Things to do with kids in Nantes

How to read this guide

This guide gathers 43 selected places to go with children in Nantes, for example Jardin des Plantes de Nantes, Le Jardin Extraordinaire and Parc de la Gaudinière. They are sorted by type of outing rather than by neighbourhood, so you can quickly find an idea by age, weather and mood.

The Nantes places are tested by local parents and then checked (address, photo, opening). Ratings and review counts shown are Google's. Always check hours before you go.

Family-friendly cafes and restaurants in Nantes

Giorgia, Le Clan des Mamma : A Neapolitan pizzeria in the Graslin district that opened in late 2023 and aims at families.

Pioche : Cooperative games bar where teams play in four themed rooms, in short rounds to replay and beat a record.

Aux Petits Joueurs : Cultural bar in the Saint-Donatien area with a children's play corner set away from the door, decorated by a children's illustrator.

Les Gamines : Café-restaurant designed for parents and children aged 0 to 12, with a reading corner, a play area and play huts visible from the tables.

Magmaa Food Hall : Food hall in former industrial halls on the Île de Nantes, close to Les Machines, with nine different kitchens under one roof. A dedicated area lets young children play while the adults eat, so everyone can pick their own dish.

La Cantine du Voyage : Summer restaurant of Le Voyage à Nantes on the Île de Nantes, with a vegetable garden, a giant artwork and a colourful play area called La Colline where children can climb and slide.

Creative workshops for kids in Nantes

L'Agronaute : Urban farm of 3,500 sq m in the former wholesale market with guided visits, gardening workshops and a plant nursery. A good outing to introduce kids to plants and sustainable food (annual membership of 3 euros).

Yadoni Céramiques : Ceramics studio in central Nantes where children sketch a project, shape the clay, then paint it before firing.

La Petite Académie Nantes : Art studio near Graslin offering drawing, painting, sculpture and comics from age 4, as weekly classes or holiday stages.

L'Atelier des Nouveaux Arts Nantes : Studio on the Île de Nantes teaching drawing, painting, manga and comics in groups of six at most, led by illustrators.

Beaux-Arts Nantes Saint-Nazaire, cours enfants : The art school runs public classes for children aged 6 to 15, including a Wednesday introductory workshop mixing drawing, collage, modelling and sculpture.

Ô P'tits Coins (Le 20 mille) : Creative reuse centre where kids aged 6 to 10 make things from salvaged materials, such as pop-up cards or Lego-style prints.

Parks and playgrounds in Nantes

Jardin des Plantes de Nantes : A large botanical garden in the heart of the city, with greenhouses, camellia collections and a small menagerie of dwarf goats. Kids love the Dépodépo, a Claude Ponti-designed play area with giant pots, tunnels and hideouts, plus a paddling pool in summer.

Le Jardin Extraordinaire : A former granite quarry turned into a spectacular garden, with a 25 m waterfall, footbridges and cliff viewpoints. Entry is free; the via ferrata (booking required) and climbing routes appeal to older kids.

Parc de la Gaudinière : A wooded park of about 12 hectares crossed by a stream, with a pond to watch ducks and swans. Two play areas (slides, spring riders, bars), big lawns for running around and restrooms on site.

Parc de la Chantrerie : A park on the Erdre riverbank with a small educational farm (sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, donkey) open on set dates only. It also has an educational vegetable garden, observable beehives and a play area, with nature workshops on some Sundays.

Parc des Oblates : Riverside park with two large wooden play structures, one for toddlers from 2 with a cabin and slide, the other a nest built around an old cedar.

Miroir d'eau : Large shallow pool at the foot of the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, with jets and mist where kids run and get wet on sunny days.

Parc du Grand Blottereau : Large public park with the Bora-Bora play area, big slides and a monkey bridge, plus a separate zone for children around 2.

What to do on a rainy day in Nantes

Patinoire du Petit Port : An Olympic-size ice rink open for family recreational skating, with themed sessions.

Leave in Time : Escape game offering child-mode scenarios from age 8, with sets meant to amuse rather than scare.

Cours Citron : A school for improv, clown and theatre with children's workshops by age: theatre awakening from age 4, theatre and musical comedy for older kids.

Chapidock, école de cirque : A circus school on the Île de Nantes with weekly classes from childhood and holiday camps (acrobatics, balance, juggling, aerial).

Le Musée des Enfants de Nantes : Association-run museum designed with and for children aged 6 months to 12, always accompanied by an adult.

Les Machines de l'île : A world inspired by Jules Verne and Leonardo da Vinci: a gallery where machines come to life, a 12 m Grand Elephant that carries visitors and a three-level marine-worlds carousel.