3 Days in Paris With Kids: The Perfect Family Itinerary

If you’ve been following our family’s travels for a while, you probably know that Paris holds a special place in our lives. We’re lucky enough to have a second home here, and over the years, we’ve spent so much time exploring the city with our three kids. Paris has become such a big part of our lives, and I love that our kids have had the opportunity to experience it as they’ve grown up.

I’m often asked for recommendations on what to do in Paris with kids, especially by families visiting for the first time. And I completely understand why! There’s so much to see and do that it can be hard to know where to start, let alone figure out how to fit everything into just a few days.

Even after all the time we’ve spent in Paris, there are still places on my list that we haven’t gotten to yet! But I’ve also learned which experiences are worth prioritizing, which attractions our kids have enjoyed most, and how to plan our days so we’re not constantly rushing from one place to the next.

So I’ve put together the 3-day Paris itinerary I would recommend to friends visiting with their kids. It includes the iconic sights you’ll want to see on your first trip, some of our family’s favorite places, and helpful tips we’ve picked up along the way. Hopefully, it will make planning your own family trip to Paris a little easier!

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3 Days in Paris With Kids: Itinerary at a Glance

Here’s a quick overview of how I recommend spending three days in Paris with kids.

Day 1: Eiffel Tower, Trocadéro & Seine River

Breakfast at Carette
Trocadéro and Eiffel Tower views
Visit the Eiffel Tower
Picnic and Champ de Mars playground
Seine River sightseeing cruise
Arc de Triomphe and Metro Line 6 experience

Day 2: Louvre, Tuileries Garden & Central Paris

Louvre Museum
Tuileries Garden and playground
Palais Royal and Galerie Vivienne
Galeries Lafayette and Jellycat store

Day 3: Notre-Dame, Le Marais & Luxembourg Gardens

Notre-Dame Cathedral
Explore Le Marais and Place des Vosges
Lunch at Chez Janou
Luxembourg Gardens and playground
La Grande Épicerie

I’ve organized each day around attractions that are relatively close to one another, so you can spend more time exploring and less time traveling back and forth across Paris.

Don’t worry if you can’t fit everything in! I’ve included optional activities so you can adjust each day depending on your children’s ages, interests, and energy levels.

Day 1: Eiffel Tower, Trocadéro & Seine River Cruise

There’s no better way to kick off your first family trip to Paris than with a visit to the Eiffel Tower!

The 7th arrondissement is one of the most iconic areas of the city. There is so much to do in this neighborhood alone you will have no problem filing your day without running all over the city.

Start Your Morning at Carette

One of our favorite places to enjoy hot chocolate in Paris is Carette, located right at Trocadéro.

This popular Paris café is famous for its rich, creamy hot chocolate, served with a generous amount of whipped cream. The pastries are delicious too, and the hot chocolate is easily big enough for kids to share.

It’s a perfect way to start your morning before heading out to explore Paris. This is a popular spot and it can get very busy during peak travel seasons and on weekends, so try to go early to avoid standing in line for an hour. And sit outside if the weather is nice!

Enjoy the Eiffel Tower Views From Trocadéro

After breakfast, walk across the plaza to Trocadéro for one of the most famous views of the Eiffel Tower.

This is one of the best places in Paris to take family photos with the Eiffel Tower in the background. It can get very busy here as the day goes on so always watch your bags and personal belongings.

Visit the Eiffel Tower

There are mixed reviews about going up the Eiffel Tower with kids or skipping it. My personal opinion is if it’s your first visit to Paris and you are traveling with kids, go up the Eiffel Tower. You’ll regret it if you skip it.

We’ve taken our kids up the Eiffel Tower several times when friends and family visit and they absolutely love it. The second floor offers incredible views across Paris, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for kids to see some of the landmarks they’ll be exploring during their trip.

If you do plan on visiting the Eiffel Tower you’ll want to book tickets in advance.

Check availability here.

Allow at least 1.5–2 hours for a visit to the second floor, including time for security and elevators, and longer if you’re visiting the summit. And be sure to purchase tickets with elevator access if you are traveling with young kids or strollers.

Have a Picnic and Visit the Champ de Mars Playground

There’s no need to eat at a fancy restaurant for lunch. Just stop by a local “boulangerie” or bakery, and pick up some baguettes and croissants and have a picnic at Champ de Mars with a view of the Eiffel Tower. The kids will love it! It’s one of our absolute favorite things to do every time we visit.

Paris has some of the best playgrounds that kids of all ages will enjoy. I always recommend working playground stops into an itinerary, especially after spending the morning sightseeing.

