France, the land of ‘joie de vivre’, where beautiful beaches, Alpine ski slopes and culture-defining cities meet a seriously world-class foodie scene. From fairy tale chateaus you can actually stay in to outdoor adventure that will outshine any screen-based devices, it’s the perfect destination for spending some quality time ‘en famille’.
Exploring France with kids couldn’t be easier thanks to its well-connected train network, allowing families to easily combine city breaks in Paris with country and coastal escapes. It’s also a great place for a road trip, allowing you to explore the more rural regions of Provence and the South West.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite places and activities for when we’re ‘en vacances’ in France with kids.
Where to Go in France
South of France
From miles of beautiful ‘azure’ coastline to pretty hilltop towns and outdoor adventure a-plenty, it’s easy to see why the South of France is a mecca for families.
The French Riviera is the place to head for if you’re looking for sandy, family-friendly beaches such as pretty Paloma Beach on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. For ultimate relaxation, seek out laid back coastal towns such as Eze, while those looking for a livelier base will find a vibrant social scene alongside serious glamour in Saint Tropez and Cannes.
Set away from the coast and up in the hills, pretty Provencal towns such as Saint-Rémy and Eygalieres offer a mix of beautiful views, excellent restaurants and elegant villas a short walk away from the village center.
Stay at The Mas de Sarrat Residence for a slice of contemporary cool in Provence, with a private tennis court and views of the Alpilles mountains to boot.
French Alps
With slopes to suit all abilities, and plenty of other snow themed activities, the French Alps has lots to offer outdoorsy families.
Chamonix is an excellent base for those with kids of varying ages with a range of activities to suit every age group. In winter, there’s a multitude of slopes to choose from, with ski schools suitable for toddlers upwards as well as sledding and husky rides for fun alternatives to skiing. In the summer you can hike, bike, zip wire, raft and climb, or take a day trip to Lake Annecy for some water-based action.
For those seeking added luxury such as spa facilities, boutiques and refined dining options, Courchevel is an excellent base with a good range of luxe ski lodges and apartments. Kids are treated to pony rides in the snow, indoor climbing walls and ice-skating rinks alongside an excellent variety of slopes.
Stay at The Alaska Chalet for rustic relaxation in the center of Chamonix with the ski slopes of Le Brévent and La Flégère on your doorstep.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is an excellent base for families looking to blend some city culture with coastal day trips, and vineyard tours around Southwest France.
There are plenty of free ways to enjoy Bordeaux with kids from biking or scooting the riverfront (les quais) and frolicking in the Place de la Bourse’s Miroir d’eau splash pools, to picnicking in the pretty Jardin Public.
Ticketed highlights include the recently renovated Natural History Museum of Bordeaux and the Cap Sciences museum which appeal to kids of all ages with interactive and frequently changing exhibits.
The coast is an easy day trip away with Arcachon beach providing plenty of space to run and play, alongside some excellent beachside restaurants. Active kids can take on nearby Grande Dune du Pilat – Europe’s tallest sand dune.
Bordeaux’s wine country is easily reachable by train or car with a good offering of kid-friendly vineyards – either head to Saint-Emilion (a gorgeous little medieval town) or follow the Route des Vins through the Médoc.
Stay at The Sainte Foy La Grande Residence for classic French manor vibes within easy reach of Bordeaux’s Saint-Emilion vineyards.
Brittany
Beautiful Brittany has long been a family holiday favourite, with plenty of parents now introducing their kids to the beaches and countryside they grew up playing in.
Dinard, a cute little coastal town near St Malo, is home to the popular Plage de l’Ecluse with beach clubs for the kids that give parents time off to explore the local galleries and shops. It’s a good place for seeking out more traditional French restaurants, and is home to France’s second oldest golf club.
Nearby Saint Malo has a micro zoo and aquarium for the younger ones while older kids can learn to sail or even captain a historical rig in the Bay of Cezembre.
Stay at The Point du Jour Residence – a historic seaside villa with beach access, toys for the kids and views over Dinard bay.
