Introduction to Paris with Kids

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Discover Paris at your leisure with a two-day ticket on the Paris City Hop-on Hop-off Tour. Create your own itinerary as you see the most popular sights of Paris, keeping to your own personal timetable and not others!

Get a bird's eye view of the cobbled streets of the Left Bank and the Napoleonic splendor of the Ecole Militaire. See the Eiffel Tower, Paris' most famous landmark. Stop off at the Arc de Triomphe and walk down the stylish Champs-Elysees. Become acquainted with some of the world's most famous artworks at the Louvre including the mysterious Mona Lisa.

The Paris City Hop-on Hop-off Tour is the easiest way to get around town. you can hop-on and hop-off at any of the nine stops as often as you like over a two day period. The open-top double-decker bus provides fantastic obscured views from the top floor. Buses depart every 10 minutes in summer and every 20 minutes in winter, every day of the year. Recorded commentary is available onboard in French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Chinese. You will receive headphones for the commentary the first time you use your ticket.

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Paris just wouldn't be Paris without the Eiffel Tower. Designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World Fair, at 300m it was then the world's tallest building. Not everyone was happy when it was first built; many considered it an eyesore and wanted it pulled down, but today it is one of the world's most visited monuments. The first and second floors can be reached using the stairs, and lifts take visitors to the magnificent view at the top.

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Situated right in the heart of Paris, the Jardin des Tuileries stretches from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde. Commissioned by Queen Catherine de Médicis and created in 1564 at the same time as the Palace of the same name (which was later destroyed), it was redesigned in 1664 by architect André le Nôtre, who was responsible for the layout of its paths, its symmetrical flowerbeds and its terrace overlooking the Seine. As delightful as ever, the garden is perfect for strolling and relaxing in (there are even donkey rides!). From 21st June until 25th August every year the garden plays host to a fun fair whose big wheel gives visitors a fabulous view over Rue de Rivoli. The garden is also home to the Orangerie and the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume. Admission is free.

Our Local Expert Says:

Recently renovated and well worth a look.

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Take a trip to the beautiful gardens of Tuleries, where the Orangerie Museum is. The museum stocks a host of famous and fabulous artists such as Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso and Henri Rousseau. All the artwork in the museum was handed over by Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume, two art fanatics who have ensured that all these works are exhibited together, so that the public can appreciate them in all their glory. There is a surprise in the basement, the Oval Room - Monet's 'Water-lily', which is on permanent display.

Our Local Expert Says:

To avoid the crowds go early.

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Only a few people know that the third largest museum worldwide used to be the main residence of French kings and emperors for six centuries. The Old Fortress was erected in 1190 under the reign of King Philippe Auguste to protect the kingdom from the invasion of northern tribes (the Vikings). During the 14th century, the palace was extended under Charles V and became from time to time a royal residence. The greatest changes in the original palace were made under King François I. The medieval Grosse Tour was destroyed and replaced by a sumptuous palace, still considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. In 1594, Henri IV decided to build a passage between the Tuileries Palace and Louvre Palace, still known as the "Great Gallery". The "Cour Carrée" was part of a vast program conducted under Louis XIII and Louis XIV to embellish the king's residence and is a symbol of the classical period. After Louis XIV moved to Versailles, the Louvre knew a static period. The most recent construction is the Glass Pyramid erected by Leoh Ming Pei under French President Mitterrand, which is now the main entrance to the museum. With 35000 pieces and a surface of about 740000 sq. ft., the Louvre cannot be taken in in one day. The museum comprises eight departments: Eastern and Middle-Eastern Antiquities including treasures from Mesopotamia, Syria or Iran dating back to the Neolithic period; Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Roman and Etruscan Antiquities dating from 6000 BC to 600 AD; Islamic Art, Sculptures, Decorative Art which includes among other pieces, famous Empress Eugénie's and Louis XV's coronation crowns; Paintings from 13th century to 1848 and Prints and Drawings (viewed by appointment). Besides famous Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Veronese's Wedding Feast at Cana, you will admire paintings from Italian Renaissance (Titian, Raphael, etc), masterpieces of Dutch Painters like Rubens, Van Eyck as well as Vermeer's Lacemaker. Also, very famous among French people, don't forget Dürer's Self-Portrait, Delacroix's Liberté Guidant le Peuple or David's Coronation of Napoleon. Among sculptures, in addition to Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace, pay a tribute to Michelangelo's Slaves. Insider's tips: bring some patience and buy your tickets online to escape the long lines. Also, come back at night to see the Pyramids illuminated! For lectures, movies and music, consult the Auditorium's program.

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On of the first Gothic Cathedrals, Notre Dame is still used today as a Roman Catholic Cathedral and is the seat of the Archbishop of Paris. Take note of the famous stained glass and use of "flying buttresses" through out. These and many other features make it one of the finest examples of French Gothic Architecture.

