15 Best Things to Do in Paris with Kids (for 2025)
Paris can be intimidating with kids, but it doesn’t need to be. First and foremost, it’s important to have a plan before arriving in the City of Light. Be sure to read our Best Places to Stay with Kids in Paris and Where to Stay in Paris with a Large Family. When you’re ready to start planning, here are the best things to do in Paris with kids.
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What to do in Paris with kids
How Many Days Should You Spend in Paris with Kids?
Ideally, families should spend 4 days and 3 nights in Paris if they are trying to see other destinations. A family trip should have a good overview of the main Paris attractions, plus time to enjoy the city’s beautiful gardens and delicious foods. If you have limited time, consider our one-day Paris itinerary that shows how to make the most of the City of Lights.
Should You Buy a Paris Pass?
This depends on what your family wants to visit and the amount of time you have available for Paris sightseeing. There are two different types of passes, a Paris Museum Pass, and a Paris Pass. The Paris Museum Pass comes in 2, 3, 4, and 6-day durations and is activated the first time it’s scanned at an attraction and is valid for the following days of the pass.
It covers entry to over 60 Paris landmarks (including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Arc de Triomphe). The Paris Pass includes everything in the Museum pass as well as a one-day pass for the hop-on hop-off bus, unlimited travel on the Metro and local RER buses, and fast-track entry to several Paris museums.
TIP: Before purchasing, make a plan of what you want to see and weigh it against the cost of the pass to be sure it’s the right choice for your family.
1. Tips for visiting Notre Dame
TEMPORARILY CLOSED: Notre Dame is one of the best things to do in Paris with kids, even after the fire. Don’t be intimidated by the long line in front, as it tends to move rather quickly.
The main queue is only for entrance inside the cathedral and admission is free. Visitors who want to climb the 387 steps of the tower to the top of Notre Dame de Paris need to head to the side away from the river. There is typically a line there, but it is not nearly as long as the one in front.
Paris Pass holders cannot bypass the line, but an app called JeFile allows you to book a time for entrance (times are released at 7:30 am every morning).
There is a cost to climb the tower, and those under the age of 26 pay less than adult admission. Also, if you’re looking to pass the time with the kids, there is a playground on the grounds of Notre Dame opposite the front side (so I guess the back side?). One parent can wait in line while the other takes the kids if necessary.
2. Musée d’Orsay with kids
Even if your kids don’t like museums, be sure to make a stop at Musee d’Orsay. Housed in the former Orsay rail station, exploring the building itself is part of the experience.
Art-loving parents will enjoy the works of Degas, Seurat, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Make time to see the view from the clock on the 5th floor and outdoor space looking out toward Sacré-Cœur and the Tuileries Garden. Here are our ideas of how to survive a museum visit with kids.
3. Where to take a cooking class in Paris
Whether your family loves macarons or baking bread, a food tour in Paris is always a good idea. These are things to do in Paris with kids outside your typical excursions.
Family-friendly locales include Patisserie a la Carte, Cook’n with Class, and Ecole Ritz Escoffier. Be sure to make a reservation in advance as classes fill up quickly.
4. How to visit the Louvre with kids
My best advice for visiting the Louvre Museum on a Paris vacation is to have a game plan. Know what you want to see to get in and get out. There are several entrances to the Louvre and the main one is always crowded.
Try going through Le Carrousel de Louvre entrance. There’s still a security checkpoint, but it’s a lot faster. Purchase self-serve tickets at the kiosks in the ticket office to save time if you don’t have advance tickets.
There are cafés in and around the museum in case anyone gets hungry. Expect there to always be a crowd around the Mona Lisa unless you arrange for a private museum tour before or after hours.
Here are a few we would recommend: Louvre Murder & Mystery Tour (tweens & teens would love this), Skip the Line Tour, or Louvre for Families: Gods, Queens, & Heroines (Have questions about a Context tour? Here’s why we love them.)
BOOK YOUR CONTEXT TRAVEL TOUR HERE!
5. Visiting Sacré-Cœur
For a close-up view of Sacré-Cœur Basilica, head to Montmartre. The neighborhood around the church is filled with shops and restaurants and young children will enjoy riding the carousel at the base of the steps. Don’t be intimidated by the steps leading to the basilica, there is a funicular to reach the top and a Metro ticket allows access.
Admission is free to Sacré-Cœur, but if you wish to climb the dome for a view, that’s a separate cost and a different queue. We felt the views from the front of the church were beautiful, and we didn’t do the 300-step climb to the top.
6. Book your tickets to the Eiffel Tower in advance
The easiest way to save time is to book a ticket online through the Eiffel Tower website. Doing this will save hours of waiting in line. You still have to go through security, but a ticket saves time.
I would highly recommend having lunch at one of the tower’s restaurants as my kids said they loved this more than climbing the Eiffel Tower itself.
You can book a tour that includes lunch at Madame Brasserie (formerly 58 Tour Eiffel )and admission, allowing you to skip several lines and go straight to the restaurant. For a high-end experience, consider a dinner reservation at the Michelin-starred, Jules Verne restaurant. Reservations will need to be made far in advance and there is a dress code.
Note: There are different levels of the tower (2nd etage and sommet) and each level has a different admission price. The sommet is the very top of the Eiffel Tower. It can be quite windy and a bit unnerving as it is 276 meters above the city, but boy the views are amazing!
