Ile St Louis

Ile St Louis

Ile St Louis
75004 Paris, France

You have successfully saved this Thing To Do.

See it in My Wishlist

Rate Ile St Louis:

Babies

Toddlers & Pre-K

School-Age Kids

Pre-Teens & Teens

Ile St Louis Description

So much of the magic in the City of Lights comes from just wandering around with your family and exploring different neighborhoods. There is no neighborhood more charming and Old World than the Ile St Louis, a residential island in the middle of the Seine and a whole quiet world of its own. Throw stones in the Seine, admire the 17th-century mansions designed by architect Louis le Vau that is one reason the island has so many illustrious residents (including poet Charles Baudelaire, novelist Victor Hugo, scientist Marie Curie, and painter Paul Cézanne), and enjoy walking around one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Paris.

Kid Tips

Babies: Ditch the stroller (or bring a light umbrella one that folds easily) and carry the baby to navigate the Metro, the stairs, and the weekend crowds with greater ease.

Toddlers & Pre-K: Wooden scooters made in Germany, brightly painted Loch Ness Monster and dragon pull toys, and wonderful board books make this a toddler paradise.

School-Age Kids: Read the small plaques that identify many of the historic hôtels particuliers and the famous people who lived in them.

Pre-Teens & Teens: If yours is of a literary, musical, or Polish bent, there are three small "museums" on the island, all housed in the Bibliothèque Polonaise de Paris, one which celebrates Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz (Musée Adam Mickiewicz), a collection of paintings (Musée Boleslas Bregas) and a room dedicated to the life of composer Frédéric Chopin (Salon Chopin).

Planning Notes

Let them eat ice cream. The best ice cream shop in all of Paris (and a hot spot of locals and tourists in the summer) is located on Ile St Louis: Berthillon! (31 rue St Louis en L'Ile).

Combine with a visit to Notre Dame. If you have to scratch the sight seeing itch after a leisurely stroll, on the West side of the Ile St Louis is the bridge (Pont St Louis) that will take you to the adjacent island, Ile de La Cité, where you can tour Notre Dame.

Walk on the quais. You can walk down a million stone steps to the island's quais and enjoy the water from a closer view.

Related Vacations