If you are planning a visit to the South of France with your children or grandchildren during summer 2026, here are 15 fun things to try out all across Southern France with kids.
We live in the South of France all year and our 3 boys grew up here. We were always on the look out for some cool places to visit for family activities in France. The thing with boys is that as long as they have something to do, they are no trouble. They can be throwing stones into a river or building a den in the woods. But as soon as you turn your back and they become bored, that is when all mayhem breaks out. And especially with 3 boys, you can always guarantee that one of them will be falling out with the other two.
I always remember my Brother-in-Law (who has 2 girls) looking at our boys running wild at the beach and he was just shaking his head. I said to him, "Look I have already lost my hair, wait until your girls become teenagers, that is when I will get the cigars out". As it turned out his girls are still as good as gold and he still has a full head of hair. There is no justice in this World!
This list of what to do with your kids in South France has been compiled following extensive research and much debate by our 3 boys: Cameron 16, Archie 13 and Finlay 10. There were many other items that didn't make it into the Top 20 and we have over 15 years experience of touring around the whole of the South of France entertaining our little monkeys. We have also had frequent visits from both sets of the boys cousins (all girls) and numerous trips from friends and family over the years.
One of the benefits of the South of France, is that with the weather here, it is very much an outdoors kind of place. You don't need to worry about the rain spoiling the day. Normally from April through to the end of September, you can expect really good weather.
If you are looking for a particular activity or want some ideas for your vacation, then please drop me a line (Iain Laverock) and I will be happy to send you some suggestions. Enjoy your visit.
1. Family activities France - boat ride from Marseille to the Calanques
We did this trip last summer when we were visiting friends in Marseille and it was great. From the central port in Marseille (Vieux Port), you take a boat trip along the coast to Cassis. The coastal town of Cassis is 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Marseille. Cassis was formerly a small fishing village, but with the development of the French Riviera coastline during the late 19th and early 20th Century, it has now developed into a famous French beach resort.
Cassis is sheltered from the Mediterranean sea by a small curve in the coastline. The town of Cassis is surrounded by white chalky cliffs, in which the sea has carved 20 inlets or calanques, some of which reach up to 500 ft in height. The water here is crystal clear and has a lovely turquoise colour. The most famous of these inlets is the the beautiful fjord-like Calanques de Port Miou, which is a 35 minute walk from the centre of Cassis. This sheltered inlet was once a limestone quarry, but it now forms the perfect setting for a marina and one of the most amazing beaches in the South of France. This small rocky beach provides fantastic views out to sea and it is very popular with scuba divers, kayakers and local teenagers who hurl themselves off the cliffs.
The boat from Marseille drops anchor in the Calanque and you can then jump overboard and snorkel about following the fish. The boat trip lasts about 3.5 hours. Make sure you take a picnic, as well as arm bands, snorkels and swimming trunks.
We used a boat company called Turquoise Calanques, but there are plenty of other companies that do the same trip. There are 2 departure times (09.30 and 14.00). On the way out to the Calanques you get a great view of Marseille, the old castle and the cliffs along the coastline.
In Cassis itself there is a large public beach, but it gets very crowded during the summer. To the west side of the harbour, there is Plage de la Grande Mer, which is a curving sandy beach located beneath the castle. This is a big sandy beach which is perfect for families. The sea is very shallow and there are roped of areas of the beach reserved for swimmers only. The beach and the Mediterranean sea here have been painted by a range of famous artists, including Winston Churchill (who learnt to paint in Cassis before the Second World War), Raoul Dufy and Matisse (who travelled to Cassis many times from his home in St Paul de Vence).
2. Fun things to do in Nice, France - Park Phoenix
This park is a real gem if you're at a loose end trying to find a quiet activity for the kids to do in South France during your holidays. Park Phoenix is an ecological park located in the western suburbs of Nice opposite Nice airport.. There is a giant lake with fountains, as well as a giant greenhouse that accommodates the tropical plants.
Parc Phoenix covers over 7 hectares and features over 2,500 species of plants and 2,000 animals (including Lemurs, Grey Otters, Wallabies, Peacocks, Parrots, Flamingos and Porcupines). A new open air swimming pool was installed in the grounds of the park in 2025 and during 2026, two new aviary domes will be created for the collection of parrots.
This zoo in Nice, France, is a great place to take the kids. You feel like you are in the middle of the countryside, even though you are still in the city borders. There is a wide range of animals to see including Otters, Peacocks, Lizards, colourful Iguanas and Parrots and plenty of ducks and swans. The park is laid-out beautifully, with lots of lovely shaded walkways, fountains and places to have a picnic.
Park Phoenix is probably best suited to smaller children as it provides a shaded area where they can wander around and feed animals, walk through the tropical rain forest, see the Wallabies, etc. If you get a hot day in the height of summer then walking around this park with its shaded greenery is perfect. The lake with the ducks and swans is very nice.
Park Phoenix costs virtually nothing. Tickets for Adults cost €5.50 and children (under 12) are free. The park opens from 09.30 to 19.30 each day. There is a nice picnic area and I think that you could easily spend around 4 hours here before the obligatory clamour for ice cream kicks in. You can reach the park by tram from the centre of nice (Line 2 – Parc Phœnix stop).
