A Paris guide to the 19th arrondissement with children. If you are traveling with children to Paris, you might be wondering where to stay, what to do with them and where to take them to eat. Although the 19th arrondissement of Paris is little-known, there are lots of activities for children of all ages to do.
Table of Contents
The 19th arrondissement is a great place to stay
Located in the northeastern section of Paris, the 19th arrondissement attracts very few tourists. Instead, it primarily functions as a residential neighborhood, bustling with locals. There are no major historical monuments to see which explains why most tourists stay in central Paris. With that being said, wondering what to do in the 19th arrrondissement with kids?
Parc de La Villette
With its 35 hectares of greenery and 3,000 m² of ecological gardens promoting biodiversity. The Parc de la Villette is one of the most beautiful and attractive parks in Paris. It is also one of the most beautiful and largest green spaces in Paris for Parisians to picnic in the summer.
Parc des Buttes Chaumont
The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a public garden. At nearly 25 hectares, the park is one of the largest green spaces in Paris. Designed in 1867 by Emperor Napoleon III, who commissioned engineer Jean-Charles Alphand, and horticulturist to transform it into a green space for Parisian to come to relax. It is a magnificent park, very lush and pleasant to stroll around. You often seee residents doing their morning jog, exercise and walk. The park has a cascade, as well as a man made lake and cave. You can read more on it here.
La Villette
A place well-known by Parisians for relaxation, leisure, culture and entertainment. La Villette includes many attractions for children but also for parents looking for activities to keep their childdren busy. There you will find the:
- La Grande Halle 5 ( The great Hall)
- The City of Music
- The City of Sciences and its museum of sciences
- Little Villette where children can participate in workshops and manual activities
- Children’s play area
Family trip
With so many activities for children to do, it it the ideal family trip if you want to see and experience Paris differently. Be ready to compromise with your children because with so many things to do, they might not want to leave.
Suspension bridge ( Pont de Crimée)
The suspension bridge on rue de Crimée (19th arrondissement) is the last lift bridge in Paris. It is a technological and architectural prowess that dates back to August 2, 1885 when the bridge was put in service. You might even be fortunate enough to see the fabulous spectacle of the bridge rising to let a boat pass. During that time, pedestrians can cross the canal thanks to an over pass bridge.
Cité des enfants (City of Children)
The Cité des enfants is open to young children from 2-7, and covers 1,700 m² divided into five themed areas. Moreover these specifically areas are:
- Je me découvre ( Discovering myself)
- J’experimente ( I experiment)
- Je sais faire ( I can do)
- Tous ensemble ( all together)
- Je me repère ( I find my way)
The first three themes focus on children’s physical, cognitive, and spatial development. The next two emphasize opening up to the world and to others.
Moreover, to help adults find their place in this space, pictograms invite parents to play with their child, encourage and observe them.
Additionally, many activities are accessible with Braille texts for blind parents.
Cité de la Musique ( Philarmonie des enfants)
The Cité de la Musique is a space dedicated to children aged 4 to 10 providing them with opportunities to play, explore, listen, experience, and feel music. In this space, children are invited to embark on a journey through thematic universes where they encounter:
- Sound drills
- Sound machines
- Thousands of voices
- On stage
Moreover, each activity in these immersive studios are punctuated by some manipulable installations that promise numerous surprises along the way.
Le CENTQUATRE or 104
Le CENTQUATRE-PARIS is a space for artistic residencies, production and distribution for audiences and artists from all over the world. Take your children to see shows, exhibitions, concerts, amateur art education and more. It is also a start-up incubator. Plan your visit with your children here.
Bassin de la Villette
The Bassin de la Villette, renowned as the largest artificial lake in Paris, serves as a vital link between the Canal de l’Ourcq and the Canal Saint-Martin. As the estival season unfolds, this area transforms into a vibrant hub of activity. Here, numerous events and cultural activities, including shows, concerts, and theater performances, take place, rendering the basin a festive and popular destination for Parisians.
Bassin de la Villettte is located at Quai de la Seine – 75019 Paris
Paris Plages
Every summer, there are 2 locations that welcome Paris plage with another one scheduled to open in the 10th arrondissement summer 2024. One of those locations is in the 19th arrondissement. What is Paris Plages? Paris Plages is a summer operation run by the Paris City Council since 2002. In 2007, they extended it to the 19th arrondissement at the Lavillette Bassin. The main objective is to give local residents who don’t go on vacation the opportunity to enjoy activities that are usually practiced on coastal beaches. During that time, locals and tourists enjoy a multitude of activities, both on land and in the water. From simple lounging on deckchairs to ephemeral swimming pools, there’s something for everyone.
