*Updated Spring 2026*
1. Explore Jardin d’Acclimatation amusement park
Some say this 18 hectare Paris theme park in Bois de Boulogne is a better day out than Disneyland (sorry Mickey). This is because it’s far less busy (hence, less queuing time), and far cheaper too! (You may not know, but entry is actually free with a ticket to the Louis Vitton Foundation next door). Enjoy a varied day out at Jardin d’Acclimatation, with rides, large play area with sand, sprinklers for summer days, and a zoo too.
PARENT HACK: Bring your own food and snacks and save a fortune
☔ Rain-safe backup: There are cafes and restuarants dotted around the park, as well as shows (although these do come at an extra cost)
🍼 Stroller-friendly: Yes, this is the perfect place to explore with a buggy in Paris. The whole area is flat, with paths throughout the park.
🚻 Toilets/baby change: Yes, there are many toilets and facilities throughout the park
🌳 Shade level: Okay, there are lots of trees and areas with shade. Splash pad is not shaded so bring hats!
👶 Best age: From 2 years
⏱️ Time needed: A whole day – there’s so much to do here
🍽️ Nearby café/snacks: Cafes and restaurants all over the park, but they are expensive and the food is not amazing, recommend bringing your own picnic and snacks.
😴 Nap-friendly: Yes, there are loads of quieter areas to explore.
Find out times and up-to-date ticket prices here
2. Get climbing at an eco park
Climbing and swinging from trees doesn’t have to be just for the big kids. There are plenty of eco parks around Paris that are suitable for tiny children too.
Check out Parcours Aventure Branches & Loisirs (Saint Quentin) has an area suitable for 3-6 years, but it depends on how adventurous your kid to whether it’s suitable from a young age as you have to venture up quite high to the activities above nets in the trees. It’s great fun if you’re game.
There’s Ecopark Adventures Moulin de Sannois in the north west of Paris and AccroCamp in the Forêt de Meudon on the north west of Paris there’s the new (ish) AbracadaParc (Goussainville) with mascots, giant games and more to keep little ones amused.
PARENT MUST KNOW: Bring trainers not sandals
☔ Rain-safe backup nearby: Usually these parks offer very little indoor space
🍼 Stroller-friendly: In the forest, so not ideal but there are paths you can take the buggy along
🚻 Toilets/baby change: Usually not babychange
🌳 Shade level: Generally great as covered by a canopy of trees
👶 Best age: 3+ (check age restrictions at your park of choice)
⏱️ Time needed: Slots are usually from 1-2 hours. Bring a picnic and make a day of it
🍽️ Nearby café/snacks: Often small snack stall on site – probably better to bring your own
😴 Nap-friendly: Quite shady so often a good spot for the little ones to sleep while the big sis or brother climbs
3. Take a pony ride
Enjoy a one-off pony ride for kids at various spots in and around Paris. Animaponey organizes pony rides in the following parks: Bois de Vincennes, Bois de Boulogne, Parc Montsouris, Parc Georges-Brassens, Parc Monceau, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Jardin du Luxembourg.
4. Head to a Paris park
Kids are spoilt for choice when it comes to Paris playgrounds. It would take all day if we went through them all – have a look at our Toddler and Baby Paris Map to find the park locations that suit you best.
But some top picks are:
- La Villette
La Villette is heaven for kids! The biggest green area in Paris and home to many playgrounds. Check out The Jardin des Vents et des Dunes, with zip-lines, trampolines, swings, slides and more!Luxembourg Gardens
- Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg)
It’s all going on here, from it’s central Paris playground ‘Ludo Jardin’, to the teeny sailboats you can push by stick around the lake and a marionnette show (although it is closed all summer – boo! Back open from end of August).
There are so many Paris parks to choose from, find the park nearest to yo via the Tots City Guide – Toddler & Baby Map here
5. Spy on wild forest animals at Espace Rambouillet (West of Paris)
This one’s a bit far out West of Paris, but Espace Rambouillet is well worth a journey. You can also camp (glamp!) on site if you can’t do the travelling all in one day – check out Huttopia Rambouillet.
This incredible forest park is an absolute must-visit for little ones. Be sure to rent a cart for 5 euros so you can tug tiny kids around without them complaining about the long walk (bring snacks to throw in the wagon too, it helps!). Stuff to do: See wild deer, wild wolves, birds of prey like owls and eagles (don’t miss the bird show!). Adventure playgrounds in the woods, picnic areas and trampolines in the trees.
PARENT HACK 1: There is tons to do here so be sure to arrive early to make a full day of it.
PARENT HACK: 2: Be sure to note down the feeding times for animals and marionnette show so you can plan your day around those times and don’t miss any of the action!
☔ Rain-safe backup nearby: All activities are outside
🍼 Stroller-friendly: Some areas are ok with a buggy, ideally leave it in the car and hire a wagon for 5 euros – you can take it in the forest with ease and kids will have fun! Or get the little train for zero effort
🚻 Toilets/baby change: Yes toilets, baby change available
🌳 Shade level: Yes lots of shade in woods, for bird show none at all so bring a hat and shades!
👶 Best age: 2 years+ But also nice place to bring with a baby
⏱️ Time needed: All day – so much to pack in here
🍽️ Nearby café/snacks: Cafe on site but recommend bringing a picnic and snacks
😴 Nap-friendly: Very peaceful in the woods but you may have troble pushing a buggy. Fine for a baby carrier.
