2 Day Whistle Stop Tour of Paris ... With Kids!

Paris: known as ‘the city of love’ by the greatest poets, writers, and artists who found inspiration in the beauty of this mesmerizing city. As a holiday destination it might not be the first place that springs to mind when thinking about booking a relaxing family holiday. However, with a little advance research and planning, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do in Paris with kids without mentioning the word Disney. As a family we spent a couple of days in the French capital and found many of the famous sights child-friendly.

Day 1: The Louvre/Tuileries neighbourhood

Louvre Museum The world-famous museum, housed in the Palais du Louvre, holds nearly 35,000 pieces of art ranging from prehistory to the 19th century. But visiting an art museum with kids I hear you say can’t be fun?! The Louvre can be overwhelming for an adult, never mind a child. So we decided to hire a guided family tour which turned out to be a fantastic way to combine entertainment and education in the world’s most famous museum. Our tour guide presented Ella with her own case detective workbook. Her eyes lit up at the fact she’d be on a scavenger hunt around the museum for treasure. The tour is designed to give kids aged 6 – 12 years old an entertaining insight into the history of the masterpieces whilst playing detective. Her answers to the clues finally lead her to an educational prize hidden under the Louvre’s glass pyramid. At €320 for a family of 6 or fewer, these tours aren’t cheap. But , if you’re going to splash on anything maybe pass on another electronic device and instead go for culture and memories that will last a lifetime.

Tuileries Gardens The Tuileries Gardens, which extend westward from the Louvre Palace, are a glorious sight to behold – especially on a spring or summer day when the foliage is in full bloom. Admiring beautiful gardens however is not usually a fun pastime for kids. However, if you visit during the summer holidays, a traditional funfair is set up with 60 or so attractions: bumper cars, ghost trains, a hall of mirrors and a 1900’s wooden horses merry-go-round to mention just a few, as well as a host of fairground treats (candy floss, croustillant, Italian ice cream, crepes, doughnuts, toffee apples, hot sandwiches, etc.) to indulge on. Entry to the funfair is free of charge but there is a charge for rides and attractions.

Palais Royal Besides being home to the legendary, almost-always crowded Louvre Museum and adjoining Tuileries gardens, the area reserves plenty of quieter spots with a more subtle charm. Palais Royal is often a forgotten gem, a true haven of greenery and peace away from the swarms at the nearby Louvre, this palace (now housing the French legal authority known as the Conseil d’Etat) is worth checking out for its famous forecourt, covered galleries lined with boutiques, cafés and restaurants, striking columns and calm gardens out back. Ella just loved climbing, running and jumping amongst the world famous stripey columns and the gardens were the perfect spot for a picnic.

Day 2: Exploring Paris by Tuktuk

Even in one of the most visited cities in the world, it’s still possible to escape the tourists and get off the beaten path in Paris. Exploring Paris by Tuktuk was a fun way to get oriented to the city, save some tired little legs, and see some hidden gems that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise. And Ella just loved the novelty of driving round the city in a Tuktuk waving at tourists and locals alike.

Our driver, picked us up at our hotel in Montmartre, it was fabulous to see the streets alive in all its charm. Our driver was a true Parisian, born and raised and he knew the ins and outs of Paris and gave us the best insider tips to make the most of our trip.

Eastern District of Belleville As well as visiting most of the famous monuments in Paris and stopping for some fun photo ops, we travelled to the Eastern side of Paris to Belleville. Although a very non-touristic area it’s very similar to Montmartre – both are perched on the highest hills in the city and share an artistic vibe with strong working-class roots! But while Montmartre is swayed by the Belle Époche at the turn of the last century, the Belleville of today is rather influenced by the zeitgeist of newer times. What’s Picasso and Hemingway for Montmartre, is Street Art for Belleville. Belleville is basically the Parisian heaven of street art, the center of urban art. It’s one of the best street art locations in Europe. You find it across the entire district. In every corner, and on every wall.

Heading back into central Paris, since the Tuktuk is smaller than a car, we were able to drive along the Siene River for a while and see Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis in all their glory.

Paris is beautiful all year round! The summer months are the warmest and, therefore, the busiest. Christmas is also the peak season when people enjoy the cold temperatures and festive Christmas lights. For that reason, visiting in the spring or September is a perfect time. During these months, enjoy mild weather, days of sunshine, and slightly quieter streets.