You can find Park Phoenix Zoo at:
Address: 405 Prom. des Anglais, 06200 Nice
Opening Hours: 09:30 – 19:30 (1 April to 30 September); 09:30 – 18.00 (1 October to 31 March)
Phone: 04 92 29 77 00
Website: Park Phoenix
3. Kids in South of France - Picnic at the Pont du Gard
The Pont du Gard, is one of the most dramatic monuments of Roman architecture in France. The Pont du Gard is one of 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in the South of France and is arguably the finest examples of a Roman aqueduct left standing in the world. The Pont du Gard is located north-west of the city of Nimes in South France and it is one of the most visited historical monuments in France.
This Roman aqueduct, was built around 50 AD to carry water over 50 km from Uzes to Nimes. It still amazes me how the Romans ever built the structure, it is absolutely enormous (about 50m above the River Gardon at its highest point). A thousand men worked on the site, using more than 50,000 tonnes of stone. The aqueduct delivered 35,000 cubic metres of pure water per day to the baths and fountains of Nimes. The average slope of the water channel is 24 centimetres per kilometre and the Roman Engineers used the natural slope of the land to convey the natural spring water.
An earthquake in 1448 caused significant damage to Pont du Gard. The aqueduct was completely restored in the eighteenth century, under orders from Napoleon. It is still quite incredible that they managed to haul up the big blocks of stone without electric cranes or modern technology.
There are two alternative places to have a picnic at the Pont du Gard. You can either eat on the banks of the river with a fantastic view of the bridge in all its glory, or you can pick a nice shady spot on the botanical trail through the Mediterranean garden.
Once you've finished with your picnic, your children can be entertained swimming in the river under the bridge, take a canoe up the river (see Canoeing in the South of France for more details about canoe hire at the Pont du Gard), visiting the children's activity centre in the Pont du Gard visitors centre or just lazing in the sun besides one of the most famous sites in the South of France. For other Picnic ideas see our article Best Picnic Spots South France.
4. Things to do in South of France with kids - Aqualand
I think if you are coming to the South of france, apart from the beach, the best way to benefit from the excellent weather is to visit a water park. It is always a big hit with our boys and all the youngsters who have come to visit us. Aqualand is a French company that operates 5 water parks along the Mediterranean coastline in the South of France. Aqualand is generally regarded as running the best water parks in France, although the new Aquasplash water park in Antibes (in between Nice and Cannes) also has a good reputation.
The Aqualand water parks in South France are located in Frejus, Sainte-Maxime (close to Saint Tropez), St Cyr sur Mer (located in between Marseille and Toulon) Cap d'Agde (in between Montpellier and Beziers) and St Cyprien (near Perpignan). We have visited the the Cap d'Agde Aqualand many times over the years and we have also taken our boys to the Frejus Aqualand water park. I would say that the Frejus water park seemed to be the bigger out of the two water parks, but apparently, the water park at Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer is the biggest operated by Aqualand.
The Aqualand in Cap d'Agde was the very first water park to open in France (in 1983). It has two of the highest water slides in Europe - the Tornado and the Boomerang. The water park is spread over 4 hectares and comprises 20 different slides.
Aqualand Sainte-Maxime
Aqualand is not cheap, but the rides are good and you can easily spend all day here. If you intend to go more than once, then purchasing the 2 day pass works out a lot cheaper. You can use this at any point during the summer. Another tip is to buy your tickets the day before (in the afternoon when it is not busy). That way you can then wander straight in, rather than queueing up for tickets with everybody else. I would also advise you to arrive at 10.00 am on the dot to make sure that you can get a good place to sit, plus you will probably have the park to yourselves for the first 30 mins as everybody else is stuck in the ticket queues.
I am not a big fan of VIP tickets, but I think when it comes to water parks and theme parks, it may actually work out as a good investment.
You can get more information about the opening hours and ticket prices for all of the Aqualand water parks in South of France from their website (which is in French and English) Aqualand South of France. For 2026, the average price per day is around €34 euros for adults and €28-29 euros for children (age 4-11). The parks tend to open from mid-June until 30 August 2026.
Aqualand Frejus
Address: Camp de l'abbé, 83600 Fréjus, France.
Phone: +33 04 94 51 82 51
Website: Aqualand Frejus
Address: Avenue des Isles d'Amérique, 34300 Cap d'Agde, France.
Phone: +33 04 67 26 85 94
Website: Aqualand Cap d'Agde
5. South of France with kids - Cycling along the Canal du Midi
Cycling along the Canal du Midi in Southern France [Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/lofficielducanaldumidi/]
The Canal Midi is one of the most famous tourist sites in the South of France. The tree-lined Canal du Midi perfectly symbolises the slow pace of life in the South of France. A lazy day spent cruising along the Canal du Midi or cycling along its tow path, is must on any tourist itinerary to the South of France.
