Ooh la la! You’re off to the City of Light! Paris is one of the most remarkable cities in the world. There is something for everyone – even for families with younger children. We have taken our 4 kids to this glorious destination a couple of times, and we learned something very important. Kids and teens ARE able to enjoy the art, culture, music, food and history, but you have to know how to present it! I am here to share the 5 BEST things to do in Paris with kids that will keep everyone smiling and making happy travel memories. When you’re ready to plan your Paris vacation, reach out to me HERE or one of the other world-travel specialists at Kingdom and Cruise Travel.
The 5 Best Things to Do in Paris with Kids
1. Take a Baking Class at a Real Parisian Bakery!
When it comes to French food, there’s nothing more traditional than a baguette or croissant. French bakeries are beloved all over France. We decided to learn more about these cultural staples during a hands-on Parisian bakery class in Paris and it was fun and DELISH!
We formed our own baguettes, witnessed the baking process, assisted with rolling croissants, made madeleines from scratch, and sampled ALL of our creations. It was lighthearted, immersive and interesting. The baker was patient, funny and happy to answer any questions (mom always has questions!) You can book this tour on Viator HERE but reach out first to me or another Kingdom and Cruise Travel specialist because we might have a coupon code for you!
2. Visit the Eiffel Tower – with a Twist!
The Eiffel Tower is the iconic symbol of Paris’s skyline, and it must be explored! But I have some suggestions for visiting to make sure you can appreciate ALL that the Eiffel Tower has to offer.
FIRST, you can get tickets to take an elevator to the 2nd floor or summit observatory HERE. Advance tickets are limited so if you miss that boat, purchase them on the day of your visit! I recommend going in the evening when lines are shorter.
SECOND, consider going to the Eiffel Tower in the evening to watch the sun go down and the Eiffel Tower light up! 20,000 lights adorn the tower and they twinkle every hour on the hour! Don’t miss this beautiful Parisian light show!
THIRD, check out the events INSIDE the Eiffel Tower. We happened to catch a concert on the first floor! Concerts are held during the summer and the holidays. You can buy tickets HERE. They are an hour long. The concerts are casual and fun for the whole family! Bring cash to buy a glass of champagne. My kids enjoyed this unique way to see a classical music concert. The violinist even walked around the audience while playing!
FOURTH, did you know you can eat INSIDE the Eiffel Tower? There are restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops inside! The first floor offers many options! Check them out HERE. We made a little pit stop at the souvenir shop/cafe for some wine, hot chocolate and Eiffel Tower shaped gummy candies.
3. See a painting then CREATE a painting!
We had one of the most immersive, fun AND educational (shhh don’t tell the kids) experiences during our first trip to Paris when we booked this “In the Footsteps of the Impressionists” tour. (Once again – reach out before booking so I or your travel agent can get you the best rates for your whole vacation, including tours) Our guide took us to see Monet’s Water Lilies at the Musee de l’Orangerie. It is a small exhibit with larger than life paintings of water lilies in an oval room. You are surrounded by Monet’s masterpiece!
After learning about and appreciating the painting in person, head to your guide’s beautiful Parisian apartment/art studio where they will lead you in a water painting workshop to create a water lily scene of your own! I used to be an art teacher and this part blew my mind! This is the BEST way to travel deeper and seal in those beautiful travel memories with your family.
4. Experiment with scents at a perfume workshop!
Are you noticing a theme here? I like to get hands-on and cover the 5 senses while traveling with my kids! Yes, we do the major museums and sights, but why not roll up your sleeves and get immersed in your destination?! Paris is the perfume capital of the world! It’s a city where master perfumers have been perfecting their art for centuries. Your family can take a perfume workshop to learn about the history of perfume, how it’s created and then engineer a scent of your own!
You can visit the Fragonard Perfume Museum and take a workshop there! Reserve ahead HERE or contact your travel Kingdom and Cruise Travel advisor HERE. For children under the age of 8, you can book this private tour HERE. Reach out first to make sure you’re getting the best travel deals!
5. Visit Disneyland Paris!
We couldn’t skip this FUN Disney park just 35 minutes from Paris! We are a Disney family, and I am a Disney Travel Advisor, so both times we visited Paris with the kids, we took them here! Disneyland Paris has two parks adjacent to one another, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios.
They offer rides and shows NOT available at any of the the other Disney parks around the world, so don’t miss the opportunity to explore the magic here! Be sure to ask me or your other Kingdom and Cruise Travel advisor for Disneyland Paris itinerary planning!
Disneyland Paris also has some of the same favorite rides you know and love from Walt Disney World, but they are completely different experiences here! In our opinion, the BEST version of Big Thunder Mountain is here! There are some wonderful Disney resorts RIGHT at the entrance of the parks, so be sure to tell your agent you want to experience more of the magic and stay on property!
Have you experienced the City of Light with kids and teens? What would you add to this list as a must-do? Reach out and tell us your thoughts. We look forward to helping you plan a trip to this dream destination!
- By Kingdom and Cruise Travel Advisor, Alli Matthews