Paris Insiders Guide
Paris Insiders Guide
  • What's On

    What's On in Paris

    June 2025 in Paris
    July 2025 in Paris
    August 2025 in Paris
    September 2025 in Paris
    Paris Activities Month by Month
    • What's On

      What's On in Paris

      June 2025 in Paris
      July 2025 in Paris
      August 2025 in Paris
      September 2025 in Paris
      Paris Activities Month by Month
      Paris Events Calendar
      Museum Exhibitions Calendar

      Performances

      Paris Ballet Calendar
      Paris Opera Calendar

      Holidays

      Christmas in Paris
      Christmas Day in Paris
      New Years Eve
      New Years Day in Paris
      Easter in Paris
      Valentines Day in Paris
      Bastille Day Celebrations
      Christmas in Paris

      Christmas in Paris

    • What to See

      The Eiffel Tower

      Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower
      Visiting The Eiffel Tower
      See all…

      Paris Attractions

      The Top 8 Tourist Attractions
      5 Paris Itineraries
      See all…

      Monuments in Paris

      The Arc de Triomphe
      The Panthéon
      See all…

      Landmarks

      Palais Garnier Opera House
      Hotel de Ville – The City Hall
      See all…

      History Museums

      Cluny Museum Paris
      Arts et Metiers
      See all…

      The Louvre Museum

      Louvre Art Museum Tours
      Mona Lisa In The Louvre
      See all…

      Musée d'Orsay

      Get the Most from Your Visit
      Top 10 Van Goghs at d'Orsay
      See all…

      The Top Paris Museums

      Musée de l'Orangerie
      Centre Pompidou
      See all…

      Artist Museums

      Musée Picasso
      Rodin Museum Paris
      See all…

      Unusual Paris Museums

      Guimet Asian Arts Museum
      Galliera Fashion Museum
      See all…
      Louvre Art Museum Tours

      Louvre Art Museum Tours

    • What to Do

      Visiting Versailles

      Skip-The-Line Tours
      Guided Versailles Tours
      Versailles Bike Tours

      The Essential Day Trips

      Visit the Champagne Region
      D-Day Landing Beaches
      Monet's Gardens at Giverny
      See all…

      More Iconic Day Tours

      Mont Saint-Michel
      Monet + Van Gogh
      VIP Private Day Trips
      See all…

      What to Do in Paris

      10 Ways to Skip the Paris Lines
      5 Top Activities In The Marais
      1st Time Visitors Guide
      See all…

      Seine River Cruises

      Top 6 Paris Dinner Cruises
      Lunch & Brunch Cruises
      Cruises with Extras!

      Paris Hidden Gems

      Les Halles Paris
      Impressionists In Paris
      Arcades of Paris
      See all…

      Night In The City of Light

      The 6 Best Evenings In Paris
      Moulin Rouge
      See all…

      Paris City Tours

      The 6 Best City Tours
      Hop-on, Open-Top Buses
      See all…

      Walking Tours

      Top 10 Walking Tours
      Mysterious Walking Tours
      See all…
      Romantic Dinner Cruises

      Romantic Dinner Cruises

    • Where to Stay
      The Top Left Bank Hotels

      Where to Stay in Paris

      Where to Stay in Paris

      Top-Rated Hotels in the Marais
      The Best Left Bank Hotels
      10 Affordable 4-Star Hotels
      See All …

      Preferred 5-Star Hotels

      Fouquet's Paris
      Hotel Napoleon Paris
      Hotel Le Burgundy
      See All…

      Top Hotels Near…

      Saint-Germain-des-Prés
      The Eiffel Tower

      Small Hotels of Paris

      Latin Quarter Hotels
      Top-Rated Montmartre Hotels
      Favorite Designer Hotels
      See All…

      The Palaces of Paris

      Shangri-La Paris
      Hotel George V Paris
      The Royal Monceau
      See All…

      Affordable Hotels

      Ibis Hotels
      Les Hotels de Paris
      Best Western Hotels
      See All…
    • Eat & Drink
      Food & Wine Tour in Montmartre

      The Foods of Montmartre

      Food & Wine Activities

      Top 10 Food Experiences
      Paris Wine Tastings
      Chocolate Tours
      See All…

      Most Popular Paris Food

      10 Best Cheese Shops
      The Best Baguette in Paris
      Food Markets of Paris
      See All…

      Memorable Paris Dining

      L'Assaggio
      Best Paris Terraces
      Seine Dinner Cruise

      Best Paris Restaurants

      Le Jules Verne
      Astrance Paris
      Il Carpaccio
      See All…

      Paris Restaurant Guide

      How to Choose a Restaurant
      Bistros & Brasseries
      The Best Paris Bars
      See All…

      Bistros & Brasseries

      In the Marais
      On the Left Bank
      Historic Brasseries of Paris
      See All…

