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Paris Things to Do With Kids

The 8 Best Things to Do With Kids in Paris (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 8 picks

The best things to do with kids in Paris in 2026 are the Cité des enfants at the Cité des Sciences, the Jardin d'Acclimatation, the Parc zoologique de Paris, the Aquarium de Paris, the Luxembourg Gardens' boats and puppets and the Musée en Herbe. Book timed sessions ahead, and check hours before you go.

Paris is easier with children than its museum reputation suggests. Every entry below has something designed for kids, from age-banded science sessions to puppet shows, and most are outdoors or under one roof, so they work in any weather. We quote only hours, ages and facts that the places publish themselves, and we leave out prices, which change with season and ticket type; check each site before you book. For a break from the sights, a Seine cruise is a gentle hour for small children, and our best Seine cruises and boat tours guide covers the options. Where you sleep matters too: see our best family-friendly hotels in Paris.

1. Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (Cité des enfants) — 19th arr. · La Villette

Hands-on science sessions for ages 2 to 6 and 5 to 10, plus the Argonaute submarine and a planetarium.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Ages 2 to 10 · Rainy days · Science

The Cité des enfants runs timed sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes for ages 2 to 6 and ages 5 to 10, per the Cité's own opening-hours page, which says online booking is strongly recommended. It lists four sessions a day Tuesday to Friday and five on weekends and school holidays. A separate Cité des bébés is listed for ages 0 to 23 months.

The Argonaute, a real submarine, can be visited every 15 minutes by booking, and the site lists it as closed every January and September. The site also lists a planetarium. The Cité is closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25. It sits inside the Parc de la Villette, where the park's site promotes a family program called Little Villette.

Good to know: Book your Cité des enfants session before you travel, and pick the age band that matches your child.

30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris, France

Google Maps Website

2. Jardin d'Acclimatation — 16th arr. · Bois de Boulogne

A children's amusement park in the Bois de Boulogne, with rides, farm animals and workshops.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Ages 2 to 12 · Rides · Animals

The park's site says it is open every day, with a Dated Pass or a Freedom Pass for unlimited rides, and a park-only Single entry. Some rides rest on weekdays during the school year. Its tickets use an 80 cm height cut-off for the child rate. It lists about 450 birds from around the world, plus dwarf goats, alpacas and Ouessant sheep, and children's workshops such as cooking, magic shows and English classes.

From November 27, 2026 to February 21, 2027, the site lists a Lantern Festival with evening-only tickets: the dated ticket runs 6 pm to 10:30 pm, and the park is closed Mondays and Tuesdays outside school holidays. Attractions are closed in the evening apart from the Grande Roue, which needs a separate ride ticket. The Fondation Louis Vuitton is nearby.

Good to know: Check which rides are running on your date, especially on weekdays in term time.

Carrefour des Sablons, Bois de Boulogne, 75116 Paris, France

Google Maps Website

3. Parc zoologique de Paris — 12th arr. · Bois de Vincennes

A 14-hectare zoo with over 3,000 animals in biozones.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Animals · Full day · Families

The zoo's site describes 14 hectares, 272 species and more than 3,000 animals, and names an Afrique biozone with giraffes. It sits at the edge of the Bois de Vincennes, on the Avenue Daumesnil side.

The site's homepage does not state opening hours or prices, so check its practical-information section before you go. Third-party listings give roughly 9:30 to 18:00 with seasonal changes, but those are not official. Combine it with the Bois de Vincennes lakes and the Parc Floral de Paris, in our <a href="/paris/best-parks/">best parks and gardens</a> guide.

Good to know: Allow half a day, and check closing time, which varies by season.

Route de la Ceinture du Lac Daumesnil, 75012 Paris, France

Google Maps Website

4. Aquarium de Paris — 16th arr. · Trocadéro

An aquarium under the Trocadéro gardens with over 13,000 fish and what it calls Europe's largest jellyfish exhibit.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Ages 2 to 10 · Rainy days · Eiffel Tower area

The aquarium's site lists more than 13,000 fish and the largest Médusarium in Europe, and describes year-round playful activities for families. It is in the Jardins du Trocadéro, at 5 Avenue Albert de Mun.

The site lists daily opening from 9:30 to 19:00, last entry at 18:00, and a Saturday late opening until 21:00, last entry at 20:00. Its ticket options include dated tickets, a flexible Liberté ticket and an annual pass; prices are on its tarifs page. It is a short walk from the Eiffel Tower viewpoints, in our <a href="/paris/best-viewpoints/">best viewpoints</a> guide.

Good to know: Pair it with the Trocadéro esplanade for a quick tower view afterward.