6. Venture to these Paris Zoos
- Wow Safari (Thoiry)
If you’re west of Paris, you can see all the favourite zoo animals, including the chance to walk among kangaroos! There’s also a huge play zone for kids amongst a canopy of trees.
PARENT HACK 1: Choose the playground spot for your picnic as there’s toilets nearby and you can also see some of the animals roaming at the safari next door.
PARENT HACK 2: If you plan to come at least twice in the year, save money with an annual pass.
☔ Rain-safe backup nearby: Hmm not loads of indoor options here
🍼 Stroller-friendly: Stroller paths available all over the park – a few areas where you need to take stairs to see animals, but there’s always a stroller route to take
🚻 Toilets/baby change: Yes
🌳 Shade level: Great lots of shady areas under trees
👶 Best age: All ages – who doesn’t love seeing cute animals
⏱️ Time needed: All day – probably more!
🍽️ Nearby café/snacks: Stuff on site but all really pricy
😴 Nap-friendly: Yes you can walk around with a buggy as it’s huge here
Meet animals from across the world in this city zoo, situated in the far east of Paris.
- La Ménagerie, le zoo du Jardin des Plantes (5e)
There’s a huge selection of animals to see at this city zoo, with ‘Meet the Keepers’ events every day during the holidays .It’s also right by the quirky vintage dodo carousel (recommended by Tots City Guide).
☔ Rain-safe backup nearby: No (I learnt the hard way!
🍼 Stroller-friendly: Yes it’s small here, and you can take the buggy on all paths
🚻 Toilets/baby change: TBC for baby change. Lots of toilets available
🌳 Shade level: Fairly good lots of tree coverage
👶 Best age: All ages
⏱️ Time needed: 1-3 hours
🍽️ Nearby café/snacks: No where on site – bring snacks
😴 Nap-friendly: Yes
7. Pick your own fruit and vegetables
Paris is surrounded by farms where you and your kids can pick your very own veg and juicy fruit. Most within an hour’s train or drive from Paris. So, grab a wheelbarrow and get picking! See below for a full list of strawberry picking farms near Paris, or check them out on our Paris Toddler and Baby Map.
NORTH: Cueillette De La Croix Verte (Attainville)
SOUTH/ EAST: Cueillette de Servigny (Lieusaint)
SOUTH / WEST: Cueillette de Viltain (Saclay) + Les Fermes de Gally (Saint-Cyr)
SOUTH: Cueillette de Torfou (Torfou)
☔ Rain-safe backup nearby: No – all outside unless there’s a farm shop
🍼 Stroller-friendly: Not ideal, borrow a wheelbarrow to cart the kids around
🚻 Toilets/baby change: Usually no for baby change, toilets outside jobbies
🌳 Shade level: Not much – open fields, bring hats
👶 Best age: 2-3+ years – have to be patient and enjoy picking fruit and veg
⏱️ Time needed: 2-3 hours
🍽️ Nearby café/snacks: Sometimes farm shops but usually pricy, to save $$$ bring a picnic and maybe top up on a few fancy farm shop items like locally made yogurt
😴 Nap-friendly: Not ideal as tricky to push a buggy and can get very hot walking around in the sun in the summer
8. Visit farms in and around Paris
East of Paris, in Bois de Vincennes is free to visit The Paris Farm. North East, check out La Ferme de la Villette.West of Paris, you can visit Les Fermes de Gally (Saint-Cyr) and hidden inside the Palace of Versailles you’ll step back into 18th century France at the Hameau De La Reine (The Queen’s Hamlet) farm
9. Cool down in water fountains
No need to boil in central Paris on a hot day, head to Place de la République (11e) – in the summer the square activates its water fountains. In the 15e at Parc André Citroën 72 water jets come into action over July and August. And you’ll be cool as spending a day at Jardin d’Acclimatation with Water fountains galore (although it’s paid entry to this place, although worth it). Chill after a day at the Chateau de Versailles at Square des Francine. South of Paris in Clamart there’s fountains at Fontaine du Panorama – a newly built lake paradise with restaurants and playgrounds too!
Find out exactly where all the Paris fountains are on our Toddler & Baby Paris Map here
10. Explore outdoor interactive art at Hangar Y
An art museum but outside! Hangar Y in (Meudon, south west of Paris) the perfect way to enjoy modern art but keeping the kids entertained too. Explore giant teapots you can climb inside, a house made out of old pans, and discover a hidden playground in the forest! Only 3 euros per person entry, it’s a must do! Surrounding a man-made lake, it’s also a perfect picnic spot so be sure to bring supplies!
☔ Rain-safe backup nearby: Yes inside the museum where they have a cafe too
🍼 Stroller-friendly: Yes (but bikes not allowed in)
🚻 Toilets/baby change: Toilets yes baby change TBC
🌳 Shade level: Great park in the woods – nice and cool
👶 Best age: Any age – great calm place to explore with a baby
⏱️ Time needed: 2-4 hours
🍽️ Nearby café/snacks: Restaurant on site but it’s fancy. Cafe could be an option, but for kids bring snacks
😴 Nap-friendly: Yes great peaceful place to walk around
11. Walk on a disused railway line
Take a stroll along the traintracks of a disused line on the ‘Petite Ceinture’ route. There are walking areas all over Paris: 12e, 13e, 14e, 15e, 16e, 17e, 18e, 19e and 20e arrondissements. Click here for a ‘Petite Ceinture’ interative map to find your nearest walk!
You should also read: Paris heatwave guide
And just in case: rainy day Paris guide
Need more ideas? Check out the Tots City Guide Baby & Toddler Map
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