BOOK YOUR EIFFEL TOWER TOUR HERE!
7. Book a photographer in Paris
When you are wondering what to do in Paris with kids, why not take some family photos? We went through Flytographer (you can read all about it here), which I would highly recommend. The kids thought it was better than the photos I always beg for and we cherish the images Lucille captured.
Photo: Flytographer
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FLYTOGRAPHER SESSION!
8. Take in the Arc de Triomphe views
At the western end of the Champs-Élysées lies the beautiful Arc de Triomphe, built to honor those who fought for France. It’s worth a visit for its stunning sunset views of Paris, the engravings, and the statues.
There is an admission to climb to the top. An elevator can cover over 200 of the steps, but visitors will need to be able to climb the last 64 if they want to take in the views.
9. Take the metro to Disneyland Paris
We did not do this because we don’t like to visit a theme park on a family vacation. However, if your family loves Disney, this is going to be one of the top things in Paris for kids.
I love this post from Global Munchkins that explains what a visit to Disneyland Paris looks like. It’s easy to reach from the city, so if your kids are Disneyland Park fans, make time for a day tour from Paris.
10. Try a cruise on the River Seine
Boat tours on the Seine are a magnificent way to see the city day or night. We took a dinner cruise with Bateaux Parisiens which included a 3-course meal and drinks as we sailed from the Eiffel Tower down to the Musée d’Orsay and looped around.
Although it rained for part of the ride, it was a romantic way to see Paris at night. Another option is to take the local water taxi (Batobus) which makes stops at most of the major monuments along the Seine.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR SEINE RIVER TOUR!
11. Explore the Paris parks and gardens
When the weather is delightful, one of our favorite things in Paris to do with young kids is to head to the parks. Walking is an easy way to get to and from them, but if you have older kids you might want to consider an electric scooter rental in Paris for a different view of the city.
Head to Jardin du Luxembourg, the ideal spot for picnics. Be sure to grab snacks beforehand from one of the local markets. On the grounds is the stunning Luxembourg Palace, home to the Musée du Luxembourg, the oldest public museum in Paris.
It wouldn’t be my choice for kids, so stick to the playgrounds outside and the giant pond with the miniature sailboats. Luxembourg Gardens has toy boats that are available to rent by the half hour and children love chasing after them.
The Jardin des Tuileries separates the Louvre from the Place de la Concorde. This is a great place for kids to let off some steam.
Children can run around the park, while parents enjoy crepes, admire the gardens, and people-watch (or maybe that’s just what we like to do).
For a spectacular view, catch a ride on The Big Wheel at Place de la Concorde. Kids and adults alike will love this Parisian Ferris wheel.
Other beautiful Paris parks include Jardin des Plantes (the main botanic garden in Paris), Parc de La Villette, and Champ de Mars with the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower.
12. Go underground in the Paris Catacombs
Should you visit the Paris Catacombs with kids? Well, it depends. Personally, we think this underground burial site might be fascinating if you’re visiting Paris with teens but may prove too scary for younger children.
Visitors descend 130 steps underground to see the remains of millions of Parisians whose bones were transferred here during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The labyrinth winds under the streets of Paris and is quite an eerie experience. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended as the lines are notoriously long. Consider taking a Paris Catacombs Skip the Line Tour if kids are impatient.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PARIS CATACOMBS TOUR!
13. Visiting Versailles with kids
Versailles is one of the most popular day trips from Paris by train. You will want to book tickets in advance. The easiest way to do this is through the attraction’s website (Château de Versailles) and I would recommend doing the Passport which gives access to all of the buildings on the estate. Tickets are timed, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.
If you want to visit the gardens, that is free for everyone. Children under 18 can visit the palace for free as well. We would recommend booking a guided tour of Versailles instead of buying tickets through the site so you can avoid some of the crowds.
We enjoyed taking a row boat ride on the lake at the Palace of Versailles and going for a short walk on the grounds of the estate. To avoid the long lines the best time to visit is during the week, first thing in the morning or mid-afternoon.
For a full tour of Versailles, consider trying the Context tour “Versailles Tour for Kids”, the Fat Tire Bike Tour of Versailles, or a Viator Private Versailles Skip the Line tour. They’re all good options.
*Note: It takes some time to reach Versailles from central Paris, and it’s about a 10-minute walk from the train station, so plan accordingly. There is food available in the café on-site, in the gardens, and in the local neighborhoods. It might be helpful to bring snacks along for the long day.
14. Book a Paris city tour
If you think an organized tour of Paris is more your speed, try Meet the Locals for Families. They have tours throughout the city made for kids. Paris Charms & Secrets offers e-bike tours and scavenger hunts throughout the city. Need more recommendations? There are some of the best Paris tours for families.
15. Head to a local amusement park – Jardin d’Acclimatation
Located in Bois de Boulogne, the Garden d’Acclimatation was created in the mid-19th century by Emperor Napoléon III and Empress Eugénie. It was created to showcase exotic plants and animals from around the world.
Today it has expanded to include amusement rides, a science museum, and even a farm. The park has numerous gardens, lakes, and winding paths that provide a tranquil escape from the busyness of the city.
These are just some of our favorite places to go in Paris to help get you started. Paris with kids is amazing, just be sure to plan ahead.