The Champ de Mars playground is just a few minutes’ walk through the park, with plenty of benches and shade nearby. It’s a great place to take a break while the kids run around and play.

If you’re spending more time in the area, check out my guides to the Champ de Mars playground and things to do near the Eiffel Tower with kids for more family-friendly recommendations.

Take a Seine River Sightseeing Cruise

One experience I highly recommend when visiting Paris with kids is a sightseeing cruise along the Seine. There’s no need for a fancy dinner cruise with kids. The simple one hour sightseeing cruise is something fun for the whole family. Kids will see famous landmarks such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Bateaux Parisiens offers sightseeing cruises departing right down the steps from the Eiffel Tower, making it a convenient activity to include in your itinerary.

It’s especially nice with younger kids because you can see so much of Paris without more walking.

Book your tickets in advance HERE.

Optional: Arc de Triomphe & Eiffel Tower View From Metro Line 6

If your family still has energy after the river cruise, consider making one more stop at the Arc de Triomphe.

You don’t have to purchase tickets or climb to the top to enjoy this famous landmark. Just seeing it from the surrounding area and taking a few photos is worth the stop.

And getting there is all part of the fun!

Take Metro Line 6 from Bir-Hakeim toward Charles de Gaulle–Étoile. As the train crosses the Seine on the elevated tracks, you’ll get an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower from the windows.

For the best view on this particular journey, look toward the right side of the train as you cross the river.

It’s one of my favorite Metro views in Paris and a fun experience to add to your day.

Stay on the train until Charles de Gaulle–Étoile to visit the Arc de Triomphe.

If you want to read more about taking the Paris metro with kids, read my full post here: Paris Metro With Kids: Everything Parents Need to Know.

Watch the Eiffel Tower Sparkle

If your kids can stay up a little later, watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night is one of the most magical experiences in Paris the whole family will enjoy.

After nightfall, the Eiffel Tower will sparkle for 5 minutes at the top of every hour through midnight. In summer you can catch the last sparkle at 1am. Our favorite spot to watch the sparkle is from the Bir-Hakeim Bridge.

Day 2: The Louvre, Tuileries Garden & Central Paris

Central Paris is home to some of the most famous landmarks in the city and one of our favorite playgrounds! There is so much to do as a family in this part of Paris and everything is very walkable.

This is a great neighborhood to stay in Paris too with lots of shopping, restaurants and a big metro stop nearby.

Visit the Louvre Museum

Start your morning at the Louvre. If your family enjoys museums, I recommend a visit inside. There is so much to see, and even a short visit can be a memorable experience for kids, especially if they are a little older. We have not been inside with our kids yet since they are still little, but we visit when they are a little older.

The Louvre is huge! And it can be very overwhelming honestly. If you do want to go in with kids, I would choose a few exhibits your family would enjoy and set a time limit so you aren’t spending an entire day inside. I would allow 2-3 hours.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays and you will need to book tickets in advance.

Get your Louvre tickets HERE.

If you don’t want to go inside, you can still enjoy the beautiful courtyard and glass pyramid and get some really nice family pics!

Explore Tuileries Garden

The Tuileries Garden is just a short walk from the Louvre and a great place for the kids to run around and play. The trees are beautiful here, especially in the fall!

The playground is small but it is free and my kids love climbing on the play structure. There is an old carousel kids can ride for a small fee and plenty of vendors selling crepes and sandwiches if you need a snack break.

Enjoy Lunch at Daroco

For lunch, I recommend Daroco as we have eaten here several times. It’s a beautiful Italian restaurant in a great location near Palais Royal and Galerie Vivienne. There are so many great restaurants nearby though so don’t worry if you can’t get a table here.

This area of Paris can get quite busy at lunchtime so I do suggest making a reservation in advance. I always recommend that families visiting Paris make lunch their big meal of the day and eat dinner close to where you are staying. Many Paris restaurants don’t begin dinner service until 7 or 8 PM, which can be difficult with younger kids after a long day of sightseeing.

For more of our favorite restaurants, read my 10 Best Restaurants in Paris With Kids guide.

Take pictures at Palais Royal

This is one of the best free things to do with kids! These black and white columns are iconic and my kids love running around and playing here. We had family pictures done in this location a few years ago and they are some of my favorites!

If you have time and aren’t quite done with this area, make a stop at Galerie Vivienne, one of Paris’s beautiful historic covered shopping passages. Here you’ll find all sorts of little shops and boutiques to wander through.