      Top-Rated Restaurants

      Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
      6 Michelin-Star Restaurants
      See All…
    • More Paris Fun
      Visit the Champagne Region

      Visit the Champagne Region

      Historic Churches

      Notre Dame Cathedral
      La Sainte Chapelle
      See all…

      Paris Miscellanea

      Napoleon's Paris
      Hemingway's Paris
      Medieval Paris
      See All…

      Visiting Burgundy

      VIP Burgundy Wine Tour
      Burgundy Hotels
      See all…

      You Ask, We Answer

      Paris Hotels for Christmas?
      Best Restaurants in the 8th?
      Best Way To Visit Versailles?
      See All…

      Paris Gardens & Parks

      Jardin des Tuileries
      Jardin des Plantes
      Palais Royal
      See all…

      Unusual Paris Sights

      Pere Lachaise Cemetery
      The Catacombs
      See all…

      Top Ten Lists

      10 Tips For Visiting Paris
      7 Vestiges of Roman Paris
      13 Hidden Places In Paris
      See All…

      Your Own Private Paris

      Private Tours of Paris
      Champagne & Shows
      See all…
    • Essentials
      Things to do in Paris

      What's On When You're Here

      Airports & Transfers

      Airport Transfers
      Paris Airports
      Airport Taxis

      Getting Around Paris

      The Paris Metro
      Paris Metro Tickets
      Paris Taxis
      See All…

      Paris Travel Guide

      Where To Stay In Paris
      Top 10 Tips For Travelers
      Choose The Perfect Hotel
      What to Pack for Paris
      See All…

      Paris Essentials

      What's On When You're Here
      Where to Stay in Paris
      Seine River Dinner Cruises
      Paris Restaurant Guide
      Visiting Versailles
      The Eiffel Tower
      The Louvre Museum

      Train Travel

      Train Travel From Paris
      Eurostar: London & Paris
      See All…

      Paris Arrondissements

      The Marais
      The Latin Quarter
      Saint-Germain-des-Pres
      See All…

    Palais de la Découverte – Hands-On Science In The Center Of Paris

    For anyone coming to Paris with children — or with an inquiring mind — Palais de la Découverte is an essential stop. This hands-on science museum in the 8th Arrondissement is the hands-down favorite with kids and their parents. The permanent exhibits are fascinating, and the special exhibitions keep us coming back.

    Palais de la Découverte is currently closed for renovations. It's part of the overall upgrading of the Grand Palais complex for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris.

    This has been on our Paris route for many years, and even though our son Alexandre has grown up, Palais de la Découverte is still the first place he shows to friends who come to Paris. The museum is pretty much right in the centre of things, attached to the Grand Palais, just off the Champs-Elysées, about half-way between the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. Come and see what the palais has to offer in its eight departments.

    The 8th Arrondissement – Much More Than the Champs-Elysées

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    Visitors marveling at the splendor of one of the grand rooms at Versailles

    Versailles Guided Day Tours

    Trade Paris bustle for royal grandeur on a guided Versailles tour. Skip the lines, wander the gardens, and peek inside Marie Antoinette’s private estate. History never looked this good.

    Plan Your Palace Day…

    Versailles Guided Day Tours

    Trade Paris bustle for royal grandeur on a guided Versailles tour. Skip the lines, wander the gardens, and peek inside Marie Antoinette’s private estate. History never looked this good.

    Plan Your Palace Day…

    Life Sciences

    Life Sciences

    This large department is sort of like the biology class of the palais. There's an area exploring animal communication, like cricket calls and frog ribbits. Another section explores human biology. Our favorite area has always been L'École des Rats — that's right, Rat School. It's about behavior in animals and humans, featuring a maze that rats learn to travel. Recently the museum added a large, live ant farm, featuring leaf-cutter ants, and that's captured our interest as well.

    Eureka

    Palais de la Découverte

    Eureka may well be the most fun part of the museum. Here there are more than 30 ways to play with science. Learn how pulleys work with hands-on playing… er, studying! The idea here is that the physics experiments and games help children to understand what they learn about in science class at school and in the other rooms of the museum.

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    Delectable Food Tours in Paris

    Discover the Food & Wine of the Marais
    Visit the top food & wine shops in the historic Marais, tasting the best of French foods. There's plenty of sampling on this small-group tour.
    Check Availability…

    Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
    In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
    Check Availability…

    Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
    In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
    Check Availability…

    Astronomy & Astrophysics

    Astronomy & Astrophysics

    The first planetarium in France was built at Palais de la Découverte and it's still operating today. It's a dome 50 feet in diameter with a giant sun gear that reproduces the starry night sky. Objects in space visible to the naked eye are also shown. The fun thing is that you can view the sky and celestial phenomena as they looked from any point of the Earth, at any time in history. There are demonstration sessions at various times of day throughout the week.

