Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is France's most geographically dramatic region, combining the ancient volcanic landscapes of the Massif Central with the highest peaks in the Alps. Lyon, its capital, is consistently ranked among the world's great food cities and is the birthplace of cinema. The region spans skiing at Chamonix and the Trois Vallées, lakeside beauty at Annecy, Roman heritage in Lyon, the volcanic chains of the Auvergne, and one of Europe's finest hiking networks.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Vulcania Volcanic Theme Park
Europe's only theme park dedicated to volcanology, located 20 minutes west of Clermont-Ferrand at Route de Mazayes, 63230 Saint-Ours-les-Roches. Highlights include the Namazu earthquake roller coaster, the Abyss Explorer submarine simulation, the Volcans Sacrés dark ride, France's largest planetarium, and a giant-screen IMAX film on volcano chasers Maurice and Katia Krafft. A dedicated children's zone provides gentler rides for younger visitors. The park operates late March through early November, 10:00–18:00 daily (extended evenings in summer).
Duration: Full day
Musée des Confluences Lyon
A spectacular steel-and-glass building at the confluence of the Saône and Rhône rivers houses Europe's largest natural history museum, with 2 million objects covering the origin of life, civilizations, and human societies. The permanent collections — organized around four existential questions — are highly visual and suitable for curious children from around age 8. Temporary exhibitions frequently feature immersive installations. Located at 86 quai Perrache, 69002 Lyon; Tram T1 (Musée des Confluences stop).
Duration: 3–4 hours
Aquarium de Lyon
Located in the Confluence district next to the Musée des Confluences, the Aquarium de Lyon houses 10,000 fish from freshwater and tropical marine environments, including sharks, rays, and a touch pool for children. Daily feeding demonstrations and interactive exhibits explain river ecology. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00, extended hours during school holidays. Address: 5 place Nautile, 69002 Lyon; Tram T1 (Musée des Confluences stop).
Duration: 2–3 hours
Parc des Oiseaux, Villars-les-Dombes
Europe's largest ornithological park, 30 minutes from Lyon near the Dombes wetland plateau, houses 3,000 birds from 300 species. The signature 'Birds in Flight Show' at 15:00 daily sends 150 birds from 20 species free-flying over the audience. Children can observe pelicans, flamingos, macaws, and rare cranes in spacious open enclosures. A panoramic tower with lifts gives aerial views over the park's lakes. Address: RD1083, 01330 Villars-les-Dombes (GPS: 45.9922°N, 5.0242°E). Open April–November.
Duration: 3–4 hours
Lake Annecy Boat Cruise
The Compagnie des Bateaux du Lac d'Annecy operates electric-powered boats on a lake renowned as the cleanest in Europe. The 1-hour 'Grand Lac' route circles the southern basin past the Château de Duingt, limestone cliffs, and waterfront villages. Boats depart from the quay near the old town, with first departures around 9:00 AM and hourly sailings through the afternoon. Advance booking is strongly recommended during July and August. The landing stages are at Quai Bayreuth, 74000 Annecy (GPS: 45.9088°N, 6.1257°E).
Duration: 1–1.5 hours
Lake Annecy Swimming Beaches
Lake Annecy offers some of the cleanest freshwater swimming in Europe, with water temperatures reaching 22–24°C in July and August. The Plage des Marquisats (Annecy town, supervised July 5–August 31) and Plage d'Albigny (Annecy-le-Vieux, family-friendly with grass and playground) are the main free supervised beaches. Additional beaches at Sévrier, Saint-Jorioz, and Veyrier-du-Lac provide alternatives with gentler entry slopes for young children. Pedal boats with optional slides are available for hire at nine locations around the lake from spring through September.
Duration: Half day
Montenvers Rack Railway and Mer de Glace
A red cogwheel train built in 1909 climbs from Chamonix town (Gare du Montenvers, 74400 Chamonix) through pine forest to the Mer de Glace, France's largest glacier at 7 km long. A cable car descends to the glacier surface, where visitors enter tunnels carved into the ice. The Glaciorium museum explains 250 years of glacier history and climate science. The ice cave exhibits change annually. The views of the seracs and crevasses from the terrace are genuinely spectacular and educational for children.
