Paris, France: 12 Beautiful Experiences with Your Family
Explore Paris, France for unforgettable family adventures. Immerse yourself in the history, art, attractions and amazing food. Don’t miss these top spots.
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Seine River Cruise
Get situated and experience Paris from the comfort of a river cruise. We chose an evening cruise with Bateaux Parisians near the base of the Eiffel Tower. Sit on the open top deck and wave at all the people on shore during your hour-long commentated cruise. You will get some great pictures with historic sights, including the Eiffel Tower, in the background. Online tickets will save you a couple of euros per person (€16 for adults and €7,50 for children 11 and under).
Eiffel Tower
You will want to see the Eiffel Tower at a few different times during your visit to Paris. Find a spot around the tower to capture some great photos as the sun sets and the tower lights up with its golden lighting. Ideally not in the middle of the street as the police frown on this. There are lots of food vendors nearby for dinner or take a picnic from a local boulangerie and eat while you wait. If you want to catch the tower sparkle, this happens for the first five minutes of every hour after nightfall with all the lights switched off at 11:45 pm.
You will likely also want to go up the Eiffel Tower. I recommend doing this at night to see the light up, sparkle and Paris skyline at night. Tickets can be purchased one month ahead online and sell out quickly. Make sure to decide ahead what option you want to buy so that you are ready to go when booking becomes available. If you miss this window, you can still visit the Tower but will need to do so as part of a tour, which is more expensive.
When deciding on your visit there are a number of options. First, you need to decide the highest level you want to visit. There are platforms on the first and second floors as well as at the top. Next, you need to decide how you want to get to the floors. You can walk or take the lift to the second floor, however, if you want to visit the top of the Tower you must take the lift. My suggestion is to go all the way to the top with the access lift, particularly if you are visiting with children. There will be enough other stairs on your visit to Paris, I promise. Full access lift tickets range from €29,40 to €7,40, with children under four free.
Montmartre & Sacre-Coeur
Montmartre is located in the 18th arrondissement on a large hill and is a beautiful spot to visit. Take the funicular or walk up the steps to the top of the hill where you will find the Basicalla Sacre-Coeur, which is free to enter. Make your way to the dome for some of the best views in Paris. Around Sacre-Coeur you will find a small village-like area with winding cobblestone streets, cafes and artists selling their offerings. As you make your way back down the hill be sure to check out the water fountains and double-decker carousel. Make sure to also check out the Wall of Love while you’re in the neighbourhood. This is a great spot to stop for a picture and enjoy the giant wall with the words I love you in 250 different languages.
Louvre
A trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Louvre. Book your tickets for opening at 9:00 am or go later in the evening; the museum is closed on Tuesdays. General admission is €22 with kids under 18 free (I know, when was the last time your teenagers were free?). You could easily spend the better part of the day here, it is that big, but plan on a half day as everyone will likely be tired of walking around by then. The museum is well-signed if you are trying to hit the most popular works of art like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace. Every time we stopped and asked for directions, we got the same advice -keep going straight.
The Tuileries Gardens
This is a great stop following a visit to the Louvre for a picnic on the grass or by the ponds. The gardens separate the Louvre from Place de la Concorde and host the Fête des Tuileries in the summer months, a fair for families.
Disneyland Paris
A great spot for all the Disney lovers in your family. Disneyland Paris hosts two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios, which are smaller in scale than their North American counterparts but just as magical. If you only have a day, I would suggest a two-park pass. Depending on the age of your children and your stamina it is possible to hit all the highlights in both parks on one long day. Make sure to plan a quiet morning the next day though. Ticket prices vary depending on the time of year but were around €100/adult 12 and up in August. Children aged 3-11 are a few euros less and children under 3 are free. You may also want to consider arranging transportation given Disneyland is about an hour from central Paris. For our complete guide to visiting Disneyland Paris, check out this post.
Catacombs
If you are interested in what’s below the streets of Paris, be sure to check out the Catacombs. I wouldn’t recommend this for young children, anyone afraid of small spaces or with mobility challenges. There is a long, windy staircase as part of the descent and the walk is about 1.5 km long. Plan for about a 90-minute visit and bring a sweater as the temperatures are cool. Same-day tickets weren’t available when we visited in the summer, so it is worth booking ahead if you want to visit. Tickets go on sale online one week in advance. The Catacombs are open Tuesday through Sunday and cost €29/adult €10/child 5-17 and are free for those 4 and under.
Luxembourg Gardens
Following your visit to the Catacombs you might be up for something a little lighter. The Luxembourg Gardens are a great place for the kids to run around, rent a boat to float in the pond and play on the playground. Don’t forget to take in the other Statue of Liberty while you are there. Just a couple of minutes outside the garden’s East gate you can visit Amorino for an amazing flower gelato.
Arch de Triomphe
Another great spot to take in the views of Paris is the Arch de Triomphe located at the top of the Champs-Élysées. Admission is €16/adult with children 18 years and under free. If you visit the Eiffel Tower at night, then plan to visit this site during the daytime. There is yet another windy staircase with over 280 stairs to access the terrace, however an elevator is available for those who need it. Plan for about an hour and a half at the site.
Saint-Chapelle
If you like stained glass this is the spot for you. With over 1100 stained glass windows this gothic-style royal chapel is worth a visit. Visit the lower chapel before making your way up the winding staircase to the upper chapel. Access is available for those who have mobility issues through the Palais de Justice. Admission is €13/adult with children 18 years and under free. Open 7 days a week with hours that vary depending on the time of year. Plan for about an hour and a half at the site and a visit to the nearby Notre-Damn Cathedral, also located on Île de la Cité.
Notre-Dame
Following the fire in 2019, the Cathedral is closed; however, there is still a lot to see on a walk around the site with artistic and spiritual presentations offered outside daily. If you have any Shakespeare lovers in your family, be sure to check out Shakespeare and Company a great bookstore and coffee shop a short 5-minute walk from Notre-Dame.
Picnic on the Seine
Enjoy an evening picnic on the Seine. Take in the historic buildings, wave at the people on the boats as they pass and enjoy a glass of wine and a baguette and cheese. The river banks come alive in the evenings with music and food and the odd person trying to sell you drinks in case you forgot to pack your own. After dinner make sure to check out the green book boxes that line the upper walls of the Seine, these bouquinistes sell second-hand and specialty books.
Pro tip: Pick your favourite spot in Paris and book a Flytographer photo shoot to capture the magic of your holiday. This will be the best souvenir of your entire trip and is a great way to make sure the whole family gets to be in your holiday photos. Plus, you get to meet an amazing local photographer who can share all their favourite spots in their city. Learn more about our first experience with Flytographer here.
Pro tip: If your kids are into art like ours are, be sure to watch for pixel art hidden throughout the city. You’ll find ceramic tile mosaics big and small all over. They are inspired by video games and thought to be created by an anonymous artist who goes by the name Invader. Check out this map of their locations and see how many you can find.
