In a nutshell
- Paris is a perfect destination for kids and teens of all ages — and we’ve been there multiple times with our own kids.
- Some attractions are pricey, but there are plenty of free options for children in Paris. Many well-known highlights are even free for young people under 26.
- Our kids absolutely loved the Eiffel Tower, the playground in the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Parisian carousels, and of course hunting down the best crêpe and ice cream in the city.
- Best family hotels in Paris? We recommend the Meininger and the All Suites Appart for groups of up to six people.
Top 16 Activities & Sights in Paris with Kids
Jardin du Luxembourg
- Perfect for: Children up to about 6 years old
- How much time to plan: 1–2 hours (more if you take it easy)
- Cost: Park free; playground €3 per child, €1 per adult; boat rental €5
What do you need to know? We spent a lot of time in the Jardin du Luxembourg with the kids. The park itself is lovely, but the special children’s attractions are what really make it stand out. There’s a paid playground, shady seating areas, a carousel, a pond, restrooms, and a snack kiosk.
Why is it worth it? The kids have a blast here! Our 5-year-old thought the carousel was the coolest thing. In the summer, you can also rent small sailboats and let them drift across the pond. The kids stay busy and can burn off some energy. It’s a perfect stop when you’re spending a weekend in Paris with children.
Eating in the park: The park itself has only one very overpriced restaurant. Instead, we recommend Rue Vavin. It’s about a ten-minute walk away. There you’ll find affordable options: hot dogs at Meshuga, burgers at OBU organisations, sandwiches at Subway, or tacos at O’Tacos. All practically side by side. And right nearby you’ll also find several metro lines to take you back to the city center.
Playgrounds in the Jardin Nelson Mandela
- Perfect for: Children ages approximately 2–10
- How much time to plan: 1–2 hours
- Cost: Free
What do you need to know? The Jardin Nelson Mandela in the Paris neighborhood of Les Halles has two fenced playgrounds. One for younger children up to about age 4, and a larger adventure playground for kids around age 5 and up. Hours vary by season. Both playgrounds have free restrooms and water fountains.
Why is it worth it? The two playgrounds are great for climbing, running around, and playing right in the middle of the city. The large playground is especially perfect for kids who love being active and going on adventures. Our kids (ages 2 and 5 at the time) both had a great time on the large playground.
Important: The first time we visited Paris, the playground for older children was monitored by security. Entry was only allowed on the hour, and visits were limited to 55 minutes so as many children as possible could use it. On our most recent visit, that was no longer the case.
If anyone has up-to-date information on this, we’d love a comment at the bottom of the article.
Cité des sciences et de l'industrie Park de la Villette
- Perfect for: Children ages 2 and up
- How much time to plan: approx. 2 hours (longer depending on interest)
- Cost: €15 adults; €4.50 under 2 years; €12 reduced (ages 3–25, age 65 and up)
- Online ticket: Cité des sciences ticket
What do you need to know? The Cité des sciences et de l’industrie is a large science museum with a dedicated section for children: the Cité des Enfants. It’s divided by age group so everyone gets their money’s worth. Right next to the museum is the submarine L’Argonaute, which you can explore from the inside.
Why is it worth it? The museum is exciting and designed with kids in mind — ours could have stayed there forever. The Parc de la Villette also offers many other family-friendly attractions, such as a playground with a colorful dragon slide and the Carrousel de la Villette.
There’s also a separate fenced playground called Folie des vents et des dunes. It didn’t blow us away, but it’s free, so you can always give it a try. It was pretty crowded and a lot of things were broken. We also weren’t allowed to bring in our travel stroller or Mio’s scooter. So don’t plan on going there if a child is napping in the stroller.
Our tip: You can buy add-on tickets — for example for the submarine, the planetarium, or one of the current exhibitions — on site.
If your kids generally enjoy museums, check out our article The Coolest Museums in Paris.
Jardin des Plantes
- Perfect for: Children ages 2 and up
- How much time to plan: approx. 2–3 hours
- Cost: Zoo (Ménagerie) €13 ages 3 and up; Museum €10; Combo ticket €18
- Online ticket: Ménagerie ticket / Natural History Museum ticket
What do you need to know? The Jardin des Plantes is located near the Quartier Latin. Here you’ll find the historic Ménagerie zoo, the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution natural history museum, the small Gloriette de Buffon pavilion, and the Dodo Manège children’s carousel.
