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Kid-Friendly 5 Days in Paris Itinerary

Posted on Last updated: May 4, 2024

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Planning a trip to Paris with kids and want a totally do-able itinerary? Keep scrolling to check out my kid-friendly 5 days in Paris itinerary from my last trip to France!

This kid-friendly 5 days in paris itinerary was written by family travel expert marcie cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, i may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog..

Planning a trip to Paris with your family?

We just spent 5 days in Paris and had a blast! Our 8-year-old and 5-year-old loved all of the activities we did. Keep scrolling to see our exact Paris itinerary. Spoiler alert: they want to go back!

You will too once you see how much fun these activities are. All of them are perfect for kids of all ages. And don’t worry – we have tips for traveling with kids included too.

Keep scrolling to find out some awesome things to do for kids in Paris that your whole family will enjoy.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning your dream trip to Paris today!

Don’t have time to read a bunch of Paris blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Paris with kids.

Popular Paris Tours/Activities

• Scavenger Hunt at the Musee d’Orsay (my kids voted this the BEST thing they did in Paris)
• Paris Food Tour (We ate SO many yummy treats on our Food Tour)
• Tootbus (this is a kid-friendly hop-on-hop-off bus)
• Eiffel Tower (skip the line and go straight to the top)
• Day Trip to Giverny and Versailles (it’s a great city break)
• Flytographer photo shoot (they are easy to book and really affordable)

Kid-Friendly Paris Hotels

• Hotel Aiglon (this is a quiet area near Luxembourg Garden, and it’s perfect for families)
• Pullman Paris Eiffel Tower Hotel (there’s a shuttle to Disneyland or Giverny from here)
• Newport Bay Club Resort (this is our favorite place to stay at Disneyland)

5 Days in Paris with Kids

Before I really get into the Paris in 5 days itinerary, I wanted to note that we flew to Paris from Seattle and arrived at 11 am in a heat wave where it was 101 degrees. We spent the first day basically just laying in the hotel soaking up the A/C and recovering from jet lag.

Jet lag hit us pretty hard this trip and we were back at the hotel by around 8 pm every night. We also added a few nights at Disneyland Paris so we actually spent 7 days in Paris. But this is the real itinerary we used in Paris for 5 days.

Day 1 : Food Tour and Jardin du Luxembourg

Paris food tour in the marais district.

We all know that Paris is famous for its food. And we wanted to know exactly where to go to taste the best croissants. So, we booked this Paris food tour for 10 am on our first full day in Paris.

It’s one of the best food tours we’ve ever done while traveling!

Our guide took us to famous bakeries where we tried flaky croissants, pastries, and world-renowned bread. We did several tastings during our walk but it culminated in a leisurely sit down at a wine bar for wine, cheese, and bread.

While we devoured lots of incredible food, we tried a truffle soft cheese that I’ve literally been dreaming about ever since! Check the latest rates and more information .

Notre Dame de Paris

Our food tour ended fairly close to Notre Dame Cathedral , so we figured we should walk past and take a few photos.

Several years ago, Notre Dame caught on fire and it was incredibly sad. Since then, they have been working on restoring it. The face of the cathedral looked pretty good, but the rest was covered in scaffolding.

It wasn’t open for tours when we were there, but we’ve been inside in the past and it’s pretty amazing!

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Jardin du luxembourg.

One of our favorite memories of visiting Paris with toddlers was playing with the toy boats at Jardin du Luxembourg . It was an activity that our oldest child picked out from a book and it was a huge hit.

So, when we decided to go back to Paris, we made sure to add Jardin du Luxembourg to our Paris itinerary.

We started off renting toy boats and it was super fun! It was only 6 euros for 30 minutes, so we got each kid a boat and we ran around chasing them.

From there, we headed over to the playground where the kids met other kids and played for 2 hours! The playground did cost a few euros to enter, but it was totally worth it.

We meant to hit up the carousel right next to the playground, but it closed a few minutes before we got there. It’s one of the carousels where kids try to grab the ring with a stick.

Dinner at Broadway Caffe

We realized that we were getting hungry for dinner after we left Jardin du Luxembourg, so we hit up Broadway Caffe on our way back to our hotel in Montparnasse.

It’s pretty much American food and Italian food (like Neopolitan pizza). We ordered pizza because it was easy.

We sat outside and they had swings for chairs! This was the main reason we opted to eat here.

Day 2 : Paris Photoshoot and Historical Tour of Paris

Flytographer photoshoot in montmartre.

One of my favorite things to do when traveling with my family is book a photoshoot . That way, I know I’ll get some “nice” photos of myself, my kids, and my husband. Otherwise, I’ll only be in selfies.

This photoshoot had a 6 am start time, which was sort of brutal. But, it meant that we were basically the only people walking around Sacre Couer and Montmartre, which was pretty awesome.

I packed our photoshoot clothes in a special packing cube to make sure everything stayed clean and ready for our photo session.

It was AMAZING and I’m so glad we woke up early to do this! Check out my top Paris family photo tips !

Oh, and we picked Montmartre because we did a photo shoot at the Eiffel Tower 5 years ago and didn’t want to repeat locations.

We always use Flytographer when we travel. They are usually the most affordable photography service we can find. And you can save $25 off your first session .

Book a Family Photo Shoot

Whenever we travel, we almost always book a family photo shoot with Flytographer. They are super easy, affordable, AND guarantee that I’ll be in some photos. You can get $25 off if you book through this link or use the code HAWAIITRAVEL.

Breakfast at Laduree on the Champs Elysees

If you love macarons, chances are that you have heard of Laduree. They have made their way to the United States in large cities like Los Angeles and New York City. But, they are originally from Paris.

They have several locations around Paris, but if you want to do breakfast or brunch, you’ll want to book at their Champs Elysees location .

I booked our 8:30 am breakfast reservation about a month before our trip and I’m so glad I did because there was a line out the door for walk-ups.

The portion sizes were on the smaller size, but everything tasted and looked beautiful. Since it was a special breakfast, we let the kids order desserts and giant macarons.

And then, we had to stop and pick up some macarons to enjoy later in the day.

Shopping on the Champs Elysees

The Champs Elysees is one of the most famous shopping streets in Paris. Normally, I’d just suggest walking for a bit to window shop because there are some fancy stores.

However, I spotted a Monoprix (sort of like France’s version of Target) and I just had to go in a take a peek. I’m glad I did because I scored a few cute dresses and a sweatshirt to immediately put on because it was a lot colder than I expected!

Our kids also begged us to visit the Disney Store. They did have a few Disney Paris items and a lot of cute merchandise that we did not see at Disneyland Paris. So, I’d say it’s worth a quick stop.

Unexpected Gossip Tour of Paris

We love doing unique tours when we travel. So, when I saw that there was a tour where a woman dressed up in a 1700s costume and walked around Paris spilling the best historical gossip, I couldn’t sign up fast enough!

We booked the 11:30 am tour, which was perfect timing for our family.

Our kids thought the tour was pretty funny and they actually learned a lot of historical facts in a creative way. I love that our tour guide had a mini iPad so she could show exactly what she was talking about.

We learned cool things like how the term “souvenir” was coined and what really happened on Bastille Day.

The tour ended in the courtyard of the Louvre where we learned how someone stole the Mona Lisa. It’s a pretty crazy story! Check the latest rates and more information .

Break and Lunch at Cafe Edgar

Since we had such an early morning, we figured everyone could use a break. So we headed back to our hotel and everyone either took a nap or zoned out on screens for a bit.

Then, we headed next door to our hotel to enjoy lunch at Cafe Edgar. They had a great assortment of French cuisine and tasty drinks.

We also walked around the neighborhood and checked out a local toy shop and bought some macarons.

Paris Tootbus

At this point, it was late afternoon and we were worried that we’d all fall asleep too early since we were still jet lagged. So, we figured we might as well hop on the Tootbus for a tour of Paris .

My husband bought the tickets while we were at our hotel and then we headed to Notre Dame to hop on. Since it was sort of late in the day, we just rode it until they closed and we had to hop off.

It was totally worth it though! We saw the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and a bunch of other sites. Plus, it was a fun way to orient ourselves to the city. Check the latest rates and more information .

Galeries Lafayette

We got off the Tootbus and realized we were super close to Galeries Lafayette . It’s basically a massive department store, but they have a whole section for food.

We took a peek at their gourmet food level because we were on the hunt for a few items we purchased a few years ago.

But, we also realized that we could pick up a picnic dinner there. We ended up grabbing sandwiches, chips, yogurts, and desserts. We took them to Jardin du Luxembourg to enjoy and then we walked back to the hotel.

Day 3 : Musee d’Orsay and the Eiffel Tower

Scavenger hunt at the musee d’orsay.

After a quick breakfast at our hotel, we headed to the Musee d’Orsay at 10 am to meet up with Caroline for a kid-focused scavenger hunt of the Musee d’Orsay .

We picked the Musee d’Orsay over the Louvre because our family had recently visited a couple of immersive Van Gogh exhibits and I figured our kids would be more familiar with some of the impressionist artists.

This kid-friendly tour surpassed my expectations! Our guide was a former elementary school teacher and she was incredible!

She gave each of our kids a little booklet for the scavenger hunt that included places to draw their own masterpieces and paste in photos of themselves at the museum.

This was a 2-hour tour and our kids were fully engaged the entire time. It was just the right amount of time for them to get a taste of a museum in Paris without getting bored. Check the latest rates and availability .

Eiffel Tower

We ended up taking a TukTuk to the Eiffel Tower from Musee d’Orsay. It was pretty pricey at 25 euro/person, but it was faster and a lot more fun than taking a taxi.

We ate lunch at Brasserie de la Tour Eiffel before heading to the meeting spot for our Eiffel Tower tour. Doing a tour is a great way to visit the Eiffel Tower with kids .

We knew we wanted to go up to the summit level of the Eiffel Tower and we wanted to skip the line. That’s why we booked a tour . It was definitely worth it for our family because there was minimal waiting.

The tour only lasted until the 2nd level and then we went up to the top on our own. It was pretty cool to see the views, but our 5-year-old was pretty toast on the way down. Check the latest rates and more information .

So, we figured a stop at the carousel by the Eiffel Tower was necessary. Our kids ended up riding it 4 times. Plus, we got drinks and ice cream and just took an hour or so to relax.

Dinner at Chez Andres

We actually had 6:30 pm dinner reservations at Chez Andres , but they were able to get us in at 6 pm. We ate here 5 years ago and it was such a memorable experience that we knew we wanted to go back.

The food was incredible and the staff is so friendly and accommodating.

By the time we left at 7:15 pm, there was a massive line. So, it’s definitely worth making a reservation.

Day 4 : Giverny and Versailles

Bus tour of giverny.

Giverny is where the impressionist painter Claude Monet lived with his family and it’s where he painted his famous waterlilies.

My husband and I had a hard time deciding whether we should visit Giverny or Versailles as a Paris day trip , so we found a tour that did both . We weren’t sure how our kids would handle a 10-hour bus tour, but they were troopers.

We did breakfast at our hotel and then met up at a hotel where we hopped aboard the bus. It took about an hour to get to Giverny and the guide narrated almost the entire way. I thought it was fascinating but my kids kept plugging their ears and tried to sleep.

Once we got to Giverny, we had about 2 hours to explore Monet’s house, gardens, and the gift shop. While that sounds like a lot of time, we really needed 3 hours to slow down and enjoy it.

But, it was stunning and we’re all so glad we got to see it!

Lunch in the Countryside

Part of the tour included a stop at a restaurant in the Normandy countryside. The food was fine and the wine was tasty! It was a nice pit stop before heading to Versailles.

Bus Tour to Versailles

Our bus tour went past little villages and where Monet lived for a few years on the drive to Versailles.

Once we arrived at Versailles we had 20 minutes to explore the gardens before meeting up with our group for our timed ticket to the Palace of Versailles .

We only had 1 hour and 45 minutes at Versailles, which is a really short time.

Our kids were pretty exhausted once we got inside the crowded palace, so we ditched the tour group about halfway through and got snacks and drinks, and enjoyed the courtyard.

Even though it was a jam-packed day, I’m still glad we did it this way because we got an intro to both places. Check the latest rates and more information .

We’re pretty sure we’ll be back to Paris in the next few years, so then we can decide if we want to do a full-day trip to either Giverny or Versailles. Read our full post about visiting Versailles with kids .

Dinner at Relais de l’Entrecote

There’s a really cool Parisian restaurant called le “Relais de l’Entrecote” where you can get steak and fries. It’s really the only thing on the menu and they come around and replenish your steak and fries as you eat.

You can get it with sauce or without. And you can let them know if you’d like your steak rare, medium, or well-done.

They have several locations. We did the one in Montparnasse and there was no wait right at opening.

Day 5 : Disneyland Paris

So, technically we moved hotels to stay at the Newport Bay Resort at Disneyland Paris for a couple of days, but you could easily do Disneyland Paris as a day trip . That’s what we did last time and that’s what we’ll do in the future.

Disneyland Paris is similar to Disneyland California but they have several different rides. We focused on the rides that we don’t have in the U.S. but we skipped all the parades. Get Disneyland Paris tickets HERE .

Here’s exactly what we did with a park hopper pass (and the paid Premier Pass) on one day at Disneyland Paris:

• Arrived at Walt Disney Studios for the Magic Morning
• Ratatouille: The Adventure
• Slinky Dog Zig-Zag Spin
• My husband and 8-year-old did Crush’s Coaster with the Premier Pass while my 5-year-old and I did Cars Quatre Roues Rally
• Les Tapis Volants – Flying Carpets Over Agrabah
• Cars Road Trip
• Shopping at Chez Marianne/potty break
• Monsters Inc photo spot
• We headed over to Disneyland Park
• My husband and 8-year-old did Big Thunder Mountain with Premier Pass while my 5-year-old and I did Alice’s Curious Labyrinth
• Peter Pan with Premier Pass (only took 5 minutes)
• Got in line to Meet Mickey (1 hour line)

• Lunch at Pinnochio
• Photo by castle
• Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast with Premier Pass and store
• Star Tours with Premier Pass and store
• Mickey’s Philharmagic
• It started raining so we bought sweatshirts and went pin shopping
• 30-minute Lion King Show (reserved for $15/person)
• Headed back to Walt Disney Studios
• Churros and paella at the Spain stand and pizza at Italy stand
• My 5-year-old and I did the Frozen Show while my husband and 8-year-old did Ratatouille and Crush’s Coaster with the Premier Pass
• Shopping at Walt Disney Studios store
• Headed to Disney Village to shop at World of Disney and Disney Fashion

Tips for Visiting Paris with Kids

Stay near paris attractions you want to visit.

On our first family trip to Paris, we stayed at an Airbnb near the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees and it was a great location for what we planned on that trip.

For this trip, we stayed at the Hotel Aiglon in Montparnasse specifically because it was a short walk to Jardin du Luxembourg. We liked being in a quieter section of Paris and it was perfect for our family.

But, there are plenty of other places to stay in Paris for families . You’ll definitely want to factor in your accommodations into your trip to Paris budget .

Ask Your Kids What THEY Want to Do

Kids love to be included in planning trips and it makes them more excited about the itinerary. Our kids chose to do the toy boats at Jardin du Luxembourg, the scavenger hunt at Musee d’Orsay, and Disneyland Paris.

These were some of their favorite memories and they loved getting a say in our Paris itinerary.

We asked the kids about visiting other museums, visiting the Arc de Triomphe again, and doing a Seine river cruise but they weren’t interested in any of those suggestions.

It was a good thing we checked because those were on our original itinerary. I’m glad we swapped them for things the kids actually wanted to do.

Giverny vs Versailles

Since we had a hard time choosing between Giverny and Versailles, we did a mega tour that covered both locations. This worked for our family, but if you really want enough time to explore, each one deserves a day trip.

Giverny is perfect for families who love art and are familiar with Claude Monet. You’ll get to be in the place that inspired so many famous pieces of art.

Versailles is great for families who are interested in history and the French monarchy. It’s also one of the most popular day trips from Paris.

Use GPS for Metro Routes and Download Paris Taxi App

One thing we learned quickly in Paris is that taxis can drive in a special lane while Ubers cannot. That means it’s a lot faster to take a taxi. And you can order a taxi via an app.

Honestly, we used taxis a lot more than the Metro this trip to avoid crowds and save our feet from extra walking.

But, the Metro in Paris is really easy to use and it’s the most economical way to get around Paris.

Paris Itinerary with Kids FAQs

Paris is home to some of the coolest carousels, so definitely plan on stopping a few times during your trip. There are also lots of parks with fun playgrounds. I recommend booking a scavenger hunt tour of either the Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay as a fun way to get your kids interested in art. And you can always do a macaron crawl where you try macarons from several bakeries and decide which is your favorite.

You can see as much as you like! Paris is home to some of the best art museums in the world and iconic attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. It’s easy to see a lot of these buildings from a bus tour, but it takes more time if you’d like to stop and explore. You can plan on visiting 2 attractions/activities each day or spend more time at one and leave room to rest/relax.

Our first family trip to Paris was when our youngest was 6 months old. We were impressed with how baby-friendly Paris was. We mostly used a baby carrier when we did tours or explored. I do recommend bringing your own diapers and baby food if your child is particular as it can be hard to find specific brands in Paris.

Paris Family Vacation Wrap-Up

I hope this post helped you figure out what to do with kids in Paris, France! This was one of my favorite kid-friendly trips in Europe and we can’t wait for our next family trip to Paris!

I recommend checking out some Paris tours for kids, as well as French bakeries, pretty carousels, and anything else you can’t find in your hometown.

Love this Paris 5 day itinerary? Check out my tips for Disneyland Paris , top kid-friendly Paris tours , tips for visiting Paris for the first time , guide to hiring a Paris family photographer , things to do in Paris for teens , things to do in Paris at night , Paris Instagram spots , visiting Versailles with kids , secret spots in Paris , Paris day trips , things to do on a Paris family vacation , Paris Tuk Tuk Tour review , tips for visiting Paris with kids , and kid-friendly Arc de Triomphe tips !

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MOVING WITH THE MILITARY SOON?

One Week Around Paris: A Family-Friendly Itinerary

Welcome to this family-friendly guide for an unforgettable week in and around Paris with kids! There’s truly no place like this iconic city, and there’s plenty to see and do to keep you occupied in and around Paris for seven days.

From exploring historic landmarks and popular sites to indulging and relaxing at a fun water park just outside of the city and visiting Europe’s “Happiest Place on Earth,” this itinerary has something for everyone.

This one-week Paris itinerary is specifically for families looking to dip their toes in France and spend time around the City of Lights. It’s not a full week in Paris, but it lets you see the highlights around the city.

From the Palace of Versailles to Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland Paris, your family will spend seven days getting a literal taste of Paris.

If you’re looking for an awesome two-day Paris itinerary , look no further! This is how I spent a weekend in Paris with my two daughters; we had the best time.

One Week in Paris: At a Glance

I’ll get into the nitty-gritty details below, but here’s a quick look at how we spent a week around Paris:

• Day 1 (travel day) : Arrive at your accommodation
• Day 2 : Day in Paris!
• Day 3 : Explore the Palace of Versailles
• Day 4 : Pool day/day in Paris
• Day 5 : Visit Disneyland Paris
• Day 6 : Visit Disneyland Paris
• Day 7 : Wildcard – Spend another day in Paris, visit nearby Epernay, or make it another pool day
• Day 8 : (travel day): Au revoir, Paris

While I’ve been to Paris solo , with my daughters for a weekend , and with just my husband , this was the first time all five of us (two parents and three kids ages 9, 7, and 5 years old at the time) visited the city at the same time.

We didn’t want it to be too overwhelming, so even though there were plenty of things packed into our days, it was still fairly relaxing.

For this particular trip, we went between Christmas and New Year’s Day. It was extremely busy in the city and at Disney, but that also meant we could see Christmas markets and all the festive lights up everywhere.

How We Got to Paris

Since we live somewhat nearby, we drove for this particular trip, which worked out well for us since we weren’t staying directly in Paris. But we’ve also taken the train before , which was delightful since it drops you off in the city.

Driving actually let us pack more, which was nice because we stayed at a self-catering place . Driving gave us more flexibility with what we did each day.

Our One-Week Itinerary Around Paris

Consider this a customizable seven-day Paris itinerary. Move the days around to fit your schedule (or the weather), and interchange activities that your family will enjoy.

We opted for more rest and relaxed fun as opposed to an extra day in the city, but if you’re jonesing for more of that Parisian vacation, then hop a train and get back to the city.

Even though we visited in the winter, this family-friendly one-week Paris itinerary will work for any season.

Day 1: Travel Day and Checking In

We drove straight to the picturesque Center Parcs Villages Nature , our haven for the next few days.

After we settled into our comfortable accommodations we stocked up on food at the nearby Costco*, (we could have grabbed some necessities at the grocery store on-site, too).

Then we took advantage of the fun activities around the village and spent the afternoon at the Aqua Mundo, letting the kids splash and play to their heart’s content.

PRO TIP: If you have a Costco membership in America, bring your card with you. Here’s a look at the Costco in Paris; it’s pretty fantastic!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by family travel + military wife (@jesstagirl)

Day 2: Day in Paris!

We woke up early, grabbed a train not far from where we stayed, and made our way into the heart of Paris.

Our day started at the Louvre Museum with a kid-friendly tour . The kids marveled at the world-famous Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory and had fun marking off the challenges in their Mission Paris book .

The tour guide made the museum come to life with relatable stories and games. In a museum where you could literally spend days walking around, I was thankful someone could share their expertise with us.

Louvre Tours for Families

I did the hard part and found all the best Louvre tours for families. CLICK HERE TO READ THE POST

After our Louvre tour, we walked a few steps over to Tuileries Garden for their Christmas market (you can’t miss it, look for the giant Ferris wheel), and we made it there at the perfect time: lunchtime!

Lunch here was fantastic; they had so many food options. It was honestly one of the best varieties of food that I’ve seen at a Christmas market .

The market itself was small and if we didn’t need to have lunch I would’ve been pretty disappointed by it. It was more of a carnival (there were a lot of rides and games for kids) than a Christmas Market.

We wandered around the city after that, catching glimpses of the Eifel Tower here and there. If we hadn’t already been to the Eifel Tower we would have done that now.

Without a plan, we made it over to the Galeries Layfette to hopefully check out the rooftop view. The rooftop is a spectacular spot to see the city and the Eiffel Tower, and my girls remembered it from our previous trip to the city so they were excited to see it from the top again.

However, the entire place was a madhouse . It felt like the entire city of Paris came outside once the sun started setting (around 5 pm).

It got so busy that all five of us were kinda miserable, and we were legit afraid of getting separated from the kids because there were so many people.

We took the train back towards our place and had dinner in the Center Parcs village.

Day 3: The Palace of Versailles

The next morning we drove to the Palace of Versailles. Book your tickets ahead of time ; we got right in the long line but breezed right through.

Prepare for a day filled with grandeur and history at the Palace of Versailles. Every room was breathtaking, and the kids actually all enjoyed listening to the audio guide.

It felt like we stepped back in time as we explored the opulent halls and intricate architecture of this iconic landmark.

We spent almost the entire day at the palace; it’s HUGE. There is a little train that can take you to different parts of the palace, like Marie Antoinette’s cottage, or you can rent a golf cart (but you can only have up to four people on it). With long lines at both places, we decided to walk to her cottage.

I 100% wish we booked this bike tour of the Palace and Gardens; our kids would have loved it so much more than walking around.

Unfortunately, it was freezing outside (dead of winter, remember), and we were hungry, tired, and overall getting cranky. Plus, since it was winter there were shorter hours.

Before we knew it, they were starting to herd guests back towards the entrance/exit because it was closing time. We dilly-dallied too much inside the palace and didn’t make it to any other places.

If I had a do-over I’d make sure to get the little train to save us some walking time so we could’ve made it to all the places, or do this bike tour . I’m thankful we saw as much as we did at the Palace of Versailles, but I’d love to return in the late springtime or early fall to see even more and to see the gardens in all their beauty.