Visit Galeries Lafayette & Free Panoramic Views

Finish the day at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, one of Paris’s most famous department stores.

You won’t want to miss the beautiful stained glass dome. It’s especially magical during the holidays. And if your kids love Jellycats as much as mine, make sure to stop at the Jellycat Pâtisserie on the fifth floor. It’s a fun experience where the plush toys are displayed like French pastries.

But my favorite part about Galeries Lafayette is the free rooftop terrace, where you can enjoy panoramic views of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the rooftops of the city. It’s one of the best free views in Paris and a great way to end a full day of sightseeing.

Day 3: Notre-Dame, Le Marais & Luxembourg Gardens

For your third day in Paris, you’ll explore some of the city’s most beautiful historic neighborhoods, enjoy lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, and spend the afternoon in one of Paris’s best parks for families.

Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral

Start your morning at Notre-Dame Cathedral. Located on Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame is known for its impressive Gothic architecture and beautiful setting along the Seine River. The cathedral reopened to visitors in December 2024 after extensive restoration following the 2019 fire.

You can enjoy the exterior only, or if you choose to go inside, you’ll want to reserve a free timed ticket in advance.

Family Travel Tip: Check the official Notre-Dame website for visiting information and the option to reserve a free entry time. You should never need to pay a third-party website for general cathedral admission.

Explore Le Marais

After Notre-Dame, make your way into Le Marais. This is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris. It’s full of charming streets, beautiful architecture, cafés, boutiques, and restaurants. I like exploring Le Marais earlier in the day with kids as it can get very crowded later in the afternoon and evening.

While you’re in the area, stop by Place des Vosges, one of Paris’s most beautiful squares, surrounded by historic buildings and covered walkways. Let the kids run around and play while you take in another beautiful little corner of Paris. This is a nice spot for a picnic lunch too if you prefer to stop by a local bakery and enjoy lunch outside.

Another stop worth mentioning is the concept store, Merci. The store is nearby and it has lots of fun souvenirs to bring home. I love the tote bags! If you want more information on this store check out my recent post: Merci Paris: Where to Find Unique Souvenirs in the Marais.

Lunch at Chez Janou

If you’re looking for a great family-friendly restaurant nearby for lunch check out Chez Janou. It’s one of our favorites!

Located just off Place des Vosges, this traditional French bistro is a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxed meal with kids. The restaurant has a charming atmosphere, huge portions, and classic French dishes. The weekday lunch specials are great too! And whatever you do, save room for dessert! Chez Janou is especially famous for its chocolate mousse, served from a large bowl right to your table. It’s such a fun experience to share with the kids.

I recommend making reservations in advance because the restaurant is extremely popular. You also must order a meal to be able to order the chocolate mousse.

I have a full post dedicated to this restaurant if you want more: Chez Janou Paris: What to Know Before You Go

Spend the Afternoon at Luxembourg Gardens

After lunch, head to Jardin du Luxembourg, one of my favorite parks in Paris for families. You will need to take a bus, Uber or the metro as it’s too far to go on foot. I recommend taking the bus so you don’t have to worry about switching lines on the metro or carseats if you are traveling with young kids.

Jardin du Luxembourg is located in the 6th arrondissement and it’s a great way to spend the afternoon. The park itself is beautiful to walk through and there are plenty of places to sit down and relax.

This is also home to my kids favorite playground in Paris, Ludo Jardin. This playground does have a small admission fee per person, so make sure you have some cash on hand. The playground has a huge area for the kids to slide, digging equipment and swings. For the older kids there’s a zip line that my girls love!

I recommend allowing at least an hour or two here, especially if your kids enjoy playgrounds. It’s really so much fun!

Visit La Grande Épicerie de Paris

By this point in the day everyone will be getting pretty tired, but there’s one more stop I want to mention since it’s close by.

La Grande Epicerie de Paris is about a 15-20 minute walk away. This is a fancy food hall owned by LVMH (Louie Vuitton Company). Located next to Le Bon Marché, this beautiful gourmet food store is one of my favorite places to shop for French treats and souvenirs. It’s massive so allow yourself some time to take it all in.

You’ll find everything from chocolates and cookies to pastries, specialty foods, and beautifully packaged products. It’s a fun place for the entire family to explore, and I love picking up French snacks and treats to bring home.

This is where you can pick up some French butter if you plan to bring some home. They will vacuum seal it for you too so it’s safe to bring back home to the US on the airplane. We do this every trip! They have an amazing wine selection too!