Why is it worth it? The Jardin des Plantes combines exciting animal encounters with natural history and fresh air. The zoo is the oldest scientifically managed zoo in the world, and the museum covers natural history across three floors. The loop around to the Gloriette gets everyone moving too. There’s no chance of boredom here.
Book Natural History Museum tickets online
Jardin des Tuileries
- Perfect for: Children ages 2 and up
- How much time to plan: approx. 1–2 hours
- Cost: Park free; playground & carousel usually free or small fee
What do you need to know? The Jardin des Tuileries is located west of the Louvre. The park has several activities for kids. Just like in the Jardin du Luxembourg, we pushed sailboats around (on Google Maps) and visited a playground (view on Google Maps). And just like in almost every park in Paris, there’s also a lovely carousel.
Why is it worth it? The park is a welcome break from sightseeing in Paris, with plenty of space to play and explore. The combination of playground, carousel, and water play keeps every child happily entertained while parents enjoy the view of the Louvre.
Our tip: You can easily combine the Jardin des Tuileries with a visit to the Louvre, and the Palais Royal — which we’ll introduce you to shortly — is also not far away.
Eating in the park: If hunger strikes and you’re after something tasty and affordable, keep the Happy Café in mind. They have sweet and savory crêpes, baguettes, and pastries to go. We put together a little picnic at the playground right there in the park.
Finding & Riding Carousels in Paris
- Perfect for: Children ages approximately 2 and up
- How much time to plan: approx. 10–30 minutes
- Cost: usually €2–3 per ride
What do you need to know? We’ve already mentioned several carousels above, but they definitely deserve their own section. Nostalgic rides are scattered all over Paris. We turned it into a little game.
Before heading to Paris with the kids, we told them there were tons of old carousels throughout the city and that we’d try to find one every day. It worked as a great incentive for exploring Paris’s neighborhoods.
We tried to plan things so that we always stumbled upon a carousel at the end of our exploring tours.
Save these carousels for your family trip to Paris with kids:
Manège du Sacré-Coeur: Located at the foot of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in the Montmartre neighborhood. You can simply follow our walk through the Montmartre neighborhood.
Manège Garnier in the Jardin du Luxembourg: Pairs perfectly with all the kids’ attractions in the park, like the playground. The Panthéon and Tour Montparnasse are also not too far away.
Dodo Manège in the Jardin des Plantes: Pairs nicely with all the attractions in the park (zoo, natural history museum, etc.) or with a walk from the Île de la Cité (where Notre-Dame stands) through the Quartier Latin, ending at the Jardin des Plantes.
Carrousel Eiffel Tower & Manège 1913: Two carousels right near the Eiffel Tower. You can combine them wonderfully with a visit to the Eiffel Tower.
Carrousels de la Villette: Great to combine with the children’s section (Cité des Enfants) of the science museum and all the kids’ attractions in Parc de la Villette.
Eating Ice Cream and Crêpes in Paris
- Perfect for: uh…everyone! Always!
- Cost: from about €3–6 – depending on the place and portion size
What do you need to know? Our kids love sweets. So at least once a day on city trips with kids, our in-between destination is a café, restaurant, or ice cream shop. And in Paris, the options are endless!
Our tip: For each day, we pick out several possible “bribery options” in advance. So if we know we’re heading to the Montmartre neighborhood the next day, we look up a few highlights beforehand, add them to our Google Maps, and whenever morale starts to dip, we play our sugar card.
When the kids know that the world’s best ice cream might be waiting at the end of the road, they walk through the streets much more willingly.
Our favorite bribery spots to save:
Lucette fait des crêpes: Crêperie. Small, authentic place with fair prices.
Une Glace à Paris: Wild, great ice cream at a steep price. But it’s worth it. Possibly the best dark chocolate ice cream we’ve ever had.
Berthillon: Ice cream shop on the Île Saint-Louis. Possibly also the best ice cream in the city. Available not just at Berthillon itself, but in nearly every restaurant and café on the island.
Sucre Glace: Yet another Paris ice cream shop that arguably deserves the top spot. Right in the trendy Canal St. Martin neighborhood.
