4 Paris, France, Playgrounds Near Popular Attractions

When families travel to Paris, it’s always a challenge to balance parents’ interest in seeing important sights and landmarks with kids’ attention span. Knowing how to find the closest park or playground for a relaxing break and some play time can be a life-saver.

Near the Eiffel Tower

Kids have the choice of a carousel, a playground and a puppet theater within easy reach of the tower. Champs de Mars Park, a five-minute walk at the far end of the gardens, is a large green space with playground equipment and an old-fashioned, hand-cranked carousel. An attendant cranks the wheel and kids can try to catch rings as they ride on their horses.

Near The Louvre, Musée de l’Orangerie and Musée D’Orsay

In Jardin de Tuileries, near the end toward Place de la Concorde, is a large playground with a carousel, climbing structures, obstacle courses, bouncy discs for kids to stand on and rope hammocks. Pony and donkey rides are inexpensive, and kids can rent model sailboats to sail in the pond. For kids aged 6 and older, the adventure playground has a challenging climbing frame that ends with a slide.

Near Sacré-Cœur

At the foot of the long staircase leading to Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is a small playground and the most resplendent carousel in Paris, a double-decked fantasy for kids. The Carrousel de Saint-Pierre is crowned by a series of ornate gold frames, each showing a scene from Venice. Don’t expect a lot from the playground, but it has a slide and other features. And don’t be put off by the stairs to Sacré Coeur – there’s a funicular, which the kids will love. Another place to play in the atmospheric Montmarte is Square Suzanne Buisson, a lovely little terraced garden only a five-minute walk from Place du Tertre’s iconic cafés and artists.

In the Left Bank

In the heart of the Left Bank, Luxembourg Gardens is the largest park in the city, with lots of green space, flower gardens, a pond (you can rent model sailboats here, too) and a puppet theater. The playground, newly renovated and named Ludo Jardin, has climbing features, slides, swings and a miniature tree-climbing course for younger children.