FIRST TIME IN PARIS WITH KIDS UNDER FIVE: A COMPLETE GUIDE
PARIS AS A FAMILY – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Are you looking for the best things to do in Paris as a family? Or maybe you’re considering a trip to Paris and wondering if it is worth visiting Paris with kids? (It absolutely is!) This guide has got you covered!
We’ve been to Paris quite a few times but recently went for the first time with my boys (aged 4.5 and 1.5 years old). We had the best time exploring the city through their eyes! I’ll be sharing things to do, where to eat and what to see in Paris on your first time with kids. Plus, tips to make sure your trip is fun for everyone!
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OTHER PARIS GUIDES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
Guide to Your First Time in Disneyland Paris
Where to get the Best Views of the Eiffel Tower
Taking the Eurostar with Kids Under 5
GETTING TO PARIS
We took the Eurostar from London to Paris, it was such a great experience and I would highly recommend it over flying if you have that option. Overall, it worked out cheaper than flying, it is also more spacious and comfortable than being crammed in a small plane seat with a toddler.
The Eurostar departs from London St Pancras and arrives at Paris Gare du Nore which is fairly central in Paris. Paris is a large city but you might be able to walk there depending on where you stay. Anything to cut the journey time down is great for kids!
If you’re coming from further away, you’ll probably fly. You’ll most likely arrive at Charles de Gaulle airport about 1 hour to the centre via RER B train or taxi.
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND IN PARIS WITH KIDS?
We had three full days in Paris and one full day in Disneyland. This was enough time to get a good feel of the city without being too rushed but there were things on my bucket list that we didnt have time for. If you can, allow four days for Paris and two for Disneyland.
As we live in London, Paris is only a couple of hours away and we will likely return. If you’re coming from further away or this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I would definitely allow the extra time to get the full experience. Also, don’t forget jet lag can be a real struggle with little kids!
WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS WITH KIDS
Paris is a large city and some of the main sights are a fair distance apart. That being said it is still very walkable and I would advise staying as central as possible to explore properly. We stayed in an apartment in the 9th arrondissement a short walk from the Sacré-Cœur and Gard du Nord station.
Although Paris has a very good Metro system, I always think it’s best to stay central rather than to stay outside of pairs and commute in. Additional travel time with little kids is a pain and takes away from your sightseeing time.
GETTING AROUND PARIS WITH KIDS
Walking is by far the easiest and best way to get around. We’ve lived in NYC and now live in London so we’re used to walking but Paris was A LOT! We did between 20-30k steps per day in Paris.
Another great option is the metro. The Paris metro system is easy to navigate and will get you around quickly. An adult single ticket for the Metro costs €4. (Under 4’s are free) This can quickly add up so check if it’s worth you buying a Naviog Pass, linked here. They have different days and zone packages (some including Disneyland and the airport). It wasn’t worth it for us as we only used the train 3 times including Disneyland.
The only downside to the Metro is that most stations do not have a lift (elevator). So if you have little kids, be prepared you might need to carry your pushchair (stroller). With two adults, this was easily manageable.
I always recommend our Joolz Aer+ pushchair. It’s lightweight and folds easily. My baby naps happily in it and my 4-year-old can still hop in when his brother is walking or use the ride on board. (30k steps in a day is too much for him!)
READ MY FULL JOOLZ AER+ REVIEW HERE.
Taking a bus can be easier with a pushchair however, from our experience with buses in cities, it usually takes almost as long as walking. So we tend to avoid that option.
TOP TIPS FOR EXPLORING PARIS WITH KIDS
- Take into account the time of year. City breaks in August are not so fun with little kids. So much walking in extreme heat is hard work, spring or autumn/ fall will be the best weather.
- Do your research before you go. There is a lot to do in Paris and you may not be able to fit it all in. Plan your priorities and which route is best to take so you don’t miss anything!
- Take a lightweight pushchair. The streets of Paris were very pushchair friendly (certainly much better than Rome) but most metro stops aren’t and you will most likely, need to carry it. We love our Joolz Aer+ and I always recommend it for city travel.
