4 Unforgettable Family Holidays in France
Hoping for fun-filled, stress-free family holidays in France filled with precious memories? Read on to make the most of your time in France with the kids in tow.
Book family hotels in France with Novotel
Looking for kid-friendly activities, exciting adventures and happy memories to come home with? Take your next family holiday in France. It’s the perfect destination for relaxed family travel, with fast roads – plus a speedy rail network if you’d rather not drive – multiple breathtaking landscapes and lots of walkable towns packed with kid-friendly attractions. So whether you’re heading for spectacular Paris or sunny Côte d’Azur beaches, the snow-covered Alps, theme parks or the iconic châteaux of the Loire, stay at Novotel, with its family-friendly discounts and facilities, for an unforgettable family holiday in France.
4 memorable family holidays in France
Our best advice for successful family holidays in France? Don’t pack to much into each day. Leave some time for relaxation, so the kids don’t get irritable rushing from activity to activity. If you’re worried about the itinerary for your family breaks in France, get your tribe on side by including them in the holiday planning!
1. Family holidays in Paris
Why go: A well-planned family getaway in Paris suits kids of all ages. Paris family holidays mean zooming up to the top of the Eiffel Tower for breathtaking views over the city to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, sightseeing on boat excursions past The Louvre and Notre Dame on the River Seine and discovering interactive displays at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie. If younger kids need time out, float model yachts on the boating lake in the Jardin du Luxembourg, while in summer you can all soak up the sun on the Paris Plages, artificial beaches set out along the river banks. And of course, Disneyland Paris beckons families with its rides, parades and firework displays too.
Where to stay: It’s easy to get around Paris on foot or by Métro, but if you want to stay centrally, book into Novotel Paris Centre Tour Eiffel to be 10 minutes’ walk from the city’s most famous landmark. The premium rooms sleeping up to four at Novotel Marne-la-Vallée Collégien are 15 minutes’ drive away from Disneyland Paris, and half an hour from the city centre.
Other cities to consider: Eminently walkable Lyon has a myriad of museums like the futuristic Musée des Confluences guaranteed to fascinate kids, as well as lots of open space in Parc de la Tête d'Or, where there’s also a small zoo. Nantes is a big hit with kids too; they can ride on the famous mechanical elephant and other automata at Les Machines de l'Île; Novotel Nantes Centre Bord de Loire puts you less than five minutes’ riverside stroll away.
Good to know: If you’re planning on heading for the immersive rides at Futuroscope near Poitiers, Novotel Poitiers Site du Futuroscope is almost next door to the theme park. Likewise, you’ll find Parc Asterix five minutes’ stroll from Novotel Roissy Saint-Witz in Oise. Like most Novotels in France, both have swimming pools, connecting rooms and a host of child-friendly amenities.
2. Active family holidays in the French Alps
Why go: Take a deep gulp of fresh mountain air and get prepared for making lasting memories on your winter family holidays in France. All the resorts in the Alps – from Chamonix to Megève and La Plagne – offer ski school and equipment hire (helmets included) for skiers and boarders, as well as a variety of runs from nursery slopes to mogul fields and off-piste routes for confident skiers. There is plenty of family-friendly fun to be had too, from snowball fights to sledge runs, night-time skiing under twinkling lights to horse-and-carriage rides through sparkling alpine forests.
Where to stay: With all mod cons tucked behind a traditional, chalet-style façade, Novotel Megève Mont-Blanc offers a secure ski locker, discounted equipment hire and easy access to the vast Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area. You can also soak away any muscle aches in the thermal pool at Palais Megève nearby.
Other options for outdoor action: With surf schools and board hire, Biarritz is surfing central. Novices can head for the Côte des Basques, while Grande Plage produces consistent hollow waves for expert riders. Stay at Novotel Resort & Spa Biarritz Anglet to be close to the beaches and sleep in comfort on queen-size beds in the family accommodation. Annecy is a summer hub for swimming, sailing and kayaking as well as extreme sports like paragliding and rock climbing in alpine foothills; Novotel Annecy Centre puts you five minutes’ walk from the lake and its sporting options.
3. Family beach holidays in the south of France
Why go: When what’s required of a family holiday in France is sun, sea and sand, head for the glittering Côte d’Azur and its intoxicating beaches backed by world-renowned Riviera family resorts like Cannes and Saint-Tropez. Relaxed Juan-les-Pins has a family-friendly sandy stretch with shallow waves. If you’re looking to escape the crowds, Plage de la Darse is a tiny pocket of sand hidden under the ramparts in Villefranche-sur-Mer; its crystal-clear waters are perfect for youngsters learning to snorkel. Away from the Med, you’ll find safe cycleways along the seafront, Aquasplash waterpark in Antibes and splash fountains along Nice’s mirrored Promenade du Paillon.
Where to stay: There are several Novotels on the Côte d’Azur; stay in a family room at Novotel Antibes Sophia Antipolis near walks in the Provençal foothills, or stroll to the beach in just a few minutes from Novotel Nice Centre Vieux Nice, which has a panoramic rooftop pool as well.
Other beach holiday choices: Brittany is another holiday haven for families in France, with golden beaches, calm waves for young swimmers and lots of rocky enclaves like Plage de Trestrignel for rock pooling on the Perros-Guirec peninsula. If you have older kids, book connecting rooms at Novotel Saint-Brieuc Central Station, a handy base for coastal hikes along the spectacular Côte de Granit Rose.
4. Cultural family holidays in the Loire Valley
Why go: If you’re on family holidays in France with teens, introduce them to the stunning châteaux of the Loire Valley. Choose your castles carefully to combat short attention spans: visit Cheverny for its elegant Neoclassical symmetry and the interactive Tintin exhibition, or tour Château du Clos Lucé, where displays include some of Leonardo da Vinci’s wackier inventions. Avoid heritage fatigue by mixing in an itinerary of cycling on the traffic-free Loire à Vélo with its gentle gradients, exploring the marshes of Pays de la Loire by boat or making memories together on treetop trails and flora-themed rides at Terra Botanica.
Where to stay: The modern, comfortable family rooms at Novotel Blois Centre Val de Loire place you in pole position for visiting several historic castles like Cheverny and Chenonceau as well as the wonderful ZooParc du Beauval, repeatedly voted the best zoo in France.
Other heritage experiences: See if you can spark an interest in World War II history with a visit to Normandy’s D-Day landing beaches, the ethereal Omaha Memorial and interactive displays at the Juno Beach Centre; base yourselves 20 minutes’ drive away at Novotel Bayeux and you’ll also be within walking distance of the town’s charming half-timbered centre and the brand-new Bayeux Tapestry Museum when it opens in July 2027.
FAQs
Is Novotel good for family holidays in France?
Make family memories at Novotel thanks to the Family Time programme with play areas and entertainment for youngsters, and late check-out on Sundays.
What are the main benefits of booking family holidays in France with Novotel?
At Novotel, two children up to the age of 16 have a free stay and breakfast when they share your room. You can also book interconnecting rooms with a 50% discount on the second room for kids aged between 8 and 16.
Perhaps you’d like some inspo on family activities to make travelling in France fun? Or how about some travel games to keep the kids occupied in their downtime? And don’t forget that wherever your destination, family hotels in France get snapped up quickly, so start planning your stay now.
