Top things to do on a family vacation to Paris
A visit to the city of love (or lights)…Paris France, who hasn’t dreamed of visiting this city! We have visited this city numerous times during our time in Europe, and always find something new to discover.
On the blog, I will highlight the top things to do on a family vacation to Paris, so you can plan that family trip to France and explore this amazing city.
There’s so much to see and discover in Paris, but you can easily see most of the main sights on a day trip. If you want to explore more of what the city has to offer, I suggest at least three days in Paris to make the most of your visit.
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How to get around Paris
During one of our visits, we took the big bus tour to familiarize ourselves with the area and to learn some history while on the tour.
We got to see most of the main sights, and got dropped off right in front of most places. It was an easy way to get around especially with kiddos.
One of the easiest way to get into the city is by train. With its accessible public transportation and ease of use, it’s the best way to get around Paris.
Top things to do in Paris
Paris is known for it’s famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the 12th-century Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral and the Louvre.
But another thing that draws people to the city, is it’s cafe culture, world class shopping and it’s cultural diversity. Here are some of the essential Paris things to do, on your trip to Paris with kids.
Visit the Louvre Museum
One thing you can be sure off when visiting Paris, is it’s abundance of museums. Since we travel with our little one, we always choose one museum to visit a day, this time we chose to visit the Louvre.
Make sure to purchase tickets online ahead of time to avoid the lines. Admission is completely FREE for visitors under the age of 18, which makes it one of the best family attractions in Paris.
*TIP- Bring a stroller with you to the Louvre. They tend to let families in with a stroller without waiting in line. Let a guard know and they will lead you to an elevator to get to the Louvre.
The Louvre is such an expansive museum, one day isn’t enough time to really explore all that the museum has to offer.
I suggest taking your time and don’t expect to see it all, especially when visiting with kids. And if you’re planning to visit the Mona Lisa, be prepared for crowds!
This was one of the most underwhelming attractions at the Louvre, but amazing to see up close nevertheless.
There is a cafe in the Louvre, as well as a shopping center called the Carousel de Louvre, which features upscale shops, a gourmet food court and a few restaurants. It’s the perfect place to end your visit to the Louvre.
Explore the Tuileries Gardens
After your visit to the Louvre, make sure to explore the Tuileries Gardens with the kids. This public garden has a big open space for the kids to run around and play. There’s even a giant Ferris wheel for the kids to enjoy!
Take a stroll through the open air sculpture museum and admire the many sculptures in the gardens. It’s the perfect place to relax and take a break from sightseeing.
Visit the Eiffel Tower
You can’t miss a visit to the iconic Eiffel tower when sightseeing Paris, after all, its one of the main tourist attractions in the city!
Make sure to purchase tickets online if you want to climb the Eiffel Tower to avoid the crazy lines. We skipped the climb to the Eiffel Tower during our visit, it was amazing enough to see it up close!
The Eiffel Tower at night is also a must see, it’s absolutely beautiful sparkling against the night sky! Of course you can’t miss the famous merry go round located nearby.
It’s one of the most fun activities in Paris with kids. Our little one enjoyed the ride, and we didn’t mind that she rode it multiple times with the amazing views!
Take a cruise on the River Seine
Another option for sightseeing Paris is a cruise on the river Seine. This is a great way to get around Paris with children.
We chose to take the Batobus, which is sort of like a hop on-hop off type tour, with many stops along some of Paris main attractions. You can purchase tickets right at the kiosk, or purchase them online.
The boat ride made for a unique perspective of the city, and learned more about the city’s history through its audio tour. Definitely another great option in getting around Paris with kids.
Light a candle at the Notre Dame Cathedral
One of the essential Paris things to do is a visit to the Notre Dame cathedral. This medieval Catholic Church is one of the most magnificent churches in the city, and it’s stained glass is something to marvel over.
One of the highlights in the cathedrals treasury is a reliquary, which houses some of Catholicism’s most important relics, including the purported Crown of Thorns, a fragment of the True Cross, and one of the Holy Nails.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to observe these relics, but knowing they are there was amazing enough!
Our little one enjoyed lighting a candle, it has been a tradition of ours to visit a church in every city we visit and light a candle.