- Beware of pickpockets. Like all major cities, pickpockets are common. Don’t have valuables on display and be aware of what’s around you!
- Skip the Eiffel Tower – I know this is shocking but we chose to skip the Eiffel Tower and climb the Arc de Triomphe instead. When you climb the most famous building, you can’t see that building. The Eiffel Tower also doesn’t have pushchair parking, meaning you have to carry it up with you.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO IN PARIS
THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE
On our first morning in Paris, we climbed the Arc de Triomphe. This is a great way to see the city from above, the views are amazing.
They have bike-style locks to chain your pushchair (stroller) at the bottom. Be sure to take any valuables up with you. The climb to the top is 330 steps in total, there is a lift but of course, our 4-year-old insisted on the stairs. We did take the lift back down!
Tickets: Entrance is €16 for adults, under 18’s are free. Booking in advance is recommended, I also like to use a company such as Get Your Guide as they offer free cancellations!
Click here to book your Arc de Triomphe tickets!
THE EIFFEL TOWER
Paris’s most iconic landmark! As I mentioned above, we chose not to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, if you would like to, I would highly recommend paying extra for the lift/ elevator. Carrying your pushchair and a toddler up so many steps will not be fun!
Tickets: With lift access, adult tickets are €35.30. Children aged 4-11 are €8.90 and under 4 are free. You can see all the ticket options and book by clicking here.
Whether you choose to climb the Eiffel Tower or not, you’ll certainly want to see it! Some of the best places to do this are:
- Avenue de Camoens
- Place du Trocadero
- Rue de l’University
- The bank of the River Seine
Views from Place du Trocadero, The River Seine & Avenue de Camoens
THE COLUMNS OF BUREN
Located on the grounds of Palais Royal, you’ll find 260 black and white striped columns of various heights. This was one of my kids (and mine) favourite places in Paris.
These iconic black and white columns are so fun for children and also very Instagram-worthy. This is definitely a place to visit if you want nice photos for your family album!
We were there at about 9 am on a weekday but I was still surprised at how quiet it was here.
Tickets: no tickets are needed and this fabulous location is completely FREE!
THE LOUVRE & OTHER MUSEUMS
Paris is home to many museums, and the Louvre is probably the most iconic.
Initially, we thought we’d definitely go to the Louvre. However, when thinking about it further, we decided against it. Our youngest is at an age where he wants to run off and it’s impossible to look at anything while watching him. Taking him into a crowded museum would be quite stressful.
We will save this activity for our next trip to Paris. If you really want to do this, maybe try to time it for nap time.
Tickets: adults cost €22 and those under 18 are free. You should book this in advance and can do so on their website. Note, that it is closed on Tuesdays.
Click here to buy tickets for The Louver.
Other museums you might want to consider include:
- The Musée d’Orsay
- Musée de l’Orangerie
- The Centre Pompidou
JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG
This is another perfect place to explore with kids and it’s so beautiful! There’s plenty of space for kids to run around and burn some energy. In front of The Luxembourg Palace, is a pond (be careful not to let toddlers fall in – mine certainly tried to!)
I’ve read you can rent vintage sailboats to play with on the pond, however, there was no sign of them when we were there. This was so sad because I’d already told my 4 year old and he was so excited to try it. Luckily he took it well and we headed to the playground.
There is actually a fee to go to the playground here. It’s €3 for children aged 3-12 and €1 for adults. The playground is very cute but honestly, not really worth paying an entrance fee for. A few things were roped off as they were broken and there are plenty of great free playgrounds around. As we just had the disappointment, of not sailing boats, we weren’t also going to tell them they couldn’t go in the playground!
There is also a small carousel next to the playground which costs €2 per ride. This is the oldest carousel in Paris and is best suited to toddlers/ younger children.
CRUISE THE RIVER SEINE BATOBUS
I did this on a previous trip to Paris and really wanted to do this with the kids as I knew they would love it. Unfortunately, it just did not fit into our schedule.