Babka Zana: Bakery with incredibly delicious cinnamon rolls.
Water Play at the Place de la République
- Perfect for: Children ages approximately 2 and up
- How much time to plan: approx. 30–60 minutes
- Cost: Free
What do you need to know? The water play area at the Place de la République was a classic accidental find that we couldn’t walk past in the middle of summer. It’s essentially a flat surface from which small fountains periodically shoot up from the ground. The area is completely open to the public and the square is car-free.
Why is it worth it? On hot days, this is the perfect spot for cooling off and taking a short (or long) break. We stopped by on the way back to our accommodation, and both kids had the time of their lives.
There’s a café right next door. So theoretically you could treat yourself to a cold beer on the restaurant terrace in true decadent fashion. Just a thought!
Our tip: If you plan to keep going afterward, make sure to bring a change of clothes for the kids!
Activities with Kids That We Haven't Tried Ourselves
Boat Trip on the Seine
- Perfect for: Children ages 3 and up
- How much time to plan: 1 hour
- Cost: €19 per adult, €9 (ages 4 and up), free under 3 years
- Online ticket: Classic boat tour
What do you need to know? Boat trips with kids are pretty much always a great idea. We just recommend keeping the tour as short as possible. In Paris, the whole thing is straightforward. The route is always the same. The boats depart near the Eiffel Tower and head downstream toward the city center. There is no boat tour specifically designed for children, though.
Our tip: We recommend the classic one-hour river cruise on the Seine with audio commentary. And be sure to book your ticket online in advance! Especially when you’re in Paris with kids, it’s so much less stressful to have your tickets already sorted.
Book classic Seine boat trip online
Here you’ll find even more great boat trips in Paris!
Hop-on/Hop-off in Paris
- Perfect for: Children ages 4 and up
- How much time to plan: up to 24 hours
- Cost: from €40 (adults), from €28 (ages 4 and up)
- Online ticket: Hop-on/Hop-off ticket
What do you need to know? Even short distances can feel like a world expedition with kids if nothing exciting happens along the way. A day of hop-on/hop-off can work wonders. In Paris, there are three providers that get you flexibly from one attraction to the next.
Why is it worth it? You get a stress-free overview of Paris, can hop on and off as you please, and see many highlights without long walks or whining. And kids absolutely love the open-top double-decker bus.
Our tip: Our favorite is Big Bus Paris with the combo ticket, which includes a Seine cruise. If your family is thinking about doing both a hop-on/hop-off tour and a boat trip, this is the perfect solution.
You also have the option to buy just a hop-on/hop-off ticket without a boat tour for 24 or 48 hours. All tickets are available through GetYourGuide. Children under 3 ride for free and don’t need a separate ticket, as long as they don’t take up a seat.
Book Hop-on/Hop-off Big Bus ticket online
Read more about Hop-on/Hop-off in Paris here
Disneyland Paris with Kids
- Perfect for: Children ages 3 and up (but teenagers and adults love it too!)
- How much time to plan: min. 1 day
- Cost: from approx. €50 per person – prices vary significantly by season and day
- Online ticket: Disneyland Paris tickets
What do you need to know? Disneyland Paris consists of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. The best way to get there is by train (RER A) or a booked shuttle bus. Tickets should always be purchased in advance.
Why is it worth it? Well, we’re talking about Disney here! Disneyland Paris offers magical experiences for the whole family — from fairy-tale attractions to exciting shows and meet-and-greets with Disney characters. The variety across the parks means there’s something for every age.
Our tip: We have more than one tip! First, you should definitely visit both parks. It’s a bit more expensive, but you’ll experience so much more. And second, it’s worth comparing ticket prices on both the official website and GetYourGuide, since they can vary quite significantly.
Book Disneyland Paris tickets on GetYourGuide
Book Disneyland Paris tickets in the official shop
Find more Disneyland info & our experience (without kids) here!
Parc Astérix
- Perfect for: Children ages 4 and up (really fun starting at 1 meter in height)
- How much time to plan: 1 day
- Cost: from approx. €57 ages 3 and up, from approx. €65 adults
- Online ticket: Parc Astérix ticket
What do you need to know? Parc Astérix is located about 40 kilometers north of Paris and is considered a charming, often underrated alternative to Disneyland. It revolves around the world of Asterix & Obelix, but also features many classic roller coasters, shows, and water attractions. You can get there by car or public transit.