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A visit to the Luxembourg Palace (completed in 1627) provides a feast for the eyes, highlighting both history and exquisite art in a natural setting. To begin with there are paintings by Rubens and fine works by Delacroix. Historically the area is interesting because during the French Revolution it was a prison and today it is home to the national Senate. Luxembourg Palace Gardens is really an extensive park filled with all types of flowers, plants, shrubs immaculately landscaped to create an Edenesque environment. The setting is perfect for a fun day out and depending on the weather you can rent a small boat on one of the ponds. Or simply, as a visitor, you can enjoy all of the historic statuary recalling France of past eras.

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The Latin Quarter adopted its name from the early Latin speaking students that lived there and has been inhabited since the early Middle Ages. You will generally find artists, intellectuals, and others who have adopted a Bohemian lifestyle. This area include various Paris landmarks like the Musée de Cluny, the Institut du Monde Arabe, the Musé National d'histoire Naturelle, and the Jardin des Plantes. At the heart of Latin Quarter, as its symbol, stands famous University La Sorbonne . It's a vibrant neighborhood with both historical buildings and fine shops. At night, enjoy the smoky pubs and jazz clubs.

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This immense site, spread over three kilometres, is first and foremost a park to play and relax for children and parents alike. With its wooded islands, its canal across the lawns, transparent escalators and skate parks, this place is very popular on sunny Sundays. In this green universe, there is no limit to your imagination: Dragon Gardens, acrobatics, dunes, fog gardens, etc. If you linger for awhile in the Bamboo Garden you will be able to listen to the wind blowing in the trees and imagine you are in the deepest of jungles! Opposite the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, there is the Géode and its multi-faceted mirrors give the park an impression of infinity. Admission: free

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Parc de la Villette is the setting for this huge science museum best known for its Géode dome and impressive 180-degree cinema. Natural and scientific phenomena are explained with the help of exhibitions in an area specially designed with kids in mind. Children aged three and over can visit a real submarine, the Argonaute, and find out how it works; temporary exhibitions are organized in Espace Explora. Admission to La Cité des Métiers resource centre and the children's multimedia library is free.

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This charming park, opened in 1867, is one of the many masterpieces of Baron Haussman, who shaped so much of modern Paris. The park is a popular city centre haven for nature lovers and walkers as well as families and sportsmen. The varied setting includes open lawns, trees, a lake and a hilltop 'temple' reached by a suspension bridge and offering splendid views. Don't forget to visit the famous grotto and waterfall. A miniature version of New York's Central Park in the heart of Paris!

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Commonly known as the Beaubourg, this distinctive building was commissioned in 1968 by the then President Georges Pompidou, and opened in 1977. Most Parisians were initially shocked by its unconventional 'inside out' architectural style: air conditioning, escalators and lifts are all on the outside, giving the interior unparalleled freedom. Extensively refurbished in the late 1990s, the centre is home to the Musée National d'Art Moderne and the Bibliothèque Publique d'Information (BPI) as well as temporary exhibitions, cinemas, and other attractions. Hours vary for individual attractions.

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Connecticut-born Hollywood screenwriter Craig Carlson opened this replica of a down-home U.S.-based diner in 2003, building it with funds from members of the California film community who donated memorabilia from their films. Its self-proclaimed mission involves dispensing proper, rib-sticking American breakfasts and diner food to a generation of Parisians who assume, prior to their visits here, that coffee comes only as espresso, and that quantities, per meal, are rigidly limited. The venue replicates a 1950s-era railway car, replete with scarlet-and-black Naugahyde banquettes, faux windows with mirrored insets, and an unabashedly Americanized staff. Breakfast (heaping portions of the egg-and-waffle-and-bacon combinations, as well as omelets) is served throughout the day and evening. Also available are half a dozen variations of burgers, as well as tacos, club sandwiches, and BLTs.

Our Local Expert Says:

In the SW corner you'll find a small passageway to a quiet courtyard, where you can take a well-deserved rest from the crowds.

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Surrounded by shady arcades that shelter beautiful boutiques, this square, situated in the heart of the Marais, is one of Paris' unmissable sights. The square is perfectly symmetrical, measuring 140 metres by 127. Stone and brick houses, whose almost identical façades are all crowned by steep slate rooves, border its quasi-rectangular shape. Designed by Henri IV, it used to be the favoured sight for duels. Famous people also lived in the area, including the Cardinal de Richelieu and the writer Victor Hugo. Admission is free.

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Created in 1667 by André Le Nôtre, Louis XIV's gardener,in order to improve the view from the Tuileries garden. The avenue was lenghtened at the end of the 18th century, running from theplace de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. Two kilometers long and bordered by trees, les Champs-Elysées has become the center for festivities and official parades. It is likewise a magnet for tourists and night strollers. Set between the many cinemas, the cafés and restaurants tempt you to stop by. Designer boutiques, banks and embassies are also situated in this chic neighborhood.