Paris
Needs no introduction! Read more about where to go in Paris with kids and where to stay in our Paris local guides, all here on the Kid & Coe Playlist.
Stay at The Docteur Blanche Residence for cute kids rooms and huge parks and green spaces nearby.
Best Things to Do in France with Babies
From relaxing picnics in the park to fun-filled theme parks with laid back zones just for little ones, there’s plenty to do in France with babies. We’ve rounded up some of our top picks below.
– Picnic in the Park
France does parks well, from the wilder national parc variety to the sort designed for promenading, picnicking and play. Thanks to thoughtful planning, you’re never far from a bit of green space and some shade – even in the cities – and many come with playgrounds, and skate parks for bonus activity points.
The Jardin du Luxembourg tops my list when in Paris, with plenty of lawn space to picnic on, crepe/coffee stalls and a famous boating lake where the kids can indulge in ‘old school’ style play pushing wooden sail boats across the water. It’s also home to a traditional puppet theatre, and an excellent adventure playground (around €2.50 for all day entry) with an area just for babies including sand boxes, ride-on wooden animals and a mini slide.
– Hang out in an Aquarium
Aquariums are magic for both parents and babies, with their sultry blue lighting and calming watery displays offering up soothing vibes all round..
Dotted throughout the whole of France, there are many to choos from but Nausicaá in Bologne Sur Mer is one not to miss. Not only is it Europe’s largest aquarium, it’s conservation led with plenty of innovative displays introducing kids to the wonders of life beneath the waves. With huge floor to ceiling tanks, it’s a totally immersive experience for babies and toddlers with the chance to get up close with rays, sharks, turtles, jellyfish and more. .
– Le Jardin d’Acclimatation
Recently revamped, the Jardin d’Acclimatation in Paris’s 16th arrondissement is home to the city’s only educational farm. Providing a breather from the hustle and bustle of the city, visitors are transported into a Norman hamlet complete with thatched timber cottages and plenty of farm animals to stroke including rabbits, Guinea pigs and Rove goats.
Elsewhere in the park there’s plenty more fun for babies and toddlers with fountains to splash in, woodland playgrounds, puppet shows, a miniature train, trampolines and pony rides.
Best Things to Do in France with Young Kids
Exploring France with young kids or older toddlers needn’t be a stressful experience, with plenty of exciting activities guaranteed to tire them out. Here are some of our top tips.
– Meet a favourite character at Disneyland, Paris
Disneyland is well set up for younger guests with activities broken down into age groups, from the littlest Mouseketeers in the 0 – 3 group to ‘little big kids’ aged 4 – 6.
With daily parades, character meet and greets, and a new Marvel Avengers campus, there’s something for everyone, with many rides and experiences that all the family can enjoy together.
– Join a Knight school
Experience life as a knight or a princess on a dress up tour of a chateau, with character led experiences, falconry and crafting activities.
At Chateau de Langeais, kids can don shields and helmets, clamber up the old keep, and play in a treetop fortress. Château de Gizeux is also a winner with young kids, with immersive activities taking them back to the Middle Ages, including creating their own coat of arms and bread making.
– Ride a Carousel
Carousels are a classic staple of French cities, towns and villages with over 20 in Paris alone. The French lay claim to their very invention (dating back to Louis XIV’s jousting days) so it would be something of a sacrilege not to jump on.
Kids can choose from a whole host of whimsical ‘seats’ including colorful ponies, safari animals and vintage vehicles, while parents take a well-earned 5-minute rest, preferably with a cup of coffee.
Best Things to Do in France with Older Kids & Teens
Whether into outdoors activities, gaming, culture, or food, France has plenty to offer the teen brigade. From steampunk theme parks to boundary pushing art and music collabs, there’s something to suit every taste.
– Travel through time at a theme park
France is fast gaining a reputation for its offering of innovative theme parks, many of which immerse visitors in past, or futuristic worlds.
