Traveling to France with a Baby or Toddler

Paris

You can still see the main Paris attractions with a baby or toddler. Some are more conducive than others to bringing a child along, and some have features that make the experience more enjoyable for a family.

• Museums: The Louvre Museum and Musee D’Orsay are two of the many fantastic museums in Paris. While these museums offer free admission for children, you’ll still need to secure a complimentary admission ticket. Many museums also offer kid-friendly attractions, such as the “Louvre Passport.” For family-focused museums, check out the Palais Decouverte, which is a science museum with children’s exhibits, or the Musee en Herbe, which is an interactive museum designed for children.

• Tours: There are plenty of fantastic walking tours of Paris, and for us, it served as a great opportunity to have nap time on the go in the stroller. I would recommend taking a private tour, rather than a group tour, because it gives you the opportunity to stop and take breaks. As your travel advisor, I can connect you with the best tour guides who can customize the experience based on your needs.

• Top sites: There are endless sites to visit in Paris; some of the most popular are the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, and Montmartre. Children are welcome (with a complimentary admission ticket at some).

• Shopping: If you’re looking to shop with child in tow, check out La Samaritaine. It is a large department store with plenty of brands, clothing, and accessories. You won’t have to go outside to shop between stores, and there’s even a toy store to peruse.

• Parks: One of the best ways to incorporate family-friendly breaks is to incorporate time in playgrounds and parks. You’ll find Parisians doing the same with their families. My son particularly loved Le Lutin Palace playground by the Eiffel Tower because it had a merry-go-round.

• Disneyland Paris: A 40-minute train ride from Paris, Disneyland Paris adds a fun and child-focused stop to your European trip.

• Versailles: A 30-minute train ride from Paris, the Palace of Versailles is a stunning spot to explore on your own or tour. This is a great spot to have a family-friendly tour to better explore the palace grounds.

Côte d'Azur

Southern France is beautiful in the summer months, and offers a beach escape to incorporate into your travels through France.

• Beach: The main activity here is to enjoy the beach and pool as a family. Most of the Cote d’Azur operates private beach clubs, so, as your travel advisor, I can help you navigate those reservations and which ones welcome children. I also love having a hotel with a pool to break up the day around nap time.

• Exploring the towns: There are several towns to visit across Southern France, such as Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Monte-Carlo, Menton, Èze, and Saint-Tropez. Most of these are easily accessible by train, making it convenient for day trips across the region. Be aware that some towns are more stroller-friendly (like Cannes or Antibes), while others are hillier (like Èze and Menton).

French countryside

• Christmas markets: If you’re traveling in the winter, you can’t miss the Christmas markets. These are super family-friendly and filled with rides, light shows, delicious treats, and shopping, of course. Our son loved the carousels and festive spirit. Strasbourg is one of the largest markets and considered the “Capital of Christmas,” and you can pair it with nearby smaller markets in Colmar or Riquewihr.

• Wine regions: Whether it’s the Champagne region, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Provence, or beyond, the wine regions of France are stunning countryside spots to mix into your travels in France. When visiting these areas, not all of the activities will be child-focused (after all, it is wine tasting), but there are certain cellars or vineyards that are more welcoming to families. For example, we loved our visit to Pommery in Reims, and were so pleased to see baby amenities and colorful exhibits that our toddler loved.

• Normandy: Only a couple hours from Paris, this is a great way to extend your trip to the coast and take in a bit of history. For ease of getting around (and better walkability with children), you can base yourself near Beaune or Deauville.

• Hotel breakfast: We preferred starting our day with breakfast at the hotel. That way, we were able to stop back at the room to change baby and grab our gear before heading out for the day. And of course, this is made better by Fora’s partnerships with a plethora of hotels where daily breakfast is complimentary.

• Local cafes: One of the best parts of Paris is the local cafes where you can stroll in and have a coffee, French wine, pastry, or more. These are often accommodating to children, as they are more casual.

• Le Saint-Regis Paris (Paris): There are many restaurants in Paris that are not exactly designed for kids but are at least welcoming to them. Le Saint-Regis is not set up for kids per se (they did not have a high chair), but they were happy to have us and the vibrant noise of the dining room made it so our son’s squeals did not disturb anyone. This restaurant has amazing French cuisine and is the perfect place to have the classic French onion soup.

• Cafe Bianca (Paris): We had a fantastic meal at Cafe Bianca, featuring Italian cuisine and delicious, fresh pizza. They were very welcoming and offered a high chair.

• Augustin (Paris): If you venture to more family-friendly residential areas, you’ll find wonderful kid-friendly spots like Augustin. They welcomed us with a high chair, kids' menu, and bustling environment with other families.

• Le Pastis (Cannes): The perfect balance of a French bistro with great food, plus a bustling environment welcoming to families. Enjoy the indoor or outdoor seating.

• San Telmo (Cannes): Amazing pizza and a casual, outdoor environment. This is a staple during our visits to Southern France.

• La Hache (Strasbourg): Incredible food and a chic atmosphere. We enjoyed a fantastic meal here, and the team was accommodating with high chair and children’s menu.

• Chez L’Oncle Freddy (Strasbourg): For true Alsatian food, this is a must-visit in the Petite France neighborhood. Bustling environment and had high chairs and a children’s menu.