Duration: 3–4 hours
Aiguille du Midi Cable Car, Chamonix
Two successive cable car stages lift visitors from Chamonix (1,035 m) to the Aiguille du Midi summit at 3,842 m — the highest cable car arrival point in the world accessible without mountaineering. The summit terrace offers breathtaking views over the Mont Blanc massif and the Alps across to Italy and Switzerland. The journey itself is dramatic, rising through cloud level and granite cliffs. Children should wear warm layers (summit temperatures are around 0–5°C year-round). The cable car station is at Plan de l'Aiguille, 74400 Chamonix.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Family Hike to Cascade de Bérard, Vallorcine
One of the most accessible family hikes in the Chamonix valley, starting from the Vallorcine hamlet (GPS: 46.0312°N, 6.8898°E) on a well-marked path beside the Bérard stream. The route passes through alpine meadows and forest to reach the Cascade de Bérard waterfall in approximately 1.5 hours at an easy pace. A secured metal walkway at the base of the falls gives close views. Suitable for children aged 3 and up with adult supervision; no significant elevation gain in the lower section. The Mont Blanc Express train from Chamonix to Vallorcine removes the need for a car.
Duration: 2–3 hours round trip
Grenoble-Bastille Cable Car (Bulles)
Grenoble's famous 'Bulles' (bubbles) are transparent egg-shaped gondolas built in 1934, making this the world's oldest urban cable car in continuous operation. The ride climbs 264 metres to the 18th-century Bastille fortress with sweeping views over Grenoble and the three surrounding mountain massifs: Vercors, Chartreuse, and Belledonne. The fortress is free to explore once at the top. The dramatic transparent cabins, the views, and the historic fortress make this a genuinely memorable family outing that requires very little effort.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Novotel Lyon Gerland Musée des Confluences
The most family-oriented full-service hotel in Lyon, positioned within walking distance of the Musée des Confluences and Aquarium de Lyon. Family rooms accommodate 2 adults and 2 children; under-16s stay free in parents' room under Novotel's standard policy. An outdoor pool (seasonal), children's play area, and games room are on-site. The hotel is accessible by Tram T1 for exploring the rest of Lyon without a car. Book via all.accor.com or booking.com.
Family features: Family rooms sleep 4, children under 16 stay free, seasonal outdoor pool, play area, games room, children's welcome kit, cribs available
Les Fermes de Marie, Megève
A cluster of seven authentic mountain farmhouses reconverted into a luxury Alpine hotel in Megève, 1 hour from Geneva. The resident Kids' Club runs programmes during school holidays and summer for children aged 4–12. Family suites and connecting rooms accommodate groups of 4–6. An indoor pool, spa, and village location allow families to walk to Megève's ski lifts and summer gondola. Book at fermesdemarie.com.
Family features: Kids' Club ages 4–12, connecting rooms and family suites, indoor pool, spa, village-centre location, ski-room with boot dryers
Pierre & Vacances Alpine Apartments (Les Arcs, La Plagne, Flaine)
Self-catering apartment complexes in three major Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ski resorts, with the largest concentrations at Les Arcs 1600/1800, La Plagne, and Flaine. Apartments have full kitchens, separate bedrooms, and shared facilities including pools and activity areas. Ideal for families who want kitchen flexibility and extra space at a lower per-night cost than hotels. Most complexes are ski-in ski-out or close to lifts. Book at pierreetvacances.com.
Family features: Full kitchen, separate bedrooms, shared pool, ski storage, children's play areas, flexible meal times, dishwasher and washing machine in most units
Club Med La Plagne 2100
Club Med's La Plagne property sits at 2,100 m altitude in one of the world's largest ski areas, ski-in ski-out from the residence. The all-inclusive formula covers all meals, snacks, and most drinks, plus access to a children's club (ages 4–17) with dedicated spaces and programmes, infant care for 4 months–3 years (at supplement), and ski school for beginners. Summer sessions with hiking and mountain biking are also available. Book at clubmed.co.uk or clubmed.com.