Getting to light one at the Notre Dame was even more special!One thing to keep in mind here is that lines are also quite long getting inside, but do move pretty fast. If you want to avoid the crowds, get here early in the morning.
READ NEXT: You can read more about our visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral here
Take a break at the Jardin du Luxembourg
One of the most beautiful places in Paris is the Jardin du Luxembourg. Luxembourg gardens is one of the best Paris attractions for families.
There are so many fun activities here when visiting Paris with kids. Luxembourg gardens is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, flowerbeds, model sailboats on its circular basin, and picturesque 17th century Medici Fountain.
With a range of activities for the whole family, it’s a perfect place to spend an afternoon made to just hang out and relax.
The kids will enjoy blowing bubbles, a ride in the carousel, or playing with the model sailboats which is an old tradition here at the Grand basin.
Either way, you will enjoy just lounging around under one of the trees or simply people watch!
Visit the Sacré-Cœur Basilica
A visit to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is a must see in Paris. Located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, which is the highest point in the city, you get the most amazing views of the city, as well as one of the most beautiful sunsets over Paris.
Inside the Basilica, the ceiling is decorated with the largest mosaic in France, and was quite amazing.
It’s definitely one of the most beautiful churches in Paris. There are many steps to get up to the Basilica, but you can take the funicular up.
When you purchase the Ticket Mobilis pass, which is an unlimited public transportation pass, your ticket gets you a free ride up the funicular. Its the easiest way to get to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, especially with kids!
Stroll through Champs-Élysées
Stroll through Avenue des Champs-Élysées, which runs between the Place de la Concorde and the Place Charles de Gaulle, where the Arc de Triomphe is located.
It is known for its theatres, cafés, and luxury shops, and as the finish of the Tour de France cycle race. We simply enjoyed window shopping and admiring the million dollar cars parked in the streets!
It was pretty cool! Here you will also find the famous La’Duree luxury pastry shop, known for its macarons, they were simply divine!
Visit the Arc de Triomphe
Of course you can’t miss a photo-op with the Arc de Triomphe. It is one of the most famous monuments in Paris.
It honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I, it was pretty incredible!
Relax at Palais Royal
After a long day sightseeing Paris with kids, some downtime is much needed. Unwind at the former Palais Royal, which is located just opposite the Louvre Museum.
The Palais was originally built for Cardinal Richelieu, and has been the Royal residence of the Queen mother, Anne of Austria, soon after King Louis XIII death. Today, it houses the cities government.
The large inner courtyard is one giant art piece, and a great place for the kiddos to play. The gardens are also a great place to get away from the city and the crowds.
We enjoyed a short break here after a visit to the Louvre, it was a nice place to relax and recharge before we hit the streets again.
Fun day trips from Paris with kids
Visit Disneyland Paris
Did you know there’s a Disney Park in Paris? What could be better than visiting Disneyland Paris with kids, while in the city of love!
It’s the perfect place to take the kids while taking a break from your Paris sightseeing itinerary. You can easily get to Disneyland Paris by train from Paris.
It’s a short train ride to get to Disneyland Paris, and the entrance to the park is located just outside of the Marne la Vallee train station.
READ NEXT: Read our ultimate guide to Disneyland Paris with kids here.
Visit the Palace and Gardens of Versailles
Just a short drive or train ride away from Paris is the Palace and Gardens of Versailles. This is a definite must see on your trip to Paris with kids.
Just make sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time online to avoid the long lines. I suggest purchasing the Passport ticket with timed entry.
This ticket entitles you to access the Palace and Gardens, as well as Trianon and the seasonal Musical fountain show. Access to the Palace and the estate of Trianon is free for visitors under 18 (or under 26 residing in the EU).
READ NEXT: Read about our two day visit to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles here.
I hope this guide to visiting Paris with kids inspires you to plan that Paris family vacation. These are just some of Paris main attractions.
There’s still so much to see in this amazing city of love. We had a blast exploring the beautiful streets of Paris and sampling its fine cuisine. We felt very Parisian enjoying some cheese and baguette sitting on a park.
One of the highlights was watching the sunset over Paris from the Sacre Couer basilica, as well as over the Eiffel Tower. It was definitely a bucket list trip and one we will never forget!
READ NEXT: Read about our top 12 day trip ideas from Paris
Other must see Paris attractions
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