Paris is one of those places we have visited at every age and every stage with our three kids. The first time we visited Paris with kids they were ages 2, 5, and 7. On our most recent visit our kids were ages 8, 11, and 13. A lot of what we like to do is just wander neighborhoods and explore and eat food that looks good! But, here are a few specific tips and ideas for touristy things and tours you might want to check out on your next visit!
Also, we always recommend checking out the Paris resources provided by our friend Zoe, a tour guide in Paris, who also has a great self-guided tour on her website and some blog posts and she also helps families plan their full itineraries. You can find her on Instagram at @the.petit.guide.
Transportation:
We love G7 taxis with kids. Find more info here.
Paris Metro: Super easy to navigate and family-friendly; we mostly use this or walk
Batobus - hop-on-hop-off boat along the Seine. Great way to get around and see the city when kids get tired.
Don’t miss the Space Invaders!
Here’s a tip we learned from Zoe! Download the free "Flash Invaders" app for your kids while you wander around Paris. There are pixelated character mosaics all over the buildings/walls around Paris -- done by a French street artist. You get points for the ones you find on the walls of Paris. Not all of the ones you see are real invaders. Looking for space invaders helps motivate kids to walk when they get tired. You can find more info here.
Activities (grouped by areas)
1st Arrondissement
The Louvre: A must-see BUT we sometimes just pick a few pieces of art to try and see and never try to do the whole museum at once -- it's a lot for kids. A great way to see the Louvre is with a private guide. Check out these family tours.
The Tuileries - We love just wandering through this after the Louvre and there is a fun in-ground trampoline playground in the park to get out energy as well as several playgrounds. Our kids loved the trampoline park. There is also a Christmas Market here until January. You can also ride the Ferris Wheel nearby at the Place de Concorde.
Musee de l’Orangerie - This is our favorite museum with kids who have short attention spans. It is small but has Monet's amazing Water Lilies paintings (our kids got in trouble for playing tag in the round rooms (oops) but otherwise it's a pretty chill museum). A lot of other great impressionist paintings and some changing exhibits. We often only do this museum on a Paris trip.
Sainte-Chapelle: Amazing medieval church with breathtaking stained glass windows. We like to go here since Notre Dame is closed -- it is nearby.
6th Arrondissement
Luxembourg Gardens: Iconic park in Paris. They have sailboats kids can float in the pond (seasonal) and an amazing playground with ziplines, climbing structures, etc. There are also pony and donkey rides and one of the traditional merry go rounds where you try to catch metal hoops with a stick while you ride.
7th Arrondissement
Musee de Orsay - Popular museum for kids because a lot of the paintings are recognizable -full of Van Gogh, Matisse, Degas, and Seurat. We've heard great things about this tour of the museum: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/655236
Eiffel Tower. One of my friends recommends this tour, so you avoid the lines. Otherwise make sure to purchase tickets well ahead of time. We usually go all the way to the top. But it can get really crowded and cold so we usually don't stay too long. Make sure to bundle up for the top. Our kids also love the two playgrounds at the bottom -- one at Avenue Anatole France, is in the middle of the park and has an old-fashioned carousel and little play area with a sandbox. In the southwest section, allee Pierre Loti, there is a larger playground.
8th Arrondissement
Champs Elysees - We mostly just like window shopping here and looking at the cool cars. There is also a good McDonalds with a bathroom, if you need one on your way to the Arc de Triomphe.
Arc de Triomphe: You can take the tunnel under the road to walk over and the climb to the top of the Arc de Triumphe. We thought the views were definitely worth going to the top. It was really pretty at night.
14th Arrondissement
The Catacombs: Maze of tunnels, stretching over 200 miles and dating back to the 13th century. It's a little bit eerie and creepy but kids seem to love it. French kings began to empty the cemeteries when they got too crowded and moved the remains of over 6 million people to the catacombs. Their bones line the walls, creating a somewhat spooky spectacle.
18th Arrondissement
Sacre Coeur/Montmartre - We love taking the funicular and riding to the top, exploring the souvenir stores, and getting crepes at the top. You can also get great views of Paris from the top of the cathedral. The area has amazing patisseries and boulangeries. The authentic boulangeries are labeled: Boulanger de France. The Moulin Rouge is also in this area.
Clignancourt/Saint-Ouen Flea Market - described as the largest antique market in the world; fun to wander; vintage clothing and jewelry; Here are a few articles about the market: 1, 2, 3.
Food Tours/Activities:
This is a very popular tour my friend told me was awesome: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/203141 and has great reviews.
French Cooking Classes: Our French friend loves these classes. They are on our list to try next time! They have several family classes! https://cooknwithclass.com/all-our-paris-classes/
Day Trips:
Versailles. 50 min train ride on the RER from Central Paris. We love renting bikes at Versailles and exploring the gardens. You can also rent golf carts. Our kids love the Petit Palace and Hameau de la Reine the best. There is also an Angelina hot chocolate spot at the palace. The LDS temple is also nearby.
Disneyland Paris. If you like Disney -- it is there! I've been, but we haven't taken kids yet.
You can also take the train or rent a car and in two hours get out to Normandy, the Loire Valley, or Strasbourg if you want more of a countryside feel.
Other rainy/cold day activities:
Paris Department Stores: Fun to explore, have cafes and restaurants, good place to take a break from the weather: Le Bon Marche, Printemps, Galleries Lafayette
Natural History Museum - if you need somewhere to go with younger kids and the weather is bad.
Shakespeare & Company Bookshop - fun to wander and look at old and new books
Palais de la Decouverte - epic science and technology museum; very interactive
Passages des Princes - series of covered walkways between buildings with small shops inside selling toys, models, used books, antiques and all sorts of interesting gems! It’s worth a pass through. You can find them near the Palais Garnier opera house and also at 97 Rue de Richelieu.
Other Favorite Neighborhoods/Areas:
We love to wander the unique and trendy shops in the Marais (around the Pompidou) and grab falafels at L’As du Fallafel along Rue des Rosiers and grab some Jewish challah bread.
The streets around Saint-Michel/Notre Dame are one of our favorite places to grab crepes and kebabs or just sit inside a cafe along the river for a quick lunch or hot chocolate or french onion soup.
Rue St Honore is one of our favorites for window shopping. Also there are so many pastry and chocolate shops hidden there. The Paris Walks chocolate tours and fashion tours in this area are fun for older kids.
Sentier - under the radar neighborhood with boutiques and foodie hot spots: Read about it here and here.
What are your favorite Paris with kids activities?
What would you add to what we’ve included here? Anything we’ve missed?
If you haven’t been to Paris yet with kids, is it on your list?