We carved out an entire day for the Palace of Versailles, and I’m glad we did because we needed every minute of that day.

Day 4: Pool Day at Center Parcs

After two busy days in Paris, we changed course and enjoyed a relaxing and fun day at the indoor waterpark.

We took advantage of the resort’s fantastic aquatic facilities, splashed around in the wave pool, floated lazily down the lazy river, and braved the cold to play on the outside equipment.

You can read more about our love for staying at Center Parcs Villages Nature here .

My kids would probably tell you that this was one of their favorite days out of our whole week in Paris…go figure. If the weather was nicer we would’ve gone to do more activities around the village, but instead, we stayed in our swimsuits all day…in December!

Days 5 & 6: Disneyland Paris

We couldn’t spend a week in Paris with kids and not go to Disneyland Paris! Thankfully, Disneyland Paris offers military discount tickets , which I highly recommend if you qualify.

(If you’re interested in knowing more about military discount tickets, join this Facebook group . People are always sharing up-to-date info about the military discount at Disneyland Paris. What I do know is that you have to show a military ID [I’m not sure if NATO IDs are accepted] at the ticket gate, so have that ready. I also know that the active duty member does not have to be present, but a dependant with an ID must be there.)

Disneyland Paris is not as big as its counterparts in the States, but my kids still had a blast anyway. We had cold, rainy weather and very long wait times, but they hardly ever complained, which was shocking.

During our days at Disneyland Paris, we made the super smart decision to pack activities for them, like these , while they waited in line. They came in clutch.

Day 7: Free Day

We had a lot of options for our last full day in Paris and considered all the options: we could go back to the city or do a day trip to Epernay, the heart of the Champagne region. Or we could spend another relaxing day playing at the water park.

We chose the latter, but only because we hit up Epernay on our drive into Paris and because my husband and kids have been to Paris before.

Spending a non-hectic day just letting the kids have fun was the right call after several very packed and busy days. Not to mention, the water park was included in the price of our cottage, so we didn’t have to spend extra money!

Visiting Epernay

If you have the time to visit Epernay I highly recommend it. Epernay is the Champagne capital of the world, and all of the great champagnes come from here.

Many of the Champagne houses allow kids to join their tours, and I’ve heard from friends that Pommery (in Reims) and the Mercier House are great. The Champagne house we toured with the kids was fine, but nothing to write home about for them.

BONUS: More Things to Do in Paris

There is  so much  to do in  Paris with kids , so if you need more fun things to fill your day, check these out.

• Go up the Eiffel Tower
• Take a macaron class
• Sail boats in the Luxembourg Gardens
• Take a river cruise along the Seine
• Head to Montmartre for a scavenger hunt
• Visit the famous catacombs
• Take a croissant-making class

Day 8: Travel Day

Today’s the day we said, “Bon Voyage” to our week in/around Paris. I hope you found that this guide gave you a nice blend of culture, fun, and relaxation for spending a week in the City of Light.

Family-Friendly Places to Stay in Paris

If you need a place to stay in Paris with your family here are a few that I’ve personally stayed at and recommend.

• MEININGER Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes . We’ve stayed in several Meiningers around Europe and it’s always a top pick for our family. They’re clean and fun, and all five of us can stay in one room. I have no doubt that this one would be just as great.
• Center Parcs Villages Nature . This one is outside the city, but fantastic if you have a family, and if you plan on going to Disneyland Paris while you’re in Paris. You can read my review here .
• YOOMA Urban Lodge . I’ve heard fantastic things about YOOMA Urban Lodge, but it’s always booked when we go to Paris. They have rooms for large families, which is awesome.
• Hotel Caumartin Opera – Astotel . I stayed here with my two daughters and it was perfect. The area was safe, the hotel was clean, and it wasn’t very expensive. We loved the location and you can get rooms near each other for a larger family.
• Hotel Palm – Astotel. I stayed here with a friend of mine. It was walkable from the train station and easy access to get anywhere in the city. I’d definitely stay here with a family.

Find a Place to Stay in Paris

It was a wonderful trip filled with hustle and bustle from exploring historical landmarks like the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre to indulging in the magic of Disneyland Paris. We saw and did all the things, but also had time to relax, play, and enjoy each other’s company.

If you’re looking for more info about Paris, check out  my other posts here .

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Our Little Lifestyle

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How Our Family Spent 4 Days in Paris (itinerary, hotel, tickets, tips)

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Our family just returned from spending almost 3 weeks in Europe , and I am so excited to share EVERYTHING with you! As I organize my photos and start to get blog posts up, I plan to go city by city, including London and Amsterdam . Today, it’s all about France and how my family spent 4 days in Paris, France , and our 4 day Paris itinerary.

Our Visit to Paris, France

We were in Paris from May 29th – June 2nd. I want to clarify that because I know how crowds and costs vary by season. Historically, summer is the busiest and most expensive time to visit Europe.

But we may have dodged a bullet heading there as soon as school got out. Most of the European schools go into June, and many into July. So, it wasn’t quite as busy as I expected. It was packed by the time we wrapped up our trip, leaving London in mid-June!

4 Days in Paris, France | June 2023

Paris was just as magical as I expected! And while I truly loved all six towns (four countries) we traveled to, Paris was my favorite. It could be the perfect weather: 75 degrees and sunny every day. Or maybe it was the Parisian cafe culture. Indulging in coffee, croissants, red wine, and people-watching are some of my favorite vices. And this was the perfect place to treat myself!

So, without further ado, I will share a little information about where we stayed and what we had to plan in advance. Then, I will jump into a day-by-day itinerary.

In the end, I will share a few more trip-planning resources and welcome you to leave any questions on this Paris itinerary post. I reply to each and every comment left on my blog.

Also, make sure to read my 10+ Must Have Europe Travel Essentials list so that you are well prepared!

Where Should You Stay in Paris?

If you google where to stay in Paris , you will get all kinds of answers! And that makes sense because everyone’s travel needs are different. We prioritize walkability and budget over luxury and serenity when we travel. For this reason, we chose to stay on Rue de Richelieu in the 1st arrondissement, right next to the 2nd.

If you are unfamiliar with how Paris is mapped out, 20 arrondissements or districts are laid out in a spiral from the city’s center. They generally get larger and more spread out the larger you go.

The 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th border the Seine River and are generally relatively walkable to many famous landmarks. We found Uber to be fairly expensive as streets in the center of the city are often one-way and disjointed, making a quick trip longer than it should be. We walked everywhere on this trip and could do that because we stayed right there in the heart of the city.

Where Do We Want to Stay on Our Next Trip to Paris?

I loved the 6th arrondissement and the Saint Germain des Prés . I would love to stay there on our next trip! I just loved the upscale shops, and the cafes in this area were extra charming if that is even possible!

That said, some people love to stay in the 7th, near the Eiffel Tower, and take the metro into other parts of the city.

Others enjoy the Montmartre area, home to The Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show and the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur . While this area looks charming, it’s a bit of a hike to the city’s center. Therefore, I don’t love it for a first-time visit to Paris. I would prefer to visit this area for a half day. But I have heard that the Sacré-Cœur offers incredible views over Paris and the Montmartre Food Guided Tour is a lot of fun.

But everyone has their own taste! My advice for first-time visitors to Paris is to find a place close to the heart of the city. On your trip, you will learn so much about the area and pinpoint where you’d want to stay on a future trip. After all, most of us are, in fact, tourists wanting to do touristy things!

Our Airbnb Rental For 4 Days in Paris

I want to point out that there are not many hotel options for a family of four in Europe. So many rooms accommodate only two, and occupancy is very strict. This may come as a surprise for first-time visitors to anywhere in Europe. So, don’t rule out Airbnb, VRBO , and apartment rentals for your family trip to Paris. Getting two hotel rooms would have added up fast for four days in Paris.

Booking.com is also a very good option, as many options are vacation rental-style apartments! This website is very popular in Europe, and the reviews tend to be spot-on. We used Booking.com in both Amsterdam and Santorini in the past year.

We stayed in a 2 bedroom Paris Airbnb with a sleeper sofa . As I mentioned above, we loved the location, and I liked the amount of space we got. My priority is ample room to spread out, especially on the first stop after a long-haul flight. I want my family to be able to decompress and get a great night’s sleep.

For reference, this Airbnb costs us $1975 for the 4 nights. I consider this a great deal for summer and a 3-5 minute walk from the Louvre and Seine Rivers. There was a grocery store and a cute cafe across the street, and everything was easy to walk to.

That said, it did have several maintenance issues. As an Airbnb host myself , we are easygoing, and I did share them with the host. She did ensure somebody repaired them, but I noticed previous guests mentioned the same issues in their reviews and a reply from her saying she fixed them. We had booked this back in January as a new listing with 2 reviews, meaning those reviews all came in during the Spring.

I didn’t want to strongly recommend staying here without disclosing that. Here is a view of the street we were on. This cafe was just steps away from our rental.

What Do You Need to Plan in Advance for Paris?

Speaking of booking in advance, there are some things that you need to plan far in advance for! I am not saying to plan out every minute of your trip—we don’t do that—but both The Lourve and the Eiffel Tower need an advance timed entrance ticket. So, here is the scoop on that.

The Lourve Tickets

You can book your Louvre Museum timed tickets to The Lourve up to 90 days in advance. I recommend getting the first slot of the day, which was 9 a.m. for us. As the day goes on, it gets busier. Just set yourself a reminder for 90 days ahead of your visit and grab that first slot.

Even if you are entitled to free admission through a city pass, Paris Museum Pass , or another program, you must ensure your time slot is secured in advance through the museum directly or the 3rd party ticket provider/guide. Basically, if you don’t know what time you are going, then you probably need to get your museum timed entrance nailed down.

There is always the possibility of getting same-day tickets, but the lines will be long and the hassle more immense. So, if the Lourve is on your Paris bucket list, plan ahead!

Eiffel Tower Advance Tickets

The Eiffel Tower is the other Paris landmark for which you should buy advance tickets, especially if you want to use the elevator or visit the Eiffel Tower summit.

You can buy Eiffel Tower tickets online up to 60 days in advance for elevator tickets and 14 days in advance for stairs tickets to the second floor. We didn’t book elevator tickets, and there are a lot of stairs. It’s still worth it, but take the elevator if you can.

RELATED POST: 11 Must See Landmarks in Paris

Also, these Eiffel Tower views are from the 2nd floor. Many say they can take or leave the summit, so this is entirely up to you. The summit was actually closed when we went. I don’t know if that is common, but I wanted to mention that. You can also purchase a variety of tickets through Get Your Guide, which often includes a host or a skip-the-line feature.

Other Things To Buy Tickets For in Paris

If you want to visit the Arc de Triumph , buy those tickets in advance, even a few days ahead. We tried to get them a day ahead, but none were left.

Any walking tours, food tours, or special events are also best when planned in advance of your Paris trip. Click here for a wonderful selection of Paris tours!

Our 4 Days in Paris Itinerary

I want to get into our actual 4 day Paris itinerary, so I will move on now. However, I will share some more tips and answer some questions I’ve been asked at the end of the post.

Day 1: Getting Settled and Strolling Around Paris

The first day of any trip for us is go-with-the-flow. It’s a chance to get settled and allow for any travel delays. On this trip, we flew on a red-eye 11:30 pm non-stop flight from Atlanta that arrived in Paris at 2 pm.

The timing worked out perfectly for us. We slept enough on the plane, rallied that afternoon, and were in bed by 10 p.m. Somehow, we woke up feeling great the next day and had little to no jet lag on this trip overseas!

We checked into our Airbnb, ventured out to a cute cafe, and enjoyed our first (of many) Croque Monsieurs. A must-have in Paris, this delicious French ham and cheese sandwich varies a bit from place to place. Generally, cheese (typically Gruyère) is broiled on top of the bread.

After eating, we strolled around our neighborhood, passing past the Louvre’s pyramids, golden in the early evening. We continued through the Jardin des Tuileries. We found ourselves on a bridge overlooking the River Seine with a lovely Eiffel Tower view before heading back to get some rest.

Day 2: Covering Ground and Soaking Up Culture and History

Since we had four full nights in Paris, I also left the second day unplanned. There is no need to jam-pack your 3, 4, or 5 day Paris itinerary. I specifically booked both the Lourve and the Eiffel Tower for the third day and factored in an afternoon nap. This left every other day wide open for my family to explore Paris.

We woke up surprisingly refreshed and headed out in search of crepes. Creperie Parisienne fits the bill perfectly! We then strolled past Louis Vuitton headquarters and the famous Yayoi Kusama sculpture on rue du Pont Neuf.

Pont Neuf, the Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame

From there, we crossed the Pont Neuf. Completed in 1607, this is the oldest stone bridge in Paris. It’s the gateway to the oldest part of the city – Île de la Cité . We weaved through the streets and past the Sainte Chapelle before finding ourselves at the Notre Dame Cathedral.

How near would we even be able to get to Notre Dame as fire restoration work is diligently underway? Surprisingly, it was close. The interior is closed, but there are tasteful displays along the barrier surrounding it, sharing the restoration efforts. I would love to see it again one day, as it once was!

Luxembourg Gardens and Saint Germain Des Pres

Our feet were already a little tired, so we grabbed a snack and drink and secured an Uber to take us to (relatively nearby) Luxembourg Gardens . We only spent a little bit of time here but enjoyed relaxing and people-watching in this picturesque park.

And we did work up an appetite! We made our way to La Palette , a charming French bistro cafe that just so happened to be featured in a Taylor Swift video. The song Begin Again, was the soundtrack to my time in Paris. So, if you are heading to Paris for the Eras Tour in 2024, make sure to stop by this Paris Taylor Swift connection!

Every time I saw another chic cafe, the lyrics “on a Wednesday in a cafe” spontaneously emerged from my lips!

We strolled back across the Seine River and made our way back to our Airbnb for some rest. After that, we let Abby rest and took Jake to explore the Palais Royal Gardens next door. Somehow, we ended up aboard a permanent boat nearby on the Seine, enjoying sunset cocktails with the most beautiful view!

And for dinner? The kids each got a bag of Madelines from the grocery store next door, and Matt and I had a wonderful dinner at the Cafe de Richelieu across the street. Everybody wins! I actually think these short breaks from each other help keep everyone’s spirits up.

Day 3: Lourve and a Change of Plans

I mentioned above that I planned both ticketed activities for our third day. And it worked out great. Well, almost!

A Morning at The Lourve

We started the day at the world-renowned Louvre Museum. Our family checked the Mona Lisa off our bucket list, and Abby particularly enjoyed seeing Hammurabi’s Code in person. The museum is HUGE, and we only covered a quarter of it in the 4 hours we were there, but we hit each of the must-see pieces at The Lourve.

Planning To Visit The Eiffel Tower

After a good lunch of French sandwiches and pastries, we took some rest and then headed off to the Eiffel Tower. I booked 7 p.m. tickets to see the city during the golden hour and stay for the sunset.

We even used the metro to get there. Although we used the subway and train systems in many major cities, most places in Paris were more manageable to walk to.

As ideally as you plan things, you always have to be prepared to pivot. Not 15 minutes after we got off the subway near the Eiffel Tower, I received an email saying that all Eiffel Tower tickets were canceled for that day. It was closed at the last minute. They issued a refund, and I panicked!

Luckily, I could get on their website and buy the same tickets (stairs to the 2nd floor) for the following night. Luckily, they were still available online. For this reason, I advise you not to plan the Eiffel Tower for your last day!

A Last Minute Seine River Cruise

We scrambled and decided to do a Seine River Cruise . We were doing it on the fly and found it overwhelming trying to figure out which one to book and where they each departed from. Finally, we found Vedettes de Paris , whose cruises leave from the riverbanks near the Eiffel Tower. We enjoyed it, and in hopes of helping someone else who finds themselves in our shoes, I wrote an entire blog post about our Seine River Cruise , complete with photos of the entire experience.

Dinner was at their cafe while we awaited our cruise, and it was low-key and really relaxing! We did get an Uber back to our Airbnb so that we didn’t have to mess with metro transfers and called it a night.

Day 4: Shopping, Charming Cafes, and Eiffel Tower Take Two

I had left our last full day empty to get in anything we hadn’t yet done. That was a plus because it allowed us to rebook the Eiffel Tower.

We spent the morning in pairs. Abby and I headed over to Saint Germain Des Pres for some shopping. We found the cutest shop for her called Brownie , based out of Spain. The culottes she bought are adorable!

Matt and Jake enjoyed a late breakfast before joining us at the nearby Cafe de Flore . This is an iconic Parisian Cafe frequented by many icons in years past, including Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, and Picasso. We had a late lunch at this historic French restaurant.

What came next? More downtime! The kids rested up while Matt and I strolled around Paris, enjoying afternoon drinks at several places. I miss this already! Nowhere to be and everywhere to go!

We had a little deja vue as we returned to the Eiffel Tower. We put in our steps, climbing the 674 stairs to the 2nd floor. It was, in fact, worth it for the captivating views of Paris! The Iron Lady and all her glory are iconic. You have to appreciate the historical significance and pre-grandeur that a visit to the Eifell Tower brings!

You Don’t Have To Go Home, But You Can’t Stay Here

I could have stayed, though. I was excited to move on to Belgium but would have loved a few more days in Paris. Can you ever spend too much time in Paris?

I booked our Thalys Train Tickets to Brussels for 12:22 p.m. We slept in, packed up, and locked the doors precisely at the 11 a.m. checkout time. We took an Uber to Paris Nord Train Station. I am glad I allowed extra time because there was a lot of traffic heading up that way, and we didn’t have much extra time.

It was our first time taking a European train trip and was very straightforward. You walk into the station, and this train leaves from the track right in front of you! No security or ticket line. Just download the Thalys App , and they can get your tickets as you board. Make sure you have the app downloaded for any of your train travels. It is the most accurate way to keep up and manage your booking.

Book train tickets in advance during peak travel seasons, as many are sold out. We were able to book a 4-seat group with a table and had a comfortable train trip to Brussels . I also have posts up all our time in Belgium – Brussels and our fairytale day trip to Bruges !

What Didn’t We Do During Our 4 Days in Paris?

We didn’t get too many recommended stops on this trip to Paris . Consider these for your visit if any of them interest you! I do regret not getting to the Musée d’Orsay . I would have loved to see Blue Water Lilies and all of the Van Gogh. Same-day tickets were available, and we walked by numerous times but couldn’t squeeze it in.

Arc de Triomphe: Admire the grand arch and its historical context

Musée d’Orsay: Admire impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces

Sainte-Chapelle: Marvel at the stunning stained glass windows

Champs-Élysées: Stroll along the famous avenue, shopping and dining

Montmartre: Soakin the bohemian atmosphere and visit the Sacré-Cœur and Moulin Rouge

Latin Quarter: Experience the vibrant student atmosphere and enjoy delicious French cuisine

Palace of Versailles: Venture out on a day trip to the opulent royal residence and its gardens

FAQ and Tips for a Memorable Trip to Paris

Overall, our visit to Paris was everything we wanted and more! I fell in love with this incredible city; one visit is certainly not enough! I did come away with a few Paris travel tips to share with you.

Was 4 Days in Paris Enough?

It was a good start! We had enough time to get a feel for the city and check many things off our list. Two to three days is almost too short of a stay in Paris, especially if you are susceptible to jet lag. Don’t be afraid to spend an entire week in Paris !

What is the Best Way to Get Around in Paris?

As long as you are staying somewhere central, walking is the best way to get around. The metro is very convenient if your route doesn’t involve multiple transfers and you are near a station. But be prepared to take Uber at times, especially to and from the airport. And plan for Paris traffic!

What Are the Best Times To Visit Popular Attractions and Avoid Crowds?

Hands down, morning and evening are the best time to visit busy attractions. Everyone is out mid-day, and ticketed stops often have overlapping groups at that time. If you are traveling during summer, expect it to be consistently busy everywhere. Use that post-lunch window for a nap! The summer sun sets at almost 10 pm in Paris, leaving you a long day to work with.

Do You Tip in Paris?

There are some local customs and etiquette to remember when visiting Paris. The tipping culture we are accustomed to in the United States does not exist here. It is common to round up or leave a few Euros for a server – enough to buy them a beer. However, you do want to tip private tour guides and services along that line, similar to what you are used to in the USA.

Also, always pay attention to the bike lanes in these large European cities!

How Can You Avoid Jetlag When Traveling to Europe?

I am a major fan of the 9 pm – 12 am long-haul flights. This provides the best opportunity to be tired enough to sleep on the plane. Also, arriving in Europe around 11 am – 3 pm offers a half day to explore a new city and get to bed at 9 pm or 10 pm. This sets the tone for the rest of the trip!

How Much Does 4 Days In Paris Cost?

The cost should be easy to calculate. The majority of your budget will go toward airfare and accommodations. After that, add up your ticketed Paris activities, and you’ll have a good ballpark figure. Walking around Paris is free, as is visiting many gardens and strolling the Seine River. The only other thing you need to account for is food and drink. And the good news is the wine is cheap in Paris .

We found food in Paris to be much cheaper than we first anticipated. Part of it is because the tax is included in the price, and the tipping culture is unlike what we see in the US. We would often grab chocolate croissants and coffee for breakfast, and the total bill for our family of 4 was 10-12 Euro. Even the sit-down dinners were roughly 30% less than I would have paid for a similar experience in the United States.

Are You Planning A Trip To Paris?

I hate to rub it in that I 100% predicted this in my What to Expect in 2023 Travel blog post from last November. But I see so many people traveling to Europe. Bucket lists were put on hold during the pandemic, and what once was a lifelong dream is now a real possibility. Overseas travel does not have to feel overwhelming.

We do not use travel agents, and to be honest, all I do is book flights and accommodations. The day-to-day aspects of a trip can be planned slowly, and truthfully, you don’t have to plan everything out. Plan those ticketed Paris attractions that sell out, such as The Lourve and Eifell Tower elevator tickets.

Then, fill your days with walks along the Seine River and red wine in cute cafes. And in the City of Light, you can always catch the Eifell Tower lights twinkling at night. To be exact, they twinkle for the first five minutes of every hour after dark.

You can not see all of Paris in 4 days. Still, you can create a Paris itinerary perfect for your family! And you can easily stretch my recommendations into a Paris itinerary 7 days or 10 days long. It just means more time for cute cafes and lazy afternoons in the garden of Paris.

Happy travels, and thank you for coming along on our trip to Paris! You can catch the entirety of our time in Paris in this Instagram Story Highlight . There are so many things to do in Paris!

Are you inspired to plan your own trip to Paris? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Here are some other fun activities to consider for your Paris vacation!

PIN This 4 Days in Paris Itinerary Blog Post

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6 Comments on “How Our Family Spent 4 Days in Paris (itinerary, hotel, tickets, tips)”

Click here to read more about our European Travels: https://ourlittlelifestyle.com/category/travel/europe/

If you ever go back, try the ThatLou Scavenger Hunt in the Louvre. It was pretty awesome.

It does take a few visits to Paris to know what areas you might want to stay in. Each area has so much to see local to the area. But I agree with staying close to the heart of the city for easy access to many spots. Good idea to plan the key sites you want to visit and get your tickets in advance. You certainly covered a lot with your family on a 4 day visit.

Some great tips here! Love the idea of the river cruise!

I’ve been dying to go back to Paris. Excellent itinerary, brings back some memories 🙂

You covered so much in 4 days! I like to prioritize walkability/budget as well when I’m looking for places to stay—thanks for your honesty on the Airbnb!

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Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sarah

• Paris with kids: 5 tips for an amazing family trip to Paris

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Usually when families think of kid-friendly vacations, theme parks and all-inclusive resorts are the first options that come to mind. Those trips with kids have their place, but if your heart sings at the thought of exploring Europe with kids, I have one piece of advice to offer: DO IT.

We’ve gone on many successful Europe trips with little kids and our recent visit to Paris was no exception. While the City of Lights may require a little more forethought ( this timeline should help) than some other destinations, it really is a kid-friendly and there are so many things to do in Paris with kids. There’s so much to do that you’ll be sure to find the right muse for every member of the family. Read on for our top tips in this Paris trip planner for families to have a successful trip to Paris with children!

