The ‘Toussaint’ (All Saints’ Day) holidays run from Saturday 23 October to Sunday 8 November this year. Although cultural and sporting events have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis, most activities in Paris have now started up again. From immersive and entertaining exhibitions to amazing treasure hunts and enchanting shows. Here’s a guide!

Soak up culture at a museum

In parallel with its exhibition The Morozov Collection. Icons of Modern Art, featuring works by some of the greatest French and Russian artists of the nineteenth century including Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Vroubel and Malevitch, the Louis Vuitton Foundation is organizing photographic and storytelling workshops for children and families.

This autumn, the Jeu de Paume presents PING-PONG, its new programme of activities for children aged 3 and over. Check out their guided storytelling tours and classes on the history of photography.

At the Atelier des Lumières, children can take part in a spectacular voyage into space through the immersive experience Destination cosmos. Join this incredible adventure and see the stars, planets and nebulae as never before – an unforgettable evening.

Equally inventive, the Petit Palais invites children to discover the colourful, poetic universe of Jean-Michel Othoniel through his exhibition The Narcissus Theorum.

The Kids Gallery (Galerie des enfants) at the Pompidou Centre presents a workshop-exhibition entitled The People of Tomorrow (le people de demain) developed by designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. There are also guided tours specially designed for families and young children (visites tribus) to explore the major retrospective of American artist Georgia O’Keeffe (for children aged 7 and over, on Sundays at 4:00 pm).

Head to the Cité des Sciences where the kids can enjoy two temporary exhibitions with a social and environmental theme – Jean, sous toutes les coutures (all about jeans) and Renaissances (imagining possible futures) while the little ones (0-2 years) explore the babies’ and toddlers’ educational play area at the Lab de la Cité des Bébés!

The Paris Aquarium makes clever use of the Mr Men and Little Miss characters to raise awareness about Marine Protected Areas in this fun, educational exhibition. A great way to get kids – and adults – to think about the need to protect our oceans and the ecosystems that depend on them. There are also workshops, a treasure hunt, and a special kids’ show.

 More info on the best places for a family outing in Paris

Set off to conquer the city

Paris is one big playground!

That’s the motto of My Urban Experience, who organize treasure hunts through the streets of Paris: a great way to learn about the city’s history, unmissable treasures and splendid heritage. With themes like ‘Mystery in Montmartre’, ‘An educational Paris street art hunt’ and (on rainy days) ‘The secrets of the covered passages’, these treasure hunts packed with puzzle solving, surprises and anecdotes show you a different side to Paris.

Another great way for kids to experience Paris is with the Tootbus Paris Kids Tour. Thanks to a guide who’s passionate about the city, the kids will have fun learning about the history of Paris through some amazing stories, fun guessing-games and mini-challenges – with a few sweets thrown in! All aboard the bus for a tour of the city!

At the Panthéon, for example, the whole family can learn about its architecture through an activities booklet and take part in a building workshop specially designed for the occasion.

Imagine yourself back in the eighteenth century at the Hôtel de la Marine thanks to their specially developed audio headset with immersive narrative and 3D audio effects.

And the Conciergerie de Paris invites visitors on a journey through the poetic universe of Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, proposing art and craft workshops and an aerial circus performance.

Live like a king

A visit to a French château is a wonderful journey back in time, especially over the autumn ‘Toussaint’ holidays. It’s well worth venturing outside Paris to experience it for yourself.

The Château de Vaux-Le-Vicomte, proposes various activities including immersive sound visits (The Fabulous History of Vaux and The Fouquet Affair), a quiz to discover the gardens (based on The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs) and an underground river adventure trail (The Styx, River of the Underworld). During the holidays, period costumes will be available for children so they can discover the interior of the largest privately owned historic monument in France dressed up as princesses or musketeers!

Fontainebleau, in the Seine-et-Marne département, has already put the clocks back for winter: kids can enjoy thrilling rides on karts pulled by sled dogs in the park.

At the Château de Versailles, The King’s Animals, a major exhibition co-curated with the Louvre, features more than 300 works from all over the world. This off-beat and entertaining display is an excellent opportunity to see how one of the most beautiful buildings in the Ile-de-France region has been sketched over the years by many talented illustrators, and then set off on a tour of all the different rooms in the palace. Since there are far fewer international visitors this year because of the Covid-19 crisis, your visit will be much quieter – you will be able to tour all the magnificent galleries at your leisure. Take this opportunity to admire the sumptuous galleries of the Château, be enchanted by the Musical Fountains Show or follow one of the many guided tours.

Get outdoors in nature

Weather permitting, there’s nothing better than spending time outdoors to give the kids a breath of fresh air.

The Jardin d’Acclimatation amusement park proposes two ‘All Saints Special’ attractions from 23 October 2021 – The Bewitched River and The Haunted Museum! Delightful frights for the little ones!

The Thoiry safari park in the Yvelines département is once again putting on its ‘Lumières Sauvages’ (Wild Lights) lantern festival this year from 25 October onwards, with huge Chinese lanterns in the shapes of animals and people and spectacular illuminated tableaux.

A treasure hunt, a workshop, exhibitions and more – for three weekends in a row the Paris Zoo takes visitors on a trip to discover some fascinating and mysterious species.

Enjoy a family day out in the Fontainebleau forest, one of the most beautiful in Île-de-France. Combine a trip to the countryside with a guided tour with a difference – on a donkey or an electric scooter!

DISCOVER PARIS DIFFERENTLY

Get off the beaten track and explore Paris in a different way!

During the autumn half-term (Toussaint) holiday treat the family to a trip to the top of Montparnasse Tower, where the panoramic view from the 200-metre-high rooftop terrace will take your breath away. And if you want a real bird’s-eye view of the capital, take a unique VR flight experience with Flyview Paris.

At Paris à vélo, hire a city bike, cargo bike or tandem and explore Paris along 60 km of cycle paths, either on your own or with a guide. With Bike Tour, enjoy an effortless all-electric circuit and learn all – or nearly all – there is to know about Paris.

Guided tours with a theme are also an excellent way to discover Paris and its secrets. A fascinating guided walk through the 7th, 15th and 16th arrondissements will reveal all about Gustave Eiffel, the father of Paris’s ‘iron lady’ as the Eiffel Tower is known.

To discover some of the many works of art hiding in plain sight in the city, the Louvre’s Musée en Herbe (children’s museum) organizes fun guided walks for families in the Tuileries Gardens, the 13th arrondissement and Montmartre (every day during the holidays).