Visiting Dijon With Kids. What We Did On Our Day in Dijon

France with Kids: The Ultimate Family Travel Guide (2026)

ByThat Mum Travel Life

France is one of the easiest and most rewarding countries in Europe to explore with children. It’s close to the UK, well connected by ferry, Eurotunnel and flights, and offers a brilliant mix of beaches, culture, theme parks, and relaxed family-friendly camping holidays. We love exploring France with kids, especially during the summer months when long-haul flight prices skyrocket.

Visiting Dijon With Kids. What We Did On Our Day in Dijon

We’ve spent years exploring different parts of France as a family. Both boys visited the country before their first birthday, and now 13 years later we visit every single year. From coastal Eurocamp stays to city breaks and France’s most exciting theme park trips, this guide will bring them all together in one place.

Whether you’re planning your first family holiday to France with kids or looking for new ideas beyond Paris and Disneyland, this page will help you find the best destinations, accommodation, and practical tips for travelling to France with kids.

Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!

Why France is Perfect for Family Holidays

France works so well for families because it offers a bit of everything without being overwhelming, It’s also a great budget option, because you can travel cheaply and then spend as much (or as little) as you like. Some of the highlights of a trip to France include:

  • Easy travel from the UK (choose from a short flight or drive and ferry options)
  • Excellent family-friendly campsites and holiday parks for budget travellers
  • A mix of beaches, cities, countryside and attractions
  • Great food options even for fussy eaters
  • Plenty of outdoor space for kids to run around

It’s one of those destinations where you can do as much, or as little, as you want.

Seaquarium Grau-du-Roi, France What To Expect On Your Visit

Best Places To Visit in France With Kids

France is huge, so we’ve broken the coutry down into regions based on our own experiences and trips. Every link is based on our personal experience of visiting that destination in France:

South of France (Sunshine, Beaches, and Culture)

The South of France is one of the most popular areas for family holidays during the long summer break, thanks to its warm weather, coastal towns and plenty of things to do. Its Mediterranean climate means that South of France receives more than 300 days of sunshine per year, and its slower pace of life means it’s a great place to relax.

Rowing down the canals in Sete

We’ve explored several spots here, including:

  • Aigues-Mortes – A beautiful walled city that feels like stepping back in time. You can walk the 1.6km long walls, and uncover the rich history. This fortified town was actually used as the first French Mediterranean Port for the Crusades by King Louis IX.
  • Sète – A relaxed seaside town with canals and beaches. Thanks to its canals it is known as the “Venice of Languedoc” and if you visit during August you can see the town’s unique 350 old tradition of water jousting in action.
  • Montpellier – A lively city that works surprisingly well for a family day out thanks to its enormous pedestrianised historic centre. The combination of medieval history, modern architecture, and attractions for kids (such as water fountains to jump in and carousels to ride) makes this a great day trip.
  • Grau-du-Roi – A wonderful seaside town with a huge expanse of beach that’s perfect for kids. The aquarium here is well worth the visit, boasting Europe’s only dedicated requinarium that’s home to between 25-30 species of sharks.
One Day in Montpellier With Kids What To Do, Where To Go, and Ideas for The Whole Family

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Normandy and Northern France (Easy Road Trip Stops)

Northern France is ideal if you’re driving from the UK and want shorter travel times or stopovers as you drive deeper into the country. I actually think Northern France is underrated, but it’s full of hidden gems including:

The cathedral in Rouen, France
  • Rouen – A historic city that works well for a family stop or overnight stay. Rouen boasts beautiful Medieval half-timbered houses and is famed as the site of the trial and execution of Joan of Arc in 1431. The Joan of Arc experience here is exceptional, and was such a highlight for my boys.
  • Calais – A natural choice for day trips to France, with attractions in its own right. We stop in Calais every time we visit to visit the Channel Outlet Stores: The shopping here is excellent! But the real highlight here is the chance to see the iconic Calais Dragon.
The mechanical dragon in Calais, France

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Central and Western France (Family Holiday Fun)

This region is perfect for longer stays and Eurocamp-style holidays, but it also has it’s fair share of historic attractions. The coast of Western France sits in part along the Bay of Biscay, creating an incredible surf and therefore a great surfing scene. Quiksilver host an annual surf championships here every year. But you’ll also find cities perfect to explore including:

  • Nantes – A creative, family-friendly city with plenty to explore and home to an oversized mechanical elephant that you can ride, leading to a Jules-Verne inspired carousel. The whole are is perfect for kids.
  • Dijon – More than just the home of mustad, Dijon is a beautiful ancient city with an owl trail running through its historic heart that’s perfect for kids

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Paris And Theme parks (Big Family Favourites)

If you’re travelling with kids, this area is often the highlight of a France trip. Our boys loved clambering to the top of the Eiffel Tower, taking a cruise along the Seine, and of course eating more crepes than I can count.