    Other Departments at Palais de la Découverte

    Palais de la Découverte, Chemistry

    The Chemistry department features hands-on displays, but also ongoing demonstrations by scientists. Over in Geosciences there are displays related to dinosaurs, volcanoes, tectonic plates, mountains, and even the geology of Mars.

    Mathematics features talks by prominent teachers, but is also filled with recreational, math games and puzzles. Physics is all about the wonders of… physics. The newest area is Computer Science & Digital Science.

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    Go Deeper Into France: Day Trips From Paris

    Small-Group Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip from Paris
    Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. This small-group tour travels in a luxury Eurovan.
    Check Availability…

    Mysterious Mont Saint-Michel
    The magnificent floating island of Mont Saint-Michel is a sight to behold. Travel through the picturesque Normandy countryside with an expert guide on a day trip from Paris that includes a cider tasting
    Check Availability…

    Small-Group Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip from Paris
    Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. Your small group travels in a luxury Eurovan.
    Check Availability…

    Temporary Exhibitions

    Special Exhibitions

    We've seen wonderful special shows at Palais de la Découverte and have never been disappointed. Exhibitions about dinosaurs, about great apes, even about human hair. We remember one show called Pasteur the Innovator. A very popular exhibition was about the science of Star Wars. Alexandre recently reminded us about the Ice Age show and the fascinating exhibition about cave dwellers and early human societal groups.

    Palais de la Découverte Resources

    Palais de la Découverte

    • Avenue Franklin-D-Roosevelt
    • 8th Arrondissement
    • Metro Stations – Champs Elysées-Clemenceau and Franklin-D-Roosevelt
    • Website…

    Paris Planning Guides

    Link to Chateau de Versailles Tours Visiting Versailles Guide to the Marais Guide to the Marais Link to Left Bank Paris Hotels Left Bank Hotels Learn about Day Trips to Champagne VIP to Champagne

    More Paris Museums

    • Palais de la Découverte…
    • Musée des Arts Decoratifs…
    • Palais Galliera Fashion Museum
    • Yves Saint-Laurent Museum…
    • Guimet Asian Arts Museum…
    • Paris Mineralogy Museum…
    • Musée Cernuschi…
    • Musée du Quai Branly…
    • Sculpture en Plein Air…
    • Romantic Paris Museums…
    • 10 Unusual Paris Museums…
    • Photo Museums…
    • Museums for Families…
    • Fondation Louis Vuitton…
    • Grevin Wax Museum…
    • Fondation Cartier Modern Art…

    Discover What's On When You're Here

    • July 2025 Things to Do in Paris…
    • Bastille Day Celebrations…
    • August 2025 Things to Do…
    • September 2025 Things to Do…
    • October 2025 Things to Do…
    • November 2025 Things to Do…
    • December 2025 Things to Do…
    • Month-by-Month Calendar…

    Paris Essential #1:
    Romantic Dinner Cruise

    Marais Food Tour
    Evening Seine River Cruise +
    A Classic French Meal

    Paris Essential #2:
    Chateau de Versailles

    Visit Chateau de Versailles
    Visit the Magnificent Chateau & Gardens of the Royal Estate

    Paris Essential #3:
    The Louvre Museum

    Visit The Louvre Museum
    Take in the Best of the Louvre,
    Bypass the Long Lines

    Paris Essential #4:
    The Eiffel Tower

    The Eiffel Tower
    Skip the Line and Enjoy the Views of Paris from Above

    Paris Essential #5:
    The D-Day Beaches

    The D-Day Beaches
    Visit the Historic That
    Changed the Course of WWII

    Paris Essential #6:
    Delectable Food Tours

    Marais Food Tour
    Discover the Best
    Food & Wine of Paris
    Plus d'Info

    Vacations in France
    Free Paris Planning Guides
    411

    French for Travelers
    Ask Your Paris Questions
    About

    About
    Praise From Our Readers
    Paris Insiders Guide

    Contact
    Website Information

    Copyright © 2010-2025 Voconces Culinary Ltd, all rights reserved. Original photos © Mark Craft, all rights reserved.

