🎟️ Tickets to Paris parks and museums for kids: prices and hours for 2026

Paris often feels like a city made only for adults.

With kids, it works differently. A child cares about slides, animals, and shows, while you care about lines, ticket prices, and getting there. So a list of good places looks nothing like a typical guidebook.

We've put together 20 activities for kids: almost all of them in Paris and the surrounding area, plus Futuroscope in Poitiers. For each place you'll find how much admission costs, how to get there, and what to book in advance. We've also noted which attractions are currently closed for renovation.

From here, you can put together a day in Paris with kids without unnecessary travel and long lines.

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How to choose activities for kids in Paris

💡 In short:

First decide on the format: a big park outside the city or museums in the center.
Buy timed tickets online; at the ticket office you lose time and money.
Plan no more than two places per day and give your child a break between them.
Prices and hours: 09/2026, tower rates verified on the official Eiffel Tower website, the rest from each venue's website.

Paris offers two formats for a day with kids. The first: a big amusement park outside the city, where you go for the whole day. The second: the center with museums, gardens, and an aquarium, where everything is close together. Choose based on age and weather. Preschoolers do well with gardens, the aquarium, and the zoo. School-age kids are more interested in rides, science, and shows. Buy tickets online, otherwise you pay more and stand in line at the ticket office.

1. Disneyland in Marne-la-Vallée

Crowd of visitors by the fence at Disneyland Paris

Disneyland opened near Paris in 1992 (Paris tourist office). The park is in Marne-la-Vallée, about 35 km east of the city center. Its grounds are comparable to a fifth of Paris, so in one visit you'll only cover part of the complex.

Inside there are two parks and five themed lands: adventure, fantasy, discovery, the Wild West, and Main Street. Sleeping Beauty's castle stands at the center. Kids meet Mickey, Snow White, and Rapunzel, go through Alice's labyrinth, encounter dragons, and in the evening watch a parade with music and lights.

From Paris, take the RER A to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy station; the trip takes about forty minutes. A one-park ticket costs the same for adults and children, and the price depends on the date of your visit. Buy a dated ticket online: at the ticket office you pay more and stand in line. For a full day, allow at least eight hours, otherwise you won't see half the park. In hot weather, bring water and caps; there's little shade between attractions.

How to get there: RER A, Marne-la-Vallée Chessy station, then walk to the entrance.
Who it's for: families with preschool-age kids and fans of rides and shows.
The catch: the park is far from the center, and getting there takes time.

With luggage from the airport, it's easier to get to the park with a Kiwitaxi transfer.

2. Parc Astérix

Parc Astérix opened in 1989; tickets and prices are on the official website. The park is based on the Asterix and Obelix comics, so it doesn't feel like American parks. It has five zones: Gaul, Greece, Rome, the Vikings, and a crossroads of eras.

The park is north of Paris, near the A1 motorway. You can get there by bus or car in about an hour. Inside, there are around thirty attractions, including wooden and water rides.

A high-season ticket costs 49 € (as of 09/2026, official website). In the low season the park sells tickets cheaper, so check the calendar on the site. Kids will find dolphin shows, performances with characters, and costumed parades.

How to get there: bus from an RER station or car via the A1 motorway.
Who it's for: school-age kids and teenagers who want rides.

3. Futuroscope in Poitiers

Futuristic pavilions and sphere at Futuroscope

Futuroscope has been operating since 1987 in Poitiers (official website). It's a park of cinema and multimedia, not ordinary rides. Halls with multi-dimensional screens are under your feet, above your head, and all around, so you watch a film in a seat with motion effects.

The park's symbol: a sphere on a glass pyramid, with mirrors and a giant cube nearby. In the evening, a laser show plays on the water. There are elevated walkways, observation towers, and computer game halls. The Destination Cosmos attraction sends you on a journey to distant galaxies.

Poitiers is far from Paris; it's a separate day trip or two-day trip. You can get there by TGV train. Younger kids will enjoy the halls without sharp movements, while teenagers will prefer the dynamic motion-simulator film attractions.