Where to stay in Paris with kids

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Read more France articles or get Europe travel inspiration

Pro tip:  The easiest way to get from the airport into the city with all that luggage after a long flight is by taxi. You’ll want to either bring your own travel car seat or book a car service that comes with a car seat included .

We’ve stayed in several different areas of Paris over the years. After a huge range of experiences, we strongly prefer to stay in the more central areas of the city. We like the walkability, especially when staying out late for activities like seeing the Eiffel Tower at night. On our last visit staying in a less central area of the city, we found that closures and construction on le metro left us going hither and yon to get to our destinations so we wouldn’t opt for that again.

Here are some great, centrally-located apartments suitable for families:

• Drouot Luxe apartments – 9th arr., two different family-friendly sizes for big groups, close to Opera Garnier and convenient metro lines
• Appartement Echelle – 1st arr. in the center of the city, sleeps 4 people, walking distance to major Paris attractions
• Budget-friendly Marais historic apartment – 3rd arr. in the trendy Marais, two bedroom, 3rd floor walk-up, close to a convenient metro line

Use the interactive map to find vacation rentals and hotels in Paris, France

And there’s so much to get excited about in Paris for families! Older kids may want to read guidebooks or explore the Discover series to help plan activities. For our little kids, we loved reading Crepes by Suzette to get them excited about the food while developing a familiarity with the sites and ambiance of Paris. We even got a book on the Shapes of Paris to help our 3 year old identify some of the landmarks.

What could be more iconic? Without any prompting from us, our kids made the Eiffel Tower a focus for their time in Paris and we decided to roll with it. Your family may experience the same excitement when traveling to Paris with kids! Don’t just go up the Eiffel Tower and call it a day, though.

During your entire family trip to Paris, make a game of spotting the top from different vantage points around the city – and let your kids practice photographing it. For engineering-minded kids, talk about its design and construction. For artistic kids, take a picnic and some supplies to the Champ de Mars and give them time to record their impressions (and run around chasing pigeons).

How to visit the Eiffel Tower with kids

Should you buy a ticket for the eiffel tower in advance.

Definitely.

Buy timed Eiffel Tower tickets in advance to avoid the ticket queue if you know when you want to visit. When we visited in mid-June we strolled in around mid-afternoon and the line was enormous. Oops!

When is the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower if you haven’t purchased a ticket in advance?

On the other hand, a year before we went on a weekday in the early afternoon in May and the ticket queue was completely empty. The elevator queue took only about 10 minutes! YMMV.

What should you bring to the Eiffel Tower when you visit with kids?

As little as possible. Really. We goofed on this one and brought our full day’s worth of gear in the stroller basket. You must collapse your stroller to go up the elevator of the Eiffel Tower. So can you bring a stroller up the Eiffel Tower? Yes, but be prepared to take all of your stuff and your children out! We were happy to have snacks, water, sunscreen , sunglasses, and cameras on hand for our visit. Something like this is perfect to have on hand *just in case*.

How high up the Eiffel Tower can you go with children?

In theory, all the way up. However, both times we’ve visited the top has been closed due to high wind! We’ve been happy with the view from level 2 and think that our young kids wouldn’t do well at the very top. Note that the better viewing area on level 2 requires going up a short flight of stairs. This is another situation where it’s better not to have a stroller at the Eiffel Tower.

When does the Eiffel Tower light show start in the summer?

Late. Sorry! We visited in mid-May and it began at 10pm. We had hoped it would begin at 9pm, but we were wrong. Since the walk or metro back to our apartment would take a half hour, we debated whether or not to stay the extra hour. In the end, our 5 year old was the voice of reason: his little sister was already sleeping in the stroller, he was fine staying up late and how could we come all the way to Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower light show??? So we grabbed a table with a beautiful view at Chez Francais (nevermind the stereotypically snooty service) and waited – us adults with a beverage, our son with his watercolors, and our daughter with her cozy stroller. Let’s just say that our son made the right call. (The Eiffel Tower light show schedule begins after sundown and runs until 1-2am, for five minutes at the top of every hour.)

Read more: What to pack for Paris in fall What to pack for Paris in spring

When we travel, we set one or two important-to-us priorities for each day. On this trip, we inadvertently ended up with theme days: church day, museum day, and monument day. We visit two “major” sites each day, and in between we snacked, strolled and soaked up all the charms of the city. Read below to find our favorite things to do in Paris with kids.

Should you buy a Paris Museum Pass with kids?

That’s a personal question and it depends on your style and speed of travel. If you and your kids want to see everything and move pretty quickly, the Paris Pass can offer a great value and save you the hassle of lines. If you will be visiting sites more slowly, as we did, you might opt to buy non-dates tickets online for various sites; while it’s less convenient than a single card for everything, you have more choices for pacing your trip. Of the six sites we visited in three days, one was free, four were included in the Paris Museum Pass and the pass also offers a discount on the advance purchase of timed Eiffel Tower tickets. Ronnie was organized enough to buy a combined ticket for Musee d’Orsay and L’Orangerie and tickets for Les Invalides and Saint Chappelle online in advance. The total price was the same as the two-day Paris Museum Pass but we spread our site-seeing over three days. Find out more about the Paris Museum Pass here .

Should you visit the Louvre with kids?

Obviously this is a matter of opinion, but it depends entirely on your family. I’m not sure we all would have survived a visit to the Louvre in one piece! Ronnie and I went on our last trip to Paris and, while an impressive art collection, it is jam-packed with visitors. I recall the crowd at the Mona Lisa being about 20-deep with everyone just holding up phones and cameras to snap her picture – and that was almost a decade ago! I can only imagine what it’s like now.  

We felt confident that visiting the Louvre would make the kids unhappy and us stressed, so we skipped it and we stand by that choice. Instead, we opted for the more intimate art museums just down the street. L’Orangerie shows kids how immersive art can be, with its purpose-built space covered in Monet’s wall-sized murals of water lilies arching through the day’s cycle of lighting. The Musee d’Orsay houses a huge range of art to appeal to any interest, but we made a bee-line for the impressionist and post-impressionist collections on the top floor. Not only did Jacob love the art he saw, but he was excited to learn about pointillism and incorporate it into his own art!

Buy a combo ticket for both museums to save money and skip the line!

Note that we had no problem wearing our little on in a carrier on our backs at Musee d’Orsay but we’ve heard that guards at the Louvre can be sticklers about it. We’ve encountered many art museums in Europe that don’t permit back carries, so YMMV. If you do opt to visit Musee d’Orsay with kids, be sure to book this awesome scavenger hunt . Several members of our Facebook group have done it and reported that it was a great way to engage kids!

New to Paris? Check out this awesome travel planner for your first time in Paris from World in Paris!

Check out these great ideas for visiting art museums with kids .

It’s true, we are very liberal about junk food when we travel and I feel a-ok about that. There are two reasons we let our kids enjoy extra treats on vacation: first, it makes for happier travelers; and second, it’s their vacation too. We may think it’s so exciting going off to an exotic locale, but young kids often take much more pleasure in the simple things in life like a drippy ice cream cone on a hot day.

We often “pre-game” visits to less kid-friendly places with a strategically offered snack. And Paris has so many wonderful snacks and desserts available, many of which are not as common here in the US (so the kids get at least a little dose of local food culture, hold the fois gras ). Our favorite kid-friendly treats in Paris were croissants (both regular and pain au chocolat ), macarons and of course crêpes (preferably Nutella-filled).

Traveling beyond Paris? Check our our top 10 things to do with kids in France!

While little ones may be happy to sit in the stroller staring at the leafy trees and impressive monuments, older kids might need more options to keep them interested in such an “adult” city. Fortunately Paris has plenty to appeal to the senses.

• I mentioned the delicious treats above, but why not take it a step further and learn to make crêpes by watching beside one of the many carts or at your local creperie? It turned out to be one of our favorite family travel experiences!   If your kids are old enough, definitely look for family cooking classes – there are some specialty ones in Paris for kids.
• Instead of walking by the many street artists, stop and make time for your child to watch the process, ask questions, and even make a new friend as Jacob did. We often find that it’s easier to make personal connections when we travel with kids – they’re so naturally inquisitive, and most people love to answer their questions about who they are and what they do!
• Since our son loves art so much, I brought a watercolor field set and proper watercolor notebook for him. He loved documenting Paris through his own eyes, and having the right tools meant everything was dry before we moved to our next site.
• The kids were also excited to try their hands at photography, so we encouraged and guided them (our daughter with the iPhone and our son with our fancy but lightweight mirrorless system camera – always with the strap on his neck!). They’re getting pretty good!

• The sounds of Paris are different than anywhere else, so take time to appreciate them. We heard accordions playing La Vie en Rose , traditional jazz bands and more. You can find live music in Paris on nearly every corner. Take a listen for yourself!

• When visiting Paris with kids, the carousels of Paris are an important tourist attraction. They span the range of artistic and architectural styles and you can find them all over the city. It’s a quick, cheap thrill for the whole family and, in my opinion, there’s no limit on the number of rides you should take in a single day. My personal favorite is in front of the Ville de Maire, just before the entrance to Le Marais.

Looking for more things to do in Paris with children? Check out a Paris family weekend itinerary from Christine at Tapped Out Travellers!

There’s no clear-cut answer to this question. Bringing a stroller gives your kids a comfortable vantage point for taking in the city while you rack up your thousands of steps. It’s all a great place to store everything you need for a full day and evening out, so you won’t need to waste time going back to your hotel. On the other hand, many smaller Metro stations have no elevator and plenty of small restaurants will give you the side eye (or just refuse entry) if you try to walk in with your massive double jogger . Don’t forget that you’ll have to empty and fold your stroller to go up the Eiffel Tower!

My advice? Bring the smallest stroller that can possibly meet your family’s needs and supplement it with a high-quality travel friendly baby carrier like the Tula Baby (which comes in both standard and toddler sizes). Which tool to use will depend on the day’s activities, how you’re feeling and even the weather.

Our solution for visiting Paris with a toddler and a preschooler was to bring a big, easy-folding single stroller with a footwell that can serve as a seat in a pinch and a toddler size carrier to use when we only want one rider in the stroller. We’ve used this plan before and it works great – sometimes both kids are in the stroller, sometimes one is walking, and sometimes one is riding on our backs in the carrier. We can still manage to get down the Metro stairs (no kid in the stroller) and restaurants are generally willing to let us squeeze the single stroller next to our table or tuck it on the side. (Our “big single” is the now-discontinued Baby Jogger Versa. Check out its new and improved replacement, the Baby Jogger City Premier !)

If you plan to bring a baby carrier to Paris – and you should if your child is three or under – check out these great tips on babywearing at the airport .

Make sure to check our this guide to the best neighborhoods in Paris for your vacation.

You can also save money by staying in a hostel in Paris – there are even some family-friendly choices !

The key to choosing what to do in Paris with kids is remembering that they have a difference sense of “iconic” than we do! It’s equally important to give yourself permission  not to do everything while you’re there.

Visit an art museum in Paris

There are so many amazing art museums in Paris that you have to visit at least one… but don’t feel pressure to visit more than one! Take your kid’s temperature (so to speak) and see if they’ll be game for a few. We prefer smaller museums with our children so Musee d’Orsay is a good pick. Other options are the Louvre (of course), l’Orangerie and Musee Rodin.

Go to a church in Paris

Just like with museums, YMMV depending on your kids! We’ve taken our children to Notre Dame, Saint Chappelle and Sacre Coeur and they liked them all. We’ve found that it’s most important with church visits not to walk around and visit every chapel around the perimeter, and if possible to let them slow down and engage with the space on their own terms. They enjoyed sitting and painting Notre Dame, photographing the stained glass of Saint Chappelle and just staring up in wonder at Sacre Coeur in the late afternoon (trust me on this). Surprisingly, this is one of my favorite things to do in Paris with children!

Play like a Parisian kid

Though Paris isn’t often thought of as a child-friendly city, there’s plenty to keep kids happy! There are carousels wherever you turn and, even better, they can appreciate the simple pleasures in places like Jardin Luxembourg – it’s one of the best things to do in Paris with toddlers in my book. Bring a few Euros and your child can rent a small wooden boat to push around the fountain with a long stick… just like their French peers. It sounds simple and it is, but the simple activity brought our kids so much joy. Bonus: there are plenty of chairs for mom or dad to sit an enjoy a coffee.

Explore a new Parisian neighborhood

Want to get a less touristy – but no less interesting – experience Paris? Take your children to the charming and interesting Belleville neighborhood. You can enjoy the neighborhood’s many diverse dining spots, a delightful stop at Tatanka toy shop and sweeping city views from the top of Parc de Belleville. Find more information about this fascinating neighborhood here .

Eat your way through Paris

Take your kids on a self-guided food tour through the culinary delights of Paris. The beautiful thing about Paris is that you can find anything you want to eat practically anywhere! Stop in a cheese shop and let them select a few French cheeses to sample, stop in a bakery to pick a few breads, a  patisserie for some sweets. Bring your treasures to the banks of the Seine for a lunchtime picnic they’ll never forget.

If you still have room after a stroll, head to the Marais for a snack at L’As du Falafel. Enjoy some time in the neighborhood’s small shops (or even a brief visit to the carousel at the Hotel de Ville) and then venture to La Droguerie du Marais for savory crepes  and  sweet ones. There are plenty of kid-friendly places to eat in Paris, and these types of casual restaurants top the list.

Wondering who the guy is in the photo above? Get the full story here!

Appreciate the Eiffel Tower

There are so many ways to enjoy the Eiffel Tower! Play “spot it” around the city as the tower comes in and out of view behind buildings, climb to the observation deck, or head to the other side of the city to appreciate the best view of the Eiffel Tower from the Montparnasse Tower.

Our first trip to Paris as a family was definitely one for the memory books and we hope yours is too! Drop us any questions below and we’ll try to help you plan an amazing visit to Paris with kids.

• Renting a Car in France: 18 Tips You Need To Know
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What to read next

14 thoughts on “paris with kids: 5 tips for an amazing family trip to paris”.

Great post. We found tramping around Paris with a 7yo pretty good too, though he got pretty tired. That’s when the hop-on, hop-off bus was a good idea! I totally agree about letting kids eat loads of things on holiday – food is such a big part of travelling and it’s often one of my son’s key memories of a trip!

We’ve never done a HoHo but maybe we’ll try one! I love seeing cities on foot so that we can go at our own page and explore little places that we stumble on, but you’re right that they’re nice for exhausting days (especially in the summer heat or cold winters).

Great tips. So many people try to pack in waaaaaay too much stuff with kids in Europe. This really breaks it down!

Thanks! We love Europe and we know we’ll *always* be back. There’s so much to enjoy about Paris without rushing from one place to another.

I’m so thankful to be done with strollers! Our first trip to Paris with the kids they were 1 & barely3, so we brought a side-by-side double umbrella stroller. It was great in the streets but horrible for the metro!! I completely agree with your point on bringing the smallest stroller possible!

Great read – thank you!! We haven’t been to Europe yet – keep saying we will wait until our youngest (2.5 now) is older and out of a stroller to go but I feel like we may need to go sooner after reading this!!

Definitely go now! Europe is a wonderful destination with young kids. Much of the food is familiar, the cities are clean, the transit is easy and cheap… My son is 5.5 and has been to 7 European countries 🙂

Wow! This is jam packed with lots of specific, useful information. It makes me want to return to the City of Lights.

Paris is truly romantic and charming. Taking your kids there must have been lots of fun and a unique experinece. How long would you recommend staying there?

I’d say 3-4 days at least depending on how much you want to see and how fast you are. Five days would be even better though!

Hi there, We have 4 kids, 9, 6, 2 1/2 and 1 years. Planning to visit Paris, any suggestions? Do you think it’s a good idea to plan a trip. Ow or should we wait for couple of years. I am little bit scared because of the 2 youngest ones. Greatly appreciate your opinion and suggestion. Thanks

Definitely check the article for things to do with the kids!

As to whether you should go now or later, it depends on your family. Is a trip to Paris a once-in-a-lifetime splurge or do you expect to get back to Europe in the future? How long is the travel and do you think your kids will be flexible enough to manage a big time difference? Are you thinking about Paris because *you* want to go or because you want your kids to experience it?

Hi, I loved your tips and will use all of them. I’m planning to stay in Paris for 4 days. My kids will be 4 and 9yo. How did you plan to see each day without wasting time? Thank you

Hi Marcela! Thanks for your comment. There’s obviously a ton of great stuff to do in Paris so you have to be extremely organized. I’d start by making a spreadsheet with the days you’ll be there and cross-check those days with the opening days of the sites you want to get to – there are frequent closure days! Then I’d try to organize by area of the city. I also recommend staying as central as possible (and near a *good* metro station with lots of lines) to minimize your transportation time.

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5 Day Itinerary For Paris : Family Vacation

August 26, 2022

Visiting Paris on a family vacation is a dream. But it can be a big task to see everything the city has to offer, especially when traveling with kids. We were lucky to have our friend, who lives in France, create a 5 day itinerary for Paris for us; so we are sharing this with you to help you maximise your time in the city.

We are also going to share our observations of Paris, from cultural differences, to tips on visiting Paris with a teen!

Paris Family Vacation

Paris is a great idea for a family vacation for so many reasons. The culture, the history, the food and the atmosphere is such a great experience for kids and for families. As a homeschool family we also incorporate teaching / learning into our travels everywhere we go and Paris was a dream trip. Payton was able to learn necessary words / phrases and customs before arrival that greatly enhanced her experience.

I was an exchange student in Paris more than 25 years ago but didn’t freshen up on my French before arrival. Payton was definitely more prepared than the two of us and was often ordering for us in restaurants, asking for the check and directing us on the subway. We were proud of how much she learned prior to arrival and the way she adapted while in the city.

5 Day Paris Itinerary for a Family

It’s good to group activities together in concentrated areas. But there are also times when you have to change up your itinerary to suit the weather! Thanks to having Hannah, from HH Lifestyle Travel , on hand for the first few days; we were able to shuffle the itinerary to make the most of some sunny weather in between the spring rain.

Day 1: Ballon de Paris, Eiffel Tower, River Cruise, Trocadero

Optional extras: Paris Aquarium, Musée de Quai Branly

Ballon de Paris

Start your day at the Ballon de Paris. This tethered pollution-monitoring balloon has a platform below and offers great views out over the city. It doesn’t run in fog, or if bad weather is predicted later in the day.

Eiffel Tower

Make your way to the Eiffel Tower (it pays to buy skip the line tickets during high season), and enjoy the experience of going up the grand old ‘iron lady’. Don’t bother going to the restaurant at the top of the tower, there are much better places to eat.

River Cruise

After lunch, take a river cruise along the Seine – the boats leave from just opposite the Eiffel Tower (and many other major spots along the river). This helps you orientate yourself and see parts of Paris you may not reach during your 5 days in the city. DON’T bother with the river cruises that offer meals – they are overpriced and the food isn’t very good. A simple hour-long river cruise with commentary is a great way to kick-off your Paris visit.

After your river cruise, meander over the road and up through the Trocadero Gardens – gaining elevation and more stunning views out over the Eiffel Tower. If you are super keen, visit Trocadero at dawn for sunrise over the Tower.

Tips for American families

You can’t visit Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower and this was definitely our most touristy day. The skip the lines tickets were worth every penny. There was some fog on the day we visited but that is something that cant be controlled. We made the best of it and the views were still amazing. I am sure on a clear day you would be able to see much more of the city from the top. We had some extra time on our hands between the Eiffel Tower and our river cruise and decided to have coffee at a cute cafe at the base of the tower. Lesson learned – the most expensive coffee ever!

The river cruises offer indoor and outdoor seating options so weather isn’t a concern for this activity. It was very cool and windy so we choose to stay indoors with the heat. The views were still spectacular and unobstructed. The commentary is offered in English as well as many other languages.

Trocadero Gardens across the road is definitely worth the walk. The views are some of the best of the Eiffel Tower and a great spot for instagram worthy fun photos. Beware of the multiple locals offering to take your photos. They are not trying to be nice but looking to be paid for their time. After photos we found a very nice restaurant in this area called Le Coq where we enjoyed a very nice upscale lunch before a busy afternoon.

Food options in Eiffel Tower area

This is a very touristy area, so prices are higher. If you are on a budget, consider taking a picnic or eating at one of the crêperie kiosks in the Trocadero Gardens. A casual restaurant option is Le New York, and the terrace still affords tower views.

If you want to partake in the very best views of the Eiffel Tower while in the area, we recommend Girafe or Les Ombres (the rooftop restaurant at Musée de Quai Branly). They both require advance booking, and the latter is fine dining. Les Ombres was our favorite restaurant during our stay. It was the perfect mix of food and atmosphere and the most spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower.

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Day 2: ‘I Love You’ Wall, Montmartre, Galeries Lafayette & Shopping

Optional extras: Tuileries, Place Vendome

Montmartre is one of the most famous arrondissements in Paris. Some people know about it because of it’s ancient Gallo-Roman history, but most people know it as the epicentre of Belle-Epoque artistry and antics. And then of course there’s Moulin Rouge!

Start at Abbesses metro station (be sure to take the elevator, otherwise you’ll have to climb 460 steps); and visit the ‘I Love You’ wall. Le mur des je t’aime has ‘I love you’ written 311 times in 250 languages. It is free to visit and is a lovely heartwarming stop on your tour of Montmartre.

A walk up the gardens to Sacré-Cœur is a must, although if you can also choose to take the funicular, but the views aren’t so splendid.

Other places to visit in Montmartre include Place du Tertre, where artists sell their paintings and restaurants take over the square in summer. The Dali Museum showcases the weird and wonderful mind of this famous artist. Take your turn as some of the most instagrammable spots, La Maison Rose, Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Le Passe-Muraille. And see a the urban vineyard, Vignes du Clos Montmartre, which produces a small batch of wine for charity each year.

Galeries Lafayette & Shopping

While you can spend the whole day at Montmartre, if you are trying to pack a lot into your 5 days in Paris, you may choose to keep your days busy and fruitful. The view from the top of Galeries Lafayette department store is worth a visit alone, but the shopping in the area is pretty good too.

Food options

In Montmartre, Le Relais Gascon is a great traditional bistro located between Pigalle and Abbesses metro stations. Serving southern French favourites like Tartiflette and Cassoulet, plus all the usual standards, it’s a good value pitstop.

If you’ve shopped a little too much in Galeries Lafayette and need a snack there are many cafe options inside. Or if you’re feeling snazzy and your kids have adventurous tastes like ours, try Kaspia Caviar bar!

Notes from the Biggers Family

The I Love You Wall and Sacré-Cœur are a must. I remember visiting Sacré-Cœur 25 years ago and the atmosphere is still wonderfully the same. The hill is covered with people relaxing, socializing and enjoying the amazing views of the city. It was a very nice experience. No one was in a hurry. Just enjoying a sunny afternoon outside. We also took a trolley from this area for some additional site seeing. The cost was $7 USD per person. 

Day 3: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, Ladurée, Napoleon’s Tomb

Optional extras: Pont Alexandre III, Petit Palais

Arc de Triomphe

Take a walk from the Arc de Triomphe, down and across the river, stopping along the way at some of Paris’s most famous landmarks. Take the underground passages to get to the Arc (both the stairs up it and to see beneath it). You can buy your tickets in advance , although there isn’t usually much of a queue unless you visit in the height of summer.

Champs Elysées and Ladurée

Time to wander down the Champs Elysées. We don’t recommend you spend a lot of time in the shops or eating along this famous boulevard – it’s pricey! But a stop at Ladurée for morning tea or a box of macarons is a must!

Napoleon’s Tomb or Petit Palais

There are a few options for things to do in the afternoon – we chose to walk all the way down the Champs Elysées and across to Napoleon’s Tomb and the military museum .

Tips from our family to yours

We chose to take the stairs to the top of the Arc and I do recommend it. It is a climb but it is worth it. We did not purchase our tickets in advance and in early April the line was very short. The views are phenomenal. Since this was Payton’s birthday trip we chose to shop along the Champs Elysées. We stopped in Ladurée for macarons, a cafe for coffee and hot chocolate and Gucci for new sneakers.