Why is it worth it? Parc Astérix wins points for smaller crowds, shorter wait times, and plenty of French charm. There are lots of exciting rides for kids over 1 meter tall. But even for kids under 1 meter, there are some lovingly designed attractions. Parc Astérix promises a full day of fun.
Our tip: Definitely buy tickets online in advance! They’re often cheaper and save you from waiting in line on-site. It’s also worth checking the attractions and height requirements online beforehand. Oh, and in summer, definitely bring a change of clothes!
Book Parc Astérix tickets online
Jardin d'Acclimatation
- Perfect for: Children ages 2 and up
- How much time to plan: 4–6 hours
- Cost: €7 per person; day pass for all rides approx. €48
- Online ticket: Jardin d’Acclimatation day pass
What do you need to know? The Jardin d’Acclimatation is a family-friendly mix of amusement park, petting zoo, and garden right in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. There are carousels, small roller coasters, a petting zoo, water play areas, and plenty of green space. The park is easily accessible by metro (Line 1, Les Sablons).
Why is it worth it? The park is a relaxed alternative to the big theme parks — especially for younger children. There’s plenty to discover without sensory overload, and tickets are significantly cheaper.
Our tip: Single tickets are fine for just a few rides. But if you want to try everything, we recommend the day pass. And arriving early pays off — especially on weekends.
Book Jardin d’Acclimatation day pass online
Zoo de Vincennes
- Perfect for: Children ages 2 and up
- How much time to plan: 3–4 hours
- Cost: approx. €14 children; approx. €22 adults
- Online ticket: Zoo de Vincennes ticket
What do you need to know? The Zoo de Vincennes is located east of Paris in the Bois de Vincennes — a large park surrounded by plenty of greenery. The zoo is divided into five geographic zones. You can see over 180 animal species, including giraffes, lions, and penguins. You can get there by metro (Line 8 to Porte Dorée).
Why is it worth it? The zoo is well-organized and modern. There are plenty of viewing opportunities and informative signs along the paths and at the enclosures. Ideal for quieter days away from the hustle of the city.
Any criticism of the zoo? Zoos are always a bit of a sensitive topic, even if kids love them. So we looked into it. The zoo meets modern animal husbandry standards according to EU/EAZA guidelines, and recent visitor reviews praise the cleanliness and the generously designed enclosures. There are no current scandals or shortcomings.
Book Zoo de Vincennes tickets online
Aquariums in Paris
- Perfect for: Children ages 2 and up
- How much time to plan: approx. 2 hours
- Cost: €5–25 (depending on the aquarium)
- Online ticket: Aquarium de Paris ticket / Aquarium Tropical ticket
What do you need to know? Paris has two aquariums. The Aquarium de Paris at the central Trocadero and the Aquarium Tropical in the east of Paris. The Aquarium de Paris is modern, with sharks, touch tanks, and an animation program. The Aquarium Tropical is smaller and a bit more old-fashioned, but also features over 300 species.
Why is it worth it? Both aquariums are classic rainy-day destinations in Paris when it’s raining. They’re informative, kid-friendly, and well-organized.
Our tip: If you’re already near the Eiffel Tower, the Aquarium de Paris makes for an exciting addition. The Aquarium Tropical can also be combined with a visit to the Zoo de Vincennes, for example.
Book Aquarium de Paris tickets online
Book Aquarium Tropical tickets online
Visiting Classic Paris Sights with Kids
Eiffel Tower with Kids
- Perfect for: Children ages 3 and up
- How much time to plan: 1–2 hours
- Cost: €24 (ages 25 and up), €12 (ages 12–24), €6 (ages 4–11), free under 4
- Online ticket: Eiffel Tower ticket
What do you need to know? Visiting the Eiffel Tower was the absolute highlight for our kids. It’s centrally located right on the Seine and can easily be worked into any sightseeing itinerary. The important thing is to book your tickets online in advance!
Strollers and buggies are not allowed up. Snacks and drinks in small quantities are permitted, as are small backpacks. Glass bottles and large bags are not allowed, and there’s no luggage storage.