The Canal du Midi runs for over 240 kilometres from Toulouse in the west, via Carcassonne and Beziers, en route to the Mediterranean sea at the coastal town of Sète. Construction of the Canal began in 1667 and took fourteen years to complete. Over its course, the Canal du Midi has 99 locks, over 100 bridges, numerous viaducts and two long tunnels (which were excavated by using dynamite, the first time this had ever been done in Europe).
For parents with kids, a day spent cycling along the Canal du Midi is a clear Win : Win situation. It gets children off the Playstation for a few hours and by the end of the day, they are so tired, you will have nodding heads all the way home (ah! the peace & quiet!!).
Our favourite place on the Canal du Midi is to park up in Colombiers on the D11 west of Beziers. From here we cycle west towards Capestang. After about 15 mins you will reach the Oppidum d'Ensurune, a pre-Roman settlement perched on a hill above the vineyards. From here you get a spectacular view of the Basin du Montady. This is a Wagon-wheel shaped formation of fields (or like the 'triangle cheese wedges in a Dairylea cheese box' as our son, Cameron, describes it). We usually have our sandwiches here looking down on the Basin, before cycling on to the next village of Poihes for a drink. The return leg home is always quicker with a Stella Artois inside you!
Also see Canal du Midi tourism for more information on the Canal du Midi.
6. Teleski + Park Aquaviva Water Park, Carcassonne
A visit to either the Park Aquaviva water park or the Teleski centre in the South of France makes a great family day out. Both these water activity parks are situated on Lac de la Cavayère, a man-made lake close to the Medieval city of Carcassone in Languedoc region of Southern France. You can pack the kids off to the lake for the day and you can go off and enjoy some shopping and a good lunch in Carcassonne (see 10 best restaurants in Carcassonne). The when the kids are finished, you can all visit the amazing Carcassonne Castle and grab an evening pizza at one of the restaurants inside the castle walls.
Teleski offers 6 different types of activities. Wake-skating is apparently the hardest activity at Teleski. This is where you ride on a wakeboard which has a non-slip surface (wearing water shoes to give you grip) and you hold onto a water ski type handle. The handle is attached to the overhead zip line, which then pulls you around the course. The Water skiing is ideal for beginners (from age 7) and involves the zip line with a system of two pylons controlled by an instructor. The instructor is able to control the speed of the zip line and give you advice on how to get to a standing position to start the skiing.
The centre also offers paddle boarding, wakeboarding, mono-ski and knee-boarding (absolutely no idea what this is!). The Teleski centre is open from the Easter holidays to the last weekend of September from 11.00 to 20.00 every day. There is also a very good restaurant at the Teleski, with a large outdoor terrace where you can watch everyone on the lake.
The Parc Aquaviva water park is also based at Lac de la Cavayère. The lake covers 18 hectares and was created by damming 3 small creeks. In recent years, the lake has become known as Carcassonne Plage, on account of the large sandy beach and the shallow supervised swimming area.
Parc Aquaviva is like a giant inflatable obstacle course featuring 300m2 of floating platforms, giant water slides, climbing walls, giant inflatables and bouncy castle areas. The water park is open from June to August, 7 days a week from 11.00 to 19.00. The entry price is €12.00 euros for 1 hour, €16.00 euros for 2 hours and €22.00 euros for a day pass. You can add on access to the Water Jump for +€5.00 euros. Children under 10 need to be accompanied by an adult (or be present in the water), but children over 10 can be unaccompanied.
Parc Aquaviva water park
Address: Lac de la Cavayère - Base de loisirs Raymond Chésa, 11000 Carcassonne
Phone: +33 07 81 91 49 12
Website: Parc Aquaviva Carcassonne
Address: Base de loisirs Raymond Chésa, route de Baja, 11000 Carcassonne, France.
Phone: +33 06 38 56 72 62
Website: Teleski Carcassonne
7. Fun activities South France - Canoeing up the Gorge du Verdon
This is our boys' favourite day out in the South of France. The Gorge du Verdon is a massive canyon with a river running through it. It is often referred to as France's equivalent to the Grand Canyon (but I think that this is stretching it a bit). The amazing thing about the Gorge du Verdon, is that it was only discovered about 100 years ago. I mean seriously, how could they have missed it for all these years? It was not exactly playing hide and seek.
We normally hire canoes from a place near the village of Montmeyan. The canoe hire shop is open from 10.00 until 18.30. It costs around €50 for around 2 hours (which to be honest is about long enough). Even if you take a picnic and stop off half way along, by the end of 2 hours in a kayak your back and shoulders are pretty sore. The key thing for our kids is to find the biggest rocks and then to clamber out of the canoe and jump into the water (the aim being to splash their mum as much as possible).
The Verdon Gorge is about 25 kilometres long and up to 700 metres deep. The Gorge du Verdon is located in the very north of the Var department, approximately 40kms north-west of Draguignan and 1.5 hours west of Cannes and Nice.
8. Paces in France kids - Seaquarium, Le Grau-du-Roi
If you want an alternative to the beach or an economical alternative to Aqualand, then then the Seaquarium at Le Grau du Roi, France, is perfect. The aquarium comes complete with a Shark tunnel (with over 30 different species of shark), a seal and sea-lion observatory and beautiful varieties of jelly fish. In total, the aquarium displays over 1800 fish, turtles, octopuses and eels. The focus of the Seaquarium is very much on educating children of all ages.