Hopefully it was a birthday she won’t soon forget. This was our most leisurely day with no timed events or schedules. We walked, we shopped, we ate and we spent birthday money. It’s important to build these kinds of days into your family itinerary for Paris, as you don’t want to burn out!

Day 4: Notre Dame, Left Bank, Pantheon, Rue Mouffetard, Montparnasse Tower

Optional extras: Sainte Chapelle, Luxembourg Gardens, Catacombs, Montparnasse Cemetery

The famous Left Bank of Paris is famous for books, writers and intellectuals… but is also an ancient part of the city, with some incredible sights to see. Start at the Notre Dame church. While it was severely damaged by fire in 2019, it is due to reopen in 2024. The Archaeological Crypt of the Île de la Cité located under Notre Dame is still open and is a fascinating glimpse into the ancient history of Paris.

Cross the river to admire the UNESCO World Heritage Bouquinistes (book sellers along the river) and visit the famous Shakespeare & Co bookshop .

Walk away from the river, and up the hill (Montagne Sainte-Geneviève) to the Pantheon. This grandiose former church is now the resting place for many of France’s most revered citizens – Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Èmile Zola, Marie Curie and most recently, Josephine Baker. It is also home to the Foucault Pendulum, which demonstrates the earth’s rotation.

Rue Mouffetard

Rue Mouffetard starts nearby at Place de la Contrescarpe, a fantastic place for a coffee or apéritif. It is one of the oldest streets in Paris, and you can enjoy this ancient and wonky street and all the markets and shops along it.

Montparnasse Tower

Take a bus, metro or taxi (or walk if you have the energy) over to the Montparnasse Tower at dusk, and take in the most stunning 360-degree views of Paris from the observation deck.

Food Options

South of the river is ripe with great food options. From the budget prix fixe menus of the Left Bank, to the hip bars of Place de la Contrescarpe – there is something for every budget and taste. Le Relais de l’Entrecôte at 101 Boulevard du Montparnasse is a favorite for us; but be warned, you’ll have to queue because it’s so popular (but it’s worth it). It only serves steak – so not for vegetarians!

Experiencing the Leftbank as a family

The Left Bank provided a great deal to see and do and lots of walking. The Montparnasse Tower is a must as the views are amazing. You can choose day and night tickets so that you may visit twice to see it in both lights. I highly recommend the skip the line tickets. The restaurant Le Relais de l’Entrecote was one of our favorites even with the long wait. I recommend arriving very early. It was such a fun restaurant but only if you love steak. Just tell them how you like it cooked because that is your only option; and if you clean your plate of fries they will bring you more. And that sauce – there are no words but let’s just say best steak sauce ever.

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Day 5: Louvre, Marais, Pompidou

Optional Extras: Musée d’Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle

If there is only one museum to visit while in Paris, it’s the Louvre. Not just to see the infamous Mona Lise, but also because it is one of the most important cultural institutions in Paris. You can buy skip the line passes, or even take a small group guided tour to ensure you see all the highlights with ease.

A wander round the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris is a delight. It has hidden courtyards, cobbled streets, ancient gallerias; not to mention wonderful shops and cafes.

To counter the classical art of the Louvre, we have added the modern art gallery, The Pompidou Center, to the itinerary. Even if you don’t go inside, the building itself is quite famous on its own; the inside workings are all on the outside, including an escalator!

The Biggers take on the Louvre

The Louvre was definitely one of our favorite experiences in all of Paris. Payton loves art and history and there is nowhere in the US that can come close to the thousands of years of history and art in the Louvre. Every room was more and more astonishing. I think the 3 or of could have stayed here for days. I highly recommend the skip the line tickets here as the lines were very long. Upon arrival, take a look at the map and choose the items or areas you want to see the most. There is no way to see it all so you definitely want to focus on your top items instead of wandering aimlessly. 

Food in Paris

I am not sure where to begin when it comes to the food in Paris. Phenomenal would be understatement. We made sure to sample a variety of restaurants throughout the city. During our 5 days in Paris, we visited cafes, authentic restaurants, touristy areas, and 5 star Michelin restaurants.

We are all foodies but Payton will try absolutely anything. She had been wanting to try steak tartare and had the chance to enjoy it twice while in Paris. She loved it and is still talking about it. Payton also enjoyed escargot and caviar more than once and indulged in chocolate and hot chocolate every day. If we have to choose, our favorite restaurants were Les Ombres and Cave la Bourgogne.

Visiting Paris with Teens

I think the teen years are the perfect time to visit Paris as a family. It is such a different culture than America. At the cafes along the street, all of the chairs face out instead of facing each other. You sit back, relax, take in the scenery and enjoy the time together. It was amazing the difference of how few people were on their phones at the table. The meals were enjoyed at a much slower pace. And almost everyone walked everywhere.

We averaged 5 miles a day during our time in the city. It was so different to see local markets on the street with vegetables and a butcher shop next door. No Walmart anywhere in sight.

Not to mention the history is something you can’t experience here in the US as we are such a young nation. To really see art and buildings that are many hundreds of years old is something you can’t just tell your kids about.

I don’t think Payton would have appreciated this 5 day itinerary for Paris, or enjoyed it as much as a young child. I really think the teen years are the perfect time to visit as a family. It also gave her a chance to learn some of the language, the history and the customs before arriving which made her experience even that much more meaningful. Kids can read a hundred books describing a place or they can jump in and experience it for themselves and never forget it. 

5 Day Itinerary For Paris

Paris is a bucket list for many families – from the famous sights to the cultural ‘wow’ moments – it is a fascinating destination for any age group. Enrich your family with lots of history, learn some french words or just enjoy the beauty of the place. A 5 day itinerary for Paris is jam-packed, and we would recommend at least 7 days if you want to take it a bit slower.

We also took a day trip to Reims (the unofficial capital of Champagne country) while we were there; and there are lots more day trips to add on if you want to see more of France. If you want to visit Paris with your family, get in touch and we would be happy to help you plan a visit!

Let us help you plan your family vacation to Paris, with our full service Travel Agency !

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12 thoughts on “5 Day Itinerary For Paris : Family Vacation”

I am planning to take a 5days trip to Paris in January 2023 for a couple people, please let me details and the cost per person.

Please email me and I would be happy to provide you with more information – [email protected]

Hi Michelle, my name is also Michelle 🙂

Me and my family are travelling to Paris for 5 days as well (Mar. 25-31). I would like to check where did you purchase your tickets in all the places you visit. Did you purchase it in advance or just there when you arrive? Also, your ticket on the cruise.

Thanks for your help.

We have a couple of different vendors that we use. I will email you the links to them. Enjoy your trip and let me know if you have other questions!

Looks like a great “plan”. Would like to take our 3 grandchildren this year – girls 15 & 16; boy 12. I think we would have to add the catacombs to the 5-day itinerary but looks doable. Evening activities with kiddos is usually hard for me to plan. And lodging for five is also challenging. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Yes, finding adjoining rooms can be hard. For that, I suggest one of the bigger chain hotels, and more modern builds. Try Holiday Inn, Ibis and Sheratons. Evening activities shouldn’t be too hard, as things tend to stay open until a bit later in France (because of the long lunch / late dinner). We hope you have a great time!

Hello, I am traveling to Paris in March with my teen and 11yr old. Can you recommend which area is the the best place to stay and is centrally located. Also any hotel recommendations for a family for 4. Thank you!

Anywhere in the arrondissements – 1,2,5,6,9,10,18 are all easy to get around and ok for families. We stayed out in La Villette, at the new Holiday Inn Express. It was a little further out, but still within central Paris. Around Opera is nice and clean, has lots of hotel options.

Please. Let me know of places to purchase attraction tickets and any ideas for a family of teens and a 7 yr old , August 2023– 5 days

We recommend Viator .

– A hop-on hop-off bus tour is a great way to get orientated with kids

– The Eiffel Tower , obviously!

– Payton loved the river cruise.

– There’s also Paris Disneyland too!

HI we are planning to travel to Parise and Brussle from March 29th to April 6th.

can you please suggest the best ways to travel with kids I have one teen girl and one boy.

where did you buy all the tickets?

must visit this is the first trip for kids in the EU

The easiest way is by train – very simple and fast! Visit SNCF for train tickets.

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Paris with kids: how to plan the perfect family trip to paris.

Our essential visitors’ guide to Paris with kids packed with practical tips and ideas for a fantastic family stay in Paris. Includes best family hotels in Paris, top kids attractions, tips to use the Paris public transport systems and more. 

Going to Paris always fills me with excitement.

I fell in love with the city when I was little, mainly because of the playground in the Jardin de Luxembourg , which I deemed for ages the best in the world!

My love affair with the city stayed alive during my many trips there as a student, a girlfriend and a solo traveler.

Things haven’t changed now that I am a mom and the one thing that fills me with excitement more than going back to Paris is to to go to Paris with the kids.

Paris is wonderful for children: exciting, aspirational, beautiful, grand. Paris is a city of dreams for all ages, including very young ones!

Despite my love for Paris as a family destination, there is no doubt that a trip to Paris with children in tow requires a lot more planning than other destinations.

Paris is full of kids’ attractions and one of the  best places to visit in France with kids , but it is easier with practical tips from a mon who’s been – like me! 

From picking the right accommodation to knowing how to get around and what attractions will pique the children’s interest, this is our family guide to visiting Paris with kids!

From picking the right accommodation to knowing how to get around and what attractions will pique the interest of the children, this is our family guide to visiting Paris with kids!

By the end of this family travel guide, I am sure you will agree Paris is not only one of the best European cities to visit with family but one of the best cities to visit with kids in the world!

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Table of Contents

Why visit Paris with kids

There are so many reasons why you should visit Paris with children!

• Paris is one of the big capitals of the world, a marvel of architecture, culture and a cradle of art. A dream for cosmopolitan, travel loving families!
• Paris is easy and function wells. Despite being a massive capital, Paris has excellent public transport and very clear maps and information that help you make your way around the city
• Paris hasexdeptional parks and playgrounds, perfect for kids to have a break from sightseeing
• Paris has outstanding food, including kids’ favourites such as pancakes, macaroons, croque Monsieur just to name a few
• Paris is home to stunning museums, both traditional (Louvre, Mousee D’Orsay) and interactive (Parc de la Villette)
• Paris is great to mix with a trip to Disneyland Paris and versailles, two very different yet very exciting places for children

Why not visit Paris with kids

Not everyone loves Paris for kids (I do). Usually, the issues Paris poses to families are:

High price / small spaces when it comes to accommodation

Chaotic – yes, it is, but it is a massive capital so I believe this comment has more to do with expectations than the city itself.

Not overly child friendly – I’d say this is partially true. With small children in a stroller, you may find Paris less accommodating than other cities.

Restaurants tend to have small spaces and not everywhere will allow you to keep the stroller open or be willing to heat up toddlers food.

In this sense, I find Paris more enjoyable with kids of primary school age and up but don’t let it discourage you: Patios is so stunning, with a few tips you can enjoy it with kids of any age!

First timer’s guide to visiting Paris with kids: travel tips

• Book accommodation well in advance and double check for special events that may get prices to spike at certain times
• Stay in the city centre  (see below recommended areas) to minimize transport time
• Consider an apartment rather than a hotel for extra space
• Embrace public transport
• Book skip the line tickets for main attractions
• Don’t expect to see all! Paris is best enjoyed at a slow pace

 When to go to Paris: the best time to visit Paris with kids

The best time to go to Paris with kids is the spring and early fall, particularly the months of April to June and September and early October.

At this time the weather is mild and city life is in full swing, so you get a local feel that just gets lost during the hot summer months, when Parisians go on holiday.

During the spring make sure you visit Paris parks and join the locals in what seems to be the activity of choice in good weather: a picnic!

In the fall Paris, the temperatures drop steadily and depending on the exact time of your visit you may be in for a treat with the city foliage.

Paris in fall a quite a sight!

Paris travel resources

Our favourite booking site for family-friendly tours is LivTours .

I got to know this company when traveling around Italy with my kids and now I love them also for Paris – they are simply wonderful!

Led by two young parent, LivTour has family friendly, excellent tours in Paris which I wholeheartedly recommend!

A booking platform I trust is also GetYourGuide : you can book tours online and get your ticket straight on your phone.

Great cancellation policies make most of their tours a good choice for families.

My recommended hotel booking platforms booking.com .

They offer both hotels and apartments and they have clear pricing. I also love that many options come with free cancellation and no pre-payment, which I find essential when planning a trip wit kids.

These are some excellent books for you and your kids to be ready for your first trip to Paris as a family.

Paris packing list for families: must haves

• Baby Carrier. A good baby carrier in Paris is a real life saver, especially on public transport. We are fond of BabyBjorn and Ergo Baby both favorite of our kids when they were babies.
• Lightweight stroller. A good, lightweight and easy to fold stroller is excellent for city travel. We love our Maclaren Quest and we have a list of others we recommend here
• Comfortable walking shoes. Shoes with a padded sole that keep you comfortable on Paris pavements are great for adults and kids. We love Adidas foam , New Balance shoes and Nike trainers  for all of us
• Stylish backpack diaper bag to use as a day bag with changes, food and essentials. You can find some of our favorite diaper bags for travel here
• Camera for you and maybe one for the kids too such as this one  so they can capture memories too

You can find my full packing list for Paris here .

Where to stay in Paris with kids: apartment or hotel?

Finding family friendly accommodation in Paris is one of the biggest ordeals, when planning a trip to the city and this is why I tackle this as the first item on my Paris family trip panning guide.

Paris hotels have notoriously small rooms, many of the more traditional building do not have lifts and many ’boutique’ hotels have bathrooms that are so tiny you need to squeeze into the shower – not something you want or can do easily with a baby or toddler!

A similar situation awaits you in apartment: while often bigger than hotels, in the city center price comes at a premium.

However, we can help!

Thanks to outr trips to Paris, we have been able to select good family friendly hotels that strike a good balance between space, cost, location and, of course, family friendliness!

You can find here >>> our selection of the most family friendly hotels in Paris .

Best areas to stay in Paris with kids and family

Paris neighborhoods are called arrondissements and they are identified by a number from 1 to 20.

You can familiarize yourself with all of them and their location and feel reading this excellent guide to the Paris’ arrondissements with all you need to know about them.

I believe that the best areas to stay in Paris with kids are the 5th and 6th arrondissements , the 7th and the area of le Marais.

The 5th and 6th arrondissements

The 5th and 6th arrondissements are my favourite place to stay in Paris with kids for convenience and charm.

These two areas sit South of the river Seine, on the famous Rive Gauche and include pleasant neighbourhoods and significant landmarks such as the Jardin des Plants, the Pantheon and the Jardin du Luxembourg.

It is a touristy area and you will find a plethora of restaurants, shops and attractions here but I do love it because it is super central and has some beautiful parks, perfect for family time.

This is an excellent area to stay if you want to be in the heart of the action, close to main Paris landmarks and you enjoy a buzzy, studenty atmosphere: the famous Sorbonne university is here.

Good family hotels in the 5th and 6th arrondissments are:

Hotel Bel Ami (5 stars) , close to Jardin du Luxembourg and with interconnecting rooms

Hotel Dauphine St Germain (3 stars) , offering interconnecting rooms and small kids gift on arrival

Hotel Paris Excelsior Latin (3 star hotel) : a rare find, offering family rooms for up to 5 people

The 7th arrondissement

The 7th arrondissment is where you find the Eiffel Tower.

Because of this more than famous landmark, I used to think this area would be touristy and inauthentic but this is far from the truth.

The 7th arrondissment is lovely for a stay and very suited to families too.

It is a much quieter area than the ones above, it is well served with restaurants and cafes and is of course close to what is likely to be the one thing your kids are hoping to see in Paris, the tower itself!

Good family hotels in the 7th arrondsissmnet are:

Hotel D’Orsay (4 stars) in a fantastic, central location offering triple rooms and interconnecting suites

Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel (4 stars) with rooms for up to 4 people (2 adults and 2 children) and restaurant onsite

Hotel de la Paix Tour Eiffel (3 stars) with interconnecting rooms for up to 5 people

Not an arrondissment but an area within one, le Marais is a gorgeous, historical area on the opposite side of the river from the ones above.

Le Marais is famous for beautiful, elegant squares, beautiful shops and the famous centre Pompidou (incidentally, very child-friendly).

I have always loved le Marais as I feel it has a hip feel to it while retaining a residential, family-friendly atmosphere.

Good family-friendly hotels in the Marais are:

Hotel Saint Louis Marais (3 stars) with family rooms and private parking

Les Tournelles (3 star hotel) with adjoining rooms

How to get around Paris with kids in tow

The best way to move around Paris with kids in tow is to walk or make use of the excellent public transport system of the city.

Transport types and ticket option

The public network is made of buses, metro lines and the RER, the metropolitan train line that connects Paris city centre with the Greater Paris area, some Paris airports and Disneyland Paris.

Transport is free for children under 4 and half price for children between 4 and 11 years old.

As a tourist, you are likely to use the metro most of all and the RER. 

There are several types of tickets available and you can purchase them before boarding the train in all Paris metro stations, equipped with ticket machines, ticket offices and sometimes both.

You can buy a single hop ticket or a carnet  of 10 tickets, more convenient.

Tickets are electronic and need to be scanned before bording the train.

Keep hold of your tickets and make sure your kids keep theirs safe too as they are sometimes needed to get out of the station on arrival too!

The same tickets for the metro are valid on buses too.

Using the Paris public transport system with a stroller

The Paris metro and bus system is excellent for adult visitors and people travelling with older kids but things are ‘a little’ less straightforward when you try tackle the system with a stroller.

Very simply: the Paris public transport system is not stroller friendly!

Not all metro stations are stroller friendly, many do not have a lift and buses can only take up to 2 strollers at a time, which means you may have to wait for a free space before being allowed on board.

Even worse, many metro stations have gaps between the train and platform and it is very easy to trip, especially if you are a child!

If you can, travel with a baby carrier instead or enlist the help of your other half or a friend to navigate the metro escalators (One gets the child, the other steps on it with the stroller facing the bottom of the escalator).

For sanity, do not overload your stroller with stuff so, worse case, you can swiftly fold it closed.

Top things to do in Paris with kids

Paris is so full of sites and family-friendly attractions this topic deserves an article on its own but to make this family guide complete, I’ll try and list some of our favourite things to do in Paris with kids.

See Paris in a day with a family friendly day tour

Below you find lots of ideas and things to do in Paris with kids but first, I want to share a tour that you may love, should you have only a limited time in the city: Paris in a day tour with river cruise .

This tour is perfect for families on a first trip to Paris and who want to make the most of their time in the city seeing Paris’ highlights, without the stress of having to find your way or look like a tourist consulting a map.

During a full day, you will see the Louvre, take photos of Paris famous sites such as Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur and you will be able to relax on a river cruise!

Go to the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadero

We simply had to open this list with the Eiffel tower, THE attractions most kids associate and identify with the city of Paris.

Depending on the age of your children and relationship with heights, you may queue up and get to the top or even just enjoy it from its base.

The Eiffel Tower is surrounded by a massive lawn and kids can run and scoot around for ages with quite a special backdrop.

The park around the towers also has a couple of playgrounds that make it an easy stop for kids of all ages.

The Eiffel Tower is an exceptionally popular attraction and advance booking is mandatory.

A fantastic way to visit is to book a semi-private small tour such as this one , which takes care of the getting the tickets and comes with a wonderful guide almost exclusively for you (groups are for a max of 6 people so you may well find yourself with a guide just for your family!

You can also get skip the line tickets and access to the top floor of the Eiffel Tower here

Tip! If you have school age kids, you can find many fun facts about the Eiffel Tower here: they are a fun way to put the tower in context and some of them are sure to get a wow – the tower is pretty unique!

Make sure you take the time to also go to the Trocadero, on the other side of the river, where kids can splash around and catch the quintessential Eiffel tower view.

If you have little ones, you may enjoy the small yet cute Aquarium Cineaqua nearby.

Play in Jardin du Luxembourg

Paris has many beautiful gardens and one that usually gains the approvals of both kids and adults is the Luxembourg Gardens, in Paris city centre.

There is loads to see and do here from playgrounds to the park’s famous marionette show.

The activity of choice for kids here seems to be renting one of the toy boats from the local stall and make them race along the water in the park fountain: you can rent one for about 4 euro and indeed, they are great fun!

This is one of the best playgrounds in Paris and it is in such a central location, it is easy to add a stop here while sightseeing.

See Paris’ Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe is one of the most ironing landmarks in Paris and a place my son in particular loves.

The arch itself is just what you think it is but it is exciting for kids on a couple of accounts:

One, you can climb to the top of it!

The view from it is fun and it is not that big to cause problems to people like me, who suffer from a mild a fear of heights. You can find tickets and photos here .

The other big reason why my son loves it is that the Arc is a busy roundabout with tons of cars!

If you have a little one who loves seeing vehicles zooming by, be prepared to have them mesmerised buy the cars here!

Have a stroll on the Paris’ islands

Paris has two beautiful islands: Isle de la cite and isle Saint Lois.

Ile de la cite is where you find Notre Dame and Ice St Luis is the little island just beside it.

Having a stroll here with kids is a delight!

The islands are quintessentially Parisian and walking here, with the river, Notre Dame and the cobbles streets makes you feel like you are on a movie set!

Visit spooky Paris’ Catacombs

If you kids love weird and spooky places, then you can treat them to a tour of the Paris’ Catacombs!

Unlike the catacombs in Rome, the catacombs of Paris date from the XIII century and were quarries then turned cemeteries!

Here, you find yourself walking along narrow tunnels over 100 steps underground and find yourself up close and personal with bone art, skulls, and a full chapel decorated with bone remains!

There are several tours of the catacombs available. I like this one by LivTours which is expensive but offers wonderful guide and a small group setting.

Visit the Louvre with a kid-friendly tour

A big museum such as Le Louvre may be daunting with kids; however, the Louvre is so spectacular, I believe it is worth seeing at any age!

Depending on the age of your children, you can bring them to the ancient area, which I find often the most exciting for kids, you can go to see famous Mona Lisa, or get them to engage into a self-made scavenger hunt on a quest for the louvre’s masterpieces!

Setting the kids off to find works of art is one of our tricks to visit traditional museums as a family: usually, we do so by buying postcards in the museum shop first but the Louvre also has an app with a section for kids that is perfect for this use!

You can find info on the official Louvre site here .

See Paris from the water

La Seine, Paris’ river, crosses the city and is the perfect vantage point too see enjoy the view of some of Paris’ most famous sights.

The river is a waterway served by many boat companies offering river cruises for all ages and budgets, from hop on – hop off options to full on dinner cruises at candlelight!

A river cruise is a great pastime in Paris with kids as it allows you to see a lot without small legs getting too tired.

You can check out prices and tickets for the hop-on hop-off Paris river cruise here

Jet lag day idea! If you arrive in Paris after a long flight, a river cruise can be ideal to get a first sense of the city and the lay of the land without having to walk!

Explore the Centre Pompidou

Can a world-class museum be family-friendly?

If we are talking about the Centre Pompidours the answer is a resounding yes.

From the museum’s incredible outside with colorful tubes and escalators to exhibitions just for the kids, the centre is a fantastic place to spend a few hours.

Be ready for kids to get wet in the nearby fountains if visiting on a hot day… it’s irresistible.

You can buy your museum entrance ticket in advance and get an electronic confirmation here

Learn to make macaroons with a fun macaroon class

If, like me, you have a child who loves to cook, then one of the best things to so in Paris with kids is a macaroon class!

This one happens in the Galeries Lafayette: an excellent excuse to visit this most iconic Parisian shop! Choose the parent and child option if going with children under 12.

Catch the view from the top of Printemps

If your kids love heights, they will adore the terrace at the top of Printemps (department store).

Access to the terrace is free and you can choose between several restaurants both outdoors and indoors to rest for a bite or even just a drink.

