Walking riverside in Paris

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 for Nicholas Shöffer’s Chronos 10, with discs that make noises when they turn in the wind. On summer afternoons, people come here to salsa dance on the quayside. Near Pont de Sully, kids may enjoy a romp in the playground (2), which has slides, monkey bars, and Ping-Pong tables. Between Pont de Sully and Pont de la Tournelle, Jan Madd puts on a fabulous magic show in the barge Metamorphosis (3, Sunday 3 p.m.to 12:30 p.m. with lunch), complete with ducks, geese, and a levitation act (note that winter it moors near the Pont des Arts). Take the stairs beside the bridge to street level to wander past the Bouquinistes – sidewalk stands selling secondhand books and old prints. Consider a quick visit to the Musée de l’Assistance Publique (4, 47 quai de la Tournelle), devoted to the history of Paris hospitals (ask for the English-language leaflet). Choose a few highlights : the tower where abandonned babies were deposited, the amputation tools, an early electrocardiograph machine. Return to river level for a view of Notre-Dame. Older kids might enjoy a snack on the deck of the Bateau Six-Huit (5), moored almost opposite the cathedral, which sometimes hosts live jazz.

Metro Station : Gare d’Austerlitz (Line 5, 10), Sully-Morland (Line 5, 10), Pont-Marie (Line 5, 10), Place Monge (Line 7), Jussieu (Line 7, 10), Cardinal-Lemoine (Line 10)