Why is it worth it? The Eiffel Tower is simply unmissable, and the kids will be just as impressed. The structure, the height, the view — it stays with you. And you can start a little scavenger hunt up top. Can you spot Notre-Dame? Or even your hotel in Paris?
Our ticket recommendation: We recommend the ticket for the second floor. The trip to the top sounds tempting, but it often means long elevator wait times — and that can get exhausting fast with kids. Plus, we actually preferred the view from the first level.
Book Eiffel Tower tickets online
Our tip: In the Champ de Mars park, where the Eiffel Tower stands, there’s a carousel, a playground, and two small Franprix supermarkets within walking distance. We grabbed baguettes, cheese, and deli meats there and had a picnic with the kids at the playground after our Eiffel Tower visit.
Read our firsthand account of the Eiffel Tower here!
Arc de Triomphe with Kids
- Perfect for: Children ages 2 and up
- How much time to plan: 1 hour
- Cost: €16 (ages 26 and up for EU citizens, otherwise ages 18 and up)
- Online ticket: Arc de Triomphe ticket
What do you need to know? The Arc de Triomphe isn’t a classic kids’ attraction in Paris, but our children had fun there anyway. The arch is located north of the Eiffel Tower and combines a great view with a small museum.
At the entrance there’s a security check. If you have a stroller or buggy, you can leave it there. The staff will secure it with a chain lock and you’ll receive a claim ticket.
Then it’s either 284 steps up or you can take the elevator. The elevator is intended only for young children, people with limited mobility, or elderly visitors.
Why is it worth it? The view from the top over the famous Champs-Élysées and the monumental (and slightly chaotic-looking) traffic pattern is exciting for kids and adults alike. We played “find the Eiffel Tower,” which kept the kids busy for a bit — they took photos with their kids’ cameras while we had some time to enjoy the view ourselves. And of course they found it thrilling to watch the massive roundabout around the Arc de Triomphe. The only thing they didn’t enjoy was waiting in line to get in.
Our tip: Definitely buy your tickets online in advance. Otherwise you’ll be waiting not just in the entry line, but also in the ticket line before that.
Book Arc de Triomphe tickets online
Louvre with Kids
- Perfect for: Children ages approximately 6 and up
- How much time to plan: 2–3 hours
- Cost: €25 adults, EU citizens under 26 free
- Online ticket: Louvre ticket
What do you need to know? The Louvre is an enormous museum, and good planning is everything when you’re visiting with kids! Think about what you want to see beforehand. The easiest way to do that is online with the interactive map.
The ideal visiting time with kids is on weekdays between 9 and 11 AM or after 4 PM. The museum is closed on Tuesdays!
Strollers are allowed, and in the Studio in the Richelieu Wing there’s a family area with a nursing room, microwave, and bottle warmer.
Why is it worth it? Kids can discover real treasures here. Children ages 6 and up usually love the Egypt section in the Sully Wing — mummies and sarcophagi never get old. For older kids, there’s also the free Louvre Kids app, which makes the tour more interactive.
Our ticket recommendation: Book online tickets in advance. They guarantee entry within 30 minutes and save you a ton of stress.
Book Louvre tickets online
Read more about the Louvre in Paris here!
Palais Royal with Kids
- Perfect for: Children of all ages
- How much time to plan: approx. 30–60 minutes
- Cost: Free
What do you need to know? The Palais Royal is not far from the Louvre or the Jardin des Tuileries, so you can easily combine all three. What makes it special is the inner courtyard with its black-and-white columns of varying heights. The kids can climb on the columns, jump around, or play tag. Everything is allowed.
Why is it worth it? The kids have plenty of space here to run around and burn off extra energy. And at the same time, the Palais Royal is a genuine piece of Parisian history.
Our tip: Right behind the Palais there’s a small park with benches — perfect for a breather whenever you need one.
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur with Kids
- Perfect for: Children of all ages
- How much time to plan: approx. 2–3 hours (depending on your pace)
- Cost: Free (only the Funicular costs the same as a metro ride; pay at the machine)
What do you need to know? You absolutely cannot miss the Montmartre neighborhood. You’ll find the windmill of the legendary Parisian cabaret Moulin Rouge, plenty of cafés and restaurants, a cool cable car (Funicular), street performers at the Place du Tertre, a historic carousel, and of course the famous Sacré-Cœur with its panoramic views over Paris.