The view is sure to impress the kids but should they need a little extra, just stop at the children’s floor of the store for a toy-shop experience to remember!

Visit the Jardin des Plantes

This garden has a special place in my heart since it was my local park during my summers in Paris.

It is a lovely place for adults and kids on a sunny day and is also where the Natural History Museum is.

The garden has some sure-hit with the kids including a small playground, the zoo (you can see the wallabies from the playground!) and the dodo-ride, a super cute and atmospheric vintage carousel.

As well as the garden, make sure you have a stroll in this area as it is truly lovely: check out rue Mouffettard for crepes and the nearby Lutece’s Arena to tap into Paris’ Roman history.

Get lost around Montmartre

Charming Montmartre watches silently over Paris and is a pleasure to explore.

It is quite a trek from Paris city centre but it is always worth the metro ride, especially on a good day when you can get a view over the city.

Here it is all about coffee shops, street artists (many for tourists, but fun nonetheless) and the famous Sacre Coeur, the white church towering over Montmartre meandering streets.

One word of caution: with small kids, don’t get the metro to the bottom of the hill thinking of climbing up: it is all stairs and the bits that aren’t stairs are really steep!

Cycle around Boi de Boulogne

Another stunning garden or a forest as the name suggests, this is a wide and fabulous green space not too far from the city centre.

Our best day out here was when we rented bikes and discovered the place this way but of course, you don’t have to do that. 

You can also opt just for a stroll, a ride on one of the local rowing boats or a visit to the kids favorite Jardin de Acclimatation, which includes a park with kids rides.

Parc de la Villette

Parc de la Villette is a huge space designed to get visitors to play and interact with nature, art and technology.

La Villette hosts the fabulous science museum cite des science , which is one of the biggest in Europe and is fabulous for kids, and also has 12 themed gardens.

The gardens are a delight with kids and they are a great space to burn some energy while taking is some pretty remarkable artifacts and constructions. One of the best places of all to visit in Paris with kids!

Tips for Eating out in Paris with kids

Eating out in Paris with kids is a little less straight forward than in other places, especially for dinner.

Dinner time tends to be much later than, let’s say, in the British Isles and many cafes and restaurants are pretty family-unfriendly.

This, either in the sense that they have little space (or no space at all for a stroller) or in the sense that they have little facilities and tolerance for small kids.

However, especially in the last few years, the Paris food scene has witnessed many changes.

Besides the more traditional French restaurants, you now have eateries, tapas bars, markets and fusion restaurants that mix the French flair for cuisine with a more casual approach, often with fabulous results.

During the day, you will find plenty of options to eat out with your kids. For dinner, the following tips and addresses may come in handy.

• Show up at the right time.  Restaurants in Paris are only open at certain times and often not before 7pm.

If you need more flexibility, you may want to to a brasserie instead or informal eateries and cafes, which tend to have continuous service

Leave the stroller at home.  One of the most common reasons for restaurants in Paris not to be child-friendly is space.

They are often crammed and while this can be wonderfully atmospheric, if you show up with a buggy you may literally not be able to get in!

Don’t assume they’ll be able to accommodate high chairs .

Again for space issues, often there is no room for a high chair.

If your child is not old enough for a standard one, I have a selection of good children’s table harnesses and packable high chairs that can come in handy in Paris.

In summer, a terrace, usually more accommodating for buggies and strollers.

• Embrace International restaurants and chains as they tend to be the most child-friendly spaces.

They usually are accommodating to children and some have a kids menu and even crayons to colour while waiting.

Some family-friendly addressed to eat in Paris with kids: Sapori di Parma (Italian),  Blue Elephant (Thai),  Schwartz Deli (American style burgers. No kids menu but big portions, good for sharing), Mediterranea (tapas, with kids menu), Aloha cafe (coffee, sweets, lunch), Che He (Asian),

Guide Books about Paris for kids and travel cards

• Not for Parents: Paris Everything you Ever Wanted to Know (Lonely Planet)
• Omy giant coloring roll: Paris edition  or pocket edition (excellent restaurant activity!)
• City Trails Paris  (Lonely Planet)
• This is Paris
• Crepes by Suzette
• Eloise in Paris

I hope you find this first-timers’ guide to Paris with kids helpful. Safe family travels!

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Marta Correale

Marta Correale is the creator, writer and creative mind behind Learning Escapes. A travel loving mama of two from Italy, Marta currently lives in Ireland with her husband and two kids, they take frequent trips to European destination, the US and beyond. A professional travel blogger for over a decade, Marta is passionate about traveling with kids and helping others to travel more and better as a family.

2 thoughts on “ Paris with kids: how to plan the perfect family trip to Paris ”

Great comprehensive list! It’s making me want to jet there right now #citytripping

Very comprehensive list. We went when my eldest was a baby and agree about the restaurants and buggy space. This will come in very handy when we eventually return. Thanks for linking #citytripping

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Our Mega Guide to Things to Do in Paris with Kids

Paris is truly one of the great cities of the world. It is known the world over as being romantic and for many of its attractions. Is there a better known building in the world than the Eiffel Tower?

We were happy to find that it is also a great city for families. There are so many things to do in Paris with kids. Thereby car are a crazy amount of Paris tourist attractions and many work well for families.

There are also custom built attractions for families. The metro, wide footpaths and the boulangeries (bakeries) on seemingly every corner also make this an easy place to explore with kids.

We were lucky enough to spend an entire month in Paris in the middle of summer. The weather was beautiful – most days were high twenties or thirties which surprised me.

There are many tourists about – but only at some attractions. Most of the time we did not really notice tourists that much. We rarely lined up for anything and we did not find it a problem being in Paris at a peak time.

The only annoyance was that many local shops shut over the summer. Many shops, restaurants etc shut for August in the neighbourhood where we were staying. Many were still open though so this was not a big deal.

Below you will find our list of the top things to do with kids in Paris, how we found being with children in Paris, where we stayed, where to eat, how to get there and how to get around Paris. We hope it helps you have as fantastic time in Paris as we did.

Top 26 things to do in Paris with kids!

If you are wondering what to do with kids in Paris and whether the traditional top Paris attractions work well with preschoolers in tow, here are our thoughts!

Arc de Triomphe

S and I pose at the Arc de Triomphe

This famous landmark is my favourite place to start a Paris adventure and that’s exactly what we did. We caught the metro right here then climbed to the top.

There is a small museum inside at the top, but the highlight by far are the great views all over Paris from the top at 50 metres high, especially down the Champs-Elysees and over to the Eiffel Tower. A dozen broad avenues start here and looking along them makes for magnificent views. I just love it!

The arch itself is also impressive and it was cool to ascend from the metro station to see it in front of us.

The Champs-Elysees from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

The kids were not as impressed but they did a great job of walking up the the 284 steps to the top. Miss 5 even recognised the Eiffel Tower – she has seen it in kids TV shows.

We were able to leave our pram at the bottom with the person who checks the tickets. If you are wondering what to visit in Paris first – this is my pick!

Under 18s are free, adults are 9.50 Euros. We went on a Saturday afternoon at the end of the Tour de France so there was a line but it moved fast.

Champs Elysees and Place de la Concorde

Strolling down the Champs-Elysees

After descending from Arc de Triomphe there is only one thing to do – walk down the Champs Elysees.

This broad avenue must be one of the most famous streets in the world, and it is the site of many French events – on the day we strolled down they were getting ready to celebrate the end of the Tour de France and we saw many contestants ride past.

The street is packed full of restaurants, shops and cinemas. The footpath is very wide – thankfully, since it was very busy when we were there. It is a nice place to walk and really soak up the fact that you are in Paris.

The best part for me about this strip is that it took us from the Arc de Triomphe all the way to the Place de la Concorde, the Louvre and the gardens around the Louvre.

Walking down here is obviously free although be aware that you may be tempted by shops along the way!

Jardin des Tuileries

This 28 hectare of city park is located inbetween the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde and is an excellent place to break up the journey between the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre if you are in Paris with children and even if you are not.

This big park was created in 1664. There are art galleries at the Orangerie Museum and the Gallery. However we came here to chill out and let the kids have some kid time!

Lots of fun at the playground at Jardin des Tuileries

There is a great little playground with lots of shaded seats as well as a fun park in summer. The kids loved the playground especially because this is a great place to find kids in Paris from all over the world.

Miss 5 was happy to make some English speaking friends. If you are so inclined, there are lots of kid friendly rides in the fun park as well as some more thrilling ones for daredevil adults.

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower from Champ de Mars

I think it may be impossible to visit Paris without going to the Eiffel Tower. This must be the most recognised structure in the world! Even our 5 year old was very impressed and excited when we first viewed it on the way here – the first time I have seen her so impressed by anything which isn’t a kid attraction.

She kept saying “oh my gosh” over and over again!

The most obvious thing to do here is obviously to go up to the top – I definitely recommend a lift pass with kids. The best thing to do with kids at the Eiffel Tower, however, is to just hang out at the Champ de Mars. This big grassy area has a great atmosphere and obviously a great view.

There are also three playgrounds – at least I read that there is although we only found one. There was also a roller skating rink when we visited, a clown and a great party atmosphere.

Musee d’Orsay

The Musee d’Orsay is one of Paris’ biggest art galleries and one of the top attractions in Paris. Housed in a beautiful turn of the 20th century former railway station, the collection of the Musee d’Orsay picks up where the Louvre ends, covering art from 1850 up to around World War 1.

There’s some big developments in art during this time – like Impressionism – and the museum has some of the best collections by artists like Monet, Manet, Renoir, Cezanne (and others) anywhere. They have a good collection of paintings by Van Gogh and sculptures by Rodin as well.

All of this makes for one popular destination. I got there on the 9:30 opening time only to be greeted by a massive queue. It moved quickly but it still took me over 20 minutes to get inside.

The queue never got any shorter either – it was as long when I went in as when I got there. It was even longer when I left hours later round lunch time. So either get there really early or maybe later, especially on Thursdays when it is open till 9:30pm.

The collection – which is large – is organised by time and artistic style so if you know what you like then I’d do them first. Especially if you’re there early. The Impressionist collection (which is on the very top floor) and the Van Gogh section were very busy. Otherwise the museum is well spaced out.

Even if you’re not much into art the collection has lots of work that you’ve probably seen reproduced somewhere and now you get to see for real. If you’ve even a passing interest in art its one of the better museums to visit. I’m glad I went.

And for kids? There’s nothing for kids – no kids section or activity area – so they can’t get involved in anyway. It’s all passive. It’ll work for some kids and not for others. I would have taken S, if she wanted to go, but not Mr 3 who is too young to appreciate or care about the art.

Sacre Coeur

Visiting this well known Basilica is an essential Paris thing to do.  Being on top of a hill, it is quite a landmark. This also means that there are great views of Paris from here as well.

The church itself is beautiful inside. It is set up so people can pray continuously so no talking is allowed. You are not allowed to take photos or film either (not that that stops many people). Mr 3 was in a bad mood so we didn’t take him inside out of respect, but S enjoyed it.

You can also climb up the dome for an extra fee for views, but we found the views more than sufficient from out the front.

There are a lot of steps – we walked up them which was a mistake –  at least with Mr 3 and the stroller. We should have taken the funicular which I believe uses the normal Paris metro tickets.

For kids, there is also a playground and a carousel at the front.

We left Sacre Ceour by going out the western side entrance. I enjoyed the walk to the closest metro station on this side (Chateau Rouge) far more than the walk to Anvers. It was far less touristy (and cheaper if you need to eat). It is a nice area to walk around.

Cite des Sciences

Our budding scientists at the very cool Cite des Sciences

This massive science museum was a huge hit with us and is one of the best things to do in Paris with kids. It is located in the Parc de la Villette (more about this below).

There are three floors of exhibits, cinemas, a planetarium and an old submarine. The downside is that different exhibits have different admission charges. We decided to visit the Cite des Enfants for 2-7 year olds as this seemed like the best area for preschoolers after we watched the video’s on the Cite des Sciences site which show each of the exhibits. It was a great choice! Especially if you are looking for the most fun kids activities in Paris.

This area has 5 different sections all of which are hands on. It was very active but far less science-y (sorry not sure how else to describe it!) than other science museums we have been to.

The kids did things like cart around building blocks to build walls, run around cool mazes, played with water and saw a million versions of themselves in mirrors. Our 90 minutes allotted time flew by and the kids absolutely loved it.

The general exhibition areas looked fantastic and with older kids, I definitely would have checked out these too. They did not look suitable for preschoolers however.

It’s recommended to buy tickets online before visiting on their site. We had no problems purchasing them the night before in a peak time.

It cost 9 euros for an adult and 6 euros each for the kids plus a 2 euro booking fee for 90 minutes. Not cheap! But we think it was worth it.

Parc de la Villette

The awesome dragon’s slide at Parc de la Villette

This park is absolutely amazing – surely one of the best in the world!

It’s home to many buildings – the Cite des Sciences, a cultural centre and many more – but there is still plenty of wide open space, a canal through the middle, some interesting structures and (the best part) many themed gardens.

We loved exploring some of the different gardens. By far the favourite is the Dragon Garden with a massive dragon’s slide. Miss 5 loved making the big climb up to the massive slide (pictured above). It is lots of fun.

We also especially enjoyed the Dunes Garden where the kids could bounce, do what amounted to an obstacle course and there are also some decent sized flying foxes.

If you are looking for amazing places to visit in Paris for children, we would definitely recommend a visit to this park and the Cite des Science. They make for a great day and, after Disneyland, it is the place that they say is their favourite. We even went back out to Parc de la Vilette a second time.

Everything we did at this park was free. There is a metro station on each side so it can make sense to start on one side and slowly make your way to the other.

Promenade Plantee

The awesome Promenade Plantee

Another of the great things for kids to do in Paris is to walk along the unique Promenade Plantee.

Promenade Plantee is a fabulous green space on an elevated walkway built on a disused railway line three levels above ground. It has all the usual park items including benches, a water feature and gardens. It’s a lovely place to walk with quite a buzz on a summer’s evening. There are also some nice views looking down on the Paris streets.

It’s the perfect place to stroll with kids with no worries at all about cars. There’s also a fabulous park where the walkway comes down to ground level at Jardin de Reuilly.

There are staircases up to the walkway on most of the city blocks underneath it.

This historic Catholic cathedral is surely one of the most famous in the world and it is definitely worth adding it to your list of things to do in Paris for kids.

Notre Dame was built on the site of earlier churches and temples and was started in 1163. It took a long time to finish and was extensively renovated in the 1800s, but the results today look great. It’s big, grand and ornate and there are some fabulous stained glass windows.

14 million people visit a year and it was crowded on our early August visit, but we didn’t line up for more than 5 minutes and the kids enjoyed walking around, especially 5 year old S who is finding religion quite fascinating at the moment.

I recommend walking around the back of the church. There is a peaceful park area which was basically empty when we visited despite the huge crowds on the other side. There is also a small playground to the right of the entrance. It’s only really suitable for toddlers, but it is a great option if you don’t want to take your children inside.

Entry is free although you pay if you want to climb up the tower. There are free tours as well.

Conciergerie

Conciergerie’s medieval hall

Conciergerie was built as a royal palace in the 14th century but later became a prison and torture chamber and is best known for its role during the Reign of Terror during the Revolution. This history is what is documented here.

In addition to the hall featured above, there are small rooms detailing what occurred here with reconstructed cells to show how different types of prisoners lived depending on how much money they had. There is also a reconstruction of Queen Marie Antoinette’s cell.

I came here alone and although there were people visiting with young kids, there is nothing here for little kids although they may enjoy a peek in the cells.

I also have mixed feelings about this attraction. It was interesting on one hand, but I could have got just as much from reading a book – perhaps more since a lot of descriptions were things like this “may have been the site of…” or they “might have had cells like this” but this is not based on evidence.

Conciergerie is located near Notre Dame. It costs 8.50 Euros for an adult.

Luxembourg Gardens

Sailboats at Luxembourg Gardens

The Luxembourg Gardens, a short walk from Notre Dame, are 23 hectares of beautiful gardens that date back to the 1620s. It is also home to Luxembourg Palace where the French Senate currently reside but the main attractions is the gardens themselves.

It is one of the most beautiful places in Paris to visit- there are formal terraces, manicured lawns, lots of trees, tennis courts, an art museum, orchards, puppet shows and a great kids playground.

The playground was a huge hit, but our favourite part was the Grand Bassin, an ornamental pond with lots of chairs where kids can hire a toy sailboat.

The sailboats come in all nationalities and S and Z loved nudging their Australian one around the pond with a stick. It was idyllic.

There are also grassy areas where you can picnic. We definitely recommend spending a lazy half day here. It is one of the best places in Paris to visit with kids.

The gardens themselves are free but many of the attractions have entry fees. The sailboats are currently 3.50 Euros for half an hour. The playground was 2.50 Euros for children and 1.20 Euros for adults.

Centre Pompidou

In Paris, the kids – and S particularly – have been interested in art. S constantly wants to “make” art, so we headed to the Centre Pompidou. The centre holds the national collection of modern and post modern art (anything after the impressionist era) in a fabulous looking building which has been designed to look as though it has been built inside out.

There are also galleries dedicated to other art forms like photography as well. During the school holidays they have activities for kids in Paris so we thought it’d be a good chance to do some art.

The centre opens daily (except for Tuesdays) at 11:00. We got there just after, and the line to get in was very long, although moving quickly. By 11:30 it was half the length, by 12:00 there’s no line at all (although when we left around 3:00 there was a queue again).

After buying a ticket the first gallery we saw was the kids one which has an interactive art installation. The workshop in progress allowed kids to decorate a paper tag and then attach it to the installation, which they enjoyed. The upper galleries held the modern art collection, with a chunk of Matisse and Picasso, and the exhibits.

I wouldn’t have thought this would have been as interesting for kids but some of the art really grabbed the kids imagination and S was particularly curious about some of the pieces. Z just wanted to touch things. We had a good time but it’s otherwise hard to recommend this for younger kids.

The Centre Pompidou is located near the Hotel de Ville (Paris’ town hall) and is a five minute walk up Rue de Renard from the Hotel De Ville, its metro station (on line 1) and the many buses that stop or terminate there. Entry was 14 Euros for an adult, kids free.

Canal St-Martin

I was unsure whether to include this in our list of things to do in Paris with children as we did not particularly enjoy it. However, I am sure you can learn from our experience.

After reading Canal St-Martin is a great place for a stroll and a picnic in our  Lonely Planet , we decided to head there one beautiful, early evening. We walked the whole stretch and although it is quite pretty in stretches, I wouldn’t really recommend it.

There were groups of young men just hanging out for the majority of the walk which makes me uncomfortable.  The first part (near metro Juares) smelled of trash.

The canal is also not a great spot for a picnic unless you are happy to sit with your legs dangling over the edge (no way with preschoolers) or on a sketchy bench. We were further disappointed when a big part of the reason we went there was shut – we had read about a pizza place that would give you a pink helium balloon when you ordered so they could find you on the canal to deliver the pizza.

All is well that ends well though – we found a creperie and had a yummy dinner anyway and the evening was saved.

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Not many cemeteries are tourist attractions. And even those that are tend to have – at most – a few well know residents. Père Lachaise is the exception. There’s probably more famous people buried here than in any other general, open to anyone, cemetery anywhere.

This may seem like a strange addition to our list of things to do with children in Paris, but it is worth a visit if you have the time.

When it was opened in 1804 as the main cemetery for Paris (the others being at capacity) it was Paris’ first garden cemetery but not very popular. However, over the years it’s seen a cross section of the famous and infamous.

Musicians seem particularly well represented: Jim Morrison, Chopin, Maria Calais and Edith Piaf are all interned. There’s many famous writers as well – perhaps most famously Oscar Wilde. There’s so many famous people you can get maps showing where they all are.

More ominously, the Wall of the Communards is on one edge of the cemetery, where the leaders of the 1870 Paris Commune were executed after the Commune’s fall in 1871.

Despite all the death, it’s an interesting place to stroll around and see what remains of some rather famous people.

Entry is free and you can enter near the Philippe Auguste metro station.

Museum of Natural History – Galerie des Enfants in the Grande Galerie de l’Evolution

Paris Natural History Museum

The Grande Gallery of Evolution is another of the family things to do in Paris. It is one of many galleries of the Museum of Natural History, spread around the edges of the Jardin des Plantes, close to Gare d’Austerlitz station.

The Gallery of Evolution is home to a large collection of stuffed animals – including big ones like whole giraffes and elephants – and preserved specimens in a beautiful old building. It is surprisingly fun to wander around and take it all in.

The highlight of the gallery for S and Z, though, was the Children’s Gallery. While part of the Gallery of Evolution you need to pay extra to enter the Children’s Gallery.

To spread people out, the doors are only opened every 15 minutes, and on your ticket (if you pay extra) is a time slot you can’t enter before. For example, our tickets assigned us the 12:15 slot. We could enter at 12:15 or 12:30 or any opening after, but not the 12:00 one or any before. You can stay as long as you like.

The Children’s Gallery is full of things kids can touch and interact with and is designed to be entertaining and engaging. There’s a focus on different types of habitats and what animals live in each, as well as protecting and conserving them.

Both S and Z were entertained for quite some time and, despite not being a huge space, there is a lot to do. The gallery is recommended for ages 6 to 12 which made sense.

There were things for Z to play with, but much of it was to advanced or simply too high. S got more out of it but needed help to understand the significance of what she was seeing. That said, everything was labeled or had audio in both French and English. They enjoyed the Children’s Gallery and the Evolution Gallery overall but other museums were a bigger hit.

Entry is 11 Euros for adults, 9 Euros for kids, free for under 4’s.

Paris Beach

Beach on the Seine

For a different thing to do in Paris for children, consider visiting a Paris beach! Every summer, parts of the Seine river bank in Paris are covered with sand to form Paris Plage (or beach). Sand and deck chairs are brought in and there are sand castle competitions and water activities.

It actually has a beach like atmosphere and the kids loved relaxing and building sand castles. You can find more information here .

Disneyland Paris

The amazing Disneyland Paris

If you want to make your kids’ day/week/month/life, consider heading out to Disneyland Paris which is just a short train ride our of central Paris. I went with Miss 5 and we had an amazing day – so amazing in fact that she keeps calling it her best day ever!

There are actually two parks that make up Disneyland Paris – Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. I recommend spending at least a day at each.

They are both worth visiting. There are fantastic shows, attractions and that amazing Disney magic. We had a great time seeing ghosts in the haunted mansion, lasering weird space creatures with Buzz Lightyear, watching a car stunt show and singing along to all our Frozen favourites.

It is definitely one of the top things to do in Paris with kids and a great way to break up the more adult Paris attractions. Read more information and our tips in our full review .

Jardin d’Acclimatation

A tiny slice of Jardin d’Acclimatation

To the west of central Paris lies the massive Bois de Boulogne. This 845 hectare park is massive. It is also home to the Jardin d’Acclimatation, one of the best things to do with kids in Paris.

Jardin d’Acclimatation is the perfect stop with preschoolers and would also work with older kids. It is a combination of playgrounds, zoo, puppet shows, amusement park and just general gardens. Nothing in particular is that special but in combination, it’s a great attraction.

There is a water play area which was a particular hit with our kids. There are so many playgrounds I lost count including an extra good “forest adventures playground” which is like an obstacle course for 6-12 year olds but both our younger kids enjoyed it too.

We had a fabulous day walking around, playing on the playgrounds and splashing in the water. I was surprised just how good this attraction is as I had not heard it mentioned before and unfortunately it seems that many foreign families skip it – don’t!

There are many small amusement park rides – at 3-6 euros a go we gave them a miss, but they looked fun if that’s what you are after. Many things were over priced in my opinion – 6 euros for a bouncy castle! But we managed to spend just about an entire day here without paying a cent above the entry price so it also makes for a great budget day out. Basically this park is just full of Paris activities for kids.

There are many eateries but I recommend doing what we did and taking a picnic.

Entry is 3 euros per person. There are extra costs for rides and some of the attractions. 

