Associated Landing Page
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Paris is known as an international hub for art and culture, with some of the world's most famous museums and galleries lining its streets.
However, the French capital's status as a mecca for thinking adults should not obscure the fact that it also has plenty to offer young people.
Parc Asterix
Eiffel Tower
Paris Plages
However, the French capital's status as a mecca for thinking adults should not obscure the fact that it also has plenty to offer young people.
The city's combination of thrilling amusement parks, captivating museums and lush green spaces makes it the perfect destination for a family holiday or weekend city break with the kids.
Here's a list of the top five must-see attractions for families spending time in Paris:
Disneyland Paris
Arguably the city's biggest draw for young families, this 4,800-acre complex is situated in the eastern suburbs of Paris.
Disneyland Paris actually encompasses two theme parks - the original Disneyland Park and the newer Walt Disney Studios Park, which opened in 2002.
The former is closely modelled on the highly successful Disney parks in California and Florida, while the latter is designed to resemble a working movie studio.
Top attractions at Walt Disney Studios Park include The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Playland and the Cars Race Rally.
Over at Disneyland Park, many of the most popular rides from Disney's US theme parks have been recreated for European visitors, including Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain: Mission 2 and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Parc Asterix
Families who get the theme park bug after a trip to Disneyland Paris may like to visit another of the city's flagship attractions - Parc Asterix.
Based on the popular comic book character created by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, the complex contains five different worlds to explore and offers a distinctly French take on the theme park experience.
Parc Asterix is located about 30 km north of the city, with shuttle bus services departing daily from the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower during the high season.
Admission to the park is priced at €44 (£37.20) for adults and €33 for children under the age of 12.
Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Inquisitive youngsters are likely to enjoy a few hours spent wandering the halls of the Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie, which is Europe's largest science museum.
Welcoming roughly 17,000 visitors each day, this vast institution features plenty of interactive exhibits to keep developing minds entertained and many of them come with English translations.
Key attractions at the museum include a planetarium and an IMAX film theatre (La Geode), while there are also two special children's areas that require timed tickets.
Admission prices at Cite des Sciences vary depending on which exhibitions people would like to visit, with reduced tickets available for children.
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower has been standing since 1889 and is still one of the world's most recognisable structures. Reaching a height of 324 m above the Champ de Mars, the tower is an enduring symbol of Paris and remains a must-see attraction for people visiting the city.
Children are sure to be thrilled by a trip to the top of the monument, which has three levels for visitors.
The second floor can be reached by climbing 704 steps, but the highest level is accessible only by elevator. The top of the tower offers a stunning vista over Paris and panoramic maps that indicate the viewer's position in relation to other major cities.
Paris Plages
Every July and August, selected spots on the banks of the Seine are turned into artificial sandy beaches. Introduced by the mayor of Paris in 2002, this popular scheme brings beachside relaxation to the centre of the city.
With the number of people using the beaches growing every year and new features being added each time, the initiative looks let to continue for years to come. A few hours on the sand could be a great way for families to relax after a busy morning of sightseeing.