I love Paris. Or at least, I loved the Paris I remembered from before children had opinions about absolutely everything. When we returned in June 2026 with our three boys and a baby bump, I discovered something important: the Eiffel Tower is iconic, but apparently not nearly as exciting as a slushie.

Still, between the metro stairs, tired legs and questionable snack spending, we found some genuinely good activities for children. If you’re wondering what’s actually worth doing in Paris with kids, here are seven things we tried ourselves — including what worked, what didn’t and what I’d do differently.

This guide is the practical companion to our full, very honest Paris family travel review, where I cover the Eurostar journey, where we stayed, the not-so-magical bits and why the trip left me feeling bittersweet.

1. Jardin d’Acclimatation: Our biggest family win

If I could point parents towards one activity that rescued the mood of our Paris trip, it would be this one. After two days of sightseeing and constantly telling the boys to walk, stop, wait, hold hands and please stop climbing things, Jardin d’Acclimatation felt like someone had finally remembered that children are, in fact, children.

There were rides, open spaces, animals and water-mist areas. Z and E got their ride fix, while M was far more interested in chasing peacocks. Naturally. We could have flown across the Channel purely to look at birds, apparently.

Our verdict: Brilliant for younger kids, particularly when the famous sights have lost their appeal. I’d happily build a Paris family day around this one.

Parent tip: Decide whether you want park entry only or a package covering rides. We saw how quickly ‘just one ride’ could turn into an expensive family negotiation. Check ride height restrictions and ticket options before booking.

Official visitor information: Jardin d’Acclimatation.

2. A Paris macaron-making class: A little pastry chef’s dream

This was one of the loveliest moments of the trip. I booked a macaron class, and Z got the chance to live out his little pastry-chef dreams. Instead of walking past another landmark and being told to appreciate it, he got stuck in, made something himself and felt part of the experience.

Honestly, that’s a recurring theme with family travel. Children don’t necessarily want to admire another architectural masterpiece. They want to mix things, touch things and announce that they made it themselves.

Our verdict: A standout hands-on experience, especially for a child who enjoys baking and trying something new.

Parent tip: Check the minimum age and whether younger children can participate in the specific class you choose. Not every macaron workshop is designed for toddlers. We booked ours through GetYourGuide; you can browse activities through our GetYourGuide storefront.

3. Museum of Illusions: A museum that actually held their attention

Now this is my kind of museum with children: interactive, playful and full of strange little visual tricks that you can experience rather than simply read about. E in particular had a brilliant time.

After the boys had greeted several landmarks with the enthusiasm normally reserved for tidying their bedrooms, it was refreshing to find somewhere they actually wanted to explore.

Our verdict: One of our strongest indoor choices. Ideal when you’re looking for something engaging that isn’t another long sightseeing walk.

Parent tip: This is a useful rainy-day option. Check ticket options and book ahead if you’re visiting during a busy period.

Official visitor information: Museum of Illusions Paris.

4. Choco-Story Chocolate Museum: Education, with snacks

The Chocolate Museum had a surprisingly effective bargaining chip: chocolate samples. The boys followed the trail, discovered where chocolate comes from and learned a little about how it’s made. All very educational. Then came the tasting, and suddenly everyone was deeply committed to the museum experience.

We finished with chocolate slushies, because apparently I had forgotten all the lessons from the first day’s slushie negotiations. The journey back was… lively.

Our verdict: A genuinely enjoyable family museum, especially for children who like a little tasting with their learning.

Parent tip: Allow time for the museum and avoid assuming a chocolate-making workshop is included in regular admission. We enjoyed the museum trail and tastings; we did not do the separate chocolate workshop.

Official visitor information: Choco-Story Paris.

5. Jardin des Plantes: A free reset for little legs

Near the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, we explored the Jardin des Plantes gardens. We found beautiful paths, fascinating plants and little discoveries around every corner — plus something I will never stop appreciating as a travelling parent: room for children to wander without having to buy another ticket.

It wasn’t a grand attraction moment. It was better than that — a slower, calmer part of the day where nobody needed to rush to the next thing.

Our verdict: An excellent free activity to balance pricier Paris experiences and give everyone a breather.

Parent tip: We explored the gardens, not the ticketed museum galleries or zoo. Those are separate attractions, so don’t confuse the free grounds with free entry to every museum building.

Official visitor information: Jardin des Plantes.

6. Eiffel Tower gardens and Trocadéro: The classic Paris moment

Of course we went to see the Eiffel Tower. It’s Paris. I wanted the nostalgia, the beautiful family pictures, the postcard moment. The boys gave the tower approximately 60 seconds of admiration before moving on to more important business: slushies.

We spent time in the gardens around the Eiffel Tower, then headed towards Trocadéro for those iconic views. For me, it was gorgeous. For the children, the nearby walls and steps were apparently a much more compelling attraction. Everyone has their priorities.

Our verdict: Worth seeing once, especially if it’s your family’s first Paris visit. Just don’t expect young children to feel the same emotional connection you do.

