Hi there,
We’d like to spend 2 days in Lyon in May with our 8- and 12-year-old kids, exploring the city on foot.
We’ll arrive on day 1 around 11 AM and leave on day 2 around 6 PM.
I’ve mapped out two routes and was wondering if they’re doable in our 2 days, and if you have any tips or info on visit prices.
We’re not sure where to stay yet, but we’d like to optimize by booking accommodation (hotel or Airbnb) between the two routes, maybe?
Thanks for your help!
Travel with children · France
Travel suggestions with children, feasibility of certain types of trips, practical tips, etc.
Showing 1–13 of 13 discussions in English.
← Travel with children: all destinations
Hi,
We’d like to visit the Alpes de Haute-Provence for 2 weeks with our 2 (adult) kids.
Any ideas for things to see and do?
Where should we choose our accommodation (house only) to be centrally located for sightseeing? We’re looking for villages with restaurants and bakeries.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best regards
Dear Travelers,
We’re a family with young kids (6 years old, 3 years old, and a newborn) and we’d like to spend about ten days in Aquitaine (in Gironde or Les Landes). We’d love to be near pretty villages to visit and, if possible, close to the sea. We’re planning to stay at a campsite with a pool so the kids can play. Could you recommend any places/villages/campsites for us? We don’t know the region at all.
Thanks so much!
Camille
We’re a family with young kids (6 years old, 3 years old, and a newborn) and we’d like to spend about ten days in Aquitaine (in Gironde or Les Landes). We’d love to be near pretty villages to visit and, if possible, close to the sea. We’re planning to stay at a campsite with a pool so the kids can play. Could you recommend any places/villages/campsites for us? We don’t know the region at all.
Thanks so much!
Camille
Hi everyone,
We’ve visited Zeeland (Netherlands) several times with our two young children—Middelburg, for example—and really loved it. We’re looking for something similar in the Benelux or northern France:
- A pretty, historic small town with charm, not just a village, since we enjoy a slightly "urban" vacation vibe: parks, biking on dedicated paths, museums, cafés, restaurants, and shopping - Very pedestrian-friendly and/or bike-accessible (like the Netherlands always is) - Relatively safe and welcoming for kids, with activities for them (which is also very common in the Netherlands)
Unfortunately, I haven’t found anything as well-preserved and lovely as the extensive center of that small town, which seems to fly under the radar. I’m sure there must be others like it that I’m missing. In the same vein but on a larger scale, we love Bruges, for example—but it’s bigger (which is fine) and especially very expensive.
Thanks in advance for your tips! !
We’ve visited Zeeland (Netherlands) several times with our two young children—Middelburg, for example—and really loved it. We’re looking for something similar in the Benelux or northern France:
- A pretty, historic small town with charm, not just a village, since we enjoy a slightly "urban" vacation vibe: parks, biking on dedicated paths, museums, cafés, restaurants, and shopping - Very pedestrian-friendly and/or bike-accessible (like the Netherlands always is) - Relatively safe and welcoming for kids, with activities for them (which is also very common in the Netherlands)
Unfortunately, I haven’t found anything as well-preserved and lovely as the extensive center of that small town, which seems to fly under the radar. I’m sure there must be others like it that I’m missing. In the same vein but on a larger scale, we love Bruges, for example—but it’s bigger (which is fine) and especially very expensive.
Thanks in advance for your tips! !
Hi,
What would be the best villages and beaches to visit between Nice and Marseille in 4 days?
Hi everyone,
I’d love to get your thoughts on these two routes I’ve planned to see the highlights of Paris in two days.
I don’t want to take any transportation.
I’ll arrive at the hotel by car on Saturday around noon and won’t pick it up again until the next evening to leave.
**First day:** I’m thinking of starting from the hotel, then heading to the Eiffel Tower - Trocadéro - Galeries Lafayette - Élysée Palace - Tuileries Garden - the Louvre (outside only) and finishing at Les Invalides.
12 km

(The route on the map is just for reference to show the places we’ll visit—it might vary by a hundred meters or so.)
**Second day:** Starting from the hotel, we’ll go to Montmartre - Sacré-Cœur Basilica - Pigalle - Notre-Dame Cathedral - Panthéon - Luxembourg Garden.

What do you think? Am I missing out on anything great with this route?
Since I’m traveling with two kids, do you see any spots on these routes that might be a bit risky safety-wise? 🏴☠️
We’re not big museum fans, so we’re not planning to visit any—unless it rains, of course! 😄
One last little question: are there any protests planned in Paris on the weekend of August 16-17? 🙂 Thanks for reading! 😎
I’d love to get your thoughts on these two routes I’ve planned to see the highlights of Paris in two days.
I don’t want to take any transportation.
I’ll arrive at the hotel by car on Saturday around noon and won’t pick it up again until the next evening to leave.
