🇫🇷Paris

From the Eiffel Tower to Notre-Dame, Paris is one of the world's great family destinations. Here is how to make the most of it with your kids.

Your family guide

Paris with kids: towers, museums and proper patisseries

“Iron towers, ancient obelisks and proper croissants. Paris delivers on the classics better than anywhere else.”

— San & Jo

Paris genuinely delivers on its reputation. The Eiffel Tower really does sparkle at night. The Louvre really is that big. And yes, children are often more impressed by the crêpe stand outside than the Mona Lisa inside. That's completely fine. Paris works for families precisely because there's so much to choose from, and you never have to do it all.

What makes Paris special for families is the sheer variety packed into a walkable, well-connected city. One morning you are climbing the Arc de Triomphe for rooftop views over the Champs-Élysées. The next you are letting the kids run loose in the Jardin des Tuileries while you sip a coffee in the sunshine. History is everywhere here, and it is the kind of history that actually makes kids lean in and ask questions.

Notre-Dame has recently reopened after years of restoration following its devastating 2019 fire, and its interior is now more vivid and beautiful than it has been in centuries. Versailles is just outside the city and worth every minute of the journey. And if all else fails, Disneyland Paris is close by for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Paris rewards curious families who love to wander, and it is more relaxed and manageable than you might expect.

Paris, FranceCapital city of France

30 millionForeign visitors per year

Best April to OctoberMild, sunny weather

Best things to do

Best things to do in Paris

The Eiffel Tower

Paris's most iconic landmark was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World Fair and still transmits radio and television signals today. Every night from dusk, it sparkles on the hour for a few minutes. Did you know it can grow up to 15 cm taller in summer because the iron expands in the heat? That fact alone will impress the kids.

Book tickets online well in advance to skip the long queues

2-3 hours

The Louvre

The world's most visited museum is enormous, so go in with a plan. The Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo are the obvious highlights, but the building itself, a former royal palace, is just as impressive as what is inside. Pick two or three rooms your family genuinely wants to see rather than trying to do everything.

Enter through the Richelieu wing to avoid the main pyramid queues

3-4 hours

Notre-Dame de Paris

Sitting on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine, Notre-Dame has just reopened after extensive restoration following its devastating 2019 fire. The interior is now cleaner and more vivid than it has been in centuries. This is a genuinely moving place to visit, and the story of the fire and the rebuilding is one kids find fascinating.

Free entry to the cathedral itself. Timed entry tickets may be required, so check ahead.

1-2 hours

The Arc de Triomphe

Commissioned by Napoleon to celebrate French military victories, the Arc de Triomphe sits at the top of the Champs-Élysées. Climb 284 steps to the top and you get one of the best free-feeling panoramic views in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, and the famous star-shaped junction all spread out below you.

Use the underpass to reach the Arc safely. Never try to cross the roundabout on foot.

1-2 hours

Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur

Montmartre is Paris at its most charming. The hilltop neighbourhood is full of quirky cafés, artists painting at Place du Tertre, and the beautiful 19th-century Sacré-Coeur basilica with its sweeping city views. Look out for the Wall of Love, where the words 'I love you' are written in hundreds of languages. Kids love finding their own language on the tiles.

Take the funicular up the hill if you have little ones who are tired of walking

Half day

Centre Pompidou

The Centre Pompidou looks like a building turned inside out, with its colourful pipes and escalators on the outside. Inside, it holds one of Europe's most important collections of modern and contemporary art, with over 100,000 works. The glass escalators rise through six floors and offer brilliant views over the Paris rooftops at every level.

The view from the top is free if you just want the panorama without entering the museum

2-3 hours

Jardin des Tuileries and Bois de Boulogne

The Jardin des Tuileries, just outside the Louvre, has been a formal garden since the 17th century and is a perfect spot to let kids run around between museum visits. For a longer outdoor escape, the Bois de Boulogne on the western edge of the city has lakes, a waterfall, and outdoor performances in summer. There is even a campsite if you want a truly unique Paris experience.

The Tuileries has a seasonal fairground with rides that younger kids love

1-3 hours

The Paris Catacombs

Beneath the streets of Paris lies a vast underground network holding the remains of millions of people, arranged in elaborate patterns along the tunnel walls. It is atmospheric, slightly eerie, and genuinely fascinating. Best suited to older children and teens who are comfortable in dark, enclosed spaces. Younger or sensitive children may find it overwhelming.