Parc Floral de Paris

One of many playgrounds at Parc Floral de Paris

On the opposite side to Paris to Bois de Boulogne lies Bois de Vincennes which is even bigger. Inside Bois de Vincennes lies Parc Floral de Paris, a botanical garden.

This is a big park. There are many small attractions although we found them to be mostly shut. Thankfully, the main reason we visited here was fine though – the millions of playgrounds.

The playgrounds at this park seem to go on and on and are probably the best I have experienced here in Paris, apart from maybe Parc de la Vilette. There are play areas for all different ages and even older kids could have fun here. I would’ve like to climb on some of it myself had there been less people around!

There is also a small maze at the entrance that the kids could have played in all day in itself.

I also found this park more peaceful than others we have visited with less background traffic noise. My only complaint is that there was just one toilet and it was the opposite end of the park to the playgrounds. Quite a walk and not good with a three year old who needs to go NOW!

Parc Floral is definitely not a must visit things to do for kids in Paris. However, if you are staying this side of the city and have younger kids, it’s a fun place to let off some steam.

In summer, entry is 6 Euros for adults on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays so visit on a different day 🙂 It is free every day at other times of the year.

Parc des Buttes Chaumonts

Hanging out at the beautiful Parc des Buttes Chaumonts

In the north-eastern corner of the 20 arrondissements lies Paris’ fifth largest park, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, and possibly one if its best for kids. The park is built around a small artificial lake and is well known for its small “temple” inspired by of Tivoli’s Temple of Vesta that towers high above and offers great views of Paris’ northern suburbs.

The park is built on the a hill and so has lots of sloping lawns (you don’t have to keep off the grass) that make great spots for picnics with incredibly picturesque views of the park’s trees, the lake and the city beyond. We could even see the Sacre Coeur.

Less formal that the Luxembourg or Tuilleries Gardens the park is a beautiful place to relax or play.

There’s a lot of facilities as well – especially for kids. There’s two playgrounds at the Eastern and Western corners, three restaurants and two creperies as well as two kids marionette theatres – but the eateries and theatres were closed for the summer when we were there.

There’s even an artificial grotto with a waterfall using water from the lake. It’s J’s favourite Parisian park.

Have a photo shoot!

Photo by Goncalu Silva for Flytographer

This might seem like a strange addition to a list of Paris attractions. However, if you were ever going to pick a place to have professional photos, could you choose a better place than Paris? There is something so magical about this city and the Eiffel Tower, so why not take home the ultimate souvenir with a professional photo?

We can personally recommend Goncalu from Flytographer . Read more about our experience here .

Playgrounds

The cool playground under the Promenade Plantee at Avenue Daumesnil and Rue Jacques-Hillairet

To finish off our list of what to do with children in Paris is a list of playgrounds that we personally visited that we haven’t already mentioned above.

There are a surprising amount of playgrounds in Paris. This is an extra good thing since grass is often fenced off at parks so chances for the kids to run around can be limited. Here they are:

• Les Halles – there is an adventure playground here for 7-12 year olds. Also some grassy areas where we had a great game of “duck, duck, goose!”
• Jardin Emile Galle – small playground near Boulevard Voltaire
• Square de la Roquette – great playground near Pere-Lachaise Cemetary
• Jardin de Reuilly – Under the Promenade Plantee near Avenue Daumesnil and Rue Jacques-Hillairet – great playground and lovely grassy area perfect for picnics (and pictured below)

Other things to do for kids in Paris

We did not visit the following Paris attractions personally, but you may want to consider them as well:

• Aquarium de Paris – Cinéaqua -Paris’ aquarium
• Louvre – the famous Paris art gallery. We can’t imagine enjoying this with our young kids but yours might be different.
• Paris Catacombes – explore Paris’ underworld with a look at the sewer system and some of the 6 million skeletons under Paris.
• Musee de l’Armee – Paris’ Army Museum has a big collection of military weapons and is home to Napolean’s tomb.

Find more  fun things to do in Paris here .

Paris for kids

We were concerned about visiting Paris with kids after hearing it was not very kid friendly. We did not find this to be the case. Our kids were 3 and 5 when we visited.

While our kids were not embraced like they are in Malaysia  and all the museums weren’t super child friendly like in Stockholm , they were at least tolerated everywhere. No one complained or seemed annoyed with us and S received quite a few compliments on her beautiful hair. As you can see from above, there are plenty of great Paris attractions for kids.

People were also very helpful when we needed it, often seeming to appear out of nowhere when we struggled to get the stroller into the metro or dropped a bag.

On the other hand, though, I did often feel self conscious as Paris kids do not seem to make a sound! They are not like Australian kids at all in this respect and our kids are loud even by Australian standards so I spent more time than I probably needed to trying to get them to lower the noise level. I also struggled to feel comfortable taking them to restaurants as it was very rare that I saw kids eating out.

Map of Paris things to do with kids

Family accommodation in Paris

There are some fantastic family friendly hotels in Paris. Read this article if you are looking for the best family hotels in Paris.

However, if you are going to stay in Paris for awhile, like us, I recommend looking at  Airbnb . We stayed in a one bedroom apartment in a nice neighbourhood for only AUD$1400 (currently just over US$1000)!

If you don’t have an account with Airbnb yet, sign up with this link and we will both get US$25 off our next booking.

If you want a cheap stay, I also stayed in the  Hotel du Maine while we were in Paris. It is good value although the only way to cool down in summer was to open the windows which made things quite loud.

Inside the Four Seasons Hotel

Other family accommodation recommendations in Paris

• Four Seasons George V Paris  – This luxury hotel is not only in a fabulous location for checking out the biggest sights in Paris but is also very family friendly. There is a pool, family play areas, games, DVDs, events and more. A babysitting service is also available and kids under 18 are free using existing bedding. Click here for the latest prices.
• Hotel Fouquet’s Barriere – This is another top choice for families. On arrival, kids are given a passport with access to treasure hunts, games and coloring activities. Kids under 4 are also catered to with workshops. Click here for the latest prices.
• Novotel Paris Centre Tour Eiffel – A great choice for families on a budget who want a top location. This hotel is family friendly, with kids under 16 staying free, but has a lower price tag, thanks to not offering lots of luxury extras. However, there is still a pool, play area, video games and children’s menus!  Click here for the latest prices.
• Hotel de France Paris – A budget option with triple rooms available close to the metro and Sacre Coeur. Click here for the latest prices.

You can find more choices in our full guide to the best family friendly accommodation in Paris .

Eating in Paris with kids

Paris is renowned for its food and there are restaurants, cafes and food outlets everywhere – you are sure to find something you like.

Paris restaurants are pricey so on our budget, we could not eat in restaurants often. However, when we did, we were very happy!

We particularly enjoyed creperies. These places are delicious, great value and work well with kids as I imagine there are very few kids who wouldn’t enjoy a delicious French crepe.

We also loved the cider that was sold at creperies. I have never been a fan of cider until now. French cider is delicious!

If you want to try out a French creperie, I particularly recommend going to the southern end of Rue de Montparnasse. There are many here. I tried two and they were both delicious.

Here are some creperies we loved:

• Creperie La Bigoudenne, Rue de Montparnasse – 9.50 euros for 2 courses, sooooooo good!
• Creperie de Port-Manech , Rue de Montparnasse
• Lulu La Nantaise Creperie , near Republique and Canal St Martin

A great way to enjoy eating in Paris with kids is by having a picnic. We had so many picnics with yummy fresh French produce and they were a fantastic way to eat for all of us. When we were in a rush, the local boulangerie (bakery) also worked out very well for a kid friendly meal on a budget.

Getting to Paris

Thanks to Paris being the most popular tourist destination in the world, you are never going to struggle to find a way to get to Paris. There are flights from many parts of the world and it is also very well hooked up by train and bus to the rest of Europe.

Eurostar London to Paris

Catching the Eurostar from London to Paris

We looked into both London to Paris flights and catching the Eurostar from London to Paris. Flights were cheaper – but not once we took into account getting to a London airport so we were very happy to have an excuse to travel from London to Paris by the Eurostar.

The Eurostar is awesome. It takes about two hours and is just so quick and easy. It leaves and arrives in central London and Paris. All border formalities are very quick and taken care of before departure.

We were surprised just how quick the border formalities were given when we first arrived in the EU on this trip in June, we were asked lots of questions in many different ways like they were trying to trip us up. In London, we also were asked many questions and had to show a flight out of Europe.

The Paris border people did not even look at our passports. They simply opened them to the back and stamped which was a relief since we were still having to travel with S’s damaged passport at that point.

The Eurostar to Paris from London was incredibly smooth and we were in central London in no time. I would definitely recommend this option rather than flying.

You can buy tickets online here . It cost us 124 pounds in total for 2 adults and 1 child. under 4’s are free if they don’t occupy a seat. S, Z and I were able to sit sharing two seats without a problem.

Getting around Paris

Public transport.

It is very easy to work out how to get around in Paris thanks to a very convenient Metro system. Public transport in Paris is superb.

There are metro stations just about everywhere. The downside of this, however, is that trains stop a lot which means short journeys can take longer than you would expect. They are very convenient though.

There are also RER trains which are bigger and faster since they stop less often. Buses are also a great option when they are going where you want ESPECIALLY if you have a stroller.

The train system is not stroller friendly – there are steps everywhere and trying to change train lines with the kids and a stroller alone was something I found quite stressful. In fact even entering a metro station with a stroller can be hard.

Thankfully, once you are outside, Paris is very stroller friendly. There are nice wide footpaths and we found it very easy to push around.

It is also convenient to get to and from the airports in Paris with multiple public transport options.

A good alternative for getting around Paris and surrounds is to hire your own car. This is especially a good idea if you want to do some day trips out of Paris or plan to explore Europe more. You can find some car hire options in Paris here .

Our budget in Paris was our usual AUD$115/USD$85/EUR76 a day. We failed! Paris is not cheap.

I am happy to say though that we only averaged AUD$135/USD$99 a day which I think is a bargain. We did not eat in restaurants often but otherwise we basically had and did what we wanted. This does not include Disneyland Paris.

Our verdict

Goncalo Silva for Flytographer

It seems ridiculous now but I actually was worried about visiting Paris with children. I had heard that it wasn’t very child friendly, that people would be rude and not tolerate our kids. This was not true at all.

I have also been to Paris twice in the past and although I didn’t dislike it, I didn’t love it either. The idea of a month in Paris did not fill me with excitement and we actually regretted booking this stay at one point.

That was until we arrived in London and the friends we stayed with gushed about how they had felt the same and then on their latest trip they had the best time.

They said that it was so much better not just going to the main tourist attractions, having time to visit the less famous things to see in Paris and just hanging out and enjoying life. I absolutely agree.

Taking the time to just enjoy the fact that you are in Paris is priceless. There is just something so special about this city which is easy to forget if you are staying in the centre of things and zooming around quickly between the main attractions in Paris.

I also want to state that I found the stereotype of rude Parisians to be completely untrue. No one was rude to us at all ever. We don’t speak french unless you count saying “bonjour” and “merci”.

The best thing about Paris for me was when I was just walking along, gazing in the cute French shops and enjoying the cute French streets. There is a lot to love about this magical city.

So yes, je t’aime Paris! And we highly recommend it for other families, couples, solo travellers, everyone!

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These top tips for traveling with children can help you have a happy family vacation in Paris © Imgorthand / Getty Images

Paris  is a fabulous place to travel en famille (as a family), with a host of specially designed activities for kids of all ages, both inside for rainy days as well as out and about in the city.

From the best places to go with kids to top planning tips on accommodations and how to travel around, here is our guide to exploring the French capital with les enfants (children).

Is Paris a good place to travel with kids?

As Europe's most densely populated city, Paris is well practised in catering to kids' – and parents' – needs. There are parks and playgrounds galore , many restaurants have children's menus (though high chairs are less common), plenty of hotels can arrange lits bébé (baby cots) and/or interconnecting rooms, and numerous museums and cultural spaces have specific activities for kids.

Where is best in Paris for kids?

All of Paris' arrondissements (city districts) are well connected but the most central – the 1er arrondissement to the 8e arrondissement – are especially well suited for families to minimize time spent traveling and allow you to pop back to your accommodations for supplies or naps. The 5e (aka the Latin Quarter ) and 6e ( St-Germain ) are ideal for their proximity to the Jardin du Luxembourg, many family-friendly restaurants and hotels, and a wonderful French geography–themed sweet shop, Le Bonbon au Palais .

Best things to do with babies and toddlers

Head to jardin du luxembourg, a park dedicated to children.

Paris' most enchanting park is the 23-hectare, chestnut-shaded Jardin du Luxembourg , which Napoléon dedicated to the city's children. Delightfully old-fashioned activities include prodding 1920s sailboats on its octagonal pond, riding ponies or its carousel, and catching a marionette show at its theater.

Other Parisian parks with puppet shows include Parc Monceau , Parc Montsouris , and, by the Eiffel Tower , Parc du Champ de Mars . Parc de la Villette has futuristic playgrounds and attractions, music venues and museums.

Boat trips on the Seine are fun for all the family

For a memorable overview of the City of Light, a river cruise through Paris' heart is hard to beat. Companies include Bateaux-Mouches , Bateaux Parisiens and the hop-on, hop-off Batobus , as well as Vedettes de Paris , which has hour-long tours tailored specifically to families with children.

Another engaging journey is a canal cruise with Canauxrama from Bastille through an underground section then passing through the locks and swing bridges of Canal St-Martin en route to the Parc de la Villette.

Best things to do with elementary school-aged children

Wander the city's gardens, forests and playgrounds.

The city's botanic gardens, the Jardin des Plantes , contains a small zoo, the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes. At Paris' edges are two rambling forests, Bois de Boulogne in the west, and Bois de Vincennes in the east. Younger kids will adore amusement park Jardin d’Acclimatation  in the Bois de Boulogne, which has 44 individual attractions such as "rafting adventures", "speed rockets" and funfair rides, and is most endearingly reached by taking a mini train from Porte Maillot. Bois de Vicennes is home to the Parc Floral de Paris, with fantastic playground facilities and an open-air concert venue, Paris' largest zoo, the  Parc Zoologique de Paris , and a moated medieval castle, the Château de Vincennes .

Explore the hands-on world-class art and culture museums

Dedicated children's museums include the magic museum, Musée de la Magie , and art museum, Musée en Herbe , with permanent and changing exhibitions, activity sheets, guided tours and workshops. There are also some great hands-on workshops at the exhibition space Palais de Tokyo ; the city's architecture museum, Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine ; and the landmark Centre Pompidou modern-art museum and cultural center, which has a 1st-floor space for kids aged two to 10. The city's mightiest museum, the Musée du Louvre , has a dedicated family space called the Studio and an app aimed at children aged 7–11 .

Best things to do with tweens and teens

Visit the city's entertaining science museums.

Science is made entertaining for kids, tweens and teens at the Cité des Sciences in the Parc de la Villette , which includes a planetarium; at the Galerie des Enfants, within the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution , a branch of the natural-history museum, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle at the Jardin des Plantes ; and the Palais de la Découverte  (ages 6 and above), which is at a temporary location at Parc André Citroën while its premises are renovated and redeployed as a Paris 2024 Olympic venue. Europe's oldest science and technology museum, the Musée des Arts et Métiers , has a special audioguide for kids.

Have a magic-filled day at a theme park

This list would not be complete without Disneyland Resort Paris , comprising both Disneyland Park, with all the classic rides, characters, and  pays (lands), and the film- and TV-focused Walt Disney Studios Park .

Further out, 35km (22 miles) north of the city and linked by shuttle bus, is summer-opening Parc Astérix , with shows and thrill-seeking rides for all ages based on the famous comic books.

On a rainy day, head to Cinéaqua or Centre Pompidou

Cinéaqua is a winner with kids for its cinemas screening ocean-related films and not least for its shark-filled aquarium. One of the best cinematic experiences for kids is a self-guided behind-the-scenes tour using sensor technology of iconic 1930s cinema Le Grand Rex, where you can stand behind the big screen and take part in making a film, from recording studios to special effects.

As well as its first-floor space aimed at children aged up to 10, Centre Pompidou has a lower-ground-floor visual, multimedia and performing-arts area for teenagers aged 13 to 16.

Planning tips for visiting Paris with kids

Paris' efficient, inexpensive public transport system whisks you around the city. Children up to four years travel free; under 10s pay half price. On the metro, the front carriage of driverless lines (1 14 and, by the end of 2022, line 4) are fun for kids, while lines with overground sections (2 and 6) provide great views, though stairs to the subterranean stations are extensive and corridors can be long.

Parents with strollers will find it easier to get around by bus. Avoid traveling at peak hours, when all public transport is crammed. Take extra care when crossing roads, as drivers frequently ignore pedestrian crossings and lights.  Kidelio  hires out strollers, car seats and other paraphernalia, with five collection points around the city.

If you're in Paris from October to March, you can catch clowns, trapeze artists and acrobats at the 1852-founded winter circus Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione .

This article was first published May 4, 2021 and updated Aug 10, 2023.

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How to Spend 5 Days in Paris

Paris . It’s one of my favorite destinations in the entire world and a city that would take a lifetime to see.

I’ve been to the city more times than I remember — I even moved there for a while — yet I’ve barely scratched its surface.

Understandably, planning a trip to Paris is hard. Just when you think you’ve seen everything the city has to offer, you find new attractions, new cafés, or new markets to explore (not to mention visiting Disneyland Paris ). There are layers to this city — which is partially why I love it so much.

Most travelers seem to visit Paris for around three days before moving on. They see the highlights, snap some photos, and move on.

While three days is better than nothing, I think you need more time than that. Ideally, I think you should plan on spending at least five days in Paris in order to see the bare minimum of what the City of Lights has to offer. There’s just too much to do.

To help you plan your trip to Paris and figure out what to see, what to do, where to stay, and where to eat, here’s my suggested itinerary for a five-day visit (and some other suggestions in case you decide to spend longer there!)

Paris Itinerary Highlights

Day 2 : Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie, & more!

Day 3 : The Palace of Versailles, Père Lachaise Cemetery, & more!

Day 4 : Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, Holocaust Museum, & more!

Day 5 : Paris Catacombs, Rue Mouffetard, Musée de Cluny, & more!

What to See in Paris: Day 1

For paid tours, check out Take Walks . They are my go-to walking tour company when I want something more in-depth and informative. They have all kinds of walking tours (as well as museum and food tours ). There’s something for every interest!

However, if you want to follow my own walking tour, here’s my suggested route for an “orientation walk” around Paris:

Start at the Champs-Élysées and see the Arc de Triomphe. There isn’t usually a line, and you’ll get sweeping views of the city to start your day. Stroll down the Champs-Élysées and through Place de la Concorde, where you will see the Luxor Obelisk, which the French stole from the Egyptians. It’s over 3,000 years old and stands 75-meters (246 feet) tall. This square was also where they guillotined people during the French Revolution (1789-1799).

Walk down the Champs-Élysées through the Jardin des Tuileries, a beautiful garden that was once home to a palace that burned down in the 1800s. Stop and admire the Louvre before continuing down Rue Rivoli and crossing into the original section of the city on the Île de la Cité. This is where the Romans built their original settlement, (called Lutetia, which was the basis for the modern-day city of Paris.

Enjoy the Pont Neuf and the statue of Henry IV. This stone bridge, the first in Paris, was built in 1578. Stroll to my favorite church of all time, Sainte Chapelle, with its incredible 12th-century stained glass. There’s usually a line, so book tickets in advance (11.50 EUR). You’ll skip the huge line (sometimes the wait is over an hour).

After that, head to the underground Roman ruins and then visit Notre Dame, the world’s most famous Gothic church. It was damaged in a fire in 2019 and is still closed, however, you can still admire the building as it’s still being repaired.

Next, head south toward the Latin Quarter. This area is rather touristy but if you get off the main drag, you’ll find yourself in a labyrinth of alleys and café-lined squares that are far away from the local tourist hangouts.

Visit the Pantheon and honor France’s most famous dead citizens before heading west toward the Jardin du Luxembourg, where you can relax and watch life go by. There’s great people-watching here, and it’s one of the best parks in the city.

After that, head north to see Saint Sulpice. If you’re into The Da Vinci Code , you’ll be looking for symbols and hidden meanings throughout this church. If symbols don’t interest you, just marvel at how grandiose this place is.

By this time, it should be late in the afternoon and a perfect time to stop in a café, order some wine, and relax the Parisian way.

What to See in Paris: Day 2

If that’s not your thing, there are plenty of impressionist period gems like Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, and other masters. Nevertheless, the museum is worth seeing, and I spent about five hours exploring all the masterpieces and marveling at the old royal palace. You could easily spend more time if you’re an art buff too. If you’d just like to see the highlights, expect to spend a couple of hours.

Timed skip-the-line tickets cost 17 EUR. Post-Covid, you definitely want to get these as they often run out of tickets as, to deal with the crowds, they have started limited the number of visitors per day.

You can also take a guided tour around the Louvre (which also skips the line) if you really want to dive into the incredible art in this museum. You’ll learn much, much more this way.

Musée du Louvre, 1st arrondissement, +33 1 40 20 53 17, louvre.fr. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and weekends from 9am–6pm, and Fridays from 9am–9:45pm. Closed Tuesdays. Admission is 17 EUR. They also offer free admission for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month October-March and on Bastille Day (14 July). Admission is also free for EU residents under 26. To avoid the massive lines, enter via the Carrousel du Louvre entrance and you’ll get right to the ticket counter. You can also skip the lines if you have a Paris Museum Pass .

1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 7th arrondissement, +33 1 40 49 48 14, musee-orsay.fr. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday-Sunday from 9:30am–6pm and Thursdays from 9:30am–9:45pm. Closed Mondays. Admission is 17 EUR (or 9 EUR after 4:30pm every day but Thursday). It’s free on the first Sunday of the month. Be sure to buy tickets in advance so you can skip the long line.

Musée de l’Orangerie Finish off a wild museum day with this Monet showcase. The museum displays eight tapestry-sized Nymphéas (water lilies), housed in two plain oval rooms. Monet painted these images later in his life, and each one represents a different time of day and season. There’s a bottom floor that shows other works too. It’s a beautiful museum.

Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 1st arrondissement, +33 1 44 50 43 00, musee-orangerie.fr. Open Wednesday-Monday from 9am–6pm; last entry at 5:15pm. Closed Tuesdays. Admission is 12.50 EUR and is free on the first Sunday of the month.

Budget travel tip: Get the Paris Museum Pass . This pass covers over 50 museums and attractions in Paris. It covers all the museums above, so getting this pass and using it to see all the attractions listed in this article will save you a ton of money. A two-day pass costs 55 EUR, a four-day pass costs 70 EUR, and a six-day pass costs 85 EUR. Plus, it will let you skip all the long lines that these attractions have.

NOTE: People will say “That’s too much to do in a day! Those museums take a day each!” And they are right. These museums can actually take DAYS to see. But, if you’re short on time, you can see the highlights of each in a very long day. Or don’t and take your time in each museum. This itinerary is just a mere suggestion anyways!

What to See in Paris: Day 3

It takes a full day to really enjoy a trip here. Spend the day exploring the château, get lost in the surrounding gardens, and soak up the extravagant lifestyle of France’s former monarchy. Make sure you see the estate of Trianon (known as Marie Antoinette’s estate) as well, which includes a fake peasant village created to provide scenic views and fresh milk and eggs for the Queen.

Versailles is massive and beautiful so don’t rush your visit. Most people see the Palace first, then the gardens, and then Marie-Antoinette’s estate. If you do everything in reverse, you’ll be able to avoid the crowds. Additionally, go on a weekday to avoid the worst of the crowds.

If you really want a deep dive, take a guided tour of Versailles with Walks. You’ll not only skip the line (which will save you a ton of time) but you’ll get an expert local guide who can really bring the history to life.

Place d’Armes, Versailles, +33 1 30 83 78 00, en.chateauversailles.fr. Open Tuesday–Sunday 9am–5:30pm with the last entry at 5pm. Closed Mondays. “The Passport” ticket gives you admission to all the palace tours (grounds, Trianon Palaces, and Marie Antoinette’s estate), the Musical Fountain Show, the Musical Gardens, and the exhibitions for 28.50 EUR (21.50 EUR during the low season).