Why is it worth it? Montmartre is exciting for kids AND adults. The attractions are varied and keep everyone on their toes. Our older kid was fascinated by the street performers. And whenever a break is needed, there’s a bistro or ice cream shop just around the corner. We actually visited Montmartre with the kids more than once.
Our tip: If you don’t want your kids to do too much walking, you can also take Le Petit Train through the neighborhood. Tours depart daily from 10 AM to 6 PM from Place Blanche. The cost is €10 for adults and €5 for children. The ride lasts 40 minutes.
Family-friendly restaurants:
- IT Italian Trattoria: great pizza and pasta
- Notre Cantine: Vietnamese restaurant
- Street Bangkok: Thai restaurant
Find more tips & our walking tour through Montmartre here
Place des Vosges
- Perfect for: Children ages approximately 2 and up
- How much time to plan: approx. 1 hour
- Cost: Free
What do you need to know? The Place des Vosges is located in the Marais district, which is definitely one of our favorite neighborhoods in Paris. The area is perfect for exploring on foot, and the square itself has a playground with a sandy area. There’s also a supermarket nearby where you can pick up snacks and drinks.
Strollers are no problem at the Place des Vosges either.
Why is it worth it? Even though the square might look like an adult destination at first glance, our kids had a great time. The playground and all the room to roam make for a fantastic break from regular sightseeing in Paris. For the parents, there are also several art galleries around the square.
Our tip: How about a treasure hunt? At one corner of the Place des Vosges there’s a hidden passageway leading to another courtyard, the Cour et Jardin de l’Hôtel de Sully. A hidden inner courtyard. The courtyard itself isn’t particularly exciting for kids, but finding the way there was fun for them — and you get to see the inner courtyard too.
Our food tip: A branch of our favorite Paris café, Café Babka Zana, is right on the Place des Vosges. Stock up on some delicious cinnamon rolls and eat them in the park.
Centre Georges Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou is completely closed for renovations from 2025 to 2030!
- Perfect for: Children ages approximately 5 and up
- How much time to plan: 1–2 hours
- Cost: not yet known
- Online ticket: currently not available
What do you need to know? The Centre Pompidou is the national museum of modern art, and even if a museum doesn’t sound like much fun for kids at first, it’s well worth a visit.
The museum is currently closed until 2030 for renovations. We expect that after it reopens there will still be children’s galleries and special studios for teenagers.
Why is it worth it? The exhibition (as we know it) is super family-friendly and modernly designed. And we heard that the family offerings are set to be expanded even further. Definitely something to look forward to.
Our tip: Until 2030, you can at least admire the colorful building from the outside. The Stravinsky Fountain with its moving sculptures is a real magnet for kids.
Paris Activities for Older Kids & Teens
Rex Studios Tour
- Perfect for: Children ages approximately 12 and up
- How much time to plan: 1 hour
- Cost: €12 adults and children
- Online ticket: Rex Studios Tour
What do you need to know? The Rex Studios Tour takes you behind the scenes of the legendary Le Grand Rex, Europe’s largest cinema dating back to 1932. You’ll find out how a film is made, see original sets, special effects, and historic props. There’s also a cool audio guide adventure to go along with it.
Why is it worth it? Here you get to experience what it’s actually like on a film set. Many reviews rave about tons of family fun and plenty of laughs. It’s a technology- and history-driven mix that gets you involved — not just a dry guided tour.
Super cool: The tour starts every five minutes! So once you have your ticket, you’re completely flexible.
Book Rex Studio Tour tickets online
Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs are closed for renovations from November 2025 through spring 2026!
- Perfect for: Children ages approximately 12 and up
- How much time to plan: 1–2 hours
- Cost: €31 adults, €12 children (ages 5–17), children under 5 free, or €40 via Tiqets
- Online ticket: Paris Catacombs ticket
What do you need to know? The Paris Catacombs are a fascinating yet eerie labyrinth of ancient underground tunnels beneath Paris — with real human bones that have been stored there for centuries. The visit is a genuine adventure and a thrilling journey through time.
