What To Do In Paris With Kids
What To Do In Paris With Kids
If you’re thinking about heading to Paris with your family and wondering what to do in Paris with kids, here are some ideas both free and paid.
Paris is one of the most exciting cities in the world and it’s a great place for kids to learn about culture, food, and a new language.
Don’t be nervous to take your kids to Paris, just go prepared. During our recent trip to Paris with our 10-year-old daughter, we took a different mindset than on previous trips where we’ve gone alone.
We knew going into the trip we wouldn’t be sitting at a café for hours upon hours drinking champagne. I also knew we wouldn’t be spending hours shopping or aimlessley walking the city.
However, we had an incredibly amazing time showing the city to London and getting her just as excited about Paris as we are.
Paris is truly an amazing city and an amazing and wonderful experience for children to see.
Before we get into what you can do in Paris with kids here’s a few tips to help your trip be successful.
Paris With Kids Tips
- Every child is different, what works for us may not work for you. You know your child best and what they will and will not do.
- All of this information is based on traveling to Paris with a 10-year-old which is different that traveling with a baby. I can’t provide information on that specifically.
- If your child is willing to walk, I recommend doing as much as you can on foot and seeing the city. Stop to take breaks if you need but they will see so much more of the city by walking around.
- Teach your children to say Bonjour and Merci to people in shops, cafés, and other public places you go. This will go a long way.
- The metro and bus systems are easy and affordable for times they don’t want to walk.
- Take advantage of free restrooms when you have the opportunity. Bathrooms are one of the trickiest things to navigate in Paris, especially with kids.
- Paris servers are good about asking if you or anyone in your party has any kind of food allergy but make sure to let them know if they don’t ask.
- Also, go with no expectations of how your kids will act. It’s still a foreign country so while it’s new and exciting, at times maybe it’s frustrating because it’s not normal for them.
- It helps to know your child’s limits as well and don’t expect anything more or less from them. You can’t expect them to walk 10 miles a day without taking breaks every now and then.
- Plan out your days with your child. Let them feel included in the day’s plans and let them pick a few things they want to do. This way everyone gets to do something they like.
Paying Things To Do In Paris With Kids
1. Fat Tour Bike Excursion
Absolutely, one of our family’s favorite things to do in Paris is a Fat Tour Bike excursion for the day.
We took the bike excursion out to Versailles for the day which involved biking around the beautiful grounds, getting supplies at the market for a picnic, and having a beautiful picnic on the lawn of Versailles.
London had the best time on this day and even meet several other kids who were also on the tour that she became friends with.
2. Ride One Of The Carousels
There are around 20 carousels spread throughout the city of Paris in the different arrondissements. Beautiful and grand these carousels are not like the ones I used to ride that’s for sure.
You can find a more in-depth detailed article and where to find each carousel from Sophie’s blog.
3. Cruise on the Seine
Take a cruise down the Seine on the Batobus and see some of the most historic sights in all of Paris. You can hop on and off the boat as much as you’d like during the day.
This is a great way for the kids to get a boat ride and be able to see some sights at the same time. It’s very affordable ranging from 9 to 19 euros a person.
Free Things To Do In Paris With Kids
1. Museums
Most museums in Paris are free for 18 and under and I recommend ordering online ahead of time if you know what museum you want to visit.
The Louvre and Musee d’Orsay are the most popular ones and might have paintings maybe your kids will recognize or maybe you put together a scavenger hunt to do in the museum. Just make sure your kids know not to touch the art.
I recommend going early when the museums first open and heading right to the artwork you want to see first before anything else.
London lasted about an hour and a half in the Louvre and that was just fine. We saw what we wanted to see(Mona Lisa) and then moved on to something else.
2. Eiffel Tower
To go up the Eiffel Tower does cost, although kids under 4 are free and kids over 4 receive a reduced rate.
However, to go sit on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower is completely free. You can go for a picnic or watch the lights sparkle at night.
Beware, there are people all over the park of the Eiffel Tower trying to sell you light-up Eiffel Towers, which are not cheap and your kids will probably want one, and lots of other souvenir items.