**First day:** I’m thinking of starting from the hotel, then heading to the Eiffel Tower - Trocadéro - Galeries Lafayette - Élysée Palace - Tuileries Garden - the Louvre (outside only) and finishing at Les Invalides.
12 km

(The route on the map is just for reference to show the places we’ll visit—it might vary by a hundred meters or so.)
**Second day:** Starting from the hotel, we’ll go to Montmartre - Sacré-Cœur Basilica - Pigalle - Notre-Dame Cathedral - Panthéon - Luxembourg Garden.

What do you think? Am I missing out on anything great with this route?
Since I’m traveling with two kids, do you see any spots on these routes that might be a bit risky safety-wise? 🏴☠️
We’re not big museum fans, so we’re not planning to visit any—unless it rains, of course! 😄
One last little question: are there any protests planned in Paris on the weekend of August 16-17? 🙂 Thanks for reading! 😎
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Corsica for 10 days from April 26 to May 5 as a family with two boys aged 8 and 12. We’ll arrive in Calvi and stay for 7 nights in the hills above L’Île-Rousse. Then we’ll have 2 nights left (accommodation not yet booked) before flying out from Ajaccio.
Of course, we’d like to explore and do a few hikes that are kid-friendly.
Some of the places we’ve shortlisted: - the towns of L’Île-Rousse, Calvi, Saint-Florent, and Corte - the villages of Balagne - the Agriates Desert (Ostriconi beach by car, and Lotu by boat with a hike to Saleccia) - Restonica Gorge - a boat trip to Piana and Scandola
For the last part of the trip, I’m really unsure about: - where to stay? - what to visit? I’d thought about staying near Ajaccio and visiting the Sanguinaires Islands and doing a few hikes along the coast, but I’d also spotted some great options inland around Evisa, like the Aitone Forest, for example.
We’ll return the rental car on May 3 at 10 AM in Monticello and fly out from Ajaccio on May 5 at 7:40 PM.
We’ve rented a car for the whole 10 days.
I’ll admit I’m posting this out of convenience because I’ve been *terrible* at planning this trip and could really use your advice—especially about distances and what’s doable without rushing or spending all our time in the car.
Thanks in advance! Have a great day.
Virginie
We’re heading to Corsica for 10 days from April 26 to May 5 as a family with two boys aged 8 and 12. We’ll arrive in Calvi and stay for 7 nights in the hills above L’Île-Rousse. Then we’ll have 2 nights left (accommodation not yet booked) before flying out from Ajaccio.
Of course, we’d like to explore and do a few hikes that are kid-friendly.
Some of the places we’ve shortlisted: - the towns of L’Île-Rousse, Calvi, Saint-Florent, and Corte - the villages of Balagne - the Agriates Desert (Ostriconi beach by car, and Lotu by boat with a hike to Saleccia) - Restonica Gorge - a boat trip to Piana and Scandola
For the last part of the trip, I’m really unsure about: - where to stay? - what to visit? I’d thought about staying near Ajaccio and visiting the Sanguinaires Islands and doing a few hikes along the coast, but I’d also spotted some great options inland around Evisa, like the Aitone Forest, for example.
We’ll return the rental car on May 3 at 10 AM in Monticello and fly out from Ajaccio on May 5 at 7:40 PM.
We’ve rented a car for the whole 10 days.
I’ll admit I’m posting this out of convenience because I’ve been *terrible* at planning this trip and could really use your advice—especially about distances and what’s doable without rushing or spending all our time in the car.
Thanks in advance! Have a great day.
Virginie
We’re a family of 7 arriving from Montreal at Charles de Gaulle in August 2025. We’re looking for transport to get to our rental. Any tips? Thanks
Hi there,
We live in Lyon and usually stay in the Alps, but we don’t know the Pyrenees at all. It’s a mountain range that’s quite a long way from where we live. This summer, we’re thinking of traveling along the Pyrenees from west to east (Pyrénées-Atlantiques - Hautes-Pyrénées - PO). We might explore both the French and Spanish sides. We’d do this trip over 3 weeks, aiming to stay in each place for about 3 days before hitting the road again—so we don’t feel like we’re driving for hours every day...
Do you think a 3-week trip like this is doable? (Just to give you an idea, I’ve simplified the route with the link below, using random stops to illustrate the plan.) https://maps.app.goo.gl/eaShLrZzcmN54mZJ7
Two things that are influencing our planning: - We’re a family of 4 (2 kids, aged 9 and 6 1/2) - We’ll be in an electric car For the second point, could you tell me if there are plenty of electric charging stations along the mountain range, or if we’ll need to head to the main towns in the 3 Pyrenean departments?
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Thanks in advance.
We live in Lyon and usually stay in the Alps, but we don’t know the Pyrenees at all. It’s a mountain range that’s quite a long way from where we live. This summer, we’re thinking of traveling along the Pyrenees from west to east (Pyrénées-Atlantiques - Hautes-Pyrénées - PO). We might explore both the French and Spanish sides. We’d do this trip over 3 weeks, aiming to stay in each place for about 3 days before hitting the road again—so we don’t feel like we’re driving for hours every day...
