10 Family Activity Ideas for the Weekend in Paris and Surroundings

For families with children, the weekend has the potential to become a real nightmare if nothing is planned to keep the troop busy! Boredom has a lively way of showing itself, and often, we end up dealing with cries and tears in the middle of the living room. However, a well-prepared weekend can also be a perfect moment of togetherness and relaxation after an exhausting week.

You see Saturday coming with apprehension and still don’t know what to do?
Here, we come to your rescue with a selection of activities to do as a family.
If you know some of them already, make sure to try the others before telling yourself it’s not for you!

Enjoying the Outdoors to Have Fun as a Family

1/ Organize a picnic outing

There is surely a park or forest near your home where you can go for a walk.
It’s also probably the ideal place to spread a blanket on the grass, set out the pâté and the Coke, and wait for the arrival of wasps!
More seriously, this relaxing activity is often appreciated by everyone and allows you to observe nature while sharing an original meal.

That said, make sure toilets are nearby, so you don’t have to relieve yourself next to the ducks (and risk a fine, if that’s the case).
Also, some parks don’t allow picnics or barbecues, so it’s better to check before attempting this expedition.

The picnic outing is also an opportunity to bring outdoor games, like frisbees, balls, or kites if there’s a bit of wind.
But if you’re not a sporty family, a shady spot can also allow you to enjoy a quiet moment of reading or nature watching.
Leaning against a plane tree, you’ll see the ants hurrying to clean up the remains of your meal.
This cleaning job, however, should remain yours: bring a garbage bag big enough and well-mannered teammates to ensure that after your visit, no trace of incivility is detectable on the site.
Basically, it’s like public toilets: you have to leave them the way you would have liked to find them!

2/ Go on a family hike in nature

Children full of energy are often hard to keep still at home.
Keeping them busy with a tiring physical activity is therefore a good way to enjoy a calm evening once you get home. Hiking is a great activity to do with your children.
It’s important to choose the right trail, so that no one gets left behind or needs to be carried on your shoulders halfway through.

Often, it’s the slope that tires people out, so start out knowing what you’re getting into and gather information first.
Lost in nature, it’s difficult to get immediate help in case of a problem.
That’s why it’s essential to take along a first aid kit.
Also, weather-appropriate clothing won’t be too much of a burden to adapt to temperature changes.

Sometimes, hiking can be boring if the scenery doesn’t change and children mostly came hoping to see animals.
In that case, games like “who spots the first one?” can be a good family activity that encourages observation and attention to the surroundings.
There’s also a wealth of advice on how to do a hike properly — for example, making noise to scare away bears!
That said, it’s quite rare to come across predators on well-traveled trails, and the noise might instead scare off the real stars of the place: marmots, deer, and songbirds…

3 / Go Discover a Park or Garden Offering Family Activities

To finish with another outdoor activity, let’s talk about themed gardens and parks.
Unlike “classic” picnics, these have their own originality through themes such as botany, serenity, history, or even animals from faraway continents.

There’s nothing like visiting a medieval garden or getting lost in a Japanese maze for a memorable outing.
Often, mobile apps available at the entrance will help your immersion by giving you key information about the games and decorations around you.
These parks often have surprising features, and you’ll probably prefer listening to a bewitching voice guiding your steps than reading signs scattered here and there.

Tea ceremonies, drawing and botany workshops are often offered in these green havens.
Likewise, sculptures, fountains, and rare flowers can be admired at leisure.
That’s how new passions can be born for children and even adults, by discovering for an afternoon a curious activity they wouldn’t have thought of.
Allowing for more imagination than a simple picnic, visiting a theme park is therefore a beautiful family activity.

Having Fun at Home: a Default Family Activity?

Of course, all these outdoor activities are wonderful — but what if it rains?
Weather whims are beyond our control, so it’s perfectly possible to cancel a “nature” outing on a Saturday morning when it’s pouring rain.

What to do in such a situation?
Far from being a fallback option, having fun at home can also become a great time for the whole family.

