a wonderful museum of magic and illusion.

Children and adults alike will love the Gothic architecture of Notre Dame and the gruesome gargoyles.

The Park Asterix is a great theme park only 30k away with lots to see and do with the kids. It is a full day trip and a good alternative to Disneyland.

Relax on the beaches established each summer on the banks of the Seine which include palm trees, some loungers and sand.

Visit the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle which has imaginative displays of animals and interactive games.

The Musee du Louvre is another must see with the kids but it's an exhausting prospect even for adults. Our top tip is to try to focus on a limited number of big-name exhibits such as the Mona Lisa with the Venus the Milo and play “spot the painting" with children ticking off significant paintings as they find them. Alternatively you could book one of the workshops for children aged between four and thirteen or sign up for a guided family tour which involves an interactive treasure hunt for children aged between six and twelve.

Last but not least there is of course a . This is only 40 minutes from the city centre by RER and a fantastic day out or series of days. If your children have Disney on their minds we would suggest you try to do this early in your visit and have a look at our guide to Disneyland and how to survive a theme park for some tips.

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

Sign up for our free newsletter to be kept updated with all of the latest special offers for family holidays and family travel news. Remember to enter our fantastic competitions which have super prizes and best of all are free.