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Take a trip into the guts of Paris – the awe-inspiring sewer labyrinth beneath the city – and then go global at Musée Quai Branly. Entered at the southern end of Pont de l’Alma and a short descent underground, the Egouts de Paris (1, facing 93 quai d’Orsay) is no ordinary museum. Accompanied by [...]
See Rodin’s sculptures in the beautiful house and gardens where he lived. This elegant district is full of fine 18th-century houses, and one of the grandest contains the Musée Rodin (1, 77 rue de Varenne). It was built for a rich wigmaker but had become an assortment of artists’ studios by the time sculptor [...]
Explore the Impressive complex, constructed by Louis XIV as a hospital for war veterans, with its grandiose architecture, Napoleon’s Tomb, and the army museum. Whether you arrive at the Invalides from north or the south, you soon get an idea of the grandeur loved by king Louis XIV. In the huge Cour d’Honneur (1) [...]
The Impressionist paintings here are a great way to introduce kids to art. The Musée d’Orsay, one of Paris’s most popular museums, is housed in a brilliantly converted 1900 train station. When you enter Musée d’Orsay (1, rue de la Légion d’Honneur), it’s easy to spot traces of its station past – the town [...]
Give children a taste of Saint-Germain’s famous café lifestyle. Enter the Cour du Commerce Saint-André (1) from boulevard Saint Germain. On the left side, Le Procope (2), opened in 1686, was the first place to serve coffee in Paris. Meander among small shops where kids can discover globes, pens, jewerly, and sealing wax; turn [...]
One of Paris’s loveliest parks, the Jardins du Luxembourg is packed with activities for kids. Enter through the main entrance on boulevard Saint-Michel – there are two good ice-cream stalls just outside – and head down the broad gravel avenue. Turn right after the bandstand (where concerts take place on summer afternoons). The pleasant café [...]
On the trail of Paris’s patron saint, France’s great men, and a whole lot of fish. From pkace Maubert (where there’s a busy food market on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings), climb rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève to the church of Saint-Etienne du Mont (1). Inside stands the tomb of Sainte Geneviève, patron saint of [...]
You’ll find dancing, magic, and houseboats on this quayside walk under the bridges. Note that most sections have only a low barrier or in some cases none at all, so you’ll need to hold hands with small children. Begin at the Pont d’Austerlitz end of the Jardin Tino Rossi (1), an outdoor sculpture park. Look [...]
Wild animals, dinosaurs, and tropical greenhouses make the Paris botanical gardens a perfect family outing. The Jardin des Plantes is a bit of a misnomer because this complex is actually full of animals. At the Ménagerie (1), the oldest zoo in the world, kids can get up close to flamingos, antelope, and ostriches. Perennial favorites [...]
Discover the hidden Roman arena, snack French-style, and wander down one of Paris’s most interesting ancient streets. From Place Monge, walk north along rue Monge to number 49, where an archway leads to the ancient Roman amphitheater, Arènes de Lutèce (1). The arena, surrounded by tiers of stones benches, was built in the 1st century, [...]
