Gemma BLDDuring the April school holidays, I took my son to the Jardin d’Acclimatation for the afternoon. It’s a beautiful old-fashioned amusement park in the centre of Paris. Although pretty well-known, it’s one of those places that feels like a true local secret. Fun fact: it’s been around since the 1800s. If you are planning on visiting Paris with children, this spot should be on your list, and could also be an easier, less expensive alternative to Disney.
We were staying in Courbevoie, and on the morning of our visit, we decided to walk there through Neuilly. It was a lovely route, calm and residential. On the way, we stopped at Cojean for breakfast. It reminded me a bit of Pret a Manger but with a more health-conscious vibe. We had some fresh juices and snacks and everything was kind and polite.
A Calm Alternative to Disneyland
We spent about four to five hours in the park, which was just the right amount of time. What really stood out to me was how clean, calm and well-organized everything was. Even during the school holidays, there was no long lines or chaos, and the park was spotless. It had none of the sensory overload you can sometimes get at big theme parks.
Compared to places like Disneyland, the Jardin d’Acclimatation is also reasonably priced. You can either pay for a day pass with unlimited access to rides, like we did, or get individual ride tickets. For what you get, the day pass is excellent value.
Rides and Animals
We tried most of the rides, only skipping the scary ones. My son and I particularly loved the boat rides, which were gentle but you get a little splash of water. The atmosphere in the park was relaxed, with kids of all ages having a great time. Even during the school holidays, we never waited for than a few minutes for a ride, which is refreshing after a day at Disney.
We also loved seeing the animals, including the peacock. We even got to go inside the goat enclosure and stroke the goats, which was a sweet moment. It felt more like a countryside farm than a city attraction.
Lunch & Snacks in the Park
For lunch, we kept things simple and got a couple of hotdogs from one of the food stands. Later in the afternoon, we grabbed cookies as a snack. Nothing particularly special but tasty and just what we needed after a few hours of walking and rides. The food options there are fairly standard, but the quality was decent and so were the princes.
When it came to head back, we were too tired to walk so we called an Uber. It was quick and our driver was very friendly. We ended up comparing the Jardin d’Acclimatation and Disney, as he had also been to both recently.
đź’ˇ Getting There:
You can walk (like we did from Courbevoie), or take public transport. The park is easily accessible via Metro Line 1, stopping at Les Sablons, which is just a short walk to the entrance. If you’re travelling with kids or strollers, it’s a very doable journey. Taxis or Ubers are also widely available if you’re tired or short on time.
Should you go?
I wouldn’t have changed a thing about our visit. It was a fun afternoon with just the right balance of activity and relaxation. The park is beautifully maintained, clean and child-friendly. If you are looking for something unique to do in Paris with kids, that doesn’t involve queues or expensive tickets, the Jardin d’Acclimatation is the perfect choice for you. You can go for a few hours or even spend the day there.
