Planning a Paris Trip with Kids
Limit your itinerary to one major landmark per day and build in two hours of 'park time' every afternoon. Focus on areas like the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Marais to balance sightseeing with space for children to move.
- Pick a kid-friendly base. Stay in the 5th or 6th Arrondissement. These areas are walkable, close to the best parks (Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Plantes), and have plenty of casual creperies and boulangeries for quick meals.
- Book one 'timed' activity per day. Don't overbook. Book your ticket for the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre for a morning slot (9:30 AM). Once it's done, spend the rest of the day in a neighborhood park or a local playground.
- Use the RER and bus systems. Avoid the Metro lines with many stairs if you have a stroller. The RER trains are more spacious, and the city buses (like line 69 or 72) offer a cheap, sit-down tour of the city without the walking fatigue.
- Prioritize 'low-stress' food. Skip multi-course formal dinners. Look for 'traiteurs' (delis) where you can buy high-quality quiches and salads to eat at a park bench while the kids play.
- Is Paris stroller-friendly?
- Parts of it are, but many Metro stations have steep stairs and no elevators. Stick to buses or taxis if you have a heavy stroller.
- Are museums free for kids?
- Most national museums are free for children under 18, but you still need to book a 'free' ticket online to secure entry.