The children really liked the Garden area with its hands-on pond. It was worth the day out. It wasn't too expensive and afterwards we had a walk around the marina at Port Camargue and then drove to Aigues Mortes for something to eat.
The Seaquarium Le Grau du Roi, France, is open every day all year around. During July and August it is open from 10.00 until 23.00. In May, June and September, the aquarium stays open from 10.00 until 19.30. During the winter months the aquarium opens from 10.00 until 18.30.
One of the highlights of Le Grau de Roi aquarium, is the 30 species of sharks contained in a giant aquarium that spans 2 floors. Next to this, there is a 1000 m2 permanent exhibition and learning centre (the Requinarium) which contains lots of games, videos and fascinating details on over 500 species of shark.
The Seaquarium has two dedicated aquariums for Tropical and Mediterranean fish species. The Mediterranean aquarium features Dusky Grouper and poisonous Scorpion fish and in the Tropical Space you can see the beautiful Clownfish and the impressive Moray Eels. Seaquarium also features an outdoor pool which contains Harbour seals and Patagonian sea lions. Visitors can watch them swimming, sleeping and feeding.
Seaquarium Le Grau du Roi
Location:
The aquarium is situated on the left bank of Le Grau du Roi in the Camargue, next to the Mediterranean Sea. You can reach it quite easily from Montpellier by taking the D21 (to Perols) and then the D62 (past La Grande Motte). From Nimes, take the D34 at junction 27 on the A9, then pick up the D61 towards La Grand Motte. When you get into Le Grau du Roi, head for Port Camargue. It is fairly well signposted until you get near to it!
Opening times:
9.300am to 11.00pm - From 1st July to 31 August
9.30am to 7.30pm- September, April, May, June
9.30am to 6.30pm- October to March
It is recommended that you allow at least 2 hours to see all the attractions and exhibits. Visit Seaquarium Le Grau du Roi for more information.
9. Cool things to do South of France - Ecopark Adventures
If you're looking for an activity for your children with a bit of a difference, then Ecopark Adventures could be for you. Set in dense forest in the hills above Toulon, Ecopark specialises in tree climbing adventures, encompassing over 20 different activities including: abseiling, tree canopy walks and rope ladders. Whilst this may not be for those fearful of heights (like me!), this is great fun. It takes you back to being 10 years old again. Oh and the kids will enjoy it as well. Our lot thought it was brilliant and they slept like Pandas in the car on the way home.
Ecopark runs two tree climbing parks. The one we went to was close to the village of Sollies-Ville which is about 25 mins from Toulon. They do run another park closer to Marseille, but this one was more convenient for us as we were visiting the grandparents in Toulon.
This Adventure park is well managed and the instructors give a full safety demonstration before you start. Everything is controlled by zip wires so it is virtually impossible to fall. There are more than 200 different activities in the park ranging from 1m to 30 meters above the ground. The different experiences include suspension bridges, climbing walls, tunnels and a giant tarzan jump from 20 meters high! There is also a parallel zip line above the Gapeau river.
The Ecopark opens from 13.00 everyday and closes at 19.30. The minimum height restriction is 1.10m and to be honest I think that under 6s would struggle a bit with even the lower level courses. I didn't think that it was too expensive. They do provide a family ticket (as long as you have 5 or more people participating - which suited our family of 5).
La Castille Ecopark tree-climbing centre South France
Address : Route de La Farlède, Sollies-Ville, France
Phone : 07.60.29.67.89
Website : Ecopark-Adventures
10. Fun activities for teenagers in France: Paradise Canyon Park - Perpignan
Argelès sur Mer is a popular beach resort on the Mediterranean coast, in Southern France, close to Perpignan. Argelès is situated in a long sweeping bay that looks out onto the Pyrenees mountains and down the coast to Spain. The Spanish border is just 15 kms away.
The Paradise Aventure is located on the outskirts of Argeles-sur-Mer has developed a reputation as one of the best extreme water sports centres in the South of France. But Paradise Activity is really 6 adventure parks in one:
The Canyon Park is situated in a disused quarry where you can jump off cliffs into 14 different clear water plunge pools. The jumps vary from 3 meters to 7 meters in height. The park also provides for an Abseiling route under the waterfalls, a Climbing net and Rope Ladder, a 100 meter zipline ends with you plunging into a water pool and a guided tour through an Underground river.
There is also an Extreme Sports centre which features, among other things, a 30 metre high tower which you can abseil down (or jump using a specially designed Flight Line), 150m Tyrolene zip wire which drops you into another plunge pool, an Air Bag jump - which basically involves you launching yourself off the tower 8 metres up and you land on a cushioned air bag. This is mainly aimed at older kids.
Paradise Adventure Centre, Argeles sur Mer
The daily ticket prices are:
Adult (12 years +) : 30 €
Child (8 to 11 years) : 26 €
Family (1 adult and 1 child) : 54 €
For more information please visit Canyoning Park.
11. Family activities in South of France - Velorail Sainte-Baume
If you are looking for something a bit different that can entertain all ages, then the Velorail at Sainte-Baume in the heart of Provence, is just perfect.
