Why should you visit Paris as a Family?
Paris is often painted as a fast-paced, romantic city best saved for adults, but with the right rhythm, it becomes an incredibly rewarding destination for families. The key? Slow mornings, walkable neighborhoods, and choosing experiences that let kids absorb the magic without overstimulation.
Here’s how I’d recommend spending 48 hours in Paris with kids, broken into an easy arrival day, Day One, and Day Two.
Arrival Day: Ease Into the City of Light
After a long travel day, resist the urge to over-schedule. Paris rewards those who take their time.
Seine River Cruise at Sunset
One of the best ways to orient yourself (and your kids) is with a Seine River cruise. We opted for a cruise without a meal. I’d read mixed reviews about the food, and instead focused on the experience itself.
Most cruises depart from the base of the Eiffel Tower, which makes it feel iconic from the very start. We timed ours just before sunset, allowing us to see the Eiffel Tower glow at dusk and then sparkle as we returned to port.
Along the way, you’ll pass many of Paris’s most recognizable landmarks to name a few:
- Eiffel Tower – Paris’s most iconic landmark and the starting point for many cruises, offering a striking view from the water, especially at sunset and after dark.
- Louvre Museum – The world’s largest art museum and former royal palace, home to thousands of works including the Mona Lisa, with a grand façade that stretches along the Seine.
- Musée d’Orsay – A former Beaux-Arts railway station turned museum, best known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces by artists like Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh.
- Pont Alexandre III – One of Paris’s most ornate bridges, adorned with gilded statues and Art Nouveau lamps, connecting the Champs-Élysées area to Les Invalides.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral – A masterpiece of French Gothic architecture located on Île de la Cité, known for its dramatic flying buttresses and centuries-old history.
Most cruises offer a free audio guide you can access from your phone, which is helpful for adults and easy to tune in and out of if kids lose interest.
Evening Around the Eiffel Tower
After the cruise, we simply wandered the area around the Eiffel Tower and grabbed dinner nearby. This low-pressure evening was the perfect way to stretch our legs, let our child wind down, and soak in the feeling of actually being in Paris. No rushing required.
Day One: Gardens, Art, and Paris at Kid Pace
Morning at the Tuileries Garden
Start your morning at Jardin des Tuileries, a classic Parisian garden located between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. Kids love the open space, and the historic carousel here is a must if you’re traveling with younger children. It’s an ideal place to let kids move their bodies before heading into a museum.
The Louvre (With Kids in Mind)
A visit to the Louvre Museum is absolutely doable with kids, if you approach it intentionally as there are >35,000 pieces of art that spans 9,000 years of art history.
A few tips:
- Book timed-entry tickets online in advance
- Choose 2–3 themes or sections (Greece, Egypt, Rome work well)
- Plan for 2–3 hours max, or until your kids are done
- Save the Mona Lisa for last
We chose an 11:00 a.m. entry, which worked well after a relaxed morning. The Louvre is massive, so keep your map handy.
If you’re visiting the Louvre, here are some standout masterpieces you won’t want to miss:
- Mona Lisa (c. 1503–1506) – Leonardo da Vinci – Enigmatic smile
Perhaps the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa captivates visitors with her subtle expression and masterful use of sfumato. - Liberty Leading the People (1830) – Eugène Delacroix – Revolutionary energy
This Romantic-era painting depicts the July Revolution of 1830, with Liberty leading a diverse group of citizens over the fallen king’s barricades. - Venus de Milo / Aphrodite of Melos (2nd century BC) – Alexandros of Antioch – Timeless beauty
This ancient Greek marble sculpture embodies classical grace and idealized form, celebrated for its serene poise and missing arms. - Winged Victory of Samothrace (c. 190 BC) – Unknown – Dynamic triumph
A Hellenistic masterpiece, this dramatic sculpture captures the goddess Nike descending onto the prow of a ship, full of motion and power. - The Wedding at Cana (1563) – Paolo Veronese – Biblical celebration
This grand painting portrays the biblical story where Jesus turns water into wine, filled with vibrant colors, rich detail, and over 130 figures. - The Raft of the Medusa (1818–1819) – Théodore Géricault – Dramatic tragedy
An emotionally charged Romantic painting, it depicts the aftermath of a shipwreck, capturing desperation, heroism, and the struggle for survival.
