Paris is a surprisingly good city for children, and July is one of the easiest months to visit with them. The free summer beaches are open along the river, the theme parks are in full swing, and the museums built for curious young minds are cool refuges from the afternoon heat. This is your guide to the best things to do with kids in Paris for the week of 6 to 12 July 2026, starting with what is on this week and moving on to the big days out worth booking ahead. All prices are in euros and were verified on tickadoo on Monday 6 July.
Kids in Paris this week in 30 seconds. Paris Plages, the free riverside beaches, are open every day with paddling, pedal boats and games at the Bassin de la Villette. For the big days out, Disneyland Paris starts from EUR 55.64, the roller coasters of Parc Asterix from EUR 56.00, and the Aquarium de Paris, right by the Eiffel Tower, from EUR 22.00. For a rainy afternoon, the Cite des Sciences science museum starts from EUR 15.00. And the great Bastille Day fireworks, which children love, have moved exceptionally to the evening of 13 July this year and land just after this week ends.
What is on for families this week
The best free family day out this week is Paris Plages, open every day from 4 July to 30 August. Head to the Bassin de la Villette site in the northeast, where the city sets up supervised open-air swimming, pedal boats, kayaks, sand games and petanque, nearly all of it free. It is safer and calmer than the central Seine site for younger children, with shallow paddling areas and plenty of shade. Bring towels and a picnic and you have a whole day sorted for the price of the metro. This year's edition even has an American theme, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, so look out for family concerts and events along the water.
There is more free family fun by the river. The Musee du quai Branly is marking the 20th anniversary of its garden with the Jardin d'ete, a free summer programme running to 2 August, with storytelling, creative workshops, quizzes and open-air film screenings laid on through the week in its leafy grounds. It is a gentle, shady way to spend a warm afternoon at no cost. For a rainy day with a bit of magic, an immersive Little Prince show has just opened at the Atelier des Lumieres, though note it runs on Wednesdays and Sundays only, so within this week that means Wednesday 8 July or Sunday 12 July.
Looking just ahead, the biggest spectacle of the Paris summer follows this week, with a change in 2026. The great Bastille Day fireworks beneath the Eiffel Tower have moved exceptionally to the evening of Monday 13 July this year, rather than the traditional 14 July, a drone and pyrotechnic show launched from the Champ-de-Mars that children love. The 14 July date is reserved for a national tribute marking ten years since the 2016 Nice attack, and the military parade still runs that morning. If your trip runs into the following week, the fireworks are well worth staying up for.
The big days out
The headline family attraction near Paris is Disneyland Paris, a short train ride east of the city and in full summer season this week, with one-day tickets from EUR 55.64. Between the two parks there is something for every age, from the gentle rides of Fantasyland to the bigger thrills of the studios, and long July evenings mean you can stay for the night-time show. If you would rather have flexibility on dates, the flexible-date ticket lets you decide closer to the day. Our full Disneyland Paris guide for 2026 covers how to plan the day, and our piece on building your perfect Disneyland Paris adventure helps you choose the right ticket.
For a home-grown alternative that French families adore, Parc Asterix, north of the city, blends white-knuckle roller coasters with the comic-book world of the Gaulish village, from EUR 56.00. It tends to be less crowded than Disneyland and has some of the best thrill rides in the region, so it suits families with older children and teenagers especially well.
In the city: aquariums, science and animals
You do not need to leave Paris for a great family day. The Aquarium de Paris sits in the Trocadero gardens directly across the river from the Eiffel Tower, from EUR 22.00, with sharks, a hands-on pool where children can touch koi carp, and a small cinema, all of it indoors and air-conditioned for a hot afternoon. Combine it with a morning at Paris Plages or a Seine cruise and you have a full, easy day.
For older children and rainy afternoons, the Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie, the huge science and industry museum in the Parc de la Villette, is one of the best in Europe, from EUR 15.00, with hands-on exhibits, a planetarium and a dedicated area for the under-twelves. It sits right by the Bassin de la Villette Paris Plages site, so the two pair naturally into one day in the northeast. Animal lovers, meanwhile, will want the Parc Zoologique de Paris, the modern city zoo in the Bois de Vincennes with its biozones and giraffes, from EUR 22.00. And when the heat really climbs, the Aquaboulevard water park on the southern edge of the city, with slides and a wave pool, starts from EUR 44.00. For a gentler outing, France Miniature, west of the city, lays out the whole country's landmarks in miniature across a huge open-air park, from EUR 29.00, and younger children find the tiny cathedrals and chateaux endlessly fun.
Seeing the city, kid-style
Sightseeing with children works best when it moves. A one-hour Seine cruise from EUR 18.50 shows off the landmarks from the water without any walking, and the boats are open enough for children to watch the bridges pass. For a fun way to cover more ground, the Tootbus kids bus tour, from EUR 29.75, is designed for families, with games and commentary pitched at younger passengers. And if you have a Tintin or an Asterix fan, a stroll up to the free terrace of the Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre, with the funicular up the hill, is a small adventure in itself.
A sample family day
Here is one easy plan that keeps everyone happy in July. Start in the morning at the Bassin de la Villette for a swim and a paddle-boat at Paris Plages while it is cooler, break for a picnic lunch by the water, then cross into the neighbouring Cite des Sciences for the hands-on exhibits through the hottest part of the afternoon. Finish with an early-evening Seine cruise as the light softens. It is a full day that mixes free time outdoors with an indoor cool-down, and none of it needs a car. If you have more than one day, alternate a big out-of-town park like Disneyland Paris or Parc Asterix with a gentler city day built around the aquarium, a Seine cruise and an hour of games at Paris Plages, so nobody is worn out by the middle of the trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free thing to do with kids in Paris this week?
Paris Plages at the Bassin de la Villette, where the supervised swimming, pedal boats, sand games and petanque are free and pitched at families. It is open every day this week.
Is Disneyland Paris open this week?
Yes, Disneyland Paris is in full summer season during 6 to 12 July, with longer opening hours and evening shows. One-day tickets start from EUR 55.64 on tickadoo, and a flexible-date option is available if you want to keep your plans open.
What can we do with children on a rainy or very hot day?
Head indoors to the Cite des Sciences science museum from EUR 15.00, the Aquarium de Paris from EUR 22.00, or the Aquaboulevard water park from EUR 44.00. All three are good for burning energy out of the sun.
Is Parc Asterix better than Disneyland for older kids?
For thrill-seeking older children and teenagers, Parc Asterix has some of the best roller coasters in the region and is usually less crowded, from EUR 56.00. Younger children tend to prefer the range and the characters at Disneyland Paris.
How do we get around with young children?
The metro is quick but has many stairs, so for sightseeing a Seine cruise from EUR 18.50 or the family-focused Tootbus kids bus tour from EUR 29.75 saves little legs and shows off the landmarks with no walking.
Where can we save on family days out?
If you are booking several attractions or visit often, tickadoo+ membership is where to look for ongoing savings across experiences. You can find the details at tickadoo.com/membership.
For the rest of the week, see our what's on in Paris guide, our pick of the best free things to do and our art and exhibitions guide.
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