So how to describe it?? Well if you remember watching those old Laurel & Hardy films where they used to get stuck on a railway line on an old bogey cart, then that is sort of like Velorail. It is a metal cart with 2 bikes on the front that pedals you along the railway line. Actually, that was a pretty rubbish description, but hopefully you sort of get the idea.
The main thing to focus on is that you are out in the open countryside cycling along an old railway line that tajkes your through tunnels and over bridges. The views are great and everyone can take it in turns to pedal, whilst the others sit and admire the view. You cycle for about 1.5 hours and then an old steam train comes and collects you for the return trip. When we did it, we started a trend of holding our hands up and screaming whenever we went through a tunnel. At first the people behind us thought we were mad! But eventually they joined in as well until we had the whole line of carts doing it.
The Sainte-Baume Velorail is located just off the A8 autoroute at junction 33. Velorail opens from 10.00 each day (from 14.00 in the low season from September to March). The ride takes about 2 hours and they are pretty strict on you departing on time. There are 3 set departure times (10.00, 14.00 and 16.00). This is so that they can arrange your collection by the steam train. I would still aim to get there about midday because there is a nice picnic area. It costs €27 for a party of 5 (basically you get 5 onto one buggy).
12. Espace Grande Bleu - La Grande Motte
If your kids are into water slides and you want an alternative to the beach (as well as an economical alternative to Aqualand), then La Grande Bleu in the beach resort of La Grande Motte near Montpellier, could be just the place for you. La Grande Bleu is an indoor and outdoor swimming pool complex. Indoors there are a number of water slides (or 'toboggans' in French), 3-4 swimming pool areas, a toddler pool, sun terrace, solarium, steam room & sauna, Jaccuzis, water jets, wave machine, etc. The water slides don't compare with Aqualand, but at 48m in length, they certainly are entertaining enough.
Outside in the summer there is a large wave pool, a lazy river, toddlers pool and much bigger water slide. There are plenty of seating areas in the shade. We have been with our children (when they were 3, 5 & 8) and they had a great time. La Grande Bleu is really just a nice chilled out space to enjoy with the family. There are plenty of life guards on duty and none of the long queues that you get at Aqualand. It is very easy to spend a day here without breaking the bank.
There is also a cafeteria and ice cream bar inside the swimming pool area. We have been a couple of times here and all our children had a great time.
Espace Grande Bleu is well signposted once you get into La Grande Motte (initially follow directions to Point Zero, then you will see the signs). La Grande Motte is located close to Montpellier on the Languedoc coast. It is reached by taking the D62 off the A9 to the East of Montpellier at Junction 31. Alternatively take the D979 at Junction 29 of the A9 just North of Montpellier.
Once you have spent the day by the pool, you can always head into La Grande Motte for an ice cream or a meal, or even better, head into either Montpellier, which is a great city, or make a small detour up to Aigues-Mortes, a medieval fortified town in the Camargue. There are also lots of good beaches around La Grand Motte to visit: 5 best beaches near Montpellier France.
An alternative to Espace Grande Bleu if you are looking for a good swimming pool to take the kids to after the beach is the Swimming Pool at Sete. This also has water slides and a wave machine.
Espace Grande Bleu, La Grande Motte
Address : Espace Grande Bleu, La Plaine des Jeux, 195 rue Saint-Louis, 34280 LA GRANDE MOTTE, Languedoc.
Prices : a family ticket was around €20.
Opening hours: open 10.00 to 17.00 every day all year round (closed Mondays in the winter). In the summer months it stay open until 20.00 Information on opening times and prices is also available from the La Grande Motte tourism website.
Website : For more information (see Espace Grande Bleu).
13. South France activities with kids - Barben Zoo, Provence
In my opinion, one of the best zoos in the South of France is located in the heart of the beautiful Provence countryside. Barben zoo, is located close to the village of Pélissane, in between Salon de Provence and Aix-en-Provence in South France. The zoo is extremely well laid out and encompasses over 30 hectares of woodland, grassland and gardens, as well as over 9kms of trails.
The zoo has a great selection of animals, including the usual suspects (lions, giraffes, bears and elephants) but also some unique animals such as Lynx cats, Fennec foxes, Tufted Capuchin and Alpacas. In total, there are over 130 different species of birds and animals. The zoo also has a Reptile house which is located within a sheep pen that dates back to the Middle Ages.
Barben Zoo - or Parc Zoologique de la Barben, to give it its full title - is a good day out in a lovely parkland setting close to Salon de Provence (about 20km from Aix-en-Provence). Zoos are always a hit with our boys and we easily spent 4 hours walking round and we still didn't see all of the animals. There are bears, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, antelope - you name it. It is some years ago since we went (I think we went for my middle sons 7th birthday and he is 14 now!).
When we visited Barben zoo, I distinctly remember it being as hot as hell and there was not much shade. So I would certainly advise taking plenty of sun block and hats. The bird demonstration was pretty good. You sit in this little amphitheatre and the birds of prey swoop down over your heads.