Guided tours with GYG that skip-the-line cost 55 EUR. I highly recommend a guided tour because there’s not a lot of signage in the building so you don’t really get any context around what you are seeing.

Built in 1804, it’s named after Louis XIV’s confessor, Père François de la Chaise (1624–1709), who lived in a house near the cemetery. Initially, the locals considered the cemetery too far from the city so administrators devised a plan. They moved the remains of Jean de La Fontaine (fabulist) and Molière (playwright), two of Paris’s most famous artists, to Père Lachaise, hoping that people would want to be buried near France’s famous heroes.

It worked, and today it’s the city’s most iconic graveyard — and the most visited cemetery in the world. Just make sure you’re out before it closes at 5:30pm.

Guided tours cost 20 EUR and last three hours. I recommend taking a tour if you can. There’s not a lot of signage here so you don’t really get any information about the cemetery without a tour.  

What to See in Paris: Day 4

Afterward, have a picnic on the grass and enjoy the sunshine and the views. It’s one of my favorite things to do in the city.

Champ de Mars, 7th arrondissement, +33 8 92 70 12 39, toureiffel.paris. Open daily (9am–midnight) during the summer, with slightly shorter hours during the rest of the year. Admission is 18.10-28.30 EUR per person, depending on how high you go. You can also pay for direct access to an elevator that takes you to the top for 35 EUR.

Wander Rue Cler Located near the Eiffel Tower, this street is filled with good Parisian eateries. You’ll find cheese, meat, bread, vegetable, and chocolate stores to explore. I never walk away from this street without a pile of food and wine.

Whenever I’m here, I eat my way through this street and then buy more for later. It’s one of my favorite streets in Paris.

Paris Sewer Museum This tour is definitely an off-the-beaten-path attraction and isn’t too far away from the Eiffel Tower. You’ll learn about the interesting history of Paris’s sewer system .

You may be put off by the idea of a “sewer tour,” but don’t be. It doesn’t smell down there and you’ll learn how modern Paris came to be. Before there was a suitable drainage system, waste from the city just ended up in the river. It then spread disease and polluted the entire area, putting the entire city at risk. It wasn’t until the city developed a complex sewer system that it was able to overcome diseases, boost trade, and develop into the world-class city that it is today.

Pont de l’Alma, Left Bank, opposite 93 Quai d’Orsay, 7th arrondissement, +33 1 53 68 27 81, musee-egouts.paris.fr/en/. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am–5pm. Admission is 9 EUR.

Les Invalides (The Tomb of Napoleon) Also known as Hôtel National des Invalides, this enormous complex was built in 1670 by Louis XIV as a hospital for wounded soldiers. Nowadays, it’s home to several museums and monuments, including the Musée de l’Armée (the Military Museum of the Army of France) and Napoleon’s tomb. It is one of the most comprehensive history museums I’ve ever visited, and you’ll need at least three hours to see it properly.

While military history may seem boring, this museum is really a history of France, the Revolution, and Napoleon. It is fascinating and incredible in its depth. I cannot recommend it enough.

Place des Invalides, Musée de l’Armée, 129 Rue de Grenelle, 7th arrondissement, +33 810 11 33 99. Open daily from April through October (10am–6pm; Tuesdays until 9pm), and 10am–5pm from November through March. Admission is 14 EUR.

The Museum of the Shoah (The Holocaust Museum) Despite having an excellent exhibit on France, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust, the Museum of the Shoah never draws a lot of people. It’s a real shame, as the information and collection here is really great and in-depth. I’ve been to many Holocaust museums, and this is one of the best and most detailed in the world. I highly recommend it.

17 Rue Geoffroy l’Asnier, 4th arrondissement, +33 1 42 77 44 72, memorialdelashoah.org. Open Sunday–Friday 10am–6pm and Thursdays from 10am–10pm. Closed Saturdays. Admission is free and a free guided tour is given at 3pm (in English) on the second Sunday of every month.  

What to See in Paris: Day 5

1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 14th arrondissement, +33 1 43 22 47 63, catacombes.paris.fr. Open Tuesday–Sunday 9:45am–8:30pm; last admission at 7:30pm. Closed Mondays. Check the website before you go — the Catacombs are sometimes closed without warning or explanation. Admission is 18 EUR for last-minute tickets sold the day of. The audio guide is 5 EUR. Advanced tickets are 29 EUR (including the audio guide).

Rue Mouffetard This pedestrian street is filled with cafés and shops and has an outdoor market. It’s great to just wander down or for sitting in front of a café and watch Parisian life go by. Make sure to stop by the nearby Place de la Contrescarpe too. There are some good and inexpensive restaurants in the area, making it a nice place to stop for a while and watch life go by.

Musée de Cluny The Cluny Museum, also known as the National Museum of the Middle Ages, is the finest surviving example of medieval architecture in Paris. Built in the 15th century, it was the former home of the abbots of Cluny and now houses Roman and medieval art, including many architectural fragments found during excavations around the city.

The museum also contains the adjoining rooms of a Roman bath, which the abbey was built over. It is by far one of the most interesting history museums in the city and worth every euro of the admission fee!

6 Place Paul Painlevé, 5th arrondissement, +33 1 53 73 78 16, musee-moyenage.fr. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9:30am–6:15pm. Closed Mondays. Admission is 12 EUR and free on the first Sunday of every month.

Bibliothèque Nationale de France One of the grandest libraries in the world, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France was founded in 1368 by Charles V. Stop in for a quick visit and be sure to take a peek at the old rotunda of the art library and the 20-foot globes in the permanent collection. The collection is massive at over 40 million items, including some 15 million books and over 5,000 manuscripts from Ancient Greece.

Quai François Mauriac, 13th arrondissement, +33 1 53 79 59 59, bnf.fr. Open Monday from 2pm-8pm), Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-8pm, and Sundays from 1pm-7pm. Admission is free.

In the evening, the stairs near the church fill up with people watching the sunset, chatting, and drinking. There are usually lots of buskers here too making it one of the best places in the city to soak up the city in the evening.  

Where to Eat in Paris

• Café Père & Fils — Café Père & Fils is a Parisian brasserie and coffee shop with outdoor seating for lunch and drinks.
• Florence Kahn — This perfect little shop has a blue mosaic shopfront. They make really delicious sandwiches — try the pastrami.
• ISTR — ISTR is extremely trendy and usually busy for dinner, but I highly recommend its happy hour, when the wine and oysters are cheap.
• King Falafel Place — Some of the best falafel in Paris. There’s usually a line but it moves quickly.
• La Crêperie des Artes — This tiny to-go crêperie is the best in all of Paris (in my opinion). Cheap, delicious, and large portions — you can’t go wrong here.
• Le Dit Vin — The prices are reasonable, there is a large wine selection, and the menu changes daily depending on what’s fresh. It’s one of my absolute favorite spots in the city
• Pizzeria Popolare — Some of the best pizza in Paris. Get there early. The line is LONG.
• Juveniles — An awesome bistro near the Louvre with a rotating menu in a compact space.
• Robert et Louise — This place serves lots of meat and roasts from an open fire. It’s a hearty meal. Great wine selection too!

If you want even more places to eat and drink in Paris, get my city guide which features a complete list ! ***

Admittedly, even with five days in Paris , you’ll barely scratch the surface of the city. It’s just too massive, nuanced, and layered. The history, the architecture, the charm — it’s unlike any other place in the world.

However, you will still be able to see many of the highlights and get a sense of just how amazing Paris really is. But want to get away from the crowds? Want other suggestion? Here’s a list of off-beat attractions , unique walking tours , and day trips from the city .

Paris is best explored slowly. It’s a city meant to be unraveled, discovered. There’s so much that just pops up that you want to be like a local and just let your day unfold unexpectedly. Meander in the gardens and parks, take a long lunch, watch that band, sit by the Seine, and linger over that bottle of wine. Live your best life in Paris.

Use this suggested itinerary as your starting point and see where your trip takes you. I promise it won’t disappoint!

Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Paris!

For more in-depth information, check out my guidebook to Paris written for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel around Paris. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on- and off-the-beaten-path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, transportation and safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today!

Book Your Trip to Paris: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. Three of my favorite places to stay in the city are:

• St. Christopher’s Canal
• 3 Ducks Hostel
• Les Piaules

If you’re looking for more places to stay, here are my favorite hostels in Paris .

And, if you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of the city .

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Need a guide? Paris has some really interesting tours. My favorite company is Take Walks . They have expert guides and can get you behind the scenes at the city’s best attractions. They’re my go-to walking tour company.

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want More Information on Paris? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Paris for even more planning tips!

Hi, I’m Nomadic Matt, the New York Times best-selling author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and Ten Years a Nomad, as well as the founder of this website! And I’m here to help you save money on your next trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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How to Plan a Mother-Daughter Trip to Paris

• September 25, 2020

It’s been seven months since this crazy COVID world began, and I reflect daily on the trip I took to Paris in January with my daughter Clara. Thinking about our time together in such an iconic city always puts a smile on my face and gratitude in my ❤️

As we freely roamed the streets of Paris, little did the two of us know that in just a few short weeks, our world would completely shut down. This blog post is a dedication to my industry, which I love so much and truly creates memories of a lifetime through travel.

I’m so grateful for the experiences I’ve had because of my profession. Travel is a gift and privilege that so many more of us will never again take for granted. I hope this post offers travel inspiration for when better times come and we can freely roam the globe again!

January 2020 – Paris,Pre-Covid

A mother-daughter trip is on many mothers’ bucket lists to experience with their girls and I couldn’t wait to take my 12 year old daughter on our own special mother-daughter trip.  For our first adventure together, I could think of no better place to go than the magical city of Paris. Great sight-seeing, delicious cuisine and awesome shopping felt like the perfect combination for the two of us!

“Tween” Friendly Activities in Paris

The travel advisor in me wanted to plan, plan, plan and experience as many of the private guides and tours my partners in France offer to my clients.  We definitely did quite a bit of that, but I also made sure there was plenty of downtime to just be together and talk.  While our guided adventures were among the highlights of the trip, the time we spent together just chatting in a café and enjoying a pain au chocolat was every bit as special and definitely a wonderful respite from our hectic everyday lives.

Through my professional connections in Paris, I have strong relationships with some well-connected guide companies who offer my clients a host of unique and exclusive ways to experience the city.  It was fun working with them to determine which activities to arrange (and not easy to choose which ones to do!). Our adventures included a side car tour, gourmet food walking tour, private guide at the Musee d’Orsay, Left Bank shopping tour, and private perfume making session which filled our days with memories we’ll always cherish.

Other highlights were a session with a stylist to talk tween makeup and fashion, and then there was the military jeep tour to Versailles. This is a brand new offering for clients in the city that resulted in many stares from locals and tourists alike as we motored down the Champs Elysees!

Where to Stay in Paris

Choosing where to stay is never an easy decision in a city like Paris – too many good hotels to count.  For this particular visit, I chose Grand Hotel du Palais Royal for the first part of our stay.  A boutique gem located on a quiet courtyard a stone’s throw from the Louvre, it’s hard to imagine any hotel feeling more Parisienne or intimate.  It’s a client favorite and certainly a personal favorite of mine.           

The palatial and historic Le Meurice was our home for the next few days and definitely lived up to every expectation.  Centrally situated on the Right Bank, the common areas are breathtaking and the rooms are elegant and posh with every creature comfort one could desire.  Add to this the Dorchester Collection level of service and we definitely felt well cared for.

If you’re wanting to plan a trip like this, you may ask yourself: Where should we go? Where should we stay?  How many nights?  What should we see and do?  

It’s my job to answer these questions and take the burden of planning off your plate.  The value of a travel advisor has become invaluable in today’s world, now more than ever.  Advisors like me are here to help you navigate safe travel and to cut through the digital and online chatter, infinite blogs, perfect Instagram photos, and friends’ advice. My goal is the same for every client – to plan a seamless and memorable experience tailored just for you. It is an honor and a true privilege to do what I do for a living, and I hope to plan something special for you soon!

Do you want more advice on family travel tips or trips to Paris? Follow along on Instagram K Gould Travel or send an email to [email protected] to get started!

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10 Tips for a Perfect Family Vacation in Paris

Every summer we take advantage of school holidays and head to new places with our three young kids—26 countries in the past eight years. But we also find ourselves returning again and again to favorite destinations. Paris is one of them. Since November is a perfect time to start planning travel for next summer , it’s also the perfect time to share a few valuable lessons we’ve learned over the course of several trips to the City of Light. These ten tips make our vacations fun for the kids (and adults) and largely stress-free.

In an apartment we feel like locals. Photo by Eric Stoen.

1. Try a rental instead of a hotel. We love renting apartments instead of staying in hotels. In an apartment we feel like locals: We have a kitchen—with all the dining flexibility that it brings—and we have far more space than we would in a hotel. Plus, since there are five of us, we would require two hotel rooms, and that becomes expensive. When we spent time in Paris this summer (as part of our six-week trip through Europe ), we rented a house through Airbnb, complete with a courtyard, and it was the perfect place to return to after a day of exploring.

Additional tip: We always stay in the 7th arrondissement. It has the markets of Rue Cler as well as the Eiffel Tower, both of which are landmarks that make it really easy to find our way back home from anywhere in the city.

The Musée de la Chasse is fun and quirky for kids. Photo by Eric Stoen.

2. Search out smaller museums. The major museums like the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre are absolutely worth visiting (see my next tip), but there’s much more to explore in Paris than just the big-ticket attractions, and you’re missing out if you don’t take the time to suss out the unusual and unique small spots in any city. They are often less crowded, just as interesting (if not more so), and easier to see with kids with naturally shorter attention spans. Two of our favorite small museums are the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature and the Musée Marmottan Monet . The Musée de la Chasse is fun and quirky for kids: There are a lot of interactive animal-related displays in a setting that reminds me of a Wes Anderson film. The Monet Museum lets kids get up close to amazing Impressionist art (without the crowds) and to see Monet’s progression as an artist—something you don’t necessarily see at large museums that focus on major works.

Additional tip: Save the museums for a rainy day. Even when the weather is bad, the smaller museums are rarely crowded.

One of the highlights of our summer trip was a private tour of the Louvre with Paris Muse. Photo by Eric Stoen.

3. If you’re going to a major museum, book a kid-friendly private tour. One of the highlights of our summer trip was a private tour of the Louvre with Paris Muse . Not only did we avoid most of the lines and crowds, but the kids had a great time completing word puzzles and being led on a treasure hunt that included a wide spectrum of Babylonian, Greek, French Medieval, and Italian Renaissance art and antiquities.

Additional tip: There are numerous groups that lead kid-centric private tours, including Paris Muse and Context Travel. Search on TripAdvisor for “Paris Activities” to see tour reviews, or check Wendy’s WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts to find someone who can arrange special activities wherever you’re traveling.

4. Think picnics. Every summer that we return to Paris, we find ourselves having more and more picnics, both for lunch and dinner. We’re able to sit and enjoy wine while the kids run around and play—and the breads, meats, cheeses and tarts bought from local markets can’t be beat.

Additional tip: Bring a thin linen blanket from home (which, in addition to being perfect for picnics, can be used as a towel or a sarong) and buy disposable plates, cups and utensils at the local supermarché.

5. Walk. A lot. The Métro is great for reaching farther-afield areas of the city and for giving legs a rest, but the biggest mistake that first-time visitors to Paris make is that they take the Métro from major site to major site and miss out on the neighborhoods and the transitions between arrondissements. There are great parks, churches, cafés, and shops outside of the major tourist areas, and some of our best days have been the ones when we did the most walking.

Additional tip: We like picking a destination in the morning or the night before, taking the Métro there, exploring that area, and then slowly walking back to our apartment in the afternoon, buying things for dinner along the way.

Whether you’re into pizza, baguettes or pastries, you can find a cooking class for it in Paris. Photo by Eric Stoen.

6. Learn to cook. We’ve always loved macarons. So this summer we learned how to make them with Cook’n With Class in Montmartre. Our kids were involved in every step, from preparing the dough and fillings to final assembly—and, best of all, they got to take home everything that they made. Whether you’re into pizza, baguettes or pastries, you can find a cooking class for it in Paris. And it doesn’t even take up a whole day—a short course is a perfect morning or afternoon activity.

Additional tip: If you find a class that looks great for your family but is geared to adults, ask the school if they can offer you a kid-friendly version.

7. Become regulars. On Rue de Grenelle near Champs de Mars there is a little Italian restaurant. We’ve eaten there six times over the past two summers, and every time is better. When they see us they seat us right away. They anticipate the kids’ drinks. They give us extra appetizers, sweets, and after-dinner liquors at no cost. We always get the same waiter and expand on our conversations each time, as much as possible in French. It makes for a much better experience than simply being one-time visitors. The same holds at boulangeries, where the lovely lady behind the counter would anticipate our pain au chocolat order every morning, or at the local fresh fruit market, where they gave us frequent discounts for not-really-noticeable produce blemishes—but only after we had gone there several times.

Additional tip: Always try to speak French. Even if it’s just one or two sentences that you quickly looked up on Google Translate, it gets you a better level of service than walking in and assuming that the staff speaks English.

One of the best carousels for spearing brass rings is at Luxembourg Gardens. Photo by Eric Stoen.

8. Stop at every carousel. There are a lot of carousels in Paris. Every one is different, and our kids love all of them, so we never say no when we’re passing one. The brass rings are always a highlight because you don’t see them in the U.S. very often anymore. There’s rarely a wait, and it’s a nice chance to relax after a lot of walking.

Additional tip: The best carousels for spearing brass rings are at Luxembourg Gardens (by the playground) and at Champs de Mars park, near the Eiffel Tower.

My kids love the Jardin d’Acclimatation. Photo by Eric Stoen.

9. Skip the big amusement parks. Forget Disneyland Paris. Head to the Jardin d’Acclimatation instead. It’s a much more authentically Parisian experience, easier to get to, and a lot less expensive, with a small entry fee and then pay-per-ride attractions. Go early, before the park gets crowded.

Additional tip: Bring swimsuits and towels. Our kids love the water area.

My daughter and I have a tradition of walking around the Eiffel Tower area at least one night during our trip. Photo by Eric Stoen.

10. Stay up late. A few years ago when we landed in Paris, my wife and two of the kids were jet-lagged and went to sleep early, but my oldest daughter and I felt wide awake. So we quietly left the apartment and walked all around the Eiffel Tower, the Champs du Mars, and the Trocadero area for two hours, including several trips around the Trocadero carousel. It was great one-on-one bonding, and we got to see more Parisian nightlife than we usually do. Since then, it’s become a tradition for the two of us: We always head over on our first night, and then once or twice a week after that.

Additional tip: I especially enjoy walking at night after it’s rained. The reflections are magical.

Meet our writer

Eric Stoen, the founder of Travel Babbo , travels around the world constantly with his three kids. Wendy met him when he won Condé Nast Traveler’s Dream Trip Contest a few years ago and was so impressed with his travel savvy that she invited him to contribute to WendyPerrin.com.

How to Pack for a Family Vacation

Family travel aficionado Eric Stoen knows how to pack a five-member clan into just two suitcases and two carry-ons.

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I’m intrigued by the “spearing the brass rings” at the carousel. Is this something that can be taken as a souvenir or must you return all the rings?

would love the name of the italian restaurant on rue de grenelle!

Hi there, I checked with Eric and it was Gusto Italia.

Wow I love the tips! Especially, about stopping at every carousel! I can’t wait to take my siblings here!!

Great list of tips! I share the same approach when it comes to visiting Paris. Looks like you have had a truly authentic experince this time in the city. Thanks for sharing!

Wonderful listing–to celebrate our 50th anniversary, thinking of taking the family–our 40-ish kids and grandkids to Paris and London. This is just what we need to get started planning! Thanks so much–makes it sound do-able!

Excellent tips ! Exactly those kind of tips I’m sharing with my customers (even if they travel with younger children).

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One Week Paris Itinerary For Families

Paris will spoil you with choices of sights, activities, museums, and day trip options. However, narrowing down an itinerary that will entertain the children while engaging the adults is often challenging. For this reason, we have put together a time-tested, week-long itinerary. Explore tours that will astonish and entertain every member of your family.

Arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport, where your private driver will be waiting to whisk you away to your beautiful hotel.

Where to Stay:

A few of our favorite hotels to suggest for a Paris itinerary for families include:

• La Reserve Paris Apartments – This iconic hotel embodies the intimacy and comfort of a private residence.  La Reserve exudes warmth and hospitality for families, from exceptional service to elegant interiors. Guests enjoy all the services of a dedicated personal housekeeper and concierges, room service, a private chef, a relaxing massage, and a car with a driver. It’s an easy walk to the Eiffel Tower and many boutiques and cafés in the sixteenth arrondissement.
• Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel –  Another exceptional hotel, this property enjoys an unrivaled position overlooking Place de la Concorde in the heart of Paris. Proximity to the Champs-Elysées and Jardin des Tuileries and only minutes from the city’s most iconic sites allows families to take in Paris while never venturing too far from home.
• Kimpton St. Honore, Paris – With its Art Nouveau façade and idyllic location in the city’s heart, Kimpton St. Honore is an urban sanctuary dedicated to classic Parisian luxury. Stay in one of the 175 apartment-style rooms and suites boasting balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and curated art. Located in the heart of  Paris’s Opera neighborhood, the hotel offers guests boutique-style incredible views of the city.

After dropping off your bags and settling in, we will acquaint you with this incredible city on a quintessential family-friendly tour. But, of course, every Paris itinerary for families needs to include a Tuktuk. 

Walking tour and Fun-filled Tuktuk Ride Through Paris:

This tour encompasses the best of Paris and includes famous tourist sights and smaller off-the-beaten-path locations. First, meet your fantastic guide at the Notre Dame de Paris and discover the history of one of the world’s oldest and most dramatic Gothic cathedrals. Next, head over to the Louvre Museum. Your guide will entertain the kids with anecdotes and stories about the museum’s history, imagining life when it served as a royal palace. You will not be visiting the museum today, so enjoy the views and stories. We’re saving the Mona Lisa for tomorrow.

From the Louvre, enjoy a relaxed walk at the Tuileries Gardens . This vast and beautiful park takes you to the Place de la Concorde . On the way to the iconic square, you will stop at the Palais Garnier , also known as The Opera. In the 19th century, this ballet and opera hall was responsible for revitalizing the entire surrounding neighborhood. Cafés and shops opened for business, attracting patrons of the arts, musicians, and dancers. Today the district pays homage to its storied past, beautifully blending history and modernization.

Making your way past the opera, you will find yourself in the very heart of Paris, The Place de la Concorde. Your guide will show you which hotels, ministries, or churches are hidden behind the columned facades of historic buildings while entertaining your children with engaging stories. Looking straight ahead, you will see the famous Champs-Elysées avenue and Arc de Triomphe !

Last but not least, your guide is taking you up to Montmartre to see Paris from the best point of view! Drive in a private Tuktuk for a scenic 60 min ride along Paris’s most famous streets. The Sacré-Coeur terrace provides an extraordinary panoramic view above Paris.

Finish off your busy day with a relaxing dinner in one of Paris’s famous cafes such as Le 52, A hangout for 10th arrondissement locals and other Right Bankers. They love the accessibility of the neo-brasserie format. Then, make sure to grab a spot on the terrace and enjoy another one of Paris’s favorite pastimes, people-watching.

Today your day starts with a complimentary breakfast and famous French espresso. Then, enjoy a quiet morning and take in the sights as you head to the Louvre.

Treasure Hunt At Le Louvre:

While the iconic and world-renowned Louvre museum is both the largest and one of the finest in the world, many families are intimidated by its vast halls and infamously long lines.

However, while you may not be able to spend endless hours perusing the thousands of exhibits adorning the walls, floors, and ceilings of the museum, we can make this experience both entertaining and meaningful. With the right guide and a well-planned itinerary, The Louvre can be a fabulous place for children.

