YoloNow Guide

Family outings in Paris for the weekend

October 10, 2026 · 6 min

Family outings in Paris for the weekend

Eight places to take children on a weekend in Paris, from a free park to a covered water park. For each one: the age that works, the opening hours, what entry costs and the snag to plan around.

Jardin du Luxembourg (6th), the cheapest option

Entry is free, through ten gates including place Edmond Rostand, rue de Vaugirard and rue Guynemer, near the RER B stop Luxembourg and metro Odeon. Inside, the sandpits, the play trails, the big outdoor chess boards and the bandstand concerts cost nothing. Everything else is paid: the playground, swings, carousel, ponies, the toy sailboats on the pond and the puppet theatre.

The Marionnettes du Luxembourg perform on Wednesdays in a covered, heated hall. A seat is 7.50 euros, or 6.50 for groups. The garden hours shift on the 1st and 16th of every month: gates open between 7.30 and 8.15am and close between 4.30pm in December and 9.30pm in late June.

The snag: you cannot walk on the lawns, and bikes and scooters are banned inside. At closing time the guards walk through blowing whistles at everyone.

Jardin d’Acclimatation (16th), the theme park inside Paris

Carrefour des Sablons, Bois de Boulogne, 75116, metro Les Sablons. Open every day. A single entry ticket costs 7 euros and does not include the rides. The one-day pass, bought online, starts at 15 euros and covers the rides without limit.

Children under 80cm get in free but can only ride the small carousel. Between 80cm and 130cm, buy the unlimited pass: that is the height at which most rides require an adult alongside.

The snag: outside zone C school holidays, the rides shut for an hour between noon and 3pm. Once school is back, some rides rest on weekdays, so check the Attractions page before you go.

Cite des enfants, Cite des Sciences (19th)

30 avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019, metro Porte de la Villette. Two separate spaces, one for ages 2 to 6 and one for ages 5 to 10. The toddler space has just reopened after renovation.

A ticket costs 15 euros full price, 12 euros for ages 2 to 25, free under 2. The combined Cite des enfants plus Exhibitions ticket is 19 euros. The building opens Tuesday to Saturday 9.15am to 6pm, and Sunday until 7pm.

The snag: it is closed on Mondays, and the Cite des enfants needs its own ticket, separate from the rest of the museum. Allow half a day, not ten minutes.

Musee en Herbe (1st), for toddlers and the 6-12s

23 rue de l’Arbre-Sec, 75001, metro Louvre-Rivoli or Chatelet. Open every day 10am to 7pm. The exhibition visit costs 8 euros and is charged from age 3.

Baby workshops (2.5 to 5.5 years, one parent included) are 20 euros. Maxi workshops (ages 6 to 12) are 11.50 euros, or 17 euros with free entry to the exhibition.

The snag: booking online is compulsory, pushchairs cannot get through, and the museum is small. Book a morning slot rather than an afternoon one.

Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes (5th)

Rue Cuvier, 75005, metro Gare d’Austerlitz or Jussieu, inside the Jardin des Plantes. Open every day of the year. Full price is 13 euros, reduced 10 euros for ages 3 to 25 with proof.

The snag: this is a small historic zoo, not a wildlife park, and the reduced rate calls for an ID at the gate. Budget two hours, not a whole day.

Ferme de Paris (12th), free

24 route de la Tourelle, 75012, in the Bois de Vincennes. Bus 77 drops you at Plateau de Gravelle, a two-minute walk away; the RER A stops at Joinville-le-Pont. Entry is free: five hectares with animals and crops, built for children.

In October 2026 it opens Wednesday 1.30pm to 5.15pm and Saturday and Sunday 1.30pm to 5.45pm. It is closed the other days.

The snag: the hours are short and the garden shuts when the wind picks up. The farm reopened after several years of building work, so check the monthly programme before you travel.

Le Guignol Anatole, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (19th)

An open-air puppet theatre, entrance on Armand Carrel facing the town hall of the 19th. Metro 5 Laumiere, bus 48, 60, 75 or 71. A seat costs 6 euros from age 1, free under that. No booking: you sit where you find room.

Shows run Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 4.30pm, and every day during school holidays. The performance is aimed at children from age 3.

The snag: it all happens outdoors, so there is no show in rain, storms, strong wind, or if the temperature leaves the 15-30C range. You get confirmation two hours before. Cheques are no longer taken, so bring cash or a card.

Aquaboulevard (15th), the pool with slides

4-6 rue Louis Armand, 75015, metro Balard. An indoor water park with wave pools and slides. A full-day adult ticket, from age 12, is 39 euros; a child aged 3 to 11 pays 22 euros.

It opens Monday to Thursday 9am to 11pm, Friday until midnight, Saturday 8am to midnight and Sunday 8am to 11pm. Last entry at 9pm.

The snag: children under 3 are not admitted, and under-12s must be with an adult. Buy online to skip the ticket desk.

What this page leaves out

No Disneyland and no Parc Asterix: both sit outside Paris, an hour away or more by public transport, and each deserves a full day of its own. No municipal swimming pool either, which is cheaper but has neither slides nor waves.

The prices and hours above come from official sites checked on 10 October 2026. Outdoor outings move with the season and the weather, so check the day before, especially for the Ferme de Paris, the Guignol Anatole and the Jardin d’Acclimatation.

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