Paris with Kids: Family Travel Guide & Itineraries

Quick answer

For a central base, stay in the 4th (Le Marais) or 6th (Saint-Germain-des-Prés) arrondissements to reach major landmarks on foot. Focus on the Jardin du Luxembourg for playgrounds, the Cité des Sciences for interactive exhibits, and the Batobus for river transport. Budget €250–€450 ($270–$490) per day for a family of four, covering mid-range dining, local transport, and two ticketed attractions.

Areas to stay

Le Marais (3rd/4th): Narrow, mostly pedestrianised streets reduce traffic risks. Place des Vosges provides a fenced sandpit and grass for running. Stay here to be within a 15-minute walk of the Centre Pompidou and its dedicated children’s gallery.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th): This area provides immediate access to Jardin du Luxembourg. Many hotels here offer interconnected family rooms, which are rare in older Parisian buildings. It is a 10-minute walk to the Seine and multiple RER B stations for direct airport links.

South Pigalle / 9th Arrondissement: Choose this for proximity to Gare du Nord (Eurostar) and Department stores like Galeries Lafayette, which has a free rooftop view and a large toy department. It is less expensive than the 1st or 6th, though hilly.

Attractions by age band

The Louvre: Limit visits to 90 minutes. Enter via the Carrousel du Louvre shopping mall to avoid the main Pyramid queue. Target the Egyptian wing or the Crown Jewels rather than attempting the entire museum. Admission is free for under-18s; adults pay approximately €22 ($24).

Eiffel Tower: Book 'Summit' tickets online exactly 60 days in advance. If sold out, check for 'Stairs to 2nd Floor' tickets which are often available last minute. Under-4s are free but still require a booked ticket. Expect security queues of 30–60 minutes even with a time slot.

Strollers and public transport

Paris is not a universally accessible city. Most Metro stations involve multiple flights of stairs with no lifts or escalators. The RER lines (A, B, C) and newer Metro Line 14 are the exceptions, featuring lift access at most stops.

Bus vs Metro: Use the bus network instead of the Metro when travelling with a stroller. Routes 69 and 72 pass major landmarks like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower. Buses have a designated central area for two unfolded strollers.

Walking: Use a compact travel stroller (like a YOYO) that fits through narrow cafe aisles and standard 60cm doorways. The cobblestones in Montmartre and Le Marais make small-wheeled umbrellas strollers difficult to push.

Food for children

Most brasseries open for dinner at 19:00, which may be late for younger children. Look for 'Service Continu' signs for all-day dining.

• Le Menu Enfant: Most restaurants offer a fixed-price kid's menu for €10–€15 ($11–$16), usually including minced beef (steack haché), roasted chicken, or pasta, plus a drink and dessert.
• Boulangeries: A jambon-beurre (ham and butter baguette) costs €5–€7 ($5.50–$7.50) and is a reliable lunch.
• Breizh Café: Located in the Marais and near Odéon, these serve savoury galettes and sweet crêpes in a casual environment.
• Water: Ask for 'une carafe d'eau' (tap water) to avoid paying €6–€8 for bottled water.

Contingency plans

Rain: Head to the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution in the 5th arrondissement; it is a massive indoor space with thousands of taxidermy animals. The Passages Couverts (19th-century shopping arcades) near the Palais Royal provide dry walking routes with toy shops and tea rooms.

Heat: Paris can exceed 35°C in July and August. Seek out 'îlots de fraîcheur' (cool islands) marked on the City of Paris website. Parks like Parc Monceau have misting stations. The Catacombs maintain a constant 14°C year-round.

Naps: The Tuileries Garden and Jardin des Tuileries offer green metal chairs that can be moved into the shade. If staying central, return to the hotel between 14:00 and 16:00 to avoid the peak daily temperature and crowds.

Realistic family-paced day

• 09:00: Pastries at a local boulangerie.
• 10:00: Visit the Luxembourg Gardens. Pay €3 for a wooden sailboat rental at the pond.
• 12:30: Casual lunch at a nearby crêperie.
• 14:00: Walk 20 minutes to the Pantheon or take Bus 82 toward the Eiffel Tower.
• 15:30: Ice cream at Berthillon on Île Saint-Louis.
• 17:00: 1-hour Seine river cruise (Bateaux Parisiens or Vedettes du Pont Neuf). Adults €15–€18 ($16–$20).
• 19:00: Early dinner at a brasserie near the hotel.

Costs and logistics

• Accommodation: A family room in a 3-star hotel costs €200–€350 ($220–$380) per night.
• Transport: A Navigo Easy pass costs €2, plus €2.15 per single journey. A 'carnet' of 10 tickets is €17.35. Children aged 4–11 pay half price for 10-ticket packs.
• Museums: The Paris Museum Pass is rarely cost-effective for families since children under 18 enter most state museums for free. Buy individual adult tickets instead.

Safety and health

Pickpocketing is common in high-traffic areas like the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, and Line 1 of the Metro. Keep valuables in zipped internal pockets. For medical needs, look for a 'Pharmacie' (indicated by a green neon cross). Pharmacists in France can provide advice for minor ailments and dispense many medications without a prior GP visit. For emergencies, dial 112.

Common mistakes

• Booking late: The Eiffel Tower and Louvre often sell out weeks in advance during school holidays.
• Relying on the Metro with a stroller: Carrying a stroller up three flights of stairs in a busy station is physically demanding and slows down transit.
• Dining at the Eiffel Tower: Restaurants in the immediate vicinity of major landmarks are often overpriced. Walk 10 minutes away into the 7th or 15th arrondissements for better value.
• Overpacking the schedule: Limit the itinerary to one major 'must-see' per day to allow for playground time and spontaneous breaks.

Plan your trip

Journey Planner simplifies Paris family travel by calculating real-time transit routes that favour buses or accessible Metro lines based on your location. It generates daily cost estimates including current ticket prices for attractions like Disneyland Paris or the Cité des Sciences. By inputting your travel dates, you receive a weather-adjusted packing list and a day-by-day itinerary that balances walking distances with necessary downtime for children. Check the official site of each venue before you go for current opening hours and mandatory reservation policies.