Things to Do on Family Holidays in Paris

Family Holidays Paris

If you want to take a holiday to Paris, but you’re travelling with the whole family, it might seem like a nightmare to plan everything in one go.  With so many attractions in Paris, the key to a successful trip is to pick one or two main attractions to concentrate on and then add in a few “fun” extras to your day to day schedule. We will take a look at some of these fun extras you can incorporate on your family holidays in Paris.

The most important thing is to keep everyone happy and entertained, and the way to do that is to keep everyone busy! Paris is a city that begs to be explored, and your family is sure to find plenty of fun activities there.

Visiting the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay are both must-dos, and there are plenty of other art and history museums that are worth checking out. There are also countless parks, gardens and other green spaces that provide a wonderful opportunity for active pursuits. However, there are some unique and lesser-known things to do on your family holiday in Paris.

Family Visit to Cirque d’Hiver (Paris Circus)

Circus Paris is a place of magic, mystery, and excitement. It is the perfect place for you to experience something amazing. The circus, which can be found in the heart of Downtown Paris, is a historic landmark and has been entertaining the masses for more than 160 years.

Inside the beautiful building, the magical shows take place. You will be able to experience exotic animals and hours of entertainment. After a full day of sightseeing, it’s a really great opportunity to sit down with the whole family, enjoying the show together.

Circus Elephant

Play Around in Jardin d’Acclimatation

The Jardin d’Acclimatation is a theme park on the northern bank of the Seine River in Paris. It may not be as famous as Disneyland Paris. However, it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for an activity to entertain your kids. (Or yourself, if you’re feeling frisky.)

The Jardin d’Acclimatation is pretty compact, so it’s easy to explore on foot. You may also know it by the English name of Acclimatation Gardens. This Paris park was designed in the 1800s to recreate the natural landscapes of countries all over the world.

The park is full of attractions suitable for families. As a theme park you can find many entertainment rides. Your family will also be able to see some farm animals in the garden park.

acclimatation gardens paris

Visit the Chocolate Museum on Family Holidays in Paris

The Paris Chocolate Museum is a sweet new attraction for the city of love. It’s different from your usual museums. Instead of displaying art, it displays food.

The museum boasts a collection of more than 3,000 different chocolate items, from truffles, to tablets, to chocolate. Displaying all it’s different shapes and sizes. The foods are created by various chocolatiers.  And if you love chocolate, prepare to be wowed, because they also have a chocolate fountain on display.

We recommend incorporating this museum in a day filled with history and sightseeing. The kids will love a break from the usual family holidays.

Check out Marché aux Fleurs et Oiseaux

It’s one of the most overlooked places in Paris. The Marché aux Fleurs et Oiseaux, or Flower and Bird Market, is the place to go if you want to see the locals in their natural habitat. You can visit the market every Sunday.

Whether you’re looking for a special spot to spend a Sunday morning or a tourist who is looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination, it’s a wonderful place to walk around, take pictures, and enjoy the vibe.

Children will love the colourful flowers and animals of the vendors. It’s a truly unique experience and a very local one. Apart from birds, other smaller critters are also sold at the market. The kid’s favourite is usually the bunnies which can even be pet.

Palais de la Porte Dorée Aquarium

The famous art deco palace hosts a tropical aquarium in it’s basement. It’s a good attraction to visit with children.

Although this one is one of the smaller tropical aquariums in Europe, there are still some exotic species on display. For example, you can see crocodiles and sharks. It’s a great attraction since the Palace is already worth checking out. As such you should make sure to add this to any family holidays in Paris.

Family Holidays Paris Aquarium

We are sure that you will be able to utilize these off-the-beaten-path attractions on your next family holidays in Paris. This list is deliberately built around places that are lesser-known.

If you are looking for more travel inspiration check out our guide on UNESCO Heritage Sites in France.