Parent tip: Bring the buggy or carrier, pack snacks and keep the sightseeing brief. We stayed around the tower and viewing areas; we did not go up the Eiffel Tower itself.

We also considered walking along the Seine afterwards, but the crowds were too much, so we skipped it. Sometimes saying ‘that’s enough for today’ is the real win.

7. Louvre pyramid and courtyard: An iconic quick stop

The Louvre was another Paris classic we wanted to see. We visited the courtyard, where the boys acknowledged the glass pyramid — or ‘triangle’, as it was known in our travelling group — and then immediately resumed the important business of being children.

The rain didn’t help, and we abandoned the planned garden break afterwards. Still, it was a nice quick sightseeing stop for me, even if the cultural appreciation from the boys was on a very limited trial subscription.

Our verdict: Good as a brief exterior stop if you’re already nearby; not something I’d build a whole toddler day around based on our experience.

Parent tip: We did not tour the Louvre galleries. If you’d like to explore the galleries, look into family-friendly visits suited to your children’s ages. Our quick exterior stop isn’t a review of the museum itself.

We had also planned to spend time in the Tuileries Garden, but the weather had other ideas. I wouldn’t call it one of our tested family activities.

How I’d plan these activities: One main win per day

If I were planning the same trip again, I wouldn’t build an itinerary that requires toddlers to act like enthusiastic art historians from 8am until bedtime. I’d make each day about one strong activity, with the rest optional.

• Day 1 — Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro: Keep the arrival day gentle. See the tower, enjoy the gardens, take the photo, have a snack and finish before everyone’s legs officially resign. Wet-weather alternative: Save the sightseeing for a clearer window and choose a booked indoor activity instead.
• Day 2 — Jardin d’Acclimatation: Make this the main event. Allow plenty of play time and budget for rides if that’s what your children enjoy. Wet-weather alternative: Choco-Story if the forecast rules out a mainly outdoor day.
• Day 3 — Macaron-making class: One hands-on booking, with a relaxed lunch and plenty of breathing room. Add the free Jardin des Plantes gardens if the location and everyone’s energy make sense. Wet-weather alternative: Museum of Illusions, if you haven’t already booked that.
• Day 4 — Choose one indoor favourite: Museum of Illusions or the Chocolate Museum. If the weather and moods cooperate, consider a short Louvre exterior stop. No obligation to do everything.

This is my suggested way to pace the activities, not the exact order of our original trip. Check travel times between locations before booking anything — Paris is bigger than it looks when you’re pushing a buggy.

What parents should know before booking Paris activities

• Transport: Not every metro station has convenient step-free access. A buggy is helpful for long walks, but stairs with luggage and multiple little ones can be hard work.
• Money: Tourist-area food and drinks add up quickly. Supermarket snacks and simple lunches saved our sanity and budget.
• Weather: The weather turned on us. Bring layers and a waterproof, even if the previous day was warm.
• Timing: Book the one thing your children will love, and leave space around it. Overplanning turns lovely ideas into a military operation.
• Age suitability: Check the rules on individual rides, museum tickets and cooking classes. Our experiences are a starting point, not a guarantee that every activity will suit every age.

FAQs: Paris things to do with kids

What was the best thing we did in Paris with young kids?

Jardin d’Acclimatation was our strongest all-round family win because the children could play, explore and enjoy themselves properly. The macaron class was a particularly lovely hands-on moment for Z.

Which indoor activities in Paris are good for kids?

We enjoyed the Museum of Illusions and Choco-Story Chocolate Museum. Both kept the boys more engaged than some of our quick landmark stops.

Can you do free things in Paris with children?

Yes. The Jardin des Plantes gardens were a lovely free break for us, and simply enjoying views around the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro didn’t require us to book a tower ascent.

Is Paris worth visiting with toddlers?

It can be — but our trip was bittersweet. The city is beautiful, yet the walking, metro stairs, busy tourist areas and expense made it harder than expected with three young boys and a baby bump. I’d prioritise child-friendly attractions over trying to tick off every landmark.

Did we visit the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower interiors?

No. We saw the Louvre pyramid and the Eiffel Tower from outside. This guide is honest about that rather than reviewing tickets or interiors we didn’t experience.

Our final verdict: Which Paris activities were actually worth it?

If your kids are little, I’d make Jardin d’Acclimatation the main event, plan one hands-on or interactive experience, and treat the landmarks as short stops rather than hours-long cultural missions. The places our children loved most weren’t always the ones that looked best on the postcard.

Paris still gave us moments worth remembering: the rides, the peacocks, chocolate tastings, little secret garden discoveries and a very proud young pastry chef. But I’d be lying if I said it was all effortless. For the whole unfiltered story, read our Paris with kids: honest family travel review.

If you’d like me to take some of the stress out of planning your own family getaway, you can get help planning your family trip here. Trust me, I’ve already done enough wrestling with metro stairs, suitcases and tired little legs for all of us.