Why is it worth it? For teenagers who are up for a little thrill, the Catacombs are perfect. They can marvel — and accidentally learn something along the way. And maybe afterward you’ll even get a “That was actually really cool” out of them, hehe.
Book Paris Catacombs tickets online
Read more about the Paris Catacombs here
Atelier des Lumières
- Perfect for: Children ages 10 and up
- How much time to plan: approx. 1 hour
- Cost: €17 adults, €10 children (ages 3–11)
- Online ticket: Atelier des Lumières ticket
What do you need to know? The Atelier des Lumières is an immersive museum of light and music set in a former iron foundry. Works by artists such as Van Gogh, or captivating nature themes, are projected onto the walls and floors, accompanied by fitting music. Depending on the exhibition, it’s more or less engaging for kids.
Why is it worth it? The show is pleasantly calm and can captivate even teenagers. Young children can easily nap in the stroller while you as parents enjoy the projections.
Our tip: Definitely book tickets in advance for the weekend! On weekdays you can be more spontaneous, but expect a wait.
Book Atelier des Lumières tickets online
Read our experience with the Atelier des Lumières here
Paris Police Museum
- Perfect for: Children ages approximately 12 and up
- How much time to plan: 1–1.5 hours
- Cost: Free admission; booking recommended
- Online ticket: Time slot reservation
What do you need to know? You’ll find the Police Museum in the Hôtel de Police in the 5th arrondissement. It tells the history of the Paris police force since the 17th century. The collection includes over 2,000 exhibits — including uniforms, murder weapons, firearms, and even a guillotine. There’s also a forensics section covering fingerprints and DNA analysis.
Why is it worth it? The visit feels like being inside a detective case — and that’s always cool, right? You piece together the threads of famous criminal cases, read original documents, and see rare objects. The museum is also often very quiet and a little-known Paris insider tip.
Our tip: Download the multilingual audio guide and print out your reservation. It’s required.
Practical Tips for a Vacation in Paris with Kids
Paris with a Baby & Toddler
Paris with a baby or toddler? Yes! Absolutely! We’ve been there ourselves multiple times with our children — from infancy through preschool age — and we think the city is wonderfully suited for families with young kids.
Here’s what you should know in advance:
- Metro & Getting Around: The Paris metro is not fully accessible, but it works fine with a lightweight stroller. Read more about it in the public transit section.
- Restaurants: Many places are small, often without high chairs or kids’ menus. You’ll find our tips on that in the dining with kids section.
- Playgrounds: The best playgrounds in Paris are in the large parks. We’ve recommended several of them earlier in this article.
- Baby supplies: Everything you need for your baby (diapers, baby food, etc.) is easy to find locally.
Paris Travel Guides for Families with Kids
We haven’t found a convincing children’s travel guide for Paris yet. They often lack concrete, actionable tips.
The only one we’ve found worthwhile so far is the book “Paris for Little Explorers”.
It’s not a proper travel guide, but a cat narrates the most important attractions in Paris for children. Really quite charming.
We looked through the book with our 5-year-old before our Paris trip and used it to build up his excitement. Some spots really captured his imagination and he absolutely wanted to go — like the glass pyramid at the Louvre and the gargoyles at Notre-Dame.
There are also various child-oriented walks in the book, along with the occasional puzzle.
Lies auch:
Discounted Admission for Kids in Paris
In Paris, young people under 26 benefit from free admission at many museums and monuments. This applies to EU nationals (including children) as well as students and teachers.
Free or discounted admission includes, for example:
- Louvre
- Arc de Triomphe
- Panthéon
- Sainte-Chapelle
Note that special exhibitions are often not included in the free or discounted admission policy.
Public Transit in Paris
The metro is the fastest and most convenient way to get around Paris — even with kids. With older children, you’ll have no trouble at all. But even with a stroller or buggy, it works if you know a few tricks:
Most metro stations are not accessible. There are no elevators, and usually only regular stairs. So be prepared to carry things up and down regularly.
We traveled with a lightweight travel stroller (Babyzen Yoyo, approx. 5 kg) and carrying it was no problem. Helpful Parisians almost always volunteered to assist without even being asked!
