France with kids: trip ideas and practical tips

In short: France is ideal for families. Combine a city (Paris, with Disneyland) with a quiet base by the sea, in the countryside or in the mountains, limit hotel changes, travel by train where possible and book the big parks and sights ahead. Here are our ideas and tips.

The big theme parks

• Disneyland Paris, in Marne-la-Vallée, reachable by RER from Paris.
• Parc Astérix, north of Paris, in the world of the famous Gauls.
• Puy du Fou, in the Vendée, with its spectacular historical shows.
• Futuroscope, near Poitiers, built around images and new technology.
• ZooParc de Beauval, in the Loir-et-Cher, one of the largest zoos in Europe.

Book tickets online, often cheaper and queue-free, and avoid weekends and school holidays if you can.

Paris with kids

• The Luxembourg Gardens, with playgrounds, toy sailboats to push across the pond and a puppet theatre.
• The Grand Gallery of Evolution at the National Museum of Natural History, and the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie.
• The Jardin d’Acclimatation, in the Bois de Boulogne.
• The Eiffel Tower and a Seine cruise, loved by all ages.

See also Things to do in Paris and, for accommodation, Where to stay in Paris: Opéra and the 15th arrondissement are handy for families.

The seaside

• The Atlantic coast: big sandy beaches, waves and water sports, from Brittany to the Basque Country, with the Dune du Pilat near Arcachon.
• The Mediterranean: warmer, calmer water, ideal for little ones, from the Camargue to the Riviera (note that many beaches in Nice are pebbly).
• Normandy: beaches, cliffs and history.

Châteaux and history

The Loire châteaux (Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise) often offer tours and activities for children. Mont-Saint-Michel, the D-Day beaches for older kids, and Alsace’s fortified castles such as Haut-Kœnigsbourg also capture young imaginations.

Nature and mountains

• The Alps and the Pyrenees: easy hikes, lakes and skiing in winter (see Skiing in France).
• Nature parks, gorges and caves (the Dordogne, the Ardèche).
• Cycling on dedicated routes such as the Loire à Vélo.

Our practical tips

Getting around

• The train saves you tiring drives; SNCF offers fares for children and families. Check the conditions when booking (see Trains and buses in France).
• By car, a suitable car seat is mandatory: book it with your rental (see Renting a car in France).

Sleeping

• Apartments and houses with a kitchen are handy for meals and children’s routines.
• Family rooms in hotels, or two connecting rooms.
• Limit changes: two bases for a week is often ideal.

Eating

Many restaurants offer a children’s menu. The lunch set menu and picnics with market produce are practical and cheap. Remember the timings: dinner starts around 7:30 pm.

Health and documents

Every child needs their own ID or passport. EU residents can use the European Health Insurance Card for state healthcare; also consider suitable travel insurance.

Going further

See our Family travel page, our France itinerary and When to visit France.