Paris is rightly celebrated as a magical destination for families. Children delight in carousels, iconic sights and a steady diet of croissants, crêpes and croques-monsieur. For adults who first visited Paris as kids, that early love of the city often endures; parents who return with their children experience the City of Light with fresh wonder.
An hour-long cruise along the Seine is a classic introduction to Paris and especially welcome after a long flight. Bateaux Parisiens board at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and offer children’s lunch menus and multilingual audio guides. The boats pass 14 monuments — including Paris’s own Statue of Liberty facing New York — and glide under 25 bridges. Notable spans include the ornate Pont Alexandre III, the historic Pont Neuf linking to the Île de la Cité, and the pedestrian Pont des Arts, where families picnic and lovers once attached padlocks.
From the river you’ll see the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) stretch beneath the Eiffel Tower, with the gleaming dome of Les Invalides marking Napoleon’s tomb. Children often prefer to run and play around the cannons outside this former military hospital.
Musée d’Orsay displays Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works in a former rail terminal. © Jan Kranendonk | Dreamstime.com
The dramatic atrium of the Musée d’Orsay, housed in a former Beaux-Arts rail terminal, contains the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings by Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Gauguin and Van Gogh. Buying a museum pass can eliminate lines and often includes options for guided visits, late Thursdays, and special access that families find convenient.
Across the river on the Right Bank (Rive Droite), barges float past the Petit Palais, the Place de la Concorde with its Egyptian obelisk, and the long façades of the Louvre Museum. Once a 12th-century fortress and later a royal palace, the Louvre now houses priceless art and includes I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid entrance, which offers a striking contrast to the historic setting. For quieter views of the pyramid, try Café Marly when the museum is closed on Tuesdays.
The tree-lined avenue of the Champs-Élysées leads from the Arc de Triomphe to the Jardin des Tuileries, which sits between two intimate museums: Jeu de Paume, presenting contemporary photography and media in former palace courts, and the Musée de l’Orangerie, home to Monet’s monumental Les Nymphéas. Nearby galleries display works by Renoir, including Two Young Girls at the Piano, and other cheerful paintings that appeal to younger visitors.
The Tuileries, once royal gardens, are perfect for family activities: children sail toy boats in the basin (rentals on weekends), bounce on trampolines, and in summer ride La Grande Roue Ferris wheel. From the gardens you can walk directly to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Barges also cruise past the Gothic grandeur of Cathédrale Notre-Dame on the Île de la Cité, with its soaring towers and flying buttresses. In summer, the riverbanks host Paris-Plages, sandy pop-up beaches where families relax by the water.
A gargoyle atop Notre-Dame guards the city. © Ezhonok | Dreamstime.com
BatoBus Paris operates an on/off hop-on hop-off service that stops at eight docks close to many major sights; one stop is within easy walking distance of the Jardin des Plantes, where the historic Ménagerie, the Museum of Natural History and a playground with a dinosaur attract children.
Museum and science attractions engage curious minds: the Palais de la Découverte, the interactive Galerie des Enfants at the Centre Pompidou, and the Centre’s rooftop views of Notre-Dame and Sacré-Coeur. The Pompidou’s exterior escalators give memorable panoramas of the surrounding Marais neighborhood, while street performers and whimsical fountains entertain outside.
Parisian parks are more than playgrounds; they are cultural spaces filled with statues, fountains and everyday French life. In parks you’ll see men playing boules, puppet shows, children sailing toy boats, pony rides and classic carousels. Jardin du Luxembourg, surrounding Marie de Medici’s 17th-century palace (now home to the French Senate), offers model sailboat rentals at the Grand Basin, age-appropriate play areas and an 1879 Garnier-designed carousel. Jardin d’Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne spans roughly 50 acres and provides rides, farm-animal encounters and workshops in art, baking and gardening.
For teens and adventurous kids there are high viewpoints like Tour Montparnasse and the Eiffel Tower, eerie thrills such as the Catacombs and Les Égouts (the city’s historic sewers), plus climbing the Arc de Triomphe’s spiral steps or taking the funicular up to Sacré-Coeur atop Montmartre. Paris also offers an aquarium, a wax museum and many themed tours tailored to families.
Organized English-speaking walking, bus and bike tours make sightseeing simple for families. You will notice Vélib’ bike stations across the city; cycling can be a fun way to get around, though parents should consider local traffic and safety before setting out.
Food is a major highlight for young and aspiring gourmets. Street stalls, markets and pâtisseries make tasting easy and affordable: visit outdoor markets such as Rue de Mouffetard, sample cheeses at specialty shops, or enjoy Belgian waffles, gelato and ice cream from vendors. Outdoor cafés are ideal for casual meals—omelettes, quiches and baguette sandwiches are kid-friendly options—while historic tea salons like Angelina serve luxurious pastries and thick chocolat chaud with whipped cream. For gourmet picnic supplies, shops like Hediard, Fauchon and La Grande Épicerie inside Bon Marché offer high-quality take-away options.
Being in the city is an excellent way for children to learn language, history, architecture and culture first-hand. Whether your family is seasoned in travel or discovering Paris for the first time, the city offers countless opportunities for exploration and discovery—an ideal setting for a memorable family trip.
Paris Info to Go
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) lies about 14 miles northeast of the city. The RER B train from terminals 2 and 3 serves central Paris. Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is smaller and closer, with shuttle and Orlyval connections to the rail network. Les Cars Air France buses link the airports to specific Paris locations, and private shuttle services and taxis are also available; many hotels provide pickup options.
Where to Stay in Paris
Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris — An elegant hotel with a Versailles-inspired spa, Le Cinq restaurant and child-friendly amenities, including a long-standing youth program. 31 Ave. George V
Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière — An Art Deco boutique hotel on the Champs-Élysées offering family programs, swim lessons and on-site activities for children. 46 Ave. George V
Mandarin Oriental, Paris — Known for its sculptural courtyard and family-oriented Parisian tours that highlight parks and local life. 251 Rue Saint-Honoré
Restaurants in Paris
Le Jules Verne — A fine-dining restaurant located in the Eiffel Tower offering a prix-fixe menu and child-friendly options, plus signature chocolates for dessert. Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars
Michel Rostang Restaurant — A family-owned Relais & Châteaux establishment featuring classic French cuisine and an intimate dining atmosphere. 20 Rue Rennequin
Spring — A small, kid-friendly restaurant near the Louvre where the chef creates fixed-price menus from market-fresh ingredients. 6 Rue Bailleul
Read more about Paris travel preparations.