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Paris Market Tour for Kids

Get a taste of the French food culture with a family-friendly expert guide
From US$443 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
2 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Marché d'Aligre
  • Marché Beauvau
  • Various specialty shops around Marché d'Aligre
Photos & Highlights
  • Open the world of French cuisine to your children as they touch, see, and taste a variety of fresh produce, cheeses, charcuterie, and pastries.
  • Engage in a family exploration of a popular local market with an expert leading the way.
Tour Description
The sweet smell of buttery croissants tickles your nose just before you're whisked away to a kaleidoscope of colors – plump red strawberries sit next to sunshine-yellow lemons and the chameleonic shades of piney blue-green and plum dance across artichokes. 

Prepare to dive into the delicious world of Parisian food markets and cafes, learning how to order and chatting with local vendors. 

Begin at a bakery bursting with flaky croissants and gooey pastries before moving into one of the most popular food markets in Paris, the outdoor Marché d’Aligre and the covered market, Marché Beauvau. 

Here the city comes alive with fresh produce, colorful flowers, and friendly vendors. Your expert will help you chat with the locals and provide a welcoming environment for young gourmands to learn the secrets behind the tastiest cheeses, charcuterie, and seasonal delights. Young culinary enthusiasts will lead the way in finding the ingredients needed to prepare a light family picnic.

After selecting items from the markets and shops, you’ll head to a charming Parisian corner for a small picnic. As you indulge in the flavors of Paris, your expert will share the storied history of French food markets. Children will learn how the French turned milk into butter, meat into pâté, and wheat into bread, and parents will appreciate insight into how the Parisian meal became a celebrated part of global cuisine.
Experts
Rachel Rachel
Food Writer
Rhona Rhona
Chef
Isobel Isobel
Local Guide
Marie Alicia Marie Alicia
Local Guide
Adriana Adriana
Local Guide
Achille Achille
Local Guide - Video Maker
Djémil Djémil
Local Guide
Lisa Lisa
Pastry Chef, Chocologue
Michelle Michelle
Pastry Chef
Anthony Anthony
Art Historian
  • You want to see the world of French food come alive for your little one, perhaps sparking an interest in gastronomy and cooking. 
  • You and your family would like to experience a bit of daily French life and want help breaking through the language barrier to get the most out of visiting a local market. 
  • You are looking for a fun and hands-on activity for your kids during your visit to Paris and want to explore outside of the typical museums and monuments. 
  • Marché d'Aligre
  • Marché Beauvau
  • Various specialty shops around Marché d'Aligre
  • Seasonal local fruits and vegetables
  • Artisan cheeses
  • Freshly baked goods, like croissant or traditional Italian cakes
  • French delicatessen items 

Additional Trip-Planning Resources

A few things that pair well with this tour:

  • An empty belly and a hunger for knowledge
  • A few phrases in French, like un échantillon (a sample), Qu’est-ce que vous cherchez ? (What are you looking for?), or je voudrais (I would like). Don’t worry, your expert will lead the way. 
  • Keep exploring with a tour through the hottest culinary trends in the Marais.

Can I participate in your small group food walks if I have food allergies? 

Yes. If you have any specific allergies/intolerances please indicate these in the Notes section when you're booking and your guide will do his or her best to accommodate. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free diets can certainly be accommodated, although the shops we visit do use wheat flour and nuts in the kitchen for other items. Again, please make note of any dietary issues.

How old do the kids have to be to follow this tour? 

Our Family Food Tour is designed for kids aged 3-12 years old.

Where do we meet? Where does it end? 

The walk begins and ends in the 12th arrondissement near Bastille and stays within a concentrated area in the neighborhood. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.

What if it’s raining? 

Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible? 

Marché d'Aligre is fully accessible. Please contact us to discuss in more detail your mobility concerns so that we can best advise.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.

Where You'll Start
(4.94) 42 Reviews

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Rhona was great. She was so patient with the children, gave them time to run in a park when they needed to, taught our 6 year old granddaughter how to pay for the foods she chose. We learned about cheeses and charcuterie, herbs and spices, organic breads, and fruits. And then she set up a lovely picnic for us. Truly a memorable morning for the whole family.
Loved that she had gluten free options ready and her experience was open minded and the foods that we tried were to our liking!
The Paris Market Your for Kids was the best tour of our entire trip! We are a family of 7 traveling across Rome, Nice, and Paris over 2 weeks and we did the Patis market tour with Achille as our guide. Hands down the best experience!! Achille was extremely engaging and he somehow found a way to captivate our 3, 8, and 16 year olds respectively, while also keeping the adults engaged. Achille's knowledge and love of the French culture and history is evident from the first introduction. The tour started with a croissant and from there we journeyed down a path of amazing smells, tastes, and experiences! I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to experience the heart of Parisien food culture!