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30 May, 2025
The perfect Parisian adventure with Alyson Morgan
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Alyson Morgan's guide to fun family activities in Paris
Published
2 June, 2025
Edited
26 June, 2025
While Paris is often celebrated as the City of Love, it’s also an incredible place for families. The city is filled with parks, museums, cafés, and charming streets to explore together. There’s so much to enjoy as a family in Paris, especially when you slow down and allow space for simple pleasures.
Top activities for a fun-filled family trip to Paris
More than ticking off landmarks, I was most interested in returning to the everyday magic of Paris: the way the light hits the cobblestones, the sound of a violin echoing through the Métro, the delight of finding a new favorite pastry.
Learning local secrets
Learning local secrets
One of our favorite experiences was a cooking class organized by onefinestay - it was such a joyful and hands-on way for the kids to engage with French culture, and something we all could do together.
Picnicing like a Parisian
Picnicing like a Parisian
onefinestay also arranged a lovely picnic by the Seine for us, complete with delicious local fare. Sitting by the water, watching the boats go by, and sharing a meal felt like a quintessential Parisian moment.
Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes
Beyond that, we loved visiting the Jardin des Plantes, where the children could explore the Menagerie and the natural history museum.
Visiting Versailles
Visiting Versailles
A day trip to the Château de Versailles was another highlight, offering beauty, grandeur, and space to roam in the garden.
Sunset strolls along the Seine
Sunset strolls along the Seine
And, of course, a walk along the Seine at sunset was non-negotiable. This was the perfect way to wind down after a busy day exploring, before a lovely dinner out at one of the local brasseries or a cosy meal back at our beautiful onefinestay home.
“Having studied abroad in Paris, it was special to see the city again through the eyes of my children. ”
There were a few places close to my heart that I wanted to revisit and share with my family. And there were a few spots I wanted to discover for the first time.
A fabulous new flea market
A fabulous new flea market
The Marché aux puces de la Porte de Vanves was one of my favourite new discoveries. I loved wandering through its eclectic stalls in search of vintage treasures, old books, linens, and unexpected finds. It’s a quieter, more manageable market than some of the larger Paris flea markets, and it feels like stepping into a slower rhythm of the city.
Jardin du Palais-Royal
Jardin du Palais-Royal
The Jardin du Palais-Royal was another wonderful discovery: it’s peaceful, elegant, and often less crowded than other spots. We spent many a sunny afternoon hanging out here.
Musée de l’Orangerie
Musée de l’Orangerie
I love the Musée de l’Orangerie for its quiet beauty; it's such a soothing experience for both adults and children, especially when the weather is grey and uninspirational.
I always recommend leaving room in your itinerary to simply wander; some of the best family moments came from unstructured time, stumbling upon a charming park, a street performer, or an ice cream shop that becomes an instant favorite. Those spontaneous experiences often become the most memorable for children and adults alike.
Indulge in some 'you time'
Indulge in some 'you time'
Finally, carving out space for some 'you time' on a family trip is also very important. Scheduling in a bit of time for yourself will ensure that you are more present and connected for all those special family moments throughout the trip. Luckily for me, onefinestay was able to organise a wonderful in-home massage and pampering session for me and my mother, meaning we could enjoy some 'us-time' while the kids played in their bedrooms. Truly the best of both worlds.