At the metro turnstiles: The adult taps their ticket as normal, then goes through the side door with the stroller. Just press the button and the door opens, or a staff member will help.
Our tip: Sometimes the bus is simply easier than the metro when you have a stroller. Google Maps always shows you the best connections.
And what tickets do you need for the Paris metro?
- Children under 3 ride for free
- Ages 4 to 11 pay half price on single tickets
- For stays of four days or more, the Navigo Card is worth it for everyone (including kids) — it’s a rechargeable metro card. Stress-free and cheaper.
Read all the info, prices, and tips about the Paris metro here!
Getting Around Paris Safely with Kids
Getting around Paris with kids can be challenging. With the right gear, however, you’ll travel comfortably and with plenty of flexibility.
We’ve been traveling for years with the Stokke Yoyo travel stroller. And it serves us not just on city trips, but in everyday life too. A wholehearted recommendation.
We also always bring a kick scooter, which our son often uses to cover many miles. When he’s tired of riding, we fold the scooter up and stow it in the compartment under the stroller. Super easy.
While the older one is off on the scooter, the little one usually sits in the stroller or rides on our back in the Manduca XT carrier.
That’s how you stay flexible in the city and get around safely.
Read more about safety in Paris here!
Dining Out in Paris with Kids
Paris has great cafés and bistros. But typical sidewalk cafés and Parisian restaurants are often cramped, and you’ll rarely find high chairs or kids’ menus. That said, it’s no reason to avoid them.
Here are our tips:
- Ask for high chairs. They’re usually available — just not visible.
- Even if it’s not on the menu, kids’ portions at half price are often available on request.
- Classics like fries, burgers, or pasta are never a problem.
Our restaurant recommendations with kids:
- IT Italian Trattoria: Affordable pizza & pasta; multiple locations in Paris
- Street Bangkok: Authentic Thai street food; e.g. fried chicken and sticky rice for kids
- O.B.U Burgers: Great burgers; casual & cool
- Ground Control: Street food hub with lots of room to run around and one of our Paris insider tips
Free Drinking Water Fountains in Paris
Public drinking water fountains are scattered all over Paris. There are around 1,200 of them. They’re all free to use and can even be found on Google Maps. Just search for drinking water on the spot. Or check the interactive map on the Eau de Paris website.
Especially when traveling with kids, it’s always worth bringing a water bottle and refilling it on the go.
Paris Hotels with Kids
Staying in Paris isn’t exactly cheap. Hotels in Paris are, however, comparatively more affordable than hotels in New York or hotels in London.
Finding the right hotels for families with kids can be tricky to research. But finding the best options at the best prices is basically our superpower.
So here are our favorite hotels for staying in Paris with kids:
Frequently Asked Questions About a Paris Vacation with Kids
How many days do you need in Paris with kids?
We’d recommend at least three full days for a city trip with kids in Paris — but honestly there’s no real upper limit. A relaxed pace would be five to seven days, and you could easily stay longer without running out of things to do. You definitely won’t get bored.
Is Paris toddler-friendly?
It’s okay. The metro isn’t particularly stroller-friendly, the city isn’t specifically designed with young children in mind, and the French aren’t exactly known for going overboard over kids. That said, Paris is still a great city for families because there’s so incredibly much to experience — and as you can see from this article, there’s no shortage of things to do with little ones.
Is Paris safe with kids?
As safe as any major European city. Absolutely! Trust your instincts, stay aware of your surroundings, and you should be just fine.
Vacation in Paris with Kids: Is It Worth It?
Visiting Paris with kids is wonderful — whether you have a baby, a toddler, or a teenager.
There are great things to do for every age, and you can easily get the kids excited about many of the classic Paris sights as well.
As in our articles on London with Kids and New York with Kids, we do want to flag the high accommodation and admission costs here.
But those are partially offset when it comes to sightseeing — at least for the kids.
The great thing about Paris is that there are also plenty of free attractions, and for anyone under 26 from the EU, a large portion of all the points of interest in Paris is free.
Public transportation in Paris is also genuinely very affordable.
And compared to some other cities (like restaurants in New York), café and restaurant prices are reasonable too — plus in the summer you can easily stock up at the supermarket for a picnic in the park.
We’re already looking forward to our next visit to Paris with our kids!
