Paris with kids aged 3-5
Ages 3 to 5 are the sweet spot for the Jardin d'Acclimatation, the Cité des Enfants and the natural history gallery. The Eiffel Tower is fine as a quick trip to the second floor. The Louvre is not for this age, whatever the ticket price says. Plan one booked activity a day and a playground after it.
What works at 3-5
Boat rideSeine River Cruise (Bateaux Parisiens)
child from €10One hour sitting down while Paris goes past. The best rest stop on a walking day.
Theme parkDisneyland Paris
free under 3A full day out by itself. Under 3s enter free and most toilets have changing tables.
AquariumAquarium de Paris
child from €20.50Indoor, pushchair-friendly and next to the Eiffel Tower. A solid rainy-day plan for under-6s.
Science museumCité des Sciences and Cité des Enfants
child from €12The Cité des Enfants has one area for ages 2 to 6 and another for 5 to 10. Babies get their own.
Amusement parkJardin d'Acclimatation
Rides go by height, not age. Under 80 cm enter free, and the pass pays off from 80 to 130 cm.
ZooParis Zoo (Parc Zoologique de Paris)
child from €17Animals grouped in five habitat zones. Allow at least two hours, and bring a picnic.
ParkJardin du Luxembourg
No ticket neededFree garden with a paid playground, pony rides, a carousel and toy sailboats on the pond.
Natural history museumGrande Galerie de l'Évolution
child from €10A great hall of life-size animal specimens. Small children need no reading to enjoy it.
LandmarkEiffel Tower
child from €6Take the lift to the second floor and stop there. The summit adds a second queue.