Want to Visit Disneyland Paris? Here’s How to Fit It Into Your Itinerary

If you’re visiting Paris with kids, you may also be considering a day at Disneyland Paris. We’ve taken our kids to Disneyland Paris many times and it’s always a fun day for the entire family.

If you only have three days in Paris, you need to decide whether Disneyland is a priority before planning your itinerary.

Disneyland Paris is located outside the city and requires most of the day, so you’ll need to either replace one of your sightseeing days or add an additional day to your trip if possible.

If your family really wants to visit Disneyland Paris, here’s how I would adjust your itinerary:

Day 1: Eiffel Tower, Trocadéro and Seine River cruise
Day 2: Disneyland Paris
Day 3: Choose between the Louvre and central Paris attractions or Notre-Dame, Le Marais and Luxembourg Gardens

How to Get to Disneyland Paris from Central Paris

The easiest and most affordable way to get to Disneyland Paris from central Paris is by taking the RER A train. It’s a direct ride from several stations in Paris, including Châtelet–Les Halles, Auber, and Nation.

Take the RER A toward Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy, which is the final stop on the line. The journey is about an hour from central Paris, and you’re right at the gates of Disneyland Paris! It’s so easy and my kids love riding the train.

Family Travel Tip: Thanks to the simplified Paris transportation fares, traveling to Disneyland Paris now costs the same as taking the Metro around the city! For 2026, a single Metro-Train-RER ticket costs just €2.55 for adults and €1.30 for children ages 4–9. Children under 4 travel free.

I recommend purchasing your Disneyland Paris tickets in advance, especially during school holidays and busy travel periods.

Book your Disneyland Paris tickets here.

Where to Stay in Paris With Kids

Choosing where to stay in Paris can make all the difference when traveling with kids.

I always recommend staying somewhere central and near a big metro stop. Paris is a very walkable city, but it’s also very spread out and impossible to get everywhere on foot.

Some neighborhoods worth considering include Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the 7th arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower, Le Marais, and central areas near the Louvre.

The best neighborhood depends on your budget, the ages of your children, and what you plan to do during your visit.

I’ve put together a separate guide with my recommendations for the best family hotels in Paris based off our own personal experience: Where to Stay in Paris with Kids: Best Affordable Family Hotels

Getting Around Paris With Kids

Paris is a very walkable city and you should plan on walking as much as you can during your stay. But don’t underestimate just how big this city is. One of the best ways to get around Paris with kids is by taking the Metro. We use it almost every day when we’re in Paris, and it’s by far one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get from one part of the city to another, especially as a family of five. Ubers get expensive fast and it’s impossible to carry carseats around.

If you’re visiting Paris for the first time, the Metro might seem a little confusing, but I promise once you’ve taken it a few times, you’ll get the hang of it!

Here are a few things I recommend knowing before your first ride:

Take advantage of reduced fares for kids. Children under 4 ride free, and kids ages 4–9 qualify for discounted tickets.
Have your tickets ready before approaching the gates. This makes getting through much easier, especially when you’re traveling with multiple kids.
Look for the wider stroller gates. Many stations have designated wider gates that make getting through with a stroller much easier.
Bring a lightweight travel stroller. Most metro stations do not have an elevator so you will be carrying your stroller up and down stairs.

For everything you need to know about tickets, fares, navigating the stations, and taking the Metro with a stroller, read my Paris Metro With Kids: Everything Parents Need to Know guide.

Is 3 Days Enough to Visit Paris With Kids?

No matter how long you have in Paris, it’s never enough. This is why Paris is our favorite city in the world.

Three days is enough time to experience many of Paris’s most famous attractions and get a good taste of the city. You can see the Eiffel Tower, explore beautiful neighborhoods, and enjoy amazing food.

If you have additional time, consider adding a visit to Disneyland Paris, Versailles, or one of the many other incredible destinations just outside the city.

Final Thoughts on Spending 3 Days in Paris With Kids

Paris is such a wonderful destination for families, and I hope this itinerary helps you feel more confident planning your trip!

From seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time and enjoying hot chocolate at Carette to exploring Le Marais and spending an afternoon at Luxembourg Gardens, there are so many memorable experiences to share with your kids.

My biggest piece of advice is to enjoy the experience rather than trying to check every attraction off your list.

Take your time, stop for pastries, explore the neighborhoods, and leave plenty of room for those unexpected moments that make family travel so special.

More Paris Travel Guides

Planning a family trip to Paris? Here are a few more of my guides to help you make the most of your visit!