Les Machines de l’Île in Nantes is one for the science fiction, steampunk and theatre fans where kids can become machinists for a day and ride a whole host of animatronic creatures from giant hummingbirds to a 4 storey high walking elephant. Teens may enjoy their nocturnes events where the park opens at night, often featuring live bands.
Puy du Fou is the perfect stop off for those road tripping from north to south. Rated amongst the world’s best theme parks, it showcases history on a seriously grand scale with immersive shows, rides and nighttime extravaganzas, taking kids from the medieval period right through to La belle epoque. It’s definitely worth downloading the park’s app in advance to help plan the day’s activities in advance.
– Get acquainted with the great outdoors
Whether its adrenaline sport that floats their boat, or gentler outdoors exploration, older kids are never far from an active adventure in France.
From snowboarding or ziplining in the alps, and rafting in the Ardeche to kayaking river gorges and surfing in Basque Country, there are plenty of reasons to get outside. Hiking, biking and horse trekking trails run from the coast, and the countryside to more mountainous scenery, catering for all levels of experience and challenge preference.
– Cozy up to culture
France and culture go hand in hand with cafes, galleries, music dens and old warehouses playing host to the latest and greatest artists.
Palais du Tokyo in Paris is a hive for contemporary culture with a pioneering approach to showcasing the works of today’s artists, and a musical collaboration with ‘Club YoYo’. Its trendy book and magazine shop is worth a browse too.
Tips For Traveling to France With Kids
Travelling around France with kids is an adventure in itself…
- Take the train. With double decker trains, on-board restaurants and beautiful scenery guaranteed, train journeys in France can be lots of fun. Kids under 4 travel free on laps and trains are well equipped for little ones with changing areas, bottle warming facilities, and even play zones on some services. Strollers are also stored for free.
- Look for ticket packages. Paris trains offer half price fares for 4 – 10 year olds. If staying for a few days or more, get a Paris Visite travel pass which is one ticket for all transportation.
- Pick up a picnic. France is famous for its food markets, perfect for picking up local breads, cheeses, pastries, and all sorts of treats, so pack a basket, grab a rug and find the nearest beauty spot.
- Take a day trip. Wherever you choose to base yourself, hire a car, bikes or jump on a local bus/train to explore nearby towns, countryside villages and coastal paths or even cross into a neighbouring country for the day.
- Check in with the local tourist office. Many of France’s tourist offices organise their own family events including farm visits, games in the square, guided walks and themed treasure hunts so it’s worth checking what’s on.
- Stay up late(r). The French know how to dine, with lunches and dinners tending to err on the more leisurely side. Though some city restaurants can be more adult focused, mealtimes are generally a family affair with plenty of culinary wins on the menu including frites, crepes and of course ice cream. Main courses don’t tend to include vegetables so make sure to order those on the side.
Frequently Asked Questions
France is a great place to visit with kids, with a wealth of family-friendly attractions, stylish yet spacious accommodation options, and good value family tickets on many of its transport services, and at its museums.
It’s a large country with a diverse terrain and climate so all you need to decide is the style of holiday and activities your family wants, France will do the rest.
There is no bad time to visit France, depending on what you plan to do there. For those heading for the coast, the summer months (July – August) are usually the most popular when the seas are at their warmest. For active families into hiking and biking, spring and autumn are ideal months to explore, while late November to early April is the best time to visit France for mountain sports in the Alps and Pyrenees.
Paris is a brilliant city for kids of all ages, with stroller friendly pavements, and wide sidewalks ideal for scooting or biking along. Restaurants and cafes tend to be family-friendly, happily accommodating little ones even late into the evening, although don’t expect to find highchairs or even change facilities in most Parisian establishments.
For those seeking a laid-back vibe to their French holiday with kids, you can’t go far wrong in Nice. With sandy beaches, coastal boulevards ideal for scooting along, and historic city plazas fringed with restaurants, there’s plenty of space to relax and let the kids play.
Browse all our family-friendly vacation rentals in France or discover more of our family destinations around the world.
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