Family features: Kids' club ages 4 months–17 years, all meals included, ski-in ski-out, supervised childcare for infants, teen programmes, beginner ski school
Gîtes and Holiday Cottages, Lake Annecy Area
The Lake Annecy tourist network lists over 300 gîtes, holiday cottages, and farm-stay properties in the villages surrounding the lake, from Sévrier and Doussard on the south shore to Talloires and Menthon-Saint-Bernard on the east. Most offer private gardens, full kitchens, and the quieter village setting preferred by families with young children. Many are within cycling distance of free public beaches. Browse and book at lac-annecy.com.
Family features: Private garden, full kitchen, separate bedrooms, near free public beaches, parking included, cots often available on request, no city noise
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Lyon's Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse (102 cours Lafayette, 69003 Lyon) is the easiest family dining option in the city — the covered market has 50+ stalls where children can try charcuterie, cheese, and pastries informally without a reservation or set menu
Traditional Lyon bouchons serve generous plates of rich Lyonnais food; two dishes widely enjoyed by children are quenelles de brochet (light steamed fish dumplings with cream sauce) and tarte aux pralines (sweet pink almond tart) — both appear on virtually every bouchon menu
Mountain restaurants in the Alpine resorts serve raclette, fondue savoyarde, and tartiflette (potato gratin with reblochon cheese and bacon) — these melted-cheese dishes are popular with children aged 8 and up; most Alpine restaurants are relaxed about children and portion sizes are substantial
Regional crêperies are found throughout the region and offer the most child-friendly dining experience — a savoury galette with ham and cheese followed by a Nutella or caramel sweet crêpe costs approximately €12–€16 total for a child's meal
In Annecy and around Lac d'Annecy, canal-side restaurants in the old town offer glaces (ice cream) and light meals within meters of the lake beaches — the informal terraces are ideal for families arriving from a swim; expect to pay €3–€5 for a scoop of artisan ice cream at local glaciers (ice cream shops)
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is large — Clermont-Ferrand is 3 hours by TGV from Paris, Lyon is 2 hours, and Grenoble 1.5 hours; for a family trip combining Lyon and the Alps, use Lyon as a base and rent a car for Alpine excursions, or rely on TER regional trains to Grenoble and Annecy
The Puy de Dôme, the region's most famous volcano, can be reached by the Panoramique des Dômes rack railway from the car park at Col de Ceyssat — a gentler option than the 45-minute hiking trail for families with young children; book at panoramiquedesdomes.com (approximately €8/adult round trip, €4/child)
French school holiday dates vary by zone — Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is Zone A, meaning its holidays fall slightly earlier or later than Paris (Zone C); visiting during Zone A holidays but outside Zone C holidays can mean shorter queues at nationally popular attractions such as Disneyland Paris, while local attractions like Vulcania will be busier
Many Alpine resorts offer summer mountain passes aimed at families; Les Gets issues a summer 'Multipass' giving unlimited gondola access for multiple days at lower rates than individual lift tickets — buy at the resort lift station or at pass.lesgets.com
The Vercors plateau southwest of Grenoble is an underrated family destination — the Grottes de Choranche (stalactite caves with underground river, accessible from age 5) and the Gorges du Nan are free-to-visit or low-cost natural attractions with limited crowds compared to the main Alpine resorts
Mountain weather changes rapidly — afternoon thunderstorms are common above 1,500 m in July and August; plan high-altitude activities (Aiguille du Midi, Puy de Dôme summit) for morning hours and build afternoon flexibility into itineraries
SNCF children under 4 travel free on all national trains; children 4–11 pay 50% of the adult fare by default or 60% less with the Carte Avantage SNCF; the Lyon-Annecy TER takes approximately 2 hours and avoids motorway tolls — a practical and scenic option for families without a car