15 ways to enjoy the Spring Break in Paris with kids

A Parisian Spring break staycation! 

written by Sarah Jennings

With the kids on holiday…yet again, you may be hitting the slopes of the French Alps or headed a little further south for some much-needed fun in the sun. Or not. In fact, you may be staying right here in Paris and that’s absolutely fine as Spring has finally sprung.

For those staycationing in Paris over the Spring break, MLP has put together a day-by-day list of fun things to do in the city that will keep the kiddos busy and more importantly, you, sane! 😉 Check it out below.

Monday, April 3 – Jardin Nelson Mandela 

Boasting a free, 2,500m2 adventure playground, the Jardin Nelson Mandela is the perfect place for 7-11-year-olds to run wild!

A playground for the imagination, kids will love its robustly designed (and fairly massive) jungle gym, as well as other impressive climbing, swinging and sliding facilities!

Tuesday, April 4 –Pompidou Centre

Known as the “Pompi” to Parisians, the Pompidou Centre is the place to go with kiddos to harness those creative juices. Exploring all artistic disciplines through careful curation, the Galerie des Enfants invites kids aged 3-10 (and their parents) to engage with its current exhibition – through imagination, play and discussion!

Wednesday, April 5 – Aquarium de Paris  

Just across from the Eiffel Tower is the Aquarium de Paris! With fishy favourites such as clown fish, puffer fish and stingrays, the kids will love the shark tunnel (home to 24 shark species) and the petting pool where friendly sturgeons can be stroked. In addition, there are a number of daily demonstrations and workshops geared just for kids.

Thursday, April 6 – Cinematheque Francais  

The Cinematheque Francais invites kids from 3-14 years old and their parents to an afternoon of cinema – perfect for a rainy day! With some terrific movies showing throughout April, kids will enjoy a number of classics, including: Wallace and Gromit, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and ET. Each movie begins at 3:00pm and you can buy tickets in advance.

Friday, April 7 – Shakespeare and Company

On the banks of the Seine, opposite the Notre Dame lies the iconic Shakespeare and Company – an English-language bookstore. And, right next door is the picturesque Bookstore Café. With an array of delectable sweets, why not treat your kids to an afternoon of scones with butter and jam or a famous Flapjack Kerouac? They’ll love you forever 😉 

Saturday, April 8 – Musée en Herbe

Calling all 80’s lovers (and their kids!) “Hello My Game Is…” is a retro exhibition displaying 100+ works by an artist who simply goes by, Invader. From arcade games, to an interactive world map of mosaics and Rubik’s cubes upon Rubik’s cubes, you’ll be transported back in time for some serious 80’s fun.

Sunday, April 9 – Les Fermes de Gally  

What better way to get your kids to eat their greens? How about a trip to Les Fermes de Gally (adjacent to the Château de Versailles park), where they can pick their very own! With courgettes, leeks and a variety of lettuces in season throughout April, your kids will enjoy getting down and dirty as they pick the cream of the crop for tonight’s dinner. 

Monday, April 10 – Sacre Coeur

This may be ambitious with little ones in tow, but you can’t beat its breathtaking panoramic views of Paris! If you’re planning to take the metro, make the stop at Absesses so you can enjoy a Springtime stroll through gorgeous Montmartre. Alternatively, there is Le Petit Train which will take you on a mini-tour around the area – the final stop being Sacre Coeur church.

Tuesday, April 11 – Musée Gourmand du Chocolat

An entire museum dedicated to chocolate? Yes, please! Choco-Story showcases 4000 years of chocolate history in words, images and most importantly, flavours. There’s even a tour especially for families, where you can participate in a wonderfully tasty treasure hunt. Don’t forget to grab your free hot chocolate at the end! J

Wednesday, April 12 – Jardin des Plantes

The Jardin des Plantes should definitely be on your Spring break ‘to-do’s”! In addition to its beautiful gardens where Sweet Almond is in full bloom this time of year, checking out the Bear photography exhibition is also a must.

In conjunction with a larger exhibition at the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, the kids will love it. Plus, it’s free.

Thursday, April 13 – Louvre Treasure Hunt 

Tackling the Louvre with kids is daunting, as they get tired and bored…quick! As an alternative to a standard guided tour, why not try a themed treasure hunt with THATLou? Teams of 2-4 follow clues to various works of art where they take a photo in front of it. All scores are tallied afterwards to determine the winning team! How’s that for a hopefully drama-free museum experience? 😉 

Friday, April 14 – Parc Zoologique de Paris

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Home to over 1,000 animals across 125 species, the Parc Zoologique de Paris is an absolute must over the Spring break. Covering over 4kms, the zoo is divided into five biozones where you’ll see every animal you can imagine – from giraffes and penguins to a variety snakes, lizards and amphibians. Make a day out of it, as there’s so much to see and do! 

Saturday, April 15 – Jamaica! Jamaica!

If you’re a mad music lover like MLP, the Jamaica Jamaica exposition at the Philharmonie de Paris is one not to be missed. A feast for the eyes and ears, Jamaica Jamaica showcases the extraordinary influence that Jamaican culture has had, not only on music but graphic design, fashion and contemporary art the world over. See you there!

Sunday, April 16 – Easter egg hunt at the Champs des Mars

What’s Easter without an Easter egg hunt? On the grounds of the Eiffel Tower, kids will run wild in their quest to find as many brightly coloured Easter eggs as they can!

Two Easter egg hunts are currently planned – the first, today, at 10:00 am and the second, tomorrow, at 10:00 am. It will cost €5,00 for each participating child and you can register here.

Monday, April 17 – Easter egg hunt at the Jardin d’Acclimatation

Just when you thought you couldn’t have any more Easter egg hunt fun, check out the Jardin d’Acclimatation today. Two Easter egg hunts are planned – the first from 10:00 am – 12:15 pm and the second, from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

As they separate the little ones from the older kids, 2-4-year-olds should head over to the Potage and the 4-8’s to the Farm. Good luck, kiddos!

Have a wonderful Spring break

Love MLP

Subscribe to MLP for our newsletter and follow us on facebook for a Paris tip per day!