Barben zoo is located off the A7 autoroute (Exit 15). Then you follow signs for the village of Pélissane. It is pretty easy to find and there are plenty of signs. The zoo is open everyday from 10.00 to 18.00. It costs around €10 for children and €15 for adults.
Barben Parc Animalier
Address : Route du Château, 13330 La Barben, France.
Phone : +33 04 90 55 19 12
Website : Barben Zoo Provence.
14. Train Jaune Pyrenees France
Train Juane is a yellow narrow-guage train that snakes its way up the beautiful Eastern Pyrenees from Villefranche-de-Conflet and climbs up to the highest train station in France, at Bolquère-Elyne.
If you are planning your summer holidays in France with the kids and your are looking for some great days out, then taking the Train Juane should be near the top of your list. The views and scenery are magnificent and the kids will enjoy all the fresh air and sleep all the way home!
The 'Yellow Train' (or Ligne de Cerdagne to give it its official name) is a narrow gauge railway that was built around 1903. The train starts in the pretty town of Villefranche-de-Conflet. Thiis a old fortified town has a grid-pattern of pedestrianised streets in the centre, which are perfect for wandering about in the summer sun - offering excellent shade. There are one or two excellent restaurants here as well - together with the usual café-bars and pizza places. Also just outside the rampart walls you will find a small dinosaur museum in a cave. I am not entirely sure what it is like - I have not been inside - but I presume that it must contain some fossilized remains.
Along its 63 kilometre route, the Yellow Train climbs up to 1,593 metres. There are 19 tunnels and two bridges along the way. The best seats are to be had in the open carriages which give you a full uninterrupted view.
The Eastern Pyrenees really is a beautiful part of Southern France and I would heartily recommend that you take the train to see the views. The train is not cheap, but if you are in France on holiday on the first day of each month, there is a special offer of €1 euro per person.
Yellow Train Pyrenees France
Route: The Petit Train Jaune runs between Villefrance-de-Conflent and Bolquère-Elyne. Villefrance-de-Conflent is on the N116 from Perpignan (exit A9 autoroute at Perpignan Sud).
Trains: there are usually 8-10 trains per day (see timetable Train Jaune)
Fare: The return ticket is around €34 Euros (Adults), €25 euros for children under 12. This is a bit pricey, but shorter routes are possible.
Website: Further details can be obtained from Train Juane.
15. Holidays South France children - Planetarium, Montpellier
Montpellier's superb Planetarium, is located in the heart of the Odysseum complex on the eastern side of the city, close to the A9 autoroute and the city airport. Planetarium Galilée is very interactive and informative and provides a welcome distraction to the beach and will entertain kids of all ages.
Planetarium Galilee forms part of the larger educational centre called Planet Ocean. This encompasses the aquarium (Aquarium Mare Nostrum), as well as a number of visiting exhibitions concerning science and the environment.
The main activity in the Planetarium is centred around the Theâter, which is a huge auditorium topped with a 15 metre semi-circular screen. It features the latest digital imagery to give a sensation of travelling through the stars and galaxies. The show is offered in two parts, a film on the theme of the planets, galaxies and space; and a live presentation on astronomy by an expert guide. In total the show lasts around 45 minutes.
Not only will the Planetarium keep all the children amused, but it also offers you the excellent excuse to browse round the shops and boutiques in the Odysseum whilst your partner herds the kids round the exhibits.
Adjoining the Planetarium, there is an excellent Aquarium that continues the work of educating children about the planet(s) and the natural world. The aquarium features 33 different water tanks housing over 400 marine species, including Bull Sharks, Giant Octopus, Jellyfish, Moray Eels and tropical fish. You can buy a combined ticket to both the Planetarium and the Aquarium for €19.50 euros for adults (and children 13 years and over) and €14 euros for children (5-12 years)
Planetarium Gallilée Montpellier
Address : 100 Allée Ulysse, 34000 Montpellier.
Opening hours : every day from 13.30 to 18.00 (during school holidays); rest of the time: Wednesday 13:30 to 16:30, Thursday 15.00 to 16:30, Friday 15.00 to 16.30, Saturday and Sunday 13.30 p.m to 18.00.
Getting there : Take the Tram Line 1 (stop Place de France) or the bus Line 9 or La Ronde lines (stop Odysseum).
Admission : €9 euros (Adults and children over 13 years), €7 euros children 5-12 years.
Website : Planetarium Montpellier
16. France for kids - Canoeing at the Pont du Diable
Canoeing at the Pont du Diable South France [Photo courtesy of www.instagram.com/aud.cln/]Whenever we have friends visiting with kids, this is one our favourite places to take them in the South of France. The Pont du Diable is located on the Gorges de l'Herault, which is about 20km west of Montpellier. It is located very close to St Guilhem-le-Desert, which is officially classified as on of the 150 most beautiful villages in France. At this section of the Gorges de l'Herault, the river has worn a dramatic ravine through the rock. Where the river emerges under the Pont du Diable bridge, there is a small lake, complete with a pebble beach and now a wonderful visitor centre. The bridge dates back over 900 years and originally was built by monks from the nearby monasteries at Aniane and St Guilhem le Desert.
