Exploring Paris

Being based in the UK and with the convenience of the Eurostar, we have been lucky enough to visit Paris several times over the past few years.
No matter the time of year, Paris is always magical and has plenty to offer for children as well as adults. It's become on of our favourite cities, not least for the amazing bakeries we have managed to track down.

Where To Stay:
With the excellent public transport links in place, we have tended to stay outside of the central Paris area where accommodation is a little more affordable. We have stayed at both of the following and would recommend both options:
Camping Maisons Lafitte is located on the Ile de France and is on the direct RER into the centre of Paris. Open from the beginning of April to the end of October, this is a great option for those with children.
Meininger Hotel is somewhere between a hostel and a hotel, with excellent facilities and ensuite rooms. Located in Porte de Vincennes to the east, central Paris is a short Metro journey away.

Things to do:
Exploring the various districts of Paris on foot, especially along the Seine, is one of our favourite things to do in Paris, along with visiting the following places:

Jardin du Luxembourg is located between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, and is the perfect spot to enjoy a quiet stroll, sail a toy boat on the pond, take a pony trek, let the kids loose in the play park, or just relax at one of the many cafes dotted throughout the park.

Laduree is the ultimate French Bakery, with several sites throughout Paris. If you are a fan of patisserie, particularly macarons, then this is the place to seek out.

Notre Dame has, unfortunately, been closed to the public since the fire that destroyed a large part of the Cathedral in the spring of 2019. But it is still possible to get reasonably close to this magnificent building and see the front of the building which was largely untouched.

Sacre Coeur is the place to head to for magnificent views over Paris. If you don't feel like walking the steps up to the cathedral, there is a funicular which takes you up the short ascent to the entrance andlook out area. This is also a popular area for street artists/entertainers.

Montparnasse Tower may not be the prettiest building to look at, but for panoramic views overlooking the Eiffel Tower, then this is the place to go.

Other highlights of course include climbing the steps of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Centre Pompidou, the Louvre, and the many museums of Paris.