Stroller notes:
- Strollers are allowed and helpful for toddlers
- Baby-wearing is ideal for infants
- Elevators are available in each section, but you’ll want to locate them on the map to avoid unnecessary stairs
If you’re looking to refuel after the museum, Café Kitsuné in the Galerie d’Orléans is a great stop for a quick coffee or matcha break, while Immersion Café, which a local described to us as “one of the best brunch spots in Paris,” is perfect if you’re ready for a sit-down meal (just note they close at 4:00 p.m.).
Evening at Luxembourg Palace
After naps and food, head to Luxembourg Palace and Gardens to let kids fully burn off energy. The park is a family favorite thanks to the vintage Carousel du Luxembourg, remote-controlled sailboats kids can rent and steer across the central pond, pony rides, a puppet theater (Théâtre du Luxembourg), and wide paths with plenty of room to run. It’s an easy, low-stress way to end the day and a win for kids and parents alike. Closing times vary by season, with the gardens closing as early as 4:30 p.m. in winter and as late as 9:30 p.m. in summer, making it an easy and flexible way to end the day.
Day Two: Montmartre & a Magical Evening View
Morning in Montmartre
Montmartre, located in Paris’s 18th arrondissement, was hands-down my favorite part of the city. Known for its artistic, bohemian spirit, this neighborhood once attracted creatives like Picasso, Van Gogh, Renoir, Manet, and Miro, and it still feels deeply soulful today. Arrive early to beat the crowds, as this remains one of Paris’s most visited neighborhoods.
Noteworthy Stops in Montmartre:
- Le Consulat – An iconic French restaurant once frequented by Van Gogh and Picasso
- La Maison Rose – A pastel-pink café founded by Germaine Gargallo, later featured in Emily in Paris
- Place du Tertre – The historic artists’ square where you can purchase portraits or paintings for a meaningful souvenir
- Basilique du Sacré-Cœur – A stunning basilica with sweeping views over Paris
- Carrousel de Saint-Pierre, one of the oldest carousels in Paris at the base of Sacré-Cœur (after what seems like 1,000 stairs)
Important stroller note:
Montmartre is very steep, with cobblestone streets and endless stairs. We used the tram/funicular to reach the Carrousek de Saint-Pierre to save our legs and brought our Inglesina Quid 2 stroller (only 13 lbs) so we could carry it when needed. Heavier strollers would be challenging here.
More Montmartre Highlights:
- The “I Love You” Wall – 612 lava tiles displaying “I love you” in 311 languages
- Musée de Montmartre – A small museum celebrating the area’s artistic past
- Free entry for children under 10
- Adult tickets around $18
- Renoir lived here (1875–1877) and painted works like The Swing in the surrounding gardens
- Le Moulin de la Galette– one of Montmartre’s last standing windmills, was used for grinding flour and pressing grapes, and famously defended by miller Debray during the 1814 siege of Paris.
Bakeries & Cafés Worth Stopping For:
- Hardware Société Café – Melbourne-born brunch spot famous for its brioche
- La Mère de Famille – Paris’s oldest chocolaterie (est. 1761)
- Au Levain d’Antan– boulangerie that won best baguette in Paris in 2011
- Les Petits Mitrons – A patisserie that truly melts in your mouth
Paris offers a unique mix of history, culture, and family-friendly experiences. From iconic landmarks to parks and museums, there’s plenty to explore with kids at a pace that works for your family. Visiting Paris is as much about discovering the city as it is about enjoying it together.
Evening: Eiffel Tower from Trocadéro
To end your 48 hours, see the Eiffel Tower from a new perspective at Trocadéro. This viewpoint is especially magical after dark.
The Eiffel Tower sparkles every night at the top of each hour for five minutes, from dusk until 11:00 p.m. (or midnight in summer).
Just a short walk away from the Trocadéro is Carette, famous for what many call the silkiest hot chocolate in Paris. They also offer excellent soups and sandwiches, which is a perfect way to end your evening.
If You Have More Time…
Paris always leaves you wanting more. If your trip allows, consider adding:
- Galeries Lafayette – An upscale department store (that looks like a palace) with a free rooftop view of the Eiffel Tower
- Petit Palais – A FREE art museum with a charming café
- Arc de Triomphe – A monumental symbol of French history commissioned by Napoleon in 1806
- Musée d’Orsay – A former train station turned museum
- Free admission on the first Sunday of the month (reservation required)
Paris with kids isn’t about seeing everything. It’s about choosing moments that let your family experience the city’s beauty, history, and rhythm together. And even then, this itinerary only scratches the surface.