Ideas for Low-Cost Family Days Out in Paris Once You Have Moved

The Paris area is among the most popular destinations for British people who are organising domestic removals to France. If you are moving with children, you will be thinking up all sorts of ideas to entertain them during the school holidays and at weekends as they settle into their new French home.

Of course, it is fun to try out some of the most famous attractions, such as climbing the Eiffel Tower or spending a day at the two major theme parks near the city, Disneyland Paris and Parc Asterix. However, such trips can take a toll on the family wallet, so it is good to know some low-cost or free ideas to occupy your offspring.

Hamiltons Removals has extensive experience of organising domestic removals to France, including many moves to Paris. Here is our pick of the best – and cheapest – ways to amuse the family in and around the city.

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1. Visiting Parks – One of the glories of Paris is its fine array of parks, which can be visited free of charge. One of the largest, Parc de la Villette has a dragon garden where the dragon's tongue is a giant slide for children, plus many other play attractions. There are play areas at Parc Monceau and an adventure playground at Bois de Vincennes, along with crazy golf and a boating lake. Parc Andre Citroen has features such as stepping stones and dancing fountains. Be warned, though, that the kids may want a ride in the park's moored helium balloon! You'll need to be fairly fit to climb the steep paths in the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, in Belleville, which has waterfalls and temples, and a great number of birds. Last but not least, children will love getting lost in the maze at the main Paris botanic gardens, the Jardin des Plantes.

2. Free Museums – Admission to a number of top Paris museums is free on the first Sunday of the month, making this a good time for families to visit. These include major art museums like the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the spectacular modern building of the Pompidou Centre. There are also many museums which offer free admission on one night a week, plus a number that are free all the time. The first Sundays of the month can get very crowded, with around 27 million tourists visiting Paris every year. However, if you want to go on another day, it's possible to buy a museum pass giving reduced price admission – and under-18s are entitled to free admission to most of the main museums all the time. Do take ID if you have a 16 or 17-year-old, though, to prove they are under 18. Children may not want to spend hours looking at artworks, but there are often special museum activities for them, and you could always try a series of short visits, combined with trips to nearby parks.

3. Browsing Markets – If you have teenagers who like to shop, they might be interested in browsing some of the famous Parisian flea markets and fashion markets. The Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen is said to be the world's biggest flea market, with thousands of stalls stretching across a 17 acre site, selling everything from bargain clothes to antiques and toys. Les Puces de Montreuil is another major market, with vintage clothes and antiques on sale. Many pop-up fashion markets are also organised over the year. Of course, there is a danger that a visit to one of these markets might end up costing you more than a family visit to a paid-for attraction!

4. Walking in Paris – It is easy to walk about in Paris, a city very much geared to pedestrians. A stroll from the Arc de Triomphe in the west to Notre Dame in the east will take a couple of hours and offer the chance to see many of the city's main sights, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Tuileries. While walking around the city, you might want to go into some of the churches and cathedrals, such as Notre Dame and Sacre-Coeur, although this might not appeal to some younger children. However, if they like visiting important buildings, it is well worth doing so, and you can always treat your family to a bite to eat along the way.

5. Parisian Transport – When your children get tired of walking, it's worth knowing that there are ways of saving money on transport in the French capital. You can buy a collection of tickets, or “carnet”, for a discount on the price of single journeys, and there are further discounts for children and young people. Weekly and monthly passes are also available.

If you are planning domestic removals to France, Hamiltons Removals are the people to call. We regularly organise shipping from the UK to France for both households and businesses, and offer a full range of services, including professional packing and unpacking.

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