What to do during school vacation?

You decided to visit Paris and its area during French school holidays? Here is a list of the most well-known places located in Northern Paris to explore all by yourself or with your family. Here you can find a lot of indoors and outdoors activities such as museums, parks, markets and different events... open all year long!

Scroll down the page to see activities and special events organized for each season of the year!

Find more information about public holidays in Paris and its area here.

Paris - Saint-Ouen Flea Market

 

Visit the most famous flea market in the suburbs of Paris. Old or new clothes, books, music, art, furniture: you will find what you are looking for! Open from Saturday to Monday.

The Art and History Museum of St Denis

This place is a former monastery transformed into a museum of art and history since 1981 and also composed of a garden.

The Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget

This aviation museum located in the North of Paris offers exhibitions, activities for children, a planetarium and also recounts the story of the different aircrafts in France. Why you should visit it?

The Parc de la Villette

Located in the Northern Paris, the Parc de la Villette as too many things to offer: movie theaters, concert halls, museums, shopping malls... This is the place to spend a great day with your family!

The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie

This science museum is perfect for children and teenagers and their thirst for discovery! Check out the different permanent and temporary exhibitions!

The Philharmonie

The Philharmonie de Paris offers exhibitions, workshops and concerts all year long. You can also visit the Cité de la Musique (Music Museum) located next to it.

The Grande Halle de la Villette

 

This place made of glass and iron is composed of 3 halls and holds professional or public events such as exhibitions, circus shows, dance and music festivals.

The Basilica Of Saint-Denis

The Basilica of Saint-Denis is one of the most important heritage site near Paris. Explore the crypt, the necropolis and the recumbent effigies of the French Kings and Queens.
Virtual tour - Basilica

The Saint-Denis market

You can find at this market exotic products coming from all around the world or just buy some fruits and vegetables to your local farmer.

The Shoah Memorial

The Shoah Memorial located in Drancy is a museum and an information center about Jews' life during the WWII. Visit this place of remembrance.

The Stade de France

Come to visit this emblematic stadium! This is here that the most important sport games and concerts are held! Follow in your favorite soccer player or rockstar's footsteps...

The Cité des Enfants

    

The Cité des Enfants, located inside the Cité des Sciences was specially created for children from 2 to 12 years old offering interactive exhibitions. If you have bigger children, check the activities for teenagers in Paris.

The Géode

Definitively closed -
Do not miss this incredible movie theater with a giant hemispheric screen, one of the largest in the world!

The greeters

Book a visit with a local resident to discover Paris and its region in an original way!


You are visiting Paris and its region on your spring, summer, fall or winter vacation? Here are some activities, events or places to visit according your schedule!

What to do during spring vacation?

What to do during summer vacation?

Summer is the most important season of the year, that is why the Seine-Saint-Denis region suggests you plenty of activities for all the family!

What to do in Paris during July and August?

What do do during fall vacation?

Fall is the season of festivals and exhibitions!

  • Do not miss Heritage Days (Journées du Patrimoine). For adults and kids! (September)
  • Take your kids to the Paris Horse Show to attend equestrian performances and demonstration shows.
  • Meet your favorite TV shows - movies stars and directors or comics authors at the Comic Con (October). You can also run for the French Championships of Cosplay!
  • Art fan? Attend La Bellevilloise art fair to get an affordable masterpiece souvenir from Paris!

What to do during winter vacation?

School holidays in France

There are three terms in the school year, starting in September. While everybody starts on the same day, dates of the French school holidays vary according to the “zone” you live in listed in regional education authorities –“academies”.

  • Thanksgiving holiday - autumn holidays: The Thanksgiving holiday lasts for two weeks in October or November. All the three academies – zones A, B and C – are all concerned and have the same school calendar for autumn holidays.
     
  • Christmas holidays – December: Christmas holidays last for two weeks and straddle over the end of December and the beginning of January - December / January. The dates for the Christmas holidays are the same for all academies - Zone A, Zone B and Zone C.
     
  • Mardi Gras Holiday - winter holidays: Formerly known as Mardi Gras holidays, the winter holidays straddle overthe months of February / March. The duration of the winter break is two weeks for the three academies but not on the same dates (two zones overlap one week).
     
  • Easter holidays, spring break: To each his own preference! On the official agenda of the French National Education it is called the spring break, for others it remains the Easter holidays. Depending on the academy sector thus for the zone A, B or C, it is possible to have their Easter holidays on the same dates as the religious festival (the "Easter Monday" is a public holiday in France ). Spring break lasts two weeks in the month of March / April. The three areas are not on vacation at the same time - two school zones overlap over one week.
     
  • The summer holidays, summer vacation: The “holiday” dates cover all zones (A, B, C) over the period of July and August. The term “great vacation” was changed to "summer vacation" in the 1980’s. The duration of the summer holiday is about eight weeks - it tends to shorten over the years (in 1960 there were ten weeks). Please note that some schools prefer to begin the new term in late August rather than the official entry date in September.

Vacation dates in Paris 2021

Winter holidays from Saturday, February 13 to Sunday, February 28, 2021

Spring break 2021 in Paris (zone C) :  Saturday April 17, 2021 to Sunday May 2, 2021

New : Pont de l'Ascension 2021 (subject to confirmation) : Wednesday, May 12 to Sunday, May 16, 2021

Summer holiday on July 6, 2021

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