Book tickets online. The queues without a booking can be extremely long.

1-2 hours

Our verdict

How Paris scores for families

Kids

Paris has plenty for children of all ages, from sparkly towers and boat rides to underground bones and royal palaces. It rewards curious kids who like history and art, and there is always a crêpe stand nearby when enthusiasm fades.

Culture

Few cities on earth match Paris for cultural depth. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée de l'Orangerie, and Centre Pompidou alone could fill a week. Add Notre-Dame, Versailles, and Montmartre and you have one of the world's great cultural destinations.

Food

Parisian food is world-class, but it helps to know what to order. Crêpes, croque monsieurs, and fresh croissants are easy wins for kids. Bistro classics like steak frites and boeuf bourguignon are hearty and satisfying for adults.

Nature

Paris is primarily an urban destination, but the Bois de Boulogne, the Jardin des Tuileries, and the Promenade Plantée offer genuine green space. Versailles also has spectacular gardens if you need a full day outdoors.

Budget

Paris is not cheap. Museum tickets, restaurants, and accommodation all add up quickly. That said, many parks are free, some museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month, and a bakery lunch is always affordable.

Planning your visit

How long should you stay in Paris?

3 days

Quick visit

Hit the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame. Walk the Champs-Élysées and have one great bistro dinner. You will scratch the surface and want to come back.

sweet spot

5 days

Sweet spot

Enough time to explore the main landmarks, spend a half-day in Montmartre, visit Versailles, and still have a slow morning at a neighbourhood café. This is how most families really enjoy Paris.

7 days

Deep dive

A full week lets you add the Catacombs, the Centre Pompidou, the Musée d'Orsay, and maybe even a day at Disneyland Paris. You will leave feeling like you actually know the city.

Fun facts

Things to know about Paris

The Eiffel Tower grows in summer

The Eiffel Tower is made of iron, and iron expands when it heats up. On a hot summer day, the tower can be up to 15 cm taller than it is in winter. That is the height of a large coffee cup added to one of the world's most famous structures.

Paris has its own Statue of Liberty

There is a smaller replica of New York's Statue of Liberty standing on the Île aux Cygnes in the Seine, dating from 1889. It was a gift from the United States to France, as a thank-you for the original statue France gave to America. Spot it from the Pont de Grenelle.

A 3,000-year-old Egyptian obelisk in the middle of Paris

The tall stone column at the centre of the Place de la Concorde is an Egyptian obelisk that is around 3,000 years old. It stood in front of the Luxor Temple in Egypt before being given to France in the 19th century. The same square is where Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI were executed during the French Revolution.

Taste Paris

What to eat in Paris with your family

Croissant

Daily treat

Any local boulangerie

Start every morning at a neighbourhood boulangerie. A fresh, buttery croissant is one of the simplest and most reliable pleasures in Paris, and kids almost universally love them. It is the kind of breakfast that makes everyone happy before a long day of sightseeing.

Crêpes

Kids love it

Crêperie Suzette, Île Saint-Louis

Street crêpes with sugar, lemon, or Nutella are a Paris staple and an instant hit with children. They are cheap, quick, and available all over the city. For a sit-down version, look for a creperie in Montmartre or near the Seine.

Steak frites

Must try

Bistrot Paul Bert

A perfectly cooked steak with crispy fries is the ultimate Parisian bistro classic and one of the most crowd-pleasing meals you can order. Bistrot Paul Bert is one of the most celebrated spots in the city for it, though it is notoriously hard to book. Plan ahead.

Boeuf bourguignon

Local favourite

Josephine Chez Dumonet

Slow-cooked beef in red wine with mushrooms and pearl onions is the kind of deeply comforting dish that Paris does better than anywhere else. Josephine Chez Dumonet is a celebrated vintage bistro known for its version, along with duck confit and a Grand Marnier soufflé that is worth every minute of the wait.

Croque Monsieur

Safe choice

Any Parisian café or brasserie

A toasted ham and cheese sandwich with béchamel sauce is the kind of simple, satisfying lunch that works for the whole family. You will find it on almost every café menu in the city, and it is a reliable safe option when the kids are hungry and you need something quick.

More places in Paris & Île-de-France

6 places

Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe

Walk the Champs-Élysées, climb the Arc de Triomphe, and watch the evening flame ceremony. A half-day Paris experience that's genuinely impressive.