A kids’ guide to Paris

This children’s travel article, A kids’ guide to Paris, is for both native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children practise reading and comprehension, learn new vocabulary, and discover fun facts about Paris. Written by Sinead O’Carroll, a writer and EFL teacher with seven years’ experience.

Introduction to Paris

Paris is the capital city of France, a country in Western Europe. It’s one of the most famous cities in the world and is known for its beautiful buildings, delicious food, and long history.

Paris sits on the River Seine, which flows right through the middle of the city. Around two million people live there, and it’s one of the most populated cities in Europe.

Facts about the city

• Currency: Euro (€)
• Language: French
• Flag: Blue, white, and red vertical stripes
• National animal (France): The Gallic rooster
• Name for people from Paris: Parisians

What is Paris famous for?

Paris has lots of interesting nicknames, and one of them is “The City of Light.”

It got this name back in 1667, when a city lieutenant wanted to make Paris safer. Lanterns were placed on nearly every main street, and people were asked to light up their windows with candles and oil lamps. Paris was one of the first European cities to have street lighting.

Today, Paris is also famous for fashion, food, and art. People travel from all over the world to shop, eat in amazing restaurants, and visit famous museums.

The Eiffel Tower is the city’s most famous landmark – and one of the most famous in the world!

Paris is also home to one of the world’s biggest museums, the Louvre, where you can see the Mona Lisa.

Cool places to visit

The Eiffel Tower – A 330-metre iron tower in the centre of Paris. You can take a lift to the top and see all across the city. At night, the tower sparkles with thousands of lights!

The Louvre Museum – A giant art museum with a section shaped like a glass pyramid. It has over 35,000 pieces of art inside, including ancient Egyptian statues and the world-famous Mona Lisa.

Notre-Dame Cathedral – A huge Gothic church that’s more than 800 years old. It has tall towers, scary-looking gargoyles, and colourful stained glass windows.

Disneyland Paris – A magical theme park just outside the city. It’s full of roller coasters, music shows, and all your favourite Disney characters.

The Catacombs – A long underground tunnel filled with bones from old graveyards. It’s a spooky and exciting place to visit, but only for brave explorers who don’t mind the dark!.

What’s on the menu?

Paris is a great place for food! French chefs are famous for being some of the most skilled in the world.

You’ll find:

Baguettes – Long loaves of bread that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Parisians buy them fresh every day.

Crêpes – Thin pancakes with sweet or savoury fillings. Try one with Nutella!

Macarons – Colourful sandwich-style biscuits made with almonds and filled with cream.

Ratatouille – A tasty vegetable stew made with tomatoes, courgettes, and aubergines. (Yes, just like in the film!)

What do people wear?

Parisians are known for their stylish clothes, people say fashion is very important in Paris!

On special occasions, you might see traditional French outfits at festivals, with bright colours, ribbons, and lace. Most of the time, though, people wear modern clothes with a touch of Parisian style.

Fun facts for kids about Paris

• The Eiffel Tower was once painted yellow! It’s now bronze but gets repainted every seven years.
• Paris is a very dog-friendly city. People often say it has more dogs than children.
• The Mona Lisa was once stolen from the Louvre, and people lined up just to see the empty space!
• Paris has 37 bridges that cross the River Seine. Some are hundreds of years old!
• The Statue of Liberty in New York was a gift from France, and Paris has a smaller version of it near the Eiffel Tower.

Article vocabulary list

• Capital city – The most important city in a country, where the government is based.
• Landmark – A famous building or place that people recognise.
• Cathedral – A very big and important church.
• Gargoyle – A strange stone statue, often of a monster, found on old buildings.
• Theme park – A place with rides, games, and shows for fun.
• Stew – A hot dish made by cooking vegetables (and sometimes meat) slowly in a pot.
• Stylish – Looking nice and fashionable.
• Tunnel – A long passage underground.
• Nicknames – Fun or short names people give to a person or place.
• Museum – A place where important or interesting things are kept and shown to the public.

Comprehension questions

Just click the plus (+) to see the answer