4 / Organize a Home Cinema Night

It all starts with a show of hands to vote for the movie to watch that evening.
Animated debates may follow — as well as sulking from those who lost the democratic exercise.
But just like in a real election, everything can be negotiated, and after some bargaining, you might pick a movie everyone enjoys.
And since democracy is the art of compromise, you could also decide to watch different episodes or short films to please everyone.

Moreover, contrary to what one might think, movie night doesn’t start in the evening!
Preparing the living room to create a darkroom atmosphere is an activity in itself — piling cushions, dimming the lights, buying popcorn and candy.
And if you want to keep everyone busy during the afternoon, you can even make homemade cinema tickets!

This lovely family activity will also have the advantage of keeping everyone away from phones, PlayStation games, and other distractions that could spoil the evening.

5/ Create a family DIY workshop

We just mentioned crafting cinema tickets… That’s one DIY idea for an afternoon activity.
But there are countless other craft ideas to make family time fun in Paris or nearby.

Is the rain outside making you think about the birds in the garden?
Then building a birdhouse is the perfect DIY project — easy, useful, and rewarding.
You’ll proudly see it through the window, maybe filled with baby birds come spring!

If hammering and nails aren’t your thing, you can make a bead necklace instead — a delicate, creative project and a great gift idea for grandparents or teachers.

Finally, don’t forget the “cleaning and tidying” part.
It’s probably the least fun part of the activity, but it teaches that all good things come with a little downside.

6 / Cook a Special Meal Together

After eating out or sharing family dinners, each member probably has a favorite dish — that special or exotic meal not often made at home.
So why not take a vote again and let the majority decide?

This family activity will require careful ingredient preparation and some substitutions for trickier elements.
Those less skilled can peel vegetables or wash fruit, while the more experienced monitor the cooking or plating.
Dividing the tasks is a great way to cooperate and achieve a delicious result as a team.
And the reward comes at the end — a shared tasting that crowns your collective success!

This playful activity can easily take up an entire afternoon or even the whole weekend if you include grocery shopping and cooking time.

Discover new activities for all ages

7 / Take Part in a Family Escape Game

Do you know this fun family activity that’s been around for about twenty years in France and delights young and old alike?
The escape game — a mix of puzzles and mystery-solving in a themed setting — is probably one of the best family activities out there.

The sets and actors often create total immersion for players.
The riddles encourage teamwork and shared problem-solving, helping strengthen bonds and celebrate success together. Escape games encourage communication, observation, logic, and creativity — a guarantee that the whole family will come home tired, full of memories, and eager to go back for more.

Speaking of which, the best escape games are often those that bring imaginary worlds to life — like Hogwarts or Gotham City in Paris.
Who will face Voldemort or the Joker?
Ask around, and you’ll see the excitement rise!
Some versions even feature real historical locations, like old prisons.

8 / Discover Volunteering

Just like there are escape games of every kind, there are also countless volunteer activities to do as a family.
Learning the value of sharing and effort is probably one of the best uses of free time.

You love animals?
Why not volunteer at a shelter where you can take care of them?
Annoyed by cigarette butts or banana peels on sidewalks?
Join local associations that promote urban ecology.
Helping at a food bank can be just as rewarding, knowing it supports entire families.

All these experiences, fun and meaningful individually, become even more powerful when shared as a family.
They help raise awareness about social issues and strengthen a sense of service that benefits everyone.

9 / Visit a Museum or Exhibition

Why not take a cultural turn and explore a place of art and learning?
It’s the perfect time to open your children’s minds and let them discover what they don’t always learn in school.

If big museums with heavy masterpieces bore the little ones, there are more playful galleries offering exhibits like LEGO sculptures or chocolate museums, including one in Paris.
Discovering art this way can be ideal for kids — and refreshing for adults used to more traditional exhibitions.

10 / Go on a Stargazing Excursion

If your kids are too young for museums, there’s another activity that delights everyone: discovering the universe through a telescope!

The story of our galaxy is absolutely fascinating, and if you don’t have a garden, there are local parks that organize such stargazing outings.
Spotting the Big Dipper or counting shooting stars on a clear summer night — who could resist?

🌟 Summary Table: Best Family Activities in Paris