Children In Paris

Paris is packed with activities for children.

In the Luxembourg gardens, children can enjoy guignol, a traditional puppet show, or play with the miniature boats on the pond in front of the Senat building. The playground is very exciting but not cheap!

The Zoo at the Jardins des Plantes is the oldest in the world, created in 1794. Set in a beautiful environment on 55,000 square metre of greenery with buildings from the XVIII and XIX centuries.

Depending on the age group of the children, there is always a broad range of activities, such as a visit to the Science Museum at La Villette. The Cité des enfants (children's city) is organised around spaces for 3-5 years old and 5-12 years old children. Permanent features include a planetarium, and a stimulator. The Geode, a mirrored globe, shows IMAX films. The restored submarine just outside the Cité is a kid magnet and the playground boasts of a giant wooden dragon. Take a picnic along to make it a day out with the children.

Alternatively,  the Palais de la Decouverte -literally Palace of Discovery- housed inside the magnificent Grand Palais in the Champs Elysées area, proposes a wide choice of exciting temporary and permanent exhibitions on science, Earth and the Universe, Wildlife, as well as a Planetarium.

In Trocadero, the Musee de l'Homme et d'Histoire Naturelle (Mankind museum) houses an thrilling collection on the evolution of man from 4 million years ago to the modern man. The highlight being, of course, the cast of Lucy's skeleton.

Even the Louvre does prove, on careful planning, much more child-friendly than one may think. The Egyptian collection, for exemple, is fascinating. It is the largest of its kind outside Cairo and totally mesmerizing for children