Paris… the epitome of romance, of glamour, of fashion. Not exactly the first place you might associate with a toddler-friendly weekend away.
But after a trip with my own 19-month-old, I discovered that the French capital is actually a great place to holiday with kids.
Even after half a dozen pre-baby visits exploring the city, I got a completely new look at Paris – including an unexpectedly soft side to Parisians when confronted by a baby. Here are my top five spots to visit with a toddler.
The supercharged park
Carousels, crepes, farm animals, a puppet theatre and a playground – even the entry to the Jardin d’acclimatation is child heaven. We took the ‘petit train’, complete with buggy trailer, from Porte Maillot metro into the garden itself and, while my daughter was too young for most of the rides, there was still masses to entertain her.
The landmark
Looming over the skyline, the Eiffel Tower is the one landmark everyone associates with Paris. And while I knew she wouldn’t care about heading to the top yet – certainly not enough to bother pre-booking timed tickets – we couldn’t miss it out altogether. Armed with her Babar book featuring the tower, we walked to the Trocadero for the best real-life views across the river, then watched the fountains in the gardens below.
The mini zoo
Tucked away in the Jardin des Plantes, the Menagerie is another toddler-sized treasure. Small enough for short attention spans, she was so fascinated by the inhabitants of the monkey house that only the thought of brightly coloured parrots, flamingos, kangaroos and red pandas would tempt her away.
The accessible art
With all its fantastic museums and some great child-friendly activities and exhibitions, you needn’t pay a single entry fee to see some of the city’s most accessible art. In the square behind the Centre Pompidou – itself a great stop for slightly older kids – are the Stravinsky fountains, with bright bold sculptures. Adults can appreciate the designs based on the composer’s works; toddlers will love the primary colours and quirky shapes, as well as the water splashing around them.
The other waterfront
A walk along the Seine is one of Paris’ big pleasures, but head a little further out of the centre and you’ll find somewhere most tourists miss. The Canal St Martin is known as one of the city’s trendy areas, but it’s also home to a lot of families. So as you wander the waterfront with a buggy, you’ll not only feel like you’re experiencing real Parisian life, you could spot anything from a game of petanque to a tightrope walker on the way.