5 Avenue Albert de Mun, 75016 Paris, France

Google Maps Website

5. Jardin des Plantes (Ménagerie and Grande Galerie de l'Évolution) — 5th arr. · Latin Quarter

A botanical garden with a small zoo, greenhouses and a natural-history gallery.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Animals · Natural history · Mixed ages

The Jardin des Plantes site lists the Ménagerie, the garden's zoo, and the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution among its galleries, in the main botanical garden of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Our <a href="/paris/best-parks/">best parks and gardens</a> guide notes that the garden itself is free while the zoo, greenhouses and galleries charge entry.

The site's English homepage does not list children's activities, hours or prices, so check its opening-times page. It is in the Latin Quarter, close to the Panthéon.

Good to know: Check opening times on the official site, since the zoo and galleries run separately from the garden.

57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France

Google Maps Website

6. Jardin du Luxembourg — 6th arr. · Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Sailboats on the basin, a puppet theater and a fenced playground, in a free garden.

$ BudgetBest for Ages 2 to 8 · Free entry · Puppets

The garden's family activities include wooden sailboats on the central basin, a vintage carousel and a fenced playground, per travel guides. The Théâtre des Marionnettes du Jardin du Luxembourg is inside, on the side of Rue Guynemer, and one listing gives 7 Rue Guynemer. Listings put shows on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus school holidays, and recommend checking the schedule.

The Sénat, which manages the garden, lists entrances at place Edmond Rostand, place André Honnorat, rue Guynemer and rue de Vaugirard. The boats and puppet shows charge a small fee; we could not confirm current prices. See our <a href="/paris/best-parks/">best parks and gardens in Paris</a> for the garden itself.

Good to know: Puppet-show days and times change, so confirm before you go.

15 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, France

Google Maps Website

7. Musée en Herbe — 1st arr. · Louvre

A museum for children with temporary art exhibitions and workshops for ages 2.5 and up.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Ages 3 and up · Art · Rainy days

The museum's site says it is open from 10 am to 7 pm every day, and welcomes visitors from 3 to 103 years old. Its workshops include a Baby-Atelier for ages 2.5 to 5 and a Maxi-Atelier for ages 6 to 12. A Pokémon tribute has been the featured exhibition on its site; exhibitions change, so check what is on.

Tickets and workshop sessions are booked through its online ticketing site, or by phone. Prices are on its hours-and-prices page. It is a short walk from the Louvre.

Good to know: Book workshops ahead, and check the current exhibition before you plan around it.

23 Rue de l'Arbre Sec, 75001 Paris, France

Google Maps Website

8. Musée Grévin — 9th arr. · Grands Boulevards

A wax museum with more than 250 figures; under-fives enter free.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Ages 5 and up · Rainy days · Photos

Grévin's site says visitors can meet more than 250 celebrities. It lists free admission for children under 5, a separate rate for ages 5 to 18, and says children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. The site has a "You visit with children" section.

The site's homepage did not show standard admission prices or regular opening hours, so check both before you go. It is on Boulevard Montmartre, near the Opéra and Grands Boulevards area.

Good to know: Check hours and the current ticket options on the official site before you queue.

10 Boulevard Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do with kids in Paris?

The Cité des enfants at the Cité des Sciences, the Jardin d'Acclimatation, the Parc zoologique de Paris, the Aquarium de Paris, the Luxembourg Gardens and the Musée en Herbe are the strongest picks. They cover science, animals, rides and art for different ages.

What can we do in Paris with kids when it rains?

The Cité des enfants, the Aquarium de Paris, the Musée en Herbe and the Musée Grévin are all indoors. The Ménagerie and Grande Galerie de l'Évolution at the Jardin des Plantes combine an outdoor zoo with a natural-history gallery.

What is best for toddlers and babies in Paris?

The Cité des Sciences lists a separate Cité des bébés for ages 0 to 23 months and sessions for ages 2 to 6 in the Cité des enfants. The Luxembourg Gardens have a fenced playground and a carousel, and the Musée en Herbe lists a baby workshop for ages 2.5 to 5.

Do I need to book the Cité des enfants in advance?

Yes. The Cité des Sciences says online booking is strongly recommended. Sessions last 1 hour 30 minutes for ages 2 to 6 and ages 5 to 10, with four sessions a day Tuesday to Friday and five on weekends and school holidays. The Cité is closed on Mondays.

Is Disneyland Paris worth a day trip with kids?

It is a full day out from central Paris, usually reached by RER A to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy. See our best day trips from Paris for how it compares with Versailles and other options.

Are there free things to do with children in Paris?

Entry to the Luxembourg Gardens and the Jardin des Plantes is free, although boat rentals, puppet shows, the Ménagerie and the galleries charge. See our best free things to do in Paris for more.

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