Tips for Tackling Paris With Kids
In Part 2 of our continuing series on seeing big cities with kids, we are stopping this week in Paris, offering recommendations on places to learn, eat and play in the City of Light.
And just as we did for Part 1, on New York, we are including your tips and experiences as part of our coverage. (See our article and your advice for New York.)
Below are some highlights of what you’ve shared about visiting Paris with children.
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Make sure you watch movies that take place in Paris before you go to get them excited. – MJ, California
An apartment will make a visit with kids much more pleasant than cramming into a hotel room. – rbartizek, Pennsylvania
Agnes Dherbeys for The New York Times
We had no difficulty with the language despite knowing very little French. Our child loved speaking a little of the local language, and making an effort to speak some French went a long way, especially with shopkeepers. – Ryan, Philadelphia
One thing that proved helpful was buying a fresh baguette in the morning when we left the hotel and breaking off pieces of it for them through the day. They were quite happy with that and a bottle of water. – David P., Harrisburg, Pa.
Ask your child to pick a favorite food to try on the trip. Then create a culinary tour by visiting several cafes or bakeries that serve it. My son and I tasted chocolate truffles from three different chocolate shops. Now he has a favorite and appreciates good chocolate. – lorgill2323, Cliffside Park, N.J.
The pastries are their own destination. – Reader in Paris, Paris
Restroom emergencies are a good chance to pop into a bistro for a glass of wine. – Jordan, Cleveland
We just visited Paris with our 6-year-old. Absolutely essential to our happiness (and his) was a scooter. Since we like to experience a city by walking it, the scooter enabled our son to keep up with us (usually well ahead of us). Most of the French kids have them, too, which made our son feel like he fit in a bit more. – Allison, Minneapolis
Charles Platiau/Reuters The Louvre.
I highly, highly recommend the Paris Museum Pass if you are there for more than a few days. You can stop by the Louvre for a couple of hours on a couple of days and not pay admission twice. And you’ll try museums you might not otherwise. – Amanda, North Carolina
If you really want to visit one art museum with young children, I think the Musée d’Orsay is a great choice. Our daughters loved the museum’s layout. – Henry, New York
We took a bike tour of the city and really enjoyed that. The street-level view and the ability to go through neighborhoods (not just tourist areas) was terrific. – Kathy, Milwaukee, Wis.