The water is lovely and cool and crystal clear. You can see all the fish in the water and the lake is wonderful for swimming in during the hot summer months. Make sure you take some waterproof shoes with you because the stone pebbles are a bit awkward to walk on. These pebbles do however make excellent skimming stones and I like nothing better than thrashing my kids at a Skimming competition (competitive Dad!).
The Pont du Diable makes an excellent alternative to the beach. Normally when we go to the beach we come back with half a tonne of sand in the boot and I am chunterring all the way home. However, here there is zero sand, so the car doesn't end up smelling like a dead fish.
There is a Canoe Hire kiosk at the Pont du Diable, where you can rent a canoe for €10 per hour. You canoe across the lake and then about 1km up the river. The water is calm and the only danger you will face is avoiding the teenagers who are hurling themselves off the bridge into the water below. The river is a bit windy in places, but this all adds to the fun. After about 20 minutes canoeing you will arrive at a big rock in the middle of the river. This is the turnaround point. Our kids love to scramble up on the rocks and jump into the river complete with dramatic screams (see Canoeing in the South of France for further details on this activity).
Le Pont du Diable bridge [Photo courtesy of www.saintguilhem-valleeherault.fr]
In the last few years a lot of money has been spent developing the surrounding area, including providing a large car park, a lovely visitor centre (where you can grab a cool beer and ice cream) and a life guard look out post.
We like to get to the lake for mid-afternoon and then head up to St Guilhem le Desert around 8.00pm for a Pizza in the square above the village. There tends to be less tourists around in the evening and it is nice and cool to stroll around the old streets - it really is an amazing spot.
The Pont du Diable is located 35kms north-west of Montpellier on the D27 between the villages of Aniane and St Guilhem le Desert. The nearest landmark is the Grotte de Clamouse underground cave centre.
17. Things to do in South France with kids - Sigean African Safari
There is an excellent safari park located close to Narbonne in the South of France. The Arican Safari Park in the village of Sigean is very well laid out and has all the animals you can think off: Lions, Giraffes, Zebras, Rhinos, Gorillas, Elephants (Archie's favourite), Emus - with attitude! and lots and lots of Monkeys.
When we visited the park, the Pink Flamingos were flying on their annual migration over the lake, which was amazing to see. It is well worth the visit, although it can get very busy in the Summer. The Safari park has been running for over 50 years. It is massive, about 350 hectares in total. You can drive in your own car to see about 60% of the park, with about 8-10 different zones (the African Bush (3 parks), Asiatic Bears, the Pride of Lions, and African Savannah). The route is about 7km.
You can then park up near the visitor centre and restaurant and see the rest of the park on foot. Here you will find the reptiles, Chimpanzees, Cheetahs, a large aviary with African birds, African wild dogs, wand various wild birds (flamingos, storks, pelicans and ducks).
The only problem about the Safari park is the lunatics driving in front of you. There are signs everywhere not to stop the cars (especially in the Rhino area). So what does everyone in front of you do? Yep, park up and take loads of photos. This is absolutely no problem except for when the Rhinos are getting a bit frisky and starting to turn and make a run for your car stuck at the back of the line of cars. Personally, I would make any offenders walk through the lion park at feeding time, but maybe that is a bit extreme.
Sigean African Safari Park
Getting there: Sigean African Safari park is located south of Narbonne off the A9 at junction 39. You can't miss it, it is signposted from Paris!! For further details please visit: Sigean African Safari park, France.
Prices: from memory it was quite expensive to get into the Sigean African Safari park, but you can take your own food in to even out the cost. I think it was around €60 for the car.
Website : For further details please visit: Sigean African Safari
A good (cheaper) alternative to Sigean African Safari is Montpellier Zoo. The zoo is free to get into and you can easily spend a day wandering around this large park. See Montpellier zoo for more details.
18. South France for kids: Crocodile Farm near Orange & Avignon
If you travel north above Avignon and the small city of Orange, you will find one of the most popular tourist attractions in Provence for children. La Ferme aux Crocodiles (or Crocodile farm) in the small town of Pierrelatte, attracts over 300,000 visitors annually. To call it a Crocodile farm is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, there are over 350 crocodiles housed in the giant Tropical Reserve, but the farm is also home to over 700 different species of animals, including Giant Tortoises, Snakes, Iguanas, Turtles and Tropical birds.
The only thing I would say, is make sure you go on a cool day because although the Tropical Reserve is air conditioned to stay at 25°C, on a hot summers day it gets bloody hot inside! We went in August and we were absolutely melting by the end. We didn't know what to expect. We thought that it would just be a small place with a couple of small Caiman and the odd Terrapin. What we found was entirely different!
The Crocodile Farm is laid out over 8,000 m2, and is organised around a huge greenhouse (Tropical Reserve), housing the crocodiles and exotic animals. Inside the greenhouse is very lush, with over 600 tropical plant and tree species. Outside, there is a nice picnic area and some aviaries, housing the birds. There is also a large exhibition, almost like a trail, which explains the link between certain species of Dinosaurs and modern day Alligators and Crocodiles. There is also a Reptile Nursery, where you can see baby Crocodiles and Lizards.
