With children, we recommend staying on the Left Bank and not looking further than the 7th. The Champ de Mars for running, the Eiffel Tower for climbing, and two museums that have really thought about families: the Musée du Quai Branly and the Musée de l'Armée at Les Invalides. The Musée Rodin is a complement, especially for its garden. This is the programme we give to families staying with us, on avenue Duquesne.
The Champ de Mars: the 1913 Carousel and two playgrounds
The Champ de Mars playgrounds are not at the foot of the tower, but at the other end, on the École militaire side. Access is at the corner of avenue Charles Risler and avenue Pierre Loti.
First you will find the 1913 Carousel, a wooden-horse carousel operated entirely by hand. It has its own snack bar right next to it, which takes care of the afternoon snack. Behind the carousel, two large playgrounds, separated by age:
- For little ones: from 18 months.
- For older children: from age 6, with swings and slides.
Our tip: do the Eiffel Tower first, then walk the full length of the Champ de Mars towards the École militaire. The children have a goal at the end of the walk, and it is also the side of the park that brings you back towards us.
The Eiffel Tower with children
Entry to the Eiffel Tower is free for under-4s, and a reduced rate applies for ages 4 to 11. Prices change regularly, so we always check them on the official website before giving them out.
With young children, we often recommend stopping at the 2nd floor rather than aiming for the summit. The visit is shorter, and the view over the Champ de Mars and the Seine is more than enough for a six-year-old. We detail the floors and tickets on our page about visiting the Eiffel Tower.
The Musée du Quai Branly: the most family-friendly
If you only do one museum with children in the 7th, we send you to the Quai Branly. It offers the most for them, and by age group:
- Workshops: 3-5 years, from age 6, from age 9, and 6-12 years.
- Storytelling tours: in the collections and in certain exhibitions.
- Visit tools: children's booklets, a family guide called "Mon p'tit guide", and "Mon p'tit sac".
The museum publishes a family brochure each season, "Le monde en famille". Workshops fill up, especially at weekends and during school holidays: book before you come rather than on the spot. The museum garden has its own visitor guide, useful for the half-hour when the children need to get outside.
The Musée de l'Armée at Les Invalides: free for under-18s
At the Musée de l'Armée, entry is free for under-18s. At weekends, adults accompanying children or teenagers also benefit from a reduced rate.
The museum organises activities from age 6: guided tours, storytelling tours for younger children and workshops. The rooms devoted to the Great War lend themselves well to a visit with school-age children. For under-6s, we recommend a short visit, then the esplanade des Invalides to burn off energy.
The Musée Rodin: for the garden
With children, we go to the Musée Rodin for its sculpture garden more than for the rooms of the Hôtel Biron. Get them to look for The Thinker, the work almost everyone recognises. The on-site café-restaurant L'Augustine allows a break without going back out, and the museum has a programme dedicated to families and young audiences.
The Musée Rodin and Les Invalides are neighbours: you can easily combine them in the same morning, as we explain on our dedicated page.
Two days in the 7th with children: the order we recommend
First day: the Eiffel Tower in the morning, then the Champ de Mars on foot to the 1913 Carousel and the playgrounds for a snack. In the afternoon, a workshop or a storytelling tour at the Quai Branly, booked in advance.
Second day: the Musée de l'Armée in the morning, then the garden of the Musée Rodin, with a break at L'Augustine.
This split keeps outdoor playtime each day, and avoids two large museums back to back.
Staying with us as a family
For a family of three, we offer our Triple Room, a spacious room designed to welcome a family or a small group of friends. Our Twin Room, with two separate beds, suits a parent and a child. Check-in is from 3:00 p.m. and check-out at 11:00 a.m. Breakfast is served in our breakfast room, so you can head out in the morning without looking for a café with hungry children.