4. Jardin d'Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne

Jardin d'Acclimatation rides and the Fondation Louis Vuitton

Jardin d'Acclimatation lies in the Bois de Boulogne on the site of the old zoological gardens. Entry costs €7, and an unlimited ride pass is €46 (as of 09/2026, official website). A small narrow-gauge train brings you to the gardens; the first carriages appeared here back in 1878.

Inside you'll find the Carousel Village, the Enchanted River, Forest Adventures, Deer Rock, and the Bird Aviary. You can get around the gardens on foot, by boat, or on a donkey. At the center, La Maison des Ateliers teaches children magic tricks, cooking, and theater.

How to get there: Les Sablons metro station, then a five-minute walk.
Who it's for: families with preschool-age children.

5. Musée de la Magie and the automaton museum

Red facade of the Musée de la Magie in Paris

Musée de la Magie is tucked away in the Marais district, next to the automaton museum. The collection was assembled by the illusionist Proust. You'll see boxes, wands, chests, and torches that were once working props for magicians. Many of the objects look like works of art.

The museum displays engravings, posters, and props from past centuries. Among the exhibits are devices for the "levitation in the ether" trick, Buatier de Kolta's magic chair, De Vere's giant vase, and a table for sawing people in half. A separate room covers optical illusions and mirrors, where the trick is explained with examples.

Part of the collection is taken up by the automaton museum: more than a hundred mechanical and musical figures from past centuries. Children activate them at the push of a button and take a short magician's course. Participants receive a "wizard certificate." The exhibition is small, an hour is enough to see it, but you leave with a couple of simple tricks. Check opening hours and prices on the Paris tourist office website.

6. Aquarium de Paris under the Trocadéro

Entrance to the Aquarium de Paris with a glass canopy

Aquarium de Paris occupies the old quarries beneath the Chaillot hill, with its main hall lying under the Trocadéro square. The design is done in the spirit of the "submarine" from Jules Verne's novel. You walk through a long tunnel while fish swim overhead.

The route has more than fifty viewing points, so you can observe the inhabitants from all sides. Inside there are more than forty aquariums and an entire hall with sharks of four species. In total, nearly nine thousand fish and invertebrates live here: clownfish, seahorses, jellyfish, and lobsters. Separate pools have even raised salmon fry, which is rarely achieved in captivity.

In addition to the aquariums, there is a lecture hall and two small cinemas. The CineAqua hall hosts exhibitions of paintings and photographs on marine themes, and entertainment programs run for children. Check tickets and opening hours on the official website.

7. Parc Zoologique de Paris in the Bois de Vincennes

Parc Zoologique de Paris is located in the east of the city, in the Bois de Vincennes. It is the country's oldest zoo, and today it is divided into five biozones: Europe, Guiana, Patagonia, Sahel-Sudan, and Madagascar.

Check tickets and opening hours on the official website. Around 180 animal species live here, and they are easy to observe from the pathways. You'll see lemurs, giraffes, jaguars, flying foxes, and manatees. The main building has rooms for school classes and lectures.

How to get there: Porte Dorée metro station, then walk to the entrance.
Who it's for: families with children of any age.

8. Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie

Solar Impulse aircraft suspended from the ceiling in a museum

Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie occupies a large glass and steel building in Parc de la Villette. A full ticket costs around €15 (as of 09/2026, official website). The permanent Explora exhibition is divided into sections on space, wildlife, and technology.

Kids find out their weight on Mars, examine spacesuits and satellite replicas. A real submarine sits inside. The Géode cinema shows films on a huge dome, and the "Lumière Games" let you play with light and optical illusions.

How to get there: Porte de la Villette metro station.
Who it's for: school-age kids and curious children.

9. Parc de la Villette

People relaxing on the lawn by the canal at La Villette

Parc de la Villette is considered the largest park in Paris (official website). Entry is free. Inside there are themed gardens: a bamboo garden, a mirror garden, one with dunes and islands. Playgrounds and theater stages sit between them.

In summer, open-air film screenings and festivals take place on the lawns. The park has the Cinaxe ride, carousels, an equestrian center, and the Cabaret Sauvage venue. The Cité des Sciences and the Cité de la Musique are right next door, so you can combine a walk with a museum visit.