In addition, there are exhibitions, sports classes, an open-air library, and much more…And best of all, all these activities are free for adults and little ones. Moreover, there are also restaurants in the neighborhood where you can eat, get a drink and have a great time with your children.
Paris Plages is located at the Bassin de la Villette and is accessible by Metro 2&5 to Jaurès or metro 5 to Laumière.
Canal de L’Ourcq
The Canal de l’Ourcq forms a crucial component of the Paris canal network. Originating from the Ourcq, it extends to the Villette district in the East of Paris. Additionally, during the summer, Parisians partake in various leisure activities along the canal.
Now that you have a pretty good idea of the richness of the 19th arrondissement and the things that you could do with your children, let’s dive into two more important things, acommodations and where to eat.
4 stars hotels in the 19th arrondissement
The 19th arrondissement does not have fancy 5 * hotels or palaces. It offers mostly budget friendly hotels. However, there are also 4* stars hotels if you are looking for something a bit upscale. I suggest these two hotels in particular:
- The Remix Hotel
- The Hilton Garden Inn Paris La Villette, picture above
- Hôtel Mercure Porte de Pantin
Budget-friendly hotels in the 19th arrrondissement
Traveling costs a lot so if you can save money on accomodations to splurge on something else, I say go for it. Find below a list of budget friendly hotels to consider for your Paris trip:
- Hotel Ibis budget Paris La Villette 19 ème
- Ibis Styles Paris Buttes Chaumont
- Hotel Ibis Paris La Vilette Cité des Sciences 19ème
Where to eat in the 19th arrondissement
When it comes to eating out, there are so many options to chose from. From renowned chefs tables to budget-friendly restaurants, the choice is yours. Here’s a few tables to try in the 19th arrondissement.
Upscale restaurants with &without brunch options on the weekends
- Mensae by renowned chef Thibaut Sombardier (no brunch)
- Yaya restaurant from renowed Chefs Pierre-Julien, Grégory Chantzios and Juan Arbelaez.
- Le Pavillon du Lac
- Ora Farmhouse is a true country house in the heart of Paris that promises you a total change of scenery. An ideal destination for those who love vegan dishes.
Budget-friendly restaurants
- Chez Arnaud, a restaurant where Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld used to go when he was alive. The restaurant is small with no big ambition and has a few tables and chairs. It is located on a quiet little street.
- Boom Boom Villette-a food court with many restaurants
- Kiez Canal, German restaurant
- Nana Bistrot Thai
- Bistro Gusto, Italian restaurant
Snack time kid-friendly
- Rosa Bonheur which is very kid-friendly, address: Parc des Buttes Chaumont
2 allée de la Cascade
75019 Paris - CafezoÏde located at 92 bis Quai de la Loire. Parents can find lots of activities to keep their children occupied such as circus, musical awakening, and so forth..
- Pain Paris opens for goûter (snack time) in the afternoon only. if you are looking for organic breads and snacks for your children, take your children there. The address is 95 rue de Meaux, 75019 Paris. At times, you might run into a line of parents and children coming from school waiting to buy their snack. See picture below.
TIP: For a list of the best bars and restaurants to watch sporting events, there are tons of information that I share in this post via this link.
Friendly coffee shops
- Bunabet 102 rue de Meaux, 75019 Paris
- Top Knot ( breakfast, lunch, brunch, tea time). The place is very small so get there as soon as they open.
- Le Pavillon des Canaux
- Le café du 19M by none other than fashion brand Chanel
Top Tip: Take a Uber to get to the 19 M.
Metro lines that service the 19th arrondissments
If there is one thing that I can say about this lesser-known/visited arrondissement is that there are several lines that run through it, including buses, a suburban train and tram. In terms of metro and suburban train, these below are the lines:
- 2
- 5
- 7
- 7bis
- 11
- RER E suburban train
Conclusion
To sum things up, exploring the 19th arrondissement of Paris with children offers a myriad of enriching experiences. This vibrant district captivates locals and I hope you too. Additionally, the array of family-friendly cafes and restaurants provide a perfect respite after a long time walking. Come to get immersed in artistic marvels at the Centquatre. Stroll along the local charm of the Canal de l’Ourcq and more… The 19th arrondissement might be the surprise/the unforgetable adventure that you were not expecting.
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