Disneyland Paris Tickets How to Choose the Best Option for Your Family

Paris is one of my favourite cities and a place i’ve visited most time than I can count. But it’s also officially the most visited city in the world, so if you don’t like crowds, it might be one to reconsider during the summer months. Consider Paris in the spring or autumn instead.

As much as they love city explorations, for the boys, Paris means is theme parks! It’s actually home to two of the biggest in the country:

  • Disneyland Paris – This one needs no introduction, it’s one of Europe’s most popular family attractions.
  • Parc Astérix –An underrated gem! This is a brilliant alternative to Disney with shorter queues and amazing theming.
Viking area in Parc Asterix

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Best Eurocamp Holidays in France

If you’ve been with us a while you’ll know that we love Eurocamp Holidays. Eurocamp holidays are one of the easiest ways to travel France with kids. You get the flexibility of self-catering with the bonus of pools, activities, and great locations. It’s like a luxury resort but with the price tag of a campsite. And nowhere does these all-inclusive camp sites quite like France.

Eurocamp Sables D'Or A Complete Review of the BEST Eurocamp in France For Older Kids

Some of our favourite stays include:

Playing game on the balcony of our Eurocamp mobile home

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Planning a France Road Trip With Kids

One of the best ways to explore France is by car, especially if you want flexibility or are combining multiple regions. I actually can’t remember the last time we flew to France. I love having the car when we arrive, and being able to go wherever we want. For a family of four, it is also much cheaper to drive than to pay return airfare for four passengers.

Driving through France on a road trip

But we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way!) that planning makes a huge difference when travelling with kids.

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What to Pack for France

What you need to pack for a trip to France depends heavily on where and when you’re going, especially in the South of France where temperatures can be extreme in summer. We’ve put together packing lists for summer, winter, and for exploring Disneyland Paris. These are all based on our personal experience of travelling in France with kids, which means they’ve been tweaked and honed over a dozen trips.

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France With Kids FAQ

Is France good for family holidays?
In my opinion? Absolutely! France is one of the easiest and most varied family destinations in Europe. Children are loved and welcomed in France, where in other countries they feel barely tolerated. We love visiting France with kids for the beautiful beaches, accessible food, and of course the theme parks.

Is it easy to drive in France with kids?
Yes, especially with good planning and well-chosen stopovers. The roads are easy to navigate, wide, and well maintained. Especially the toll roads (though it’s worth noting that tolls can be expensive). Mike LOVES driving in France.

Where is best in France for families?
The South of France, Normandy, and Paris are all excellent. But every part of France has something to offer for families, it just depends what you’re looking for! The beaches in the South are the most beautiful, but the West Coast around the Bay of Biscay has the best surf, for example.

Are Eurocamp holidays worth it?
Yes! We love Eurocamp holidays, particularly in France. They’re easy, affordable, and offer a wonderful experience. Especially for families wanting space, pools, and flexibility. You can enjoy a week away for a whole family of four for under £1,000 in the summer months (practically unheard of anywhere else) and everyone gets their own bedroom, which is a huge plus for families with older kids like ours.

Final Thoughts

France is one of those destinations that works year after year for families. As the boys get older, the things we do change to match their tastes (from finding the best playgrounds to finding the best surfing spots) but one thing that never changes is how much we love visiting France with kids.

Whether you’re looking for beach holidays, city breaks, or theme park trips, there’s always something new to explore. It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s affordable. We actually find it’s cheaper to visit France in the summer than it is to book a staycation and stay in the UK>

This guide brings together everything we’ve learned from our own trips to France over the years. We’ll continue adding to it as we discover more family-friendly spots across France, so bookmark this page as it constantly updates and evolves.

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That Mum Travel Life's avatar

Tor Hampton is a travel journalist and the founder of That Mum Travel Life, with over a decade of professional experience covering destinations around the world. After spending 10 years working in travel media, she now publishes in-depth travel guides for parents just like her, based on first-hand experience, extensive research, and real-world trip planning.

While Tor specialises in creating Japan content, her expertise also spans theme parks, European hot spots, and off-the-beaten-path destinations. Her content is shaped by personal travel experience with her own family (including two opinionated young boys) and a commitment to honest advice. The aim of this site is to help readers plan memorable trips they'll never forget.

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