10. Musée Grévin

Golden sign of the Musée Grévin above the entrance in Paris

Musée Grévin has been operating since 1882 and is second in size only to Madame Tussauds in London (official website). The halls contain around five hundred wax figures of politicians, actors, and athletes. The figures are crafted so carefully that they are hard to tell apart from living people.

Kids take photos with their favorite characters and take part in live scenes. A separate exhibition shows the history of France from Charlemagne to Napoleon III. In the "Palace of Mirages" hall of mirrors, you suddenly find yourself in different places around the world. Book tickets for a specific time slot, otherwise you will stand in line at the entrance.

11. Musée du Chocolat

Panorama of Paris with the Eiffel Tower and the Seine

Musée du Chocolat tells the story of cocoa from ancient times. As far back as four thousand years ago, the Maya and Aztecs drank cocoa and used it as money. The museum was opened on the initiative of the Van Belle family, and there are three such museums in total (museum website).

The tour takes you through three themed rooms. Inside there are more than a thousand exhibits, and the air smells of chocolate.

During the tasting, kids try milk chocolate from Costa Rica, cocoa from Vanuatu, and thick chocolate from Peru. They learn that chocolate can be bitter, salty, and white, and they see a chocolate fountain. The guide explains how cocoa became a currency and why it was valued more highly than gold. There is a shop at the exit where you can buy a bar as a souvenir.

12. Aquaboulevard

Pool and blue slides at Aquaboulevard water park

Aquaboulevard is considered one of the largest water parks in Europe (official website). The five-story building with an underground floor is covered by a glass dome, so it's always warm inside.

Inside you'll find gentle slides, a lazy river, jacuzzis, hot tubs, waterfalls, and fountains. Some of the attractions are in an indoor hall, some outdoors. For the little ones there's a separate area by the blue whale "Baleine Jonas," where the water is warm and shallow.

Nearby there are four fitness halls, tennis courts, a sauna, a steam bath, a solarium, and massage rooms. The building has a fourteen-screen cinema, cafes, snack bars, and a bakery. So it's easy to spend half a day here on a rainy day, and no one will go hungry.

13. Jardin des Tuileries

Tuileries Garden with a round pond and walkways

Jardin des Tuileries lies in the very center, between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde (official City of Paris website). Admission is free. The garden was laid out by gardener André Le Nôtre, the creator of the Versailles gardens. Straight alleys lead between ponds, plane trees, and flower beds.

Sculptures are hidden among the greenery: Charles Perrault surrounded by children and Puss in Boots, the statue "The Kiss" after Rodin, and works by Maillol. Nearby are the Musée de l'Orangerie and Jeu de Paume. It's a convenient place to let a child run around after a museum visit.

14. France Miniature

Miniature replicas of French cathedrals and an arch in a park

France Miniature shows all of France in miniature (official website). The models are built at a 1:30 scale, including Notre-Dame, Versailles, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower. Trains run along miniature tracks, ships sail, and cars drive.

The park opened in 1991 (park website). In total there are more than one hundred sixty models, created by artist Dan Ohlmann. The models replicate real buildings. Planes fly over the water.

Children ride the "Heads or Tails" and "Somersault" attractions, fly over the English Channel, and try their hand at archaeological digs. Music plays and carousels run throughout the grounds, and in one area you can recreate ancient cave paintings. One day is enough to see the châteaux of the Loire Valley, the fortresses of the Basque Country, Toulouse, and the nearby vineyards.

15. Eiffel Tower

View of the base of the Eiffel Tower from the street

The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair. It was assembled from many metal parts in about two years. Its height including the antenna is 324 meters, so the tower remains the tallest building in Paris.

Climbing to the second floor by stairs costs from €14.80, and the elevator to the top is more expensive (as of 09/2026, official website). Three elevators and 1,792 steps lead to the top. Book a morning time slot in advance; in summer, without a timed ticket you'll stand in line for over an hour. You can buy tickets in advance here: Timed tickets for Paris towers and museums.

How to get there: metro Bir-Hakeim or RER C, Champ de Mars station.
Who it's for: school groups and anyone who wants a view of the city.