Do you think a 3-week trip like this is doable? (Just to give you an idea, I’ve simplified the route with the link below, using random stops to illustrate the plan.) https://maps.app.goo.gl/eaShLrZzcmN54mZJ7
Two things that are influencing our planning: - We’re a family of 4 (2 kids, aged 9 and 6 1/2) - We’ll be in an electric car For the second point, could you tell me if there are plenty of electric charging stations along the mountain range, or if we’ll need to head to the main towns in the 3 Pyrenean departments?
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Thanks in advance.
Hi there,
I’m Belgian with three kids, and I’m looking for a neighborhood in Paris where we could spend two nights that has the following advantages:
quiet in the evening as central as possible in relation to the main tourist spots safety
Which neighborhood could we stay in to do as much as possible on foot?
We’ll be arriving in Paris by train.
Thanks!
I’m Belgian with three kids, and I’m looking for a neighborhood in Paris where we could spend two nights that has the following advantages:
quiet in the evening as central as possible in relation to the main tourist spots safety
Which neighborhood could we stay in to do as much as possible on foot?
We’ll be arriving in Paris by train.
Thanks!
I’m starting to plan our summer 2025 holiday.
Yes, I know, I’m getting a head start 😄, but since I’m pregnant, I’d rather have as much ready as possible before baby arrives at the end of March 👶.
We’re a family of 5, and this year, we’d like to visit Brittany (not too hot—perfect for us! 🌡️). We already know the southern area a bit, as well as the Saint-Malo region, but this time, we’d like to explore the north of Finistère. We’re looking for an area that’s still quite wild, away from the crowds.
We’d also like to find some fun activities to keep our two older kids (4 and 7) busy 👧🧒.
We’re good walkers, and we’ll have a baby carrier for the youngest.
Which area would you recommend? Any ideas for places to visit, beaches, or family-friendly activities?
Thanks in advance for your recommendations! 🙏
Elise
Hi there,
A sudden family event means I’ll be spending a few days in France alone with my kids in the coming days.
Just to set the scene—I live in Japan, I have two young children (4 and 2 years old), and this is my first time returning to France in 12 years. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.
My questions: 1/ My kids don’t share my last name. Do I need to have a document proving our parent-child relationship (+ a French translation?) with me?
2/ They have Japanese nationality. Will they be able to go through the same line as me at the airport? (I think I remember there’s an EU nationals line and another for non-EU, but given their age...)
Thanks in advance for your help.
Just to set the scene—I live in Japan, I have two young children (4 and 2 years old), and this is my first time returning to France in 12 years. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.
My questions: 1/ My kids don’t share my last name. Do I need to have a document proving our parent-child relationship (+ a French translation?) with me?
2/ They have Japanese nationality. Will they be able to go through the same line as me at the airport? (I think I remember there’s an EU nationals line and another for non-EU, but given their age...)
Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi everyone,
We started hiking the GR 34 a few years ago. At first, we did short hikes starting from our holiday home. Gradually, we had to drive to the starting point where we’d left off. Two years ago, we set off with our four boys (12, 9, 9, and 4 years old) for a 13-day trip, with 10 days of walking. We went from Pont-Aven to Bénodet (100 km). Challenge accomplished! We were so proud—especially the boys—and rightly so! This summer, we want to continue the adventure. We plan to pick up from Bénodet and go all the way to Pointe du Raz (~130 km). The boys are still motivated, though the youngest is a little less so. But he’ll have time to warm up to the idea. Do you know of any spots along this route (presbytery, bivouac, friends, campsites—but *really* cheap ones) where we can pitch our two small tents? Two years ago, we only stayed at campsites, and in the end, the bill was still pretty steep. We’d like to cut costs as much as possible. Thanks so much for your help! See you soon, Marie
We started hiking the GR 34 a few years ago. At first, we did short hikes starting from our holiday home. Gradually, we had to drive to the starting point where we’d left off. Two years ago, we set off with our four boys (12, 9, 9, and 4 years old) for a 13-day trip, with 10 days of walking. We went from Pont-Aven to Bénodet (100 km). Challenge accomplished! We were so proud—especially the boys—and rightly so! This summer, we want to continue the adventure. We plan to pick up from Bénodet and go all the way to Pointe du Raz (~130 km). The boys are still motivated, though the youngest is a little less so. But he’ll have time to warm up to the idea. Do you know of any spots along this route (presbytery, bivouac, friends, campsites—but *really* cheap ones) where we can pitch our two small tents? Two years ago, we only stayed at campsites, and in the end, the bill was still pretty steep. We’d like to cut costs as much as possible. Thanks so much for your help! See you soon, Marie
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