3. Arc de Triomphe
Kids under 18 are free to walk up the Arc de Triomphe, which is a total of 330 steps up to the rooftop view.
There is an elevator that takes you up to the Attic Room but you will still have to climb more than 40 steps to get to the rooftop.
This is a beautiful view of all of Paris and it’s very pretty if you go at dusk. Make sure to buy tickets online in advance, this is definitely worth the climb up.
4. Walk Around Any of the Gardens
Paris certainly has its share of beautiful gardens and they are all great places to take kids to walk around or run off some energy.
A few of the best gardens are the Tuileries, which London loved, my favorite the Jardin du Luxembourg, and also Place des Vosges in the Marais.
The Jardin du Luxembourg, does have a very big playground area for kids, the playground does cost though, 3 euros for children and 1 euro for adults. There’s also a bathroom here as well so make sure to take advantage.
You can also rent a little boat to float on the pond, this is only open during warm months.
Or, you can simply bring a blanket and just camp out for a few hours.
5. Palais Royal
The Jardin du Palais Royal, is a short walk distance from the Louvre, literally across the street. It’s tucked away on a street behind some arcades and shops. You can’t see it from the street.
There’s a beautiful garden to explore but also part of the garden are these amazing striped columns which are fun for kids and adults.
You can grab a coffee at Café Kitsuné beforehand and then let the kids play on the columns and in the courtyard.
Places To Eat With Kids
1. Pink Mamma Paris
A lively, vibrant, and fun place to take kids to eat in Paris. Pink Mamma dishes out amazing Italian food and the restaurant itself is beautiful with each floor a different color and decor.
Make sure to make a reservation as this place books up quickly.
2. Chez Bartolo
For great Neapolitan Pizza, head to Chez Bartolo in Saint Germain. All the pizzas are wood-fired and the restaurant is very kid friendly.
Also, make sure to book a reservation ahead of time if you can. They also accept walk-ins as well.
3. Ladurée Champs Elysées
Ladurée is a gorgeous restaurant to take kids to for a semi-fancy French treat. They can order entrees such as Pain Perdu with Chantilly Lace, which is basically french toast with whipped cream. (London highly recommends).
Or you can just stop in the shop to buy macarons and pastries.
4. Any Crêpe Stand
There are numerous crêpe stands all over Paris, especially near big tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.
You can choose between ones with ham and cheese or more dessert options but these make easy and affordable snacks or even dinner.
London loved the sucre (sugar) crêpe as well as the configure (jam) crêpe and at only 3-5 euros a piece who can complain?
5. Most Cafés
You can take kids to most cafés which will have continuous dining all day. Most of them do not have a kids menu but you might find one or two which do.
A great option is always steak and fries or you can share plates as well.
6. Berthillon
What kid doesn’t love ice cream and French glacée tastes incredible, according to my 10-year-old. Head to the world-famous Berthillon to cool off on a hot day and enjoy one of the delicious flavors.
7. Have Your Own Picnic
Kids don’t care about eating at a 5-star restaurant but they would love having their own picnic under the Eiffel Tower or along the Seine.
You can easily grab baguette sandwiches from any boulangerie, a bottle of wine for mom and dad, and have a wonderful time enjoying the beauty of Paris.
8. Bouillon Chartier
I am putting Bouillon Chartier on this list with a little hesitation. It’s an old Parisian Brasserie that’s considered an institution and that people still flock to.
It serves classic French items like Rump Steak with Fries, and Escargot, but also has Spaghetti.
The food here is not amazing at all but it’s not horrible either. And, it’s incredibly cheap for Paris standards plus the atmosphere is fun.
If you are looking for a place to feed your family affordably and with a bit of atmosphere then it might be worth a visit.
9. Any Boulangerie
You will find boulangerie’s on every corner in Paris and there’s something for everyone. Grab a croissant in the morning and baguette sandwhich in the afternoon. Kids will love everything in a boulangerie.
Paris can be just as fun and amazing with kids. Hopefully, these ideas will help on your next trip to Paris. I would love to know what tips and ideas you have on what to do with kids in Paris.
RELATED POSTS:
DINING ETIQUETTE TIPS FOR PARIS TO KNOW