16. Jardin des Plantes

Grande Galerie de l'Évolution in the Jardin des Plantes

Jardin des Plantes has been operating since the seventeenth century and began as a medicinal herb garden for the royal court (Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle). Rare plants from around the world grew here, and a botanist brought the Lebanese cedar in his own hat.

Inside there are winter gardens, huge greenhouses, a small zoo, and an aquarium. You can walk the Grand Labyrinth up the hill, surrounded by sculptures, and see flower beds with hundreds of rose varieties. Plants are grouped by family, and the garden even exchanges rare seeds with other institutions.

Entry to the garden is free; individual pavilions charge admission. The National Museum of Natural History and the Gallery of Evolution are right next door, so you can easily continue your walk in the museum. Come in the morning, when the paths are still open and there are fewer school groups.

17. Parc Monceau

Parc Monceau lies not far from the Arc de Triomphe (Paris city hall website). Entry is free. This was once the site of a city customs post, and the rotunda and nineteenth-century wrought-iron gates still survive. The park is laid out in the English style at the request of the Duke of Orléans.

Among the paths you'll see the ruins of a Corinthian colonnade, a replica of the Pyramid of Cestius, and a waterfall among the rocks. A maple tree with a four-meter trunk and an age of about one hundred thirty years grows here, and old mansions of aristocratic families stand nearby. Mothers with children love this park for its winding paths, soft lawns, and quiet atmosphere: the lawns are perfect for a picnic.

18. Centre Pompidou

Church of Saint-Eustache in Paris on a sunny day

Centre Pompidou has been closed for renovation since fall 2025 and is expected to reopen around 2030 (official website). Check this before your trip: the permanent galleries are currently unavailable. The "Constellation" program is taking place in other museums across France.

The building itself is constructed inside out: pipes, elevators, and air conditioners are mounted on the facade and painted in bright colors. Inside, it houses the largest collection of modern art in Europe. Nearby stands the Stravinsky Fountain with its moving sculptures. While the renovation is underway, you can view the building from outside and stroll through the Beaubourg district.

19. Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle

The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle was founded on the grounds of the Jardin des Plantes and has carried this name since 1793 (official website). Naturalists Lamarck and Cuvier worked here. Today it is a major research center, and its collections number millions of specimens.

On the first floor of the Gallery of Evolution hang skeletons of blue and southern right whales. The children's gallery and the Grand Gallery are filled with taxidermied animals and interactive displays. Schoolchildren enjoy examining rare insects and minerals. Buy tickets online so you don't waste time at the ticket office.

20. Ferme de Georges Ville

Ferme de Georges Ville has been operating since 1860 (Paris tourist office website). It's a working farm within the city limits where kids can see cows, rabbits, geese, and sheep.

Paris rooftops with a view of La Défense

Children get to feed the animals, milk a cow, and churn butter. City kids hear a cow moo and a rooster crow for the first time, and see carrots, onions, and berries growing in the beds. The farm was founded by a passionate naturalist who wanted to show the city what a real village looks like and teach children how to care for plants.

The farm still welcomes families with children. In summer, you can try fresh sour cream here. Come in the morning: that's when the animals are fed and most active.

Paris attractions for kids on the map

Below is a map with the addresses of all the places in this guide. Open it and plan a day route around your neighborhood. That way you won't waste time traveling between distant spots.

Attractions in Paris for kids

Places on the map

1Parc Astérix Park based on the Asterix comics, wooden and water rides
2Jardin d'Acclimatation Amusement garden in the Bois de Boulogne with donkey rides
3Musée de la Magie Museum of magic tricks and automata in the Marais, a magician's course
4Aquarium de Paris Aquarium beneath Trocadéro Square with sharks and a tunnel
5Vincennes Zoo The country's oldest zoo, about 180 animal species by bio-zone
6Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie Explora exhibition on space and technology, the Géode cinema
7La Villette Paris's largest park, with themed gardens and playgrounds
8Musée Grévin Waxworks museum, the mirrored "Palace of Mirages" hall
9Musée du Chocolat Museum of cocoa history with chocolate tastings
10Aquaboulevard Large water park under a glass dome, with slides and a river
11Jardin des Tuileries Garden between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, with statues
12Eiffel Tower Symbol of Paris, 324 metres tall, three lifts and 1,792 steps
13Jardin des Plantes Botanical garden with greenhouses and a small zoo
14Parc Monceau English-style park with a rotunda and colonnade ruins
15Centre Pompidou Modern art museum, closed for renovation until 2030
16Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Gallery of evolution with whale skeletons, interactive displays
17Ferme de Georges Ville City farm with animals, kids get to feed and milk them

