Taking your family to Paris sounds like a scene from a picture-perfect travel brochure. The Eiffel Tower twinkling, croissants in hand, your children marveling at the Mona Lisa without asking to go back to the hotel for screen time. Lovely idea. But let’s be honest. Traveling to Paris with children is more like a stylish juggling act—with a side of baguette crumbs and public tantrums.
Still, it can be done. You just need a few clever strategies, a flexible itinerary, and maybe a large glass of wine at the end of each day. Here’s how to make your Paris family trip not only manageable but actually enjoyable. Yes, even with toddlers. Maybe even with teens.
Plan, but Not Like a Dictator
You don’t need a military-style spreadsheet outlining every bathroom break. But you do need a rough idea of what you’re doing each day. Try alternating between high-energy activities and low-effort downtime. Morning at a museum? Afternoon in a park. Long walk through Montmartre? Follow it with a snack and a sit.
The key is balance. If you overschedule, your kids will revolt. And if you under-plan, you’ll find yourself wandering aimlessly, arguing over where to eat while someone cries about sore feet.
Pick Accommodations with Space to Breathe
That romantic attic flat with Eiffel Tower views might work for a couple, but for a family of four with varying opinions on bedtime, it’s a fast track to chaos. Look for family-friendly hotels or apartments with multiple rooms. You’ll thank yourself after a day of walking when one kid wants to nap, another wants to play, and you just want to stare at the wall in silence.
Bonus points if you’re near a Metro station. Being able to collapse into public transport instead of hiking back to your lodging can make or break your mood.
Master the Art of the Snack
Paris is full of fancy restaurants, but your child is unlikely to appreciate foie gras or understand why fries are not a breakfast food. Always carry snacks. Fruit, crackers, emergency chocolate—whatever keeps everyone from mutiny.
You’ll also want to scope out bakeries near your lodging. You’ll be amazed how far a warm croissant and a polite “bonjour” can get you first thing in the morning.
Let Them Run Free (Strategically)
Parks are your best friend. After 40 minutes in a museum, your child will need to move. Paris does green spaces really well, and many have playgrounds, carousels, and enough space for you to sit and contemplate life while pretending not to be exhausted.
Top picks include Luxembourg Gardens (with its vintage sailboats), Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (oddly hilly, unexpectedly cool), and Parc de la Villette (modern, sprawling, and full of weird sculptures your kids can climb on).
Don’t Try to See Every Masterpiece in the Louvre
The Louvre is huge. Titanic huge. You can either see a curated handful of exhibits or you can let your children become feral in the gift shop while you try to locate a bathroom. Pro tip: download a kid-friendly tour map, or just pick one section and skip the pressure to “do it all.”
If your kids like stories and weird facts, try the Egyptian section. If they like ceilings more than art, steer them to the Galerie d’Apollon. And remember, no one’s childhood is ruined by not seeing every Renaissance painting.
Use Luggage Storage Wisely
Whether you arrive by train or are just passing through, hauling luggage around the city with kids in tow is not a good time. If you’re arriving or departing via Gare du Nord, do yourself a favor and use luggage storage at Gare du Nord. Drop your bags, explore hands-free, and save your energy for herding children, not wheeling suitcases up Parisian curbs.
It’s also ideal for when you’ve checked out of your hotel but still have hours to kill before your flight. Nothing says “goodbye Paris” like chasing your toddler through a café while clutching three rolling bags.
Say Yes to the Carousel (and Maybe Ice Cream)
You know those old-fashioned carousels scattered around Paris? Ride them. Even if your child insists on going twice. These moments cost a few euros and deliver maximum joy, which is excellent travel value by any standard.
And when it comes to sweets, France takes dessert seriously. Whether it’s a scoop of Berthillon ice cream on Île Saint-Louis or a technicolor macaron from a random patisserie, these treats double as motivation, reward, and distraction when needed.
Pick Museums That Don’t Feel Like Museums
The Cité des Sciences is full of hands-on exhibits and doesn’t require your child to whisper or walk in a straight line. The Natural History Museum has a room full of skeletons that is both slightly creepy and completely fascinating. And the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (Museum of Hunting and Nature) is weird enough to hold everyone’s attention.
When in doubt, go for museums with buttons to push, things to climb, or animals. If it feels like school, you’ve lost them.
Do a River Cruise Without the Guilt
Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s totally fine. A Seine river cruise is one of the few ways to rest your feet while still sightseeing. You’ll glide past major landmarks and can mentally tick them off your list while sipping something fizzy and pretending you’re not just grateful to be sitting down.
Look for the shorter one-hour versions, especially if your children have the attention span of a squirrel.
Embrace the Chaos and Take the Photos
Not every day will be smooth. Someone will cry. Someone will spill juice on something expensive. And someone will insist they’re not hungry until five minutes after you leave the restaurant.
But here’s the thing—these are the memories that stick. The slightly chaotic, slightly magical days where everyone laughed, argued, discovered, and stood in front of something old pretending to care.
Take the pictures. Buy the silly souvenir. Let someone order a hot chocolate for dinner. You can be structured again when you’re back home.
Paris is still Paris (even with kids)!