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Paris - the city of love or the city of lights, is one of the most tourist-attracting destinations. Trust me on this, when I say the city has A LOT to offer, from food to its monuments, Paris is the “IT” city. You can go alone, with friends, with family - it doesn’t matter - you will have a trip you will remember forever, that's a guarantee. For years, Parisian culture, music, art, monuments, and the “Dream Factor” that comes with it have attracted masses and masses of tourists and immigrants. Many families opt to go to Paris during their vacation, and if you are a parent and wondering how to give your child a rich experience in cultural arts and basically, a trip he remembers during his adulthood, you are in the right place!
There are many many things to do in Paris (I mean c’mon, it's Paris!), and I would suggest you stay there for at least a week. Why a week? So you can soak-in all the city of love has to offer. Apart from the obvious - visiting the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre (which are A MUST) and Disneyland Paris (it's not a must, but its Disneyland..), here are ten fun things to do in Paris with kids.
The best part is parks and gardens are favorably set right around the famous monuments - and yes, Jardin Du Luxembourg (The Central Park of Paris) is a sight worth seeing, one your kid would surely love. Puppet shows (2:30, 3:30, and 4:30 in summers) and pony rides are just a small part of what it offers. You can also have a picnic in the garden, take your kid to play, it's a park - and kids love parks. The adults can walk, sunbathe, set a picnic while the kids have the time of their lives! (Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is worth going too - with streams and gazebos)
With red pandas and them big cats, it offers a primate house too. And it is extremely child-friendly and the easiest zoo to get to. You wouldn’t want to miss this.
It is the city’s first digital art center. So far, it has installations from Van Gogh and Klimt (Fun fact: they use 140 film projectors to display the paintings on 10 meter high walls) It is SO STARRY (reference, the starry night by Van Gogh obviously). It is definitely worth taking your child there.
Take them to the Notre Dame Cathedral. (Open 8 am to 6:45 pm Monday to Friday, 8 am to 7:15 Saturday and Sunday). Notre Dame is a sight to see, and it's easy to spend a few hours there gawking at the gargoyles and the gothic arts that the church has. The best part? You can give your child a little history lesson—a win-win. After the visit, go to Berthillon (closed in August) for ice cream.
They are the underground tunnels and caves of Paris, where a dozen of mushroom farmers used to work, and they still have tons of stacked up gold bars under the Bank of France. Under the catacombs are the skeletons of 6million Parisians - victims of the plague, the revolution, and guillotine. Revolutionaries - Danton and Robespierre, and Jean de la Fontaine and Charles Perrault- the famous storytellers are amongst the bodies buried here. You might find a long waiting here; therefore, it is recommended you take some snacks along. (Opens daily from 10 am to 5 pm, closed Monday. Last entrance at 4 pm.)
If you want to explore the palace, be here the first thing in the morning as yea it gets VERY crowded. You can grab a picnic on the grounds and garden outside, which are free. You can even opt for a rowing boat for a gentle round around the water. (*See point 8)
It is a great intro to the Parisian food culture if your child is into it. Cheese, chocolates, and pastry constitute a majority of the tour - pretty kid-friendly, no? The tour happens daily, generally in the morning and afternoon. It stops at a wine shop too (grape juice for the kids) and is continued with a friendly picnic. And anyway - Food can never go wrong.
You will find the main office near the Eiffel Tower from where the tour takes off. They provide you with a bicycle along with a guide, who is your companion along the way (the tour takes around 4 hours, but time passes by quickly) and tells you all about the monuments and historical significance in a very fun manner.
*They offer a starting point from Versailles too. The tours usually begin around 11 am, on a daily basis.
The hugeness of the building is enough to attract the kids. The architecture is similar to a cathedral, but it has, in fact, been made to honor the heroes of France. It was built by Louis IV, who initially built it as a church, but after the Revolution, it became a Temple of reason. There is a lot of the back history here, so be sure to take your kid here. It has a playground too. (Timings are daily from 10 am to 6 pm)
Old slaughterhouses of Paris have been converted to a futuristic park, and voila! (a little french never hurt anyone) you get the Parc de la Villette - with its ten themed gardens with mirrors and acrobats, and all that can amuse your kid. They conduct events as well, so check the website beforehand. It has Europe’s largest science city and has a planetarium - so don’t miss the show. However, bookings are made according to time slots. The best part of taking your kid here? Kids aged 2-12 can take part in activities where they can become a TV presenter and are acknowledged with the basics of science. It has still a lot more to offer, and trust me, you wouldn’t want to miss this, nor would your child!
Taking your child to Paris helps you go visit so many places which you probably wouldn’t have been to if you were probably alone or with your spouse/friends. Paris has a lot to offer in terms of culture, history, arts, and well - FUN. It certainly is a place your kid will love to go, and if you’re considering Paris for your next vacation, you have your itinerary right here.
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We are Jacob and Taylor. Travel is our passion and we love sharing our experiences here at The Travelling Souk. Our hope is that you would be inspired by this little blog to try something new, embrace an adventure, and live life to the fullest.