        • June 2025 in Paris
        • July 2025 in Paris
        • August 2025 in Paris
        • September 2025 in Paris
        • Paris Activities Month by Month
        • Paris Events Calendar
        • Museum Exhibitions Calendar
        • Paris Ballet Calendar
        • Paris Opera Calendar
        • Christmas in Paris
        • Christmas Day in Paris
        • New Years Eve
        • New Years Day in Paris
        • Easter in Paris
        • Valentines Day in Paris
        • Bastille Day Celebrations
        • Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower
        • Visiting The Eiffel Tower
        • Eiffel Tower Information
        • See all…
        • The Top 8 Tourist Attractions
        • 5 Paris Itineraries
        • Gardens & Parks
        • See all…
        • The Arc de Triomphe
        • The Panthéon
        • The Bastille
        • See all…
        • Chateau de Versailles
        • Palais Garnier Opera House
        • Hotel de Ville – The City Hall
        • See all…
        • Get the Most from Your Visit
        • Masterpieces of the Louvre
        • Paintings of the Louvre
        • See all…
        • Get the Most from Your Visit
        • Top 10 Van Goghs at d'Orsay
        • See all…
        • Musée de l'Orangerie
        • Centre Pompidou
        • See all…
        • Musée d'Orsay
        • Musée Picasso
        • Rodin Museum Paris
        • See all…
        • Cluny Museum Paris
        • Arts et Metiers
        • See all…
        • Guimet Asian Arts Museum
        • Galliera Fashion Museum
        • See all…
        • Skip-The-Line Tours
        • Guided Versailles Tours
        • Versailles Bike Tours
        • Visit the Champagne Region
        • D-Day Landing Beaches
        • Monet's Gardens at Giverny
        • See all…
        • Mont Saint-Michel
        • Monet + Van Gogh
        • VIP Private Day Trips
        • See all…
        • 10 Ways to Skip the Lines
        • 9 Most Romantic Things to Do
        • 5 Top Activities In The Marais
        • See all…
        • Romantic Dinner Cruises
        • Lunch & Brunch Cruises
        • Cruises with Extras!
        • See all…
        • The 6 Best Evenings In Paris
        • Moulin Rouge
        • Paris at Night
        • See all…
        • Hop-on, Open-Top Buses
        • The 6 Best City Tours
        • See all…
        • Private Tours of Paris
        • Champagne & Shows
        • See all…
        • Top 10 Walking Tours
        • Mysterious Walking Tours
        • See all…
        • Top-Rated Hotels in the Marais
        • The Best Left Bank Hotels
        • 10 Affordable 4-Star Hotels
        • See all …
        • Latin Quarter Hotels
        • Left Bank Hotels
        • Top-Rated Montmartre Hotels
        • Favorite Designer Hotels
        • See all …
        • Shangri-La Paris
        • Hotel George V Paris
        • The Royal Monceau
        • See all…
        • Fouquet's Paris
        • Hotel Napoleon Paris
        • Hotel Le Burgundy
        • See all …
        • Ibis Hotels
        • Les Hotels de Paris
        • Best Western Hotels
        • See all …
        • Saint-Germain-des-Prés
        • The Eiffel Tower
        • Top 10 Food Experiences
        • Paris Wine Tastings
        • Chocolate Tours
        • See all …
        • 10 Best Cheese Shops
        • The Best Baguette in Paris
        • Food Markets of Paris
        • See all …
        • Le Jules Verne
        • Astrance Paris
        • Il Carpaccio
        • See all …
        • How to Choose a Restaurant
        • Bistros & Brasseries
        • The Best Paris Bars
        • See all …
        • In the Marais
        • On the Left Bank
        • Historic Brasseries of Paris
        • See all …
        • Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
        • 6 Michelin-Star Restaurants
        • See All…
        • L'Assaggio
        • Best Paris Terraces
        • Seine Dinner Cruise
        • Notre Dame Cathedral
        • La Sainte Chapelle
        • Sacre-Coeur Paris
        • See all…
        • Les Halles Paris
        • Impressionists In Paris
        • Arcades of Paris
        • See all…
        • Napoleon's Paris
        • Hemingway's Paris
        • Medieval Paris
        • See all…
        • Hidden Landmarks
        • The Catacombs
        • Pere Lachaise Cemetery
        • See all…
        • Jardin des Tuileries
        • Jardin des Plantes
        • Palais Royal
        • See all…
        • VIP Burgundy Wine Tour
        • Burgundy Hotels
        • See all…
        • 10 Tips For Visiting Paris
        • 7 Vestiges of Roman Paris
        • 13 Hidden Places In Paris
        • See all…
        • Paris Hotels for Christmas?
        • Best Restaurants in the 8th?
        • Best Way To Visit Versailles?
        • See all…
        • Airport Transfers
        • Paris Airports
        • Airport Taxis
        • Train Travel From Paris
        • Eurostar: London & Paris
        • Paris Train Stations
        • See all…
        • The Marais
        • The Latin Quarter
        • Saint-Germain-des-Pres
        • See all…
        • Where To Stay In Paris
        • Top 10 Tips For Travelers
        • Choose The Perfect Hotel
        • What to Pack for Paris
        • See all…
        • The Paris Metro
        • Paris Metro Tickets
        • Paris Taxis
        • See all…
        • What's On When You're Here
        • Where To Stay In Paris
        • Seine River Dinner Cruises
        • Paris Restaurant Guide
        • Visiting Versailles
        • The Eiffel Tower
        • The Louvre Museum