Luxembourg Gardens boat race

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Is there anything more daunting than looking at the map of Paris and trying to figure out how you’re going to possibly see it all? After staring at that map for hours (and of course perusing Paris a few times), I came up with this Paris with kids itinerary.

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Day 1: The Tower by Day

  • see the Tower for the first time from the Trocadero
  • get a crepe and a pic at the Trocadero
  • indulge in hot chocolate out of a cute floral teacup at Carette (if you skip this, try one at one of the Angelina’s throughout the city)
  • cheers to champagne and macarons at the Top of the Eiffel Tower (get tickets in advance to avoid the lines)
  • picnic in Champ de Mars
  • play in one of the four playgrounds at Champ de Mars
Love this series on Amazon!

Day 2: Luxembourg Gardens and the Twinkling Tower

  • mosey around beautiful Luxembourg Gardens
  • pick your favorite country’s boat and race it across the lake
Luxembourg Gardens boat race

  • ride the carousel
Paris carousel with kids

  • ride the mini zipline and play at the playground ($3 entrance fee)
  • watch a puppet show
  • enjoy “rose” shaped gelato at Amorino a few blocks away
Amorino rose gelato in Paris
  • later that day, cruise down the Seine (evening dinner or snacks)
  • dance under the glowing Eiffel Tower at night (starts after dusk/dark, which in Paris in the summer is 10-11pm!)
  • or watch it from your hotel room with a view

Day 3: Notre Dame, Louvre, and Adventure Park

  • see Notre Dame’s reconstructed beauty (set to reopen late 2024)
  • enjoy lunch at a cute Parisian cafe (FYI the hot dogs are not what Americans think of when they think hot dog!)
  • test your skills with a kids scavenger hunt at the Louvre
  • or just stay outside and take goofy pictures
silly Louvre photo op
  • go wild at the Adventure Park in Nelson Mandela Gardens near Les Halles (park closes during day some days, it opened for us at 3pm, there is one park for younger kids and one for 7 and up)
  • or dive into Mission Paris for a hunt around the city:

Day 4: Montmarte and Macarons

  • ride the funicular to the top
  • sit on the steps of the Sacre Cour for panoramic Paris views
  • pose for a portrait sketch (or take a picture for the artist if your child can’t sit still long enough)
  • stroll the cute Montmartre streets to the “I love you” wall
  • play at the playground
  • ride the carousel
  • learn to make macarons (ages 6 and up for most classes, the quickest class is at Galeries Lafayette, but some other start to finish classes are: this one at April Cafe or this one that is highly rated on Viator

Day 5: Arc de Triomphe and Parisian Shopping

  • see the Arc de Triomphe from below it (free) or above it (16 euro to the top)
  • walk the Champs-Élysées
  • shop at the impressive domed Galeries Lafayette Haussman
  • dive into toys galore and the absolute cutest treats at the Jellycat Patisserie in FAO Schwarz on the 5th floor of the Coupole store
  • do the abbreviated macaron class at Galeries Lafayette if your heart is still set on it (mixed reviews)
  • watch the sunset over the tower in the distance, from the top of Galeries Lafayette (free to get to the top, or you can make reservations at the rooftop restaurant)
sunset in Paris with toddler

Have More Time? Consider These

  • Disneyland
  • Jardin d’Acclimatation (roller coasters, VR, and more in a Parisian theme park)
  • Jardin des Tuileries
  • Aqua Boulevard water park
  • Catacombs
  • teathered hot air balloon at Parc Andre Citroen
  • Jardin des Plantes museum of evolution
  • Luminescence at Saint Eustache Church

Tips for Visiting Paris

  • Save time and your feet by getting a metro pass and download the RATP app
  • Book popular sights in advance (Eiffel Tower tickets are available 60 days and 14 days before your visit date, but they sell out fast; you can also get in line for same-day tickets)
  • Download the G7 app for family car hire/(taxis) with car seats
  • Bring a foldable, lightweight stroller
  • Bring refillable water bottles to refill throughout the city
  • Book a hotel, aparthotel, or bnb in the city-center, near a metro line and Paris attractions
  • If you have young kids or babies (or are prone to get sick on vacation, ahem, us since 2022), stay somewhere with views of the tower. Then you can still see it in all its glory at 11pm! Read my full list of hotels with Eiffel Tower views for any budget (including family hotels).
  • Contact me to help plan the perfect ‘Paris with kids’ itinerary, find the best and most affordable place to stay, and get you discounts and perks.
  • If nothing else, contact me and I’ll send you my personal Google Maps saved with the best of Paris

Find my content helpful? Buy me a coffee to say ‘merci’. 😉

Arc de Triomphe Paris

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