Kids and Family in Paris

Your family will find that Paris offers a wonderful selection of attractions for parents and kids to enjoy together. With a range of theme parks, museums and outdoor attractions, France’s capital city has something for everyone in the family to experience.

Parent clubs and expat family networks in Paris

Moving to Paris with children can feel daunting, but the city offers numerous parent clubs and networks where you’ll quickly make connections. Message Paris stands out as one of the largest expat family communities in the city, bringing together international families from over 60 countries. They organise regular meetups, events, community sales, and outreach programmes to help you feel at home.

For parents with young children, the Petit Paris Playgroup hosts weekly themed sessions for little ones aged 0 to 3, where kids can play while you chat with other expat parents. The American Club of Paris provides a year-round calendar of events for American expats, while Facebook groups like ‘Kid Friendly Paris – Expat Parents Connect’ and ‘Expats in Paris’ offer online platforms to ask questions and find family activities.

Lifestyle in Paris

Useful links

• Message Paris
• Kid Friendly Paris – Expat Parents Connect
• Expats in Paris (Facebook Group)
• American Club of Paris

Schools for expat children in Paris

Paris boasts an impressive selection of international and bilingual schools catering to expat families. Beyond fully international schools, many French schools offer bilingual programmes or excellent support for non-French speaking students. 

When choosing a school, consider your length of stay in Paris, your child’s previous educational background, and whether you want them to integrate into the French system or maintain continuity with their home country’s curriculum.

Education and Schools in Paris
International Schools in Paris

Entertainment for kids in Paris

Musée Grévin (Paris Wax Museum)

The Musée Grévin is one of Europe’s oldest wax museums and currently boasts several life-sized wax figures, from Leonardo da Vinci to Marilyn Monroe and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. This makes for a fun and unique outing for the whole family. The museum’s Kids Discovery tour lets your little ones learn about how wax artists bring famous personalities to life, taking them through the entire creative process, from sculpting to the finishing touches.

Disneyland Paris

The magical Disneyland Paris first opened in 1992 and consists of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios. If you’ve been to either Disneyland or Disney World in the US, you might find the size of Disneyland Paris smaller, but it still offers plenty for your whole family to enjoy and is worth the trip.

Just outside the theme park’s gates is the Disney Village, which leads to one of four resorts. The park hosts special events throughout the year for annual festivities, including the Disney Music Festival from April to September, Halloween and Christmas celebrations. Walt Disney Studios Park is also geared towards children, with new attractions like Adventure Way in development. Kids can ride on almost all the rides without adults.

Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (Museum of Science and Industry)

Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie at Parc de la Villette, in the northern tip of the city, is a vast museum dedicated to having fun while learning about science. The museum regularly curates exhibitions designed to capture your children’s imaginations and your curiosity. Special exhibitions for younger children and young adults guarantee that no one in your family will be bored.

Jardin d’Acclimatation

This amusement park and garden hosts a house of mirrors, an archery range, a miniature golf course, zoo animals, a puppet theatre and shooting galleries. If you’re worn out by all the attractions, you can always enjoy the garden, which is full of beautiful flowers and grassy areas to picnic, as well as a lagoon where boats can be rented. The park features over 40 attractions and over 450 animals, with recent additions including the thrilling ‘Défi du Dragon’ rollercoaster and the Jurassic Island VR Xperience.

Seasonal events at Jardin d’Acclimatation include the vibrant HOLI festival of colours in May, Christmas celebrations from November to January, and the elegant Carrousel Louis Vuitton from March. Your kids will love the varied play areas and exciting rides designed just for them.

Gaîté Lyrique

This modern cultural institution is devoted to mixed media and digital art forms. Located within a beautifully restored 19th-century theatre in the Marais neighbourhood, the Gaîté Lyrique has a rotating calendar of events ranging from music and multimedia performances to design, fashion and architectural exhibitions. There is even an interactive room dedicated to video games suitable for all ages. Older kids will enjoy the colourful and stimulating exhibits that often focus on aspects of play.

CinéAqua

Not far from the Eiffel Tower sits CinéAqua, a state-of-the-art aquarium which boasts the largest shark tank in France (3 million litres with 38 sharks). Complete with projection rooms, live shows and hands-on workshops, you and your children will be entertained and educated about underwater life. Don’t miss the touch tank, where children can pet the Koi carp in a specially designed area.

Outdoor parks and playgrounds

Paris offers numerous outdoor spaces perfect for family outings. Luxembourg Gardens features one of the city’s best fenced playgrounds, ideal if you’re travelling with toddlers. Jardin des Tuileries hosts a summer fairground from June to August with over 60 carnival rides and attractions. Other family favourites include Parc Kellermann with its century-old trees and ponds, Parc André-Citroën’s huge playground, and the pirate-themed play area at Square Sainte-Odile.

For an active day out, try one of the many family-friendly walking tours like ‘The Heroes of Mythology at the Tuileries’ treasure hunt or the ‘Palais-Royal Investigation’ tour, designed to engage children while sightseeing the city’s landmarks.