The Batobus is a hop-on, hop-off boat that will take you along the River Seine. From the Eiffel Tower to Jardin des Plantes stopping at many of Paris’s iconic landmarks along the way. This is a fun way to get around and will save you from doing quite so many steps.
Tickets: you can buy a one or two-day pass starting from €23 for adults and €13 for children aged 4-12. You can find out more and book tickets on their website here.
RIDE A CAROUSEL
There are many great carousels in Paris which are perfect for young children. Our highlight was the double-decker carousel at the bottom of the steps to the Sacré-Cœur. I think it was €4 each for the kids on this one but most of Paris’s carousels were just €2-2.50.
Paris Batobus & Carrousel de Saint-Pierre
EXPLORE MONTMARTRE
Montmartre was surprisingly, one of my favourite areas in Paris, even on the rainy day we had there, it was so beautiful. The streets are lined with instagrammable spots and charming little boutiques, it’s worth spending at least half a day in this area. Key places not to miss include:
- The Sacré-Cœur
- Moulin Rouge
- Place du Tertre – a square lined with street artists and resteraunts.
DISNEYLAND PARIS
If you’re visiting Paris with small children, your trip would not be complete without visiting Disneyland! My boys are not really Disney fans but they had the best day here and actually, we all really enjoyed it. I would highly recommend doing this and it’s so easy to get there from the centre of Paris.
There is so much to say about Disneyland Paris, that I’ve put everything you need to know in a separate blog post.
READ OUR FULL DISNEYLAND PARIS GUIDE HERE.
When I booked, Disneyland tickets were cheaper on Viator than on the official website so be sure to shop around!
THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES
This was another place on my bucket list that we didnt get time for. Located about an hour away from the centre of Paris, it is a popular day trip. The palace looks extremely beautiful and the gardens look perfect for little kids to explore!
Book tickets for the Palace of Versailles here.
WHERE / WHAT TO EAT IN PARIS WITH KIDS
To be completely honest, I’m not a huge foodie and there will be other bloggers who can advise you better on this topic. However, I can give some mum tips and family-friendly advice!
BOLOUNGARIES & PATISSERIES
You will find both boulangeries and patisseries all over Paris and they are worth trying out. They’re all over Paris so you won’t be able to miss them.
Boulangeries are where you’ll get freshly baked croissants and baguettes. There’s just something about a French croissant, they taste by far superior to other croissants. Generally a croissant costs around €1.40 with pan au chocolate, almond croissants etc being slightly more. These are a perfect budget-friendly breakfast or an ideal snack for little ones.
On our sunny days, we grabbed a baguette for around €1 and some cheese, crisps etc from a supermarket and enjoyed a picnic in the park.
Patisseries are for pastries, tats eclairs etc, these stores have to have a proper pastry chef. Again, I would definitely recommend trying some kind of sweet treat. You’ll likely need it after all the waking in Paris and it’s a good way to give tired children a little boost.
our favourite was a combined boulangerie and patisserie called Ernest et Valentin, they have multiple locations around Paris.
BOUILLON CHARTIER
This restaurant was recommended to me as an authentic and affordable place to eat in Paris. They have 3 locations, we ate at the main location located at 7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France.
I don’t eat meat and have to say, the vegetarian spaghetti was nothing special. However, my husband said the steak was very good and we would all recommend the chocolate mousse.
They have high chairs, baby changing and the staff were very good with the boys!
CARETTE
Carette is on every Instagrammers list when they visit Paris. Known for its luxurious hot chocolate with whipped cream. Their main location is Place du Trocadéro and often has a queue outside the door.
We happened to stumble across one of their other locations, located in Place du Tertre (the main square in Montmartre). This location is more informal and doesn’t have seating, so I got one of the hot chocolates to go. This was so much easier with young children and we can confirm it was delicious!
That concludes our guide to visiting Paris for the first time with kids under 5. I hope we’ve helped you to plan your trip!
OTHER PARIS GUIDES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
Guide to Your First Time in Disneyland Paris
Where to get the Best Views of the Eiffel Tower
Taking the Eurostar with Kids Under 5
Happy Exploring,
