A Week in Paris With Young Children: The Ultimate Itinerary

Embarking on a week-long journey through Paris, the City of Lights, promises to be an adventure your children (and you) will never forget. This seven-day itinerary combines culture, art, food, and just plain old vibes, ensuring a memorable experience that captures the essence of Paris. There is even a jaunt across (under?) the Channel to London for an ambitious but worthwhile day trip.

Below are a few general tips for families with children to help you thrive and make the most of your time in Paris:

• Keep the itinerary reasonable and don’t try to cram too much into one day. Kids (and adults) crash easily.  Cluster nearby sites into the same day whenever possible. 
• Where possible, get tickets ahead of time, especially for the Eiffel Tower and Louvre.  Nothing makes children (and parents) more frustrated than waiting in unnecessary lines
• Be strategic with where you stay to maximize the number of sites you can walk to.  You might consider selecting a hotel that offers breakfast - this will save time and energy each day.   The hotel dining room is also a great place to discuss the day’s itinerary with the kids before heading out.
• Uber works great in Paris.  Utilize it to get from Point A to Point B whenever walking becomes too much. If you have smaller children, these inflatable booster seats are easy to pack and work great.
• Find restaurants before your trip that are kid-friendly and make reservations when available.  See list of Paris Restaurants with kids menus
  
• Picnic lunches are a great way to save time and money, as well as enjoy the beauty of Paris’ many public spaces
• “Gamify” sites that may lose your child’s interest quickly.  I created museum scavenger hunts for Musee Orsay, Louvre, and Pompidou Museums and they worked great..  Create your own or download ours here
  

Day 1: Arrival in Paris and a Light Day to Shake Off Jet Lag

Morning: Land in Paris and take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft to your hotel.  Leave your luggage with the front desk and head out. Walk/Uber to the Champ de Mars for an “official” welcome to Paris with a first look at the iconic Eiffel Tower.  To let your kids stretch their legs after the long flight, there is a fun playground near the far end of the Champ de Mars.

Afternoon: Pick up some picnic supplies at a local supermarket (meat, cheese, yogurt, baguette, etc) and eat al fresco at the Champs de Mars or another park close to your hotel. 

Evening: Dine at a local brasserie near your hotel, where you can savor traditional French cuisine.  See some kid-friendly recommendations here <link>. Get a well deserved good night of sleep.

Day 2: Musee Orsay, Luxembourg Gardens, and Evening on the St. Martin Canal

Morning: Dedicate your morning to exploring Impressionist masterpieces in the beautiful Orsay Museum. Children will likely recognize some of the more famous paintings such as Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh.  Create a scavenger hunt to keep them engaged or download ours here.

Afternoon: After a leisurely lunch, visit the relaxing Luxembourg Gardens.  Rent a toy sailboat from the stand for ~10 euro which will entertain the children while the parents soak in the atmosphere.  After sailing and relaxing, walk down the hill to Notre Dame Cathedral.  It is under construction after the fire and is closed to visitors, but you can still snap some pictures outside.  Afterwards, take an Uber over the St. Martin Canal.

Evening: Conclude your day with a pre-dinner drink and a snack at a spot along the lively St. Martin canal.  The kids will enjoy watching the bikes, scooters, and people walk by. Have dinner at a kid-friendly restaurant, such as Ober Mamma.

Day 3: Paris St. Germain Stadium Tour and Eiffel Tower Climb

Morning: Uber over to Parc de Princes stadium, home of the Paris St. Germain soccer club.  Take a tour of the stadium and take advantage of the numerous photo opportunities, including on the pitch, in the locker room and at the press conference table.

Evening: Continue the good vibes by walking to a nearby kid-friendly restaurant.  Uber or walk home to the hotel.

Day 4: Day Trip to London

Morning: Uber to Gare du Nord train station for an early morning Eurostar train to London.  Be sure to leave time to go through customs.  Upon arriving in London, Uber from San Pancras train station to a location near Trafalgar Square.  Take the scenic walk to Buckingham Palace and catch the changing of the guard if you can.

Afternoon: Enjoy lunch at a kid-friendly pub near Buckingham Palace.  Walk to the Thames to catch views of Big Ben and Parliament.  Take a spin on the London Eye (with tickets purchased in advance).

Evening: Make your way back to San Pancras station for an evening train back to Paris.  Upon arrival in Paris, Uber back to the hotel.

Day 5: Modern Art at the Pompidou and an Evening on Champs Elysees

Morning: Take an Uber to the Pompidou Center, Paris’ modern art museum. The Pompidou is definitely the most kid-friendly out of Paris’ famous art museums.  There is a kid zone in the atrium, some of the art is interactive and almost all of it is funky.  Make a scavenger hunt ahead of time to keep the kids even more engaged (or purchase ours here).

Afternoon: Make the short walk to the Jewish Quarter for some falafel sandwiches.  If the kids aren’t down with falafel, pick up some banana and nutella crepes at a vendor and enjoy them outside.

Evening: Head to the Champs Elysees for dinner at a kid-friendly restaurant such as Miss Ko.  Afterwards, get some macarons and walk to the Arc de Triomphe.  If the kids can hang, take a nice (long-ish) stroll from Champs Elysees to the Eiffel Tower for the light show.  It happens late at night, but is definitely worth it and the scene is lively but safe.

Day 6: Cruising the Seine, Montmartre and the Louvre

Morning: Sleep in a little to recover from the Eiffel Tower light show the night before.  After breakfast, head to the Seine for a relaxing hour-long river cruise.  Your kids may not get a lot out of the information blasted over the boat’s loudspeaker, but the cruise itself is enjoyable and the views from the river of Notre Dame, Orsay, and Eiffel Tower are fantastic. After the cruise, take an Uber to Montmartre, Paris’ neighborhood on the hill.  Enjoy the street performers and have an artist make a painting or drawing of your children.  Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the steps outside Sacre Coeur church, with sweeping views of Paris.

Afternoon: Make a late afternoon reservation for the Louvre.  The museum is huge, so make sure you hit the big kahunas (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, etc). Create a scavenger hunt or download one here to keep the troops engaged

Evening: Enjoy your last dinner in Paris and reminisce about your amazing trip with your family

Day 7: Head Home

Morning: If possible, head to Champ de Mars for one last glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. Head to Charles de Gaulle airport for your flight home

Traveling to Paris with children can be daunting. This week-long itinerary offers a blend of Paris's must-see attractions with activities your children will actually enjoy and remember forever. Bon voyage!