Most places on the list are in Paris itself. If you're driving with kids, Disneyland and Parc Astérix are easier to reach by car, while the city center is easy to navigate by metro. If you're booking accommodation in advance, choose a hotel near a metro station to shorten the trip with a child.

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What to consider before traveling with kids

Paris is compact, but with a child, distance is everything. Stick to one area per day: the center, the east, or the west. That way you don't burn energy on metro rides and transfers, and your child gets less tired.

Some parts of the Paris metro have no elevator, so with a stroller, choose routes through major stations like Châtelet or Gare du Nord. Buy transit tickets in advance and keep them handy. During rush hour, it's better to wait it out in a café with kids and travel later.

Tickets for parks and museums are almost always sold for a specific time slot. Buy them a few days ahead, or a week ahead in high season. That way you skip the line and don't have to work around the ticket office. Check opening hours on the venue's official website before your visit.

Plan meals in advance. Theme parks have their own restaurants, but they're more expensive than in the city. In the center, bring water and snacks, because café lines can also be long. Check age rules for tickets on the venue's official website.

Don't schedule more than two major stops per day and leave time to rest. A child tires faster than an adult, so a short break in a park saves your evening. In summer, gardens and fountains are open; in winter, indoor aquariums, the water park, and the science museum are lifesavers. Plan your day around the weather and leave one open slot for the unexpected.

In winter, bring warm clothes and spare socks: Paris weather can change within an hour, and it's always windy near the water. In summer, don't forget hats and water; there's less shade in the parks than you'd think.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for attractions in Paris with kids?

Set aside a full day for a major park, while two to three hours is enough for museums. Over one trip, you can realistically cover one theme park and two or three central spots. Don't schedule more than two stops per day, otherwise your child will get tired and you won't enjoy any of them at a relaxed pace.

What to do in Paris with kids in the rain?

Keep indoor places in reserve: Cité des Sciences, Aquarium de Paris, and Aquaboulevard are all under cover. Musée Grévin and Musée du Chocolat are also good in bad weather. That way you don't cancel the day; you just change the route and don't lose time.

Do you need to buy tickets in advance?

Yes, almost everywhere. A timed entry slot saves you an hour of queuing in high season, and online tickets sometimes cost less. Disneyland, the Eiffel Tower, and Musée Grévin sell timed entry. Before buying, double-check the date and hours on the official website.

Where to go with a preschooler?

Jardin d'Acclimatation, Parc Zoologique de Paris, and Aquarium de Paris are great for little ones. They have short routes, lots of animals, and space to run around. Save Musée Grévin and the big rides for older kids. Bring a stroller if your child tires quickly.

What's currently closed in Paris?

Centre Pompidou is closed for renovation starting fall 2025 and will reopen around 2030. Its permanent galleries are unavailable, but programming is being shown at other museums. Always check a venue's status on the official website before your trip; schedules change.

In short: what's worth booking

For a trip to Paris with kids, decide two things in advance: the major park and your accommodation. If you have a full day, choose Disneyland or Parc Astérix. If you're staying in the center, alternate between a museum and a nearby garden.

If you have a preschooler: go for Jardin d'Acclimatation, Parc Zoologique de Paris, and Aquaboulevard.
If you have a school-age child: Disneyland, Parc Astérix, and Cité des Sciences.
If you have a rainy day: Aquarium de Paris, Musée Grévin, and Musée du Chocolat.
If you're short on time: the Eiffel Tower, Jardin des Tuileries, and Jardin des Plantes.

Tickets and transfers are cheaper online: tours and tickets in Paris on GetYourGuide.

Where to go with kids in Paris: 20 places and which of them are closed