Start with skip-the-line passes. Then, as you are whisked past the crowds, your children will be given an important assignment. They will have to unravel a mystery inside the Louvre! Walking the halls of this enormous palace will become an engaging and educational game with an art historian by their side. They will explore Egyptian mythology, Greek Latin Antiques, and Italian art, such as the famous Mona Lisa!

Your guide will give your kids an activity booklet, tailor-made for them, which allows them to use their incredible imaginations and become actors of their tour. First, they will explore the works of art with thought-provoking questions, knowing they will win a clue written on a card with each correct answer. Then, once the whole set of cards is collected and all the clues put together, they will solve the mystery!

Of course, this Louvre for kids tour is not only focused on your children! Everyone in your family will see the principal masterpieces of the museum and will learn fascinating facts from your guide.

Following your tour, enjoy a relaxing stroll through the streets of Paris. 

Afternoon Adventure With The Impressionists 

This combination of visiting another incredible art museum and participating in a fun-filled private hands-on workshop is the ideal way to introduce even the fussiest little travelers to the magic of Impressionism. Today’s focus will be on Claude Monet, one of the most well-known Impressionist painters of all time.

Your private art guide will accompany your family to the Orangerie museum (Musée de l’Orangerie), and head straight to see Monet’s extraordinary and enormous Water Lilies in all their glory.

With these images still fresh in your minds, take as scenic drive to the artist workshop, where the whole family will participate in the creation of a giant family Impressionist masterpiece using pastels. Each family member will choose a part of the painting they want to work on. At the end of class, you will have your own family reproduction of Monet’s Water Lilies.

This masterpiece is yours to keep. Bring it home and find a spot to proudly display your work as a reminder of your time spent in Paris.

Tonight we recommend a fun dinner at Rosa Bonheur . Located in one of the city’s largest and most beautiful parks, Buttes Chaumont, this kid-friendly café takes a relaxed approach to dining. The Basque-style menu features classic tapas, so grab a tray and sit outside at any one of the large communal tables under the trees and watch the kids run wild.

In the morning, explore the beautiful and historic area of Le Marais . This Parisian quarter positioned in Paris’s 3rd, and 4th arrondissements, has been at the heart of every significant event in French history. The mansions and the powerful families who inhabited them rose and fell with the times. Stroll the streets, stop in the shops, and take it all in. Then explore the Jewish Quarter, where a vibrant community has blossomed and survived for centuries.

Morning Paris Catacombs Surprises

Under the southernmost part of the city lies one of the most incredible and eerie sights in Paris. These underground, multistoried rooms and long corridors became the Paris Catacombs , almost like another city unto itself.

Unlike the catacombs of Rome, Parisian catacombs never served as a cemetery.  Descend 100 steps below street level begin a 2 km route that leads you deep into a land of stones and bones. The bones belong to more than 6 million Parisians who quietly rested in intramural cemeteries until 1786, when the city relocated them for hygienic reasons. While walking, you will see a lot of bones but never placed in the same patterns. Instead, walls of shins, pillars of skulls, and thigh bones are decoratively arranged. This is the kind of unusual architecture you’re about to discover.

This catacombs tour in Paris guarantees shivers and hilarious anecdotes. You will learn about the funny Quarrymen Foot-bath’s rite. You’ll discover which pragmatic reason lies behind the (slightly too) solemn Pedestal of the Sepulchral Lamp or which very fashionable event the Rotunda of Shins hosted in 1897.

Although not appropriate for young children, families with school-age and middle-school-age children thoroughly enjoy this tour.

Optional Afternoon Da Vinci Code Adventure For Teens 

While the best seller inspired the tour, it is unnecessary to read the book to enjoy it. This fun adventure takes place in the Saint Germain district in Paris, where you will meet your guide in front of the Pantheon. Specially designed for teenagers, your family will have to race against time to solve the riddles as the world’s fate lies in your hands. An excellent way for everyone to learn about Paris’ cultural and historical heritage with a fun twist.

Follow along and explore the final resting place for France’s most famous men and women, including Victor Hugo, Marie Curie and Voltaire .

Then continue through the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens , towards Saint Sulpice Church, the largest church in Paris. After a quick look inside follow your guide to Saint-Germain-des-Prés church , one of the oldest in the city.

After a couple of busy days exploring and touring the main attractions, you will want to sleep in and spend a day relaxing and experiencing some of the great pleasures of Paris.

French Pasty Cooking Class:

We know that you’ve heard of French cuisine’s reputation, pastries in particular: macarons, tartelettes citron meringuée, éclairs au chocolate, and so on. It’s time now to learn how to make them!

Located in the oldest foodie neighborhood of the city, this fully equipped workshop will be your pastry laboratory! Your pasty chef will share her expertise to help you build your knowledge and then guide you through the process of creating incredible confections. Learn how to make proper cream, line a baking mold with dough, and separate egg whites correctly. After baking, savor your delicious treat while enjoying a warm cup of tea or coffee.

Private Seine River Cruise and Sunset at the Eiffel Tower:

A private cruise on the Seine River is an absolute must-do to make the most of your Paris itinerary for families. Your family will take in the sights and beauty of Paris from the comfort of your luxury pontoon boat.

During this 1.5-hour private cruise, you’ll catch glimpses of Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Obelisk on Place de la Concorde, the magnificent Alexandre III bridge, and the Eiffel Tower. The entire family will be entertained with stories and insights from your local guide, while the kids will have their very own booklets with fun riddles to solve on the way.

Following the tour, you will have a chance to visit one of the most iconic sights in the world, the Eiffel Tower. Learn the history, be wowed by the views, and, most importantly, create a life-long love of travel and learning for your children.

Eat dinner at one of the nearby cafes, or for a truly unforgettable experience, make reservations at one of the restaurants in the Eiffel Tower. Jules Verne or The 58 Tour Eiffel.

Versailles palace is one of the tops requested tours for first time and repeats visitors to Paris. An easy ride from the city transports you back in time and brings you to one of the most beautiful castles in the world. Palace Of Versailles

Magical Versailles Place & Gardens:

On our Palace of Versailles Tour , you will experience more than a single visit. Travel back in time and learn the delicate rules of the court and understand why Ladies and Noblemen would have killed to hold a position close to the King. At the start of the tour, parents and children receive a Historical Character Card. With your card, step into the shoes of the courtiers and servants that were living close to the King. Along the tour, your guide will call your card and tell tales of the incredible life of your character!

In the 17th century, many Courtiers visited Versailles to pay tribute to the King, expecting from him favors and promotions. Today, visitors still travel the world to see the Palace of Versailles, the most beautiful castle in France, and learn about Louis.

XIV, the most famous King in French history.

Break for lunch at the famous  Ducasse Restaurant before exploring the Versailles Gardens and witnessing the incredible Musical Fountains Show.

For an exceptional experience, inquire about The Royal Serenade in the Hall of Mirrors . Then, make your way from the Royal Chapel’s Vestibule to Hercules’s Salon through the Hall of Mirrors. The musicians are dressed in magnificent baroque costumes, bringing scenes from this 17th-century court to life.

Adventure seekers and families alike will enjoy a fun-filled bike ride through the Versailles gardens.

Tonight has dinner at the lovely Le Petit Commines:

The Paris restaurant is located near Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Thus, his name is a nod to Jacques Prévert, a fan of word games and famous neighborhood resident. “Philippe Delacourcelle knows how to handle spices like few other French chefs. He also trained with the late Bernard Loiseau and learned the art of French pastry at Fauchon.”

After spending several days exploring the main sights in Paris, many visitors are ready to break off and explore other parts of France. For unique experiences in your Paris itinerary for families, we recommend the following options:

Option 1: Day of Champagne and Chocolate:

Set off the mid-morning on a private tour of some of the most beautiful countryside in France. Visit the historically significant city of the Reims and explore its 13th-century Cathedral. The cathedral is larger than Notre-Dame de Paris and housed the coronation of 25 kings of France. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

Next, head out and enjoy the views of tranquil rolling hills. Then, stop for lunch and a champagne tasting in a private cellar before embarking on a relaxing tuk-tuk ride through the vineyards. In the afternoon, head back to Epernay. Visit the famous Moët et Chandon , which started as the favorite champagne of King Louis XV and retained its reputation for centuries to follow. Everyone wanted a glass of Moët et Chandon from Napoleon to Queen Victoria! Although the tasting is delicious, a walk through the 17 miles of underground cellars is genuinely memorable.

End your tour with a chocolate artisan. Discover their specialty bouchons au Chocolat (chocolate with champagne) before returning exhausted and happy.

Option 2: D-Day History Tour

Today you have an early breakfast and pick up for a big day ahead. Embark on a trip back in time to the D-Day invasion of Normandy by the Allied forces. A crucial period for the outcome of World War II, this tour teaches you history. Reflect on its impact by visiting the iconic sites of the Normandy D-Day Landings. On 6 June 1944, also known as D-Day, the Allies opened up a new front against Germany’s Third Reich troops. It was the largest military operation in history. D-day marked the start of the Battle of Normandy , which eventually led to the end of the Second World War.

The tour is a somber reminder of the many lives lost in this war. However, it also offers a beautiful reminder of the willpower and resolve of 150,000 soldiers from America, Britain, Canada, and many other different nations. These soldiers landed by air and sea on several beaches along the Normandy coastline to save Europe. Visit the Pointe du Hoc, Caen Memorial , dedicated to films about World War II, the American Cemetery in Colleville , and the famous Omaha Juno Beaches , where the famed D Day landing occurred.

Enjoy your last espresso and freshly baked croissant this morning and bid adieu to your new friends. Although your time in Paris must come to an end, we know that the memories created will last forever. We hope you enjoyed our Paris itinerary for families and want to learn more about this fascinating city and colorful culture. Au revoir…

Boutique Travel Advisors is a full-service, luxury travel agency . We specialize in creating  bespoke itineraries  for discerning clients around the world. Please visit our   website   or call 480-787-1477 to speak with a dedicated travel expert. 

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We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance to protect your financial investment and health while traveling internationally. To purchase a policy with our preferred travel insurance company Arch RoamRight  click here.

If you would like assistance purchasing a travel insurance policy, please get in touch with a BTA advisor .

About the Author: ANGELA RICE & JANET SEMENOVA

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A Paris vacation and children go together like cheese and wine. It’s simply one of the best cities in Europe for families to explore, and there are a great deal of kid-friendly activities to choose from. Consider mixing a half-day private tour of the Louvre with playtime in the neighboring Tuileries Garden, and match bucket-list activities like the Eiffel Tower with a leisurely dinner cruise on the Seine. Combinations like this ensure you see the major sites while also enjoying the joie de vivre that makes a Paris family vacation so desirable. A kid-friendly place to stay is important, and larger families almost universally seek out well-located apartment rentals both for the extra space and the budget. Luxury family hotels in Paris include options in the center of the city that are amazing for those who wish to splurge when visiting this magical destination. Let us take the guess work out of choosing among the P aris hotels for families. 

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"Thank you for all of your support and expert tips. Everything went seamlessly, all our activities were wonderful and working with you made all of the planning so easy for me as a working mum. All the activities Melissa chose were tailored to my children's likes and also had a great blend of education and great fun."

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Here's How My Family Spent One Day In Paris

O ur family is embarking on a Mediterranean adventure this month, and our first stop is Paris! The Raleigh airport has direct overnight flights to Charles du Gaulle airport in Paris, so connecting through the City of Love made perfect sense. And since we’re passing through, why not stay overnight?

We spent one day and night in Paris, which is clearly not enough, but it was the perfect sampler on our way to our next destination.

If you have a similar idea in mind, here is where we stayed, what we did, where we ate, and the activities we booked ahead of time.

Table of Contents

Where to stay in paris, what to do in one day in paris, sainte-chappelle, eiffel tower, seine river cruise, back to the hotel, what we booked in advance in paris, map of our day.

Our hotel was booked with points, so I needed to choose a Hyatt property. Since this was a late addition to our trip, the hotels right in the city were full.

We decided on the Hyatt House near the airport since we only had one day to wander around, and it worked out great! We were in the family suite, which has room for four people, but we did have to request a rollaway bed.

The commute from the hotel to the city center takes 30-60 minutes, depending on the type of transportation you use. We decided to take an Uber to go directly to our first stop. It took us about an hour to arrive in the morning but only about 35 minutes to return that night.

If you travel solo or as a couple, the bus/train combo might be more cost-effective, but it takes a little longer.

The Hyatt House room we booked was a spacious one-bedroom suite. It also included free breakfast, which many of the other options do not. That made up for the longer commute, and it allowed us to sleep in the next day since we didn’t have as far to go to get to the airport.

The bed was comfortable, and the boys slept on the couch and a rollaway bed we requested in the living room. We were exhausted, so anything would have been great, but we appreciated the extra space.

The breakfast was delicious! If you have stayed in a Hyatt House or Hyatt Place in the US, you are likely used to eggs, bacon, hash browns, and various cereals.

Here, they had similar offerings, adding warm apple pastries, melt-in-your-mouth croissants, yogurt, cheese, and veggies. My youngest is a Nutella lover, and he was super happy to see this giant bottle waiting for him to top his pancakes.

If I had planned more in advance, I would have loved to stay at the Park Hyatt or Hotel du Louvre , but I have no regrets. Plus, these would have been much more costly!

With Paris hosting the Olympics later this summer, I was happy to spend a day there before it gets super busy.

Since none of us have been to Paris (in the past 25 years, anyway), I wanted to hit as many hot spots as we could, given our short time.

Of course, there was no way to do it all, so we had to pick and choose. A big part of experiencing a new city, especially in Europe, is simply walking around. So, that’s what we did!

Since our timing was short, we decided on one museum—it had to be The Louvre! Of course, we had to see the Mona Lisa, but I was particularly excited about the Venus de Milo because we would learn more about her later in the trip.

We spent a good chunk of time exploring and taking photos. This is one of those places where you can get lost on purpose. There is just so much history around every corner.

That said, it’s also easy to get lost by accident. I had a really hard time getting my bearings and felt like we were going in circles a few times. But we figured it out and saw a lot!

Here are our favorites, listed by family member.

I loved it all, but I was most excited to see Venus de Milo. Although there were crowds, they did a great job of ensuring you could see it from all angles.

Jerry really loved all the ceilings. Why did we stop doing this? They really are incredible.

Oscar liked the giant pillars like this one. It was massive.

Calvin enjoyed seeing the many, many sculptures.

We decided to grab some small bites at the museum from the cafe Paul. It was delicious and so much better than the museum food I’m accustomed to.

Oscar had two croissants, Jerry grabbed a slice of pizza, and I split a turkey baguette with Calvin. We didn’t have a specific plan, and it was fun to try different things.

As we left the Louvre, we enjoyed the gardens before walking by the river to Sainte Chappelle. I have loved stained glass my whole life, so there was no way I was missing out on Sainte Chappelle!

This church, built in 1248, is unbelievable. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the Louvre, so it was easily accessible to us. Each of the shapes in the glass depict a story from the Bible. It’s said to have every bible story!

Entrance for adults was 13EUR each, and the boys were free because they were under 18. As a Disney parent whose 15 and 12-year-olds are already considered “adults” when it comes to tickets, I appreciate Europe for letting kids be kids!

It took us about 30 minutes to walk through the church and see what we wanted to see. Those windows! Le sigh.

We took the metro over to Champs-Élysées because there was a restaurant I was hoping to try.

We arrived at about 5:30 pm and discovered they weren’t open until 7 pm. We were pretty exhausted and hungry, so we found another option nearby, Cafe L’Estel , which was delightful!

After dinner, it was finally time to see the Iron Lady. We walked through the streets of Paris, peering into windows and enjoying the sights until she came into view.

We decided not to go up the tower on this day, and I’m glad. We had several wonderful vantage points to see it, and that was enough for this visit.

At this point, our energy levels were definitely winding down. It was the perfect time for a relaxing river cruise on the Seine . I thought this was a great way to see more of the city without adding more walking.

I have no regrets, but one thing I didn’t realize is that this was a there-and-back cruise, meaning we saw the same things twice. I think I would do a one-way cruise if I had it to do again.

It was so cool to hear about Paris and see it from this angle. There is just something about water that makes everything more beautiful.

We saw Notre Dame from the river cruise since the inside is still closed to tourists. Still, I wanted to see it, and it is so beautiful.

The good news is the rehab will be done soon, and they hope to reopen by the end of the year. As if I need a reason to plan a trip back right?

After the cruise, we caught an Uber back to the hotel. It was a fabulous day, and I am so glad we did it! After all that, we were ready for a good night’s sleep and the chance to sleep in before heading back to the airport.

Because we only had one day, I wanted to book a few things to ensure we had a schedule. Plus, many places require you to select a time in advance, so it was necessary.

Sainte-Chappelle – Since we had to book a time, I grabbed our tickets for this church in advance. The kids get in for free, so it was under 30EUR for all of us. We did not end up making it on time, but we decided to try anyway and they let us in with our tickets.

The Louvre – This was our number one activity, so I booked it for midday. I wanted to be sure we had time to get there in case of flight delays and still have plenty of time to browse around.

Seine River Cruise – This is actually the first thing I booked because I knew it would provide a great overview of Paris. The cool thing about this river cruise through Paris is you can hop on at any time of day, so I knew we could fit it in where we had time.

Once we got into the city, we spent the day on foot. Here is a map of many stops on our route to give you an idea of the area we covered.

After this taste of Paris, I can see why people love it here. I hope to return one day soon!

If you loved this post, please share and/or comment below! 🌟

The post Here’s How My Family Spent One Day In Paris appeared first on Just is a Four Letter Word .

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Paris Hilton Shares Sweet Photos of Daughter London and Son Phoenix in Matching Ensembles During Family Vacation to Hawaii

The DJ shared a series of snapshots of her children basking in the sunshine during their family vacation to Maui

Paris Hilton/ Instagram

Paris Hilton shared a cute series of photos of her family's recent tropical vacation.

The socialite, 43, shared sweet snapshots on Instagram of her children, London , 6 months, and Phoenix , 16 months, and husband Carter Reum during their recent family vacation in Maui, Hawaii. 

“Magical Memories at @GrandWailea that I will cherish forever 🌸,” she wrote.

The social media update featured several photos of the heiress with her infant and toddler donning matching Hawaiian-inspired looks. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

The first two images included Hilton and her two children sitting on her lap both on the white sandy beach and lounging at the resort. While the brother and sister coordinated their looks with the same print, Hilton placed a baby pink bow headband on her daughter that perfectly matched her vacation dress.

The DJ also included individual photos and a video of her eldest child  — one of which included Hilton carrying her son on her hip as they basked in the sunshine. 

Another photo included a sweet moment between the mother and son, with Hilton lying on the beach and holding Phoenix up in the air.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Hilton also shared a cute photo alongside her brother Barron , his wife Tessa and their two eldest children, daughter Milou Alizée , 4, and son Caspian Barron , 20 months. They also share son Apollo Winter , 2 months.

The TV personality concluded her Instagram carousel with a short clip of her two children on her lap as they posed for a photo on the beach. Her final photo included a selfie with both children and Reum — who was also sporting a Hawaiin-inspired look.

Prior to Hilton’s Wednesday post, she shared sweet photos alongside her family at the start of their vacation. On Monday, May 27, she posted images matching with her daughter, as they both sported pink ensembles while poolside.

She also shared videos alongside her son in the pool, including a cute clip of Phoenix enjoying the water as he splashed his hands before Hilton took him under a tunnel in the outdoor pool.

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Israel-Gaza latest: Hamas responds to ceasefire proposal - as Netanyahu casts doubt on deal

Joe Biden announced a surprise plan with three phases: the first would be a six-week ceasefire, the second the return of remaining hostages, and the third a reconstruction plan for Gaza. We'll be bringing you all the reaction to this throughout the day.

Sunday 2 June 2024 07:16, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• US President Joe Biden announces new ceasefire and hostage deal proposal
• Hamas views latest proposed deal 'positively'
• Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed, Netanyahu's office says
• Chances of ceasefire 'not that realistic', expert says  
• Egypt making 'intensive efforts' to resume negotiations - report
• Israeli opposition leader urges Netanyahu to take deal - and says he will prop up government
• Explained: What is in Biden's three-phase plan?
• Analysis: Israel seemed blindsided by Biden announcement
• Live reporting by Emily Mee

We will be focusing on our general election coverage tomorrow, but we'll be back with more live updates on the Israel-Hamas war next week. 

Models Bella and Gigi Hadid are collectively donating one million dollars (£785,000) to support relief efforts, according to their agent. 

The money will go to Heal Palestine, Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), World Central Kitchen (WCK), and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The sisters have frequently been vocal in their support for Gaza, and their father Mohamed Anwar Hadid is himself Palestinian. 

After Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel, Gigi, 29, offered her condolences to those affected.

"My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy, and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict - too many of which are children," she wrote on Instagram.

"I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it's a responsibility I hold daily."

She added: "While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person."

Bella, 27, said in May that she was "devastated at the loss of the Palestinian people and the lack of empathy coming from the government systems worldwide".

The United Nations food agency has said it is unable to feed most civilians in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. 

Only 27,000 people in Rafah are currently being reached by the World Food Programme (WFP), according to its local director Matthew Hollingworth. 

Roughly one million Palestinians are living in the area, many of them displaced from other parts of Gaza. 

"The sounds, the smells, the everyday life are horrific and apocalyptic," Mr Hollingworth told journalists. 

"People sleep to the sounds of bombing, they sleep to the sounds of drones, they sleep to the sounds of war, as now tanks roll into parts of central Rafah, which is only kilometers away. And they wake to the same sounds." 

A ceasefire proposal consisting of three phases has been outlined by Joe Biden. 

What do those phases entail, what have Israel and Hamas said about the plan and how does it compare to the last proposal?

Read more below...

The French president has backed the ceasefire proposal set out by Joe Biden last night. 

Emmanuel Macron said he supported the proposal for "a durable peace" and that the war "must end". 

France is also working with partners in the region on "peace and security for all", he said. 

A high-level official has said Egypt is undertaking "intensive efforts" to "resume negotiations" for a ceasefire and hostage deal, according to a report. 

The official, quoted by Al-Qahera TV, said this was "in light of the recent American proposition". 

Last night, Joe Biden detailed a ceasefire and hostage deal proposal that he said Israel had put to Hamas. 

However, Israeli officials have told our correspondents they were "blindsided" by the announcement. 

If it works, then this will be a smart and cunning diplomatic move.

If it doesn't then President Joe Biden will look foolish.

He knows the huge risk of once again being taken for a ride by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Few knew that he was due to make this announcement.

Read more from our US correspondent Mark Stone below...

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has said 33 of its employees have been killed in Gaza since the war began. 

Of those, it said 19 were killed "while performing their humanitarian duties". 

The organisation today buried Mohammed Jihad Abed, an employee in the disaster risk management department. 

He was killed in an Israeli attack on his home in Rafah last night. 

American, Egyptian and Israeli officials will be meeting tomorrow in Cairo to discuss the reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing, according to a report. 

Egypt is insisting that Israel withdraw its forces from the crossing, a high-level source told Egypt's state-linked Al Qahera TV. 

Israel seized the Gaza side of the crossing last month during its offensive in the city of Rafah. 

Earlier this week, a member of Egypt's security forces was killed in a shooting incident near the Rafah crossing.

An Egyptian soldier stationed on a watchtower had reacted to seeing an armoured vehicle carrying Israeli troops cross a boundary line near the border while the soldiers pursued and killed several Palestinians, two Egyptian security sources told Reuters news agency. 

The soldier opened fire and Israeli forces fired back, killing him, the sources said, sparking an exchange of gunfire between the two sides. 

The British prime minister has praised the proposed ceasefire deal set out by Joe Biden, saying it is "welcome news". 

Rishi Sunak said he hopes Hamas "takes this opportunity to take this deal that is on the table, [and] that would ensure hostages can be released and be back with their families". 

He also expressed hopes to "flood Gaza with far more aid than has been getting in" and to "use that pause in the fighting to build a sustainable and lasting peace". 

Mr Sunak joins a growing group of world leaders expressing support for the deal, which will only put more pressure on Israel and Hamas. 

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