The farm is really more of an education centre than a zoo. There are plenty of information boards, interactive displays, games for children, daily feeding shows, Virtual Reality goggles, guided tours and presentations. The way the farm is laid out within the Tropical reserve, you can get quite close up to the animals, especially on the footbridges. With the large trees and plants and the tropical birds flying overhead, you almost forget that you are indoors (except for the sweat dripping down your back).
Near to Pierrelatte, you will find the neighbouring town of Mondragon, which also has a local interest in old reptiles, with its annual Fête du Drac Dragon festival. Also, after visiting the Crocodile farm, you can drop down into Orange, an old Roman city which holds an Opera festival in the summer; or Avignon, the site of the Palais des Papes, the famous Pont d'Avignon and a large summer Avignon theâtre and street performance festival.
La Ferme aux Crocodiles, Pierrelatte, Provence
Location : The Crocodile farm is located in the small town of Pierrelatte, in between Avignon and Montelimar and 30 km from Orange. Exit the A7 motorway at Junction 19 and follow the signs to the Farm.
Opening hours : 09.30 to 19.00 (July & August); 09.30 to 18.00 (June and September); 09.30 to 17.00 (winter)
Admission price : €17 for adults and €11 for children
19. Things to do in South of France with kids - Meze Dinosaur Museum
Following on a similar theme, if your kids are into Dinosaurs (as all 3 of my boys were); then there is an excellent Dinosaur Museum near the coastal town of Meze, in between Montpellier and Beziers. I was quite surprised to learn that this is the largest museum in Europe devoted entirely to dinosaurs. The park is well laid out and there is lots of information.
The museum is located on the site of an important discovery of dinosaur eggs and fossils (following an archaeological dig in 1996). Our 3 boys loved walking around and seeing all the real-scale reconstructed models located in amongst the tress and trying to find all the dinosaur eggs in the sand pit. There are also displays of real dinosaur fossils and eggs). The park has a nice sheltered picnic area, a café bar, shop and outside cinema area.
Connected to the Dinosaur Museum there is another park area devoted entirely to the history and development of Humans. Personally I found this very informative, but the boys had probably had enough by then. However, the collection of arrow heads and axes kept their interest for a bit. You can buy a dual ticket that covers both parks.
The Dinosaur Park ranked highly with our crew. Even though when we went it was scorchingly hot, we still managed to grab some welcome shade as we walked around. Informative as well as entertaining.
Meze Dinosaur Park
Address : Route de Pézenas, 34140 Mèze, France
Admission : €16.00 adults; €14 children (6-13 years)
Opening hours : 14.00 to 18.00 (all year)
Website : Visit http://www.musee-parc-dinosaures.com/for more details.
20. Activities to do in France for kids - Montpellier Zoo
Montpellier Zoo is a cheap activity to do with kids in France. The Zoo - or Parc Zoologique Henri de Lunaret, to give it its full title - is a free day out in a lovely spacious parkland setting, in the north of the city of Montpellier. Zoos are always a hit with our boys and we have been here many times and it is easy to spend 4-5 hours walking round (and you still won't see all of the animals).
Montpellier Zoo has been in operation for over 60 years (since 1963) and extends over 80 hectares. The zoo is named after the benefactor (Henri de Lunaret), who originally bequeathed the land to the city in 1910. The zoo gets over 500,000 visitors each year, with the Amazon rain forest section being particularly popular. Montpellier zoo is the 5th biggest in France and with its layout within the forest and grassland, it feels more of a safari park than a city zoo. In total there are over 100 species of animals ranging from bears, lions, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, antelope - you name it. The ethos of the zoo is to raise awareness about conservation and this is especially reinforced with the Cheetah breeding center (which has raised 13 Cheetah cubs since 2018).
The zoo offers various guided tours, feeding shows, an Escape Room type of game and 3 animal keeper shows/presentations (Cheetahs, Rhinos and Tropical birds (Cassowaries)).
Montpellier Zoo is free to get in - yes you read that right - free entrance. The only section that you do have to pay for is the Amazon rain forest. The entrance fee is a bit steep, but when you balance it off against the free entrance to the zoo itself, it is worth it. The Amazon centre is huge, spread over 2,500 m2 and 15m high in places. It includes 3,500 tropical plants, 1500 birds and tropical fish. The only problem is the queue. So either get here early or book in advance. Anyway, it is a good day out, our boys loved it and it is certainly a cheaper alternative to Sigean African Safari.
Montpellier Zoological Park
Address : 50 Av. Agropolis, 34090 Montpellier, France.
Phone : +33 04 67 54 45 23
Opening hours : 09.30 to 18.30 (June to August); 10.00 to 18.00 (Feb to May and Sept to Oct); 10.00 to 17.00 (winter)
Website : For more details and directions please visit : http://zoo.montpellier.fr/
Where to next . . . ?
If you are visiting the South of France this summer, then get the inside track on the best Places to see & visit in the South of France in 2026 (written by people who live in Southern France all year around). Read about the best restaurants to eat at, get local information on the best beaches to visit and discover the best tourist sites, markets and festivals to see during your stay.
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