When kids become old enough to enjoy museums, it opens up exciting new places to explore together. While visiting museums with kids can be fun, it can also be tiring as younger kids tend to have a shorter attention span and can find the experience somewhat overwhelming. It can feel like hard work for the grown-ups to keep everyone happy, sane and willing to visit another museum in the future. Here are my top tips for visiting museums in Paris with kids to make it an enjoyable experience for the whole family.
1. Choose family-friendly museums
You are spoiled for choice when it comes to museums in Paris and some are more family-friendly than others. Look for museums with interactive exhibits and hands-on activities to keep your kids engaged and entertained.
Some younger kids may feel overwhelmed by the more famous Paris museums like the Louvre, so consider exploring smaller size collections such as the ones in the Musee d’Orsay or Musee de l’Orangerie.
Of course, if you do want to experience the larger museums, consider getting a kid-friendly guide to make your visit less stressful while still being educational and fun.
If you’re looking for kid-friendly museums to visit in Paris, click here to find my selection of the best Paris museums for kids.
2. Book your tickets in advance
The most popular Paris museums, such as the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, can get booked out in advance, especially during the high season (from around May to October). So, if you have your eyes set on visiting these museums, book tickets in advance. You can often choose a time slot for your visit, giving you a skip-the-line entry. It’s a much more stress-free experience with kids if you don’t have to queue for tickets. Kids will get restless queuing, and you’re better off spending this time inside the museum than waiting to get in.
You can book tickets directly on the museum’s websites or use third-party providers like GetYourGuide or Tiqets that may have tickets which are not available elsewhere.
3. Time your visit
The more popular museums tend to get more crowded as the day goes on, so try to get an earlier time slot to enjoy the experience without the crowds. Mornings are also usually best for museum experiences with kids as they tend to be more alert and energetic. Feed the kids a good breakfast, and start the day ready to go!
4. Ask for kids’ booklets and audio guides
Many museums in Paris offer child-friendly audio guides, touchscreen tablets, and activity booklets for free. Ask the reception upon arrival what they offer for kids to make the visit more interactive. It could be a treasure hunt or a crossword puzzle that requires kids to engage with the museum’s exhibits to find clues or answers to the questions.
5. Book kid-friendly workshops and activities
Many museums offer workshops, guided tours, or visits narrated by storytellers designed to introduce children to art and culture. Most of these are run in French and you can access the programs available directly on the museums’ websites.
6. Keep it short and sweet
Don’t try to see everything in one visit. You’ll risk the visit becoming boring for both kids and grown-ups. Focus on a few key exhibits or sections that are of interest to your kids, and save the rest for another day. Also, don’t try to visit more than one museum per day.
7. Make it a fun experience
Turn your museum visit into a fun and educational adventure by playing games, taking photos and encouraging your kids to express themselves creatively through drawing or writing about their favourite exhibits. Mimicking the art poses of various people in paintings or sculptures is always a hit with kids so give it a go next time you’re visiting a museum in Paris.
8. Let kids lead the way
Let the kids act as tour guides and lead you where they want to go. You may be surprised at some of the exhibits or art pieces that your child is drawn to. Ask them questions as to what they enjoy and ask for their opinions along the way.
9. Don’t overpack
Don’t be tempted to bring lots of stuff with you to the museum in case your child might need it. The less stuff you carry with you, the easier it will be to move around the museum at ease. Just pack a bottle of water, a snack, some pencils and a drawing pad in case your child is up for some creative activities.
10. Check out free museums
Most museums in Paris are free to everyone under 18 and EEA (“European Economic Area”) residents under 26. Some are even free for the whole family, like Petit Palais. Pop in for as little as half an hour, or longer, depending on how much your children love to look at art.
Some museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, but you should still reserve your free time slot in advance and expect it to be very busy if you decide to go on one of such Sundays.
More Paris suggestions
I hope you’ve found these tips for visiting Paris museums with kids helpful. If you are looking for more ideas on what to see and do with kids in Paris, check out my Paris Itineraries with Kids.
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