5-Day Family Itinerary in Paris with Children

Morning

Start on Île de la Cité with Notre-Dame de Paris, ideally arriving around 9:30–10:00. Entry to the cathedral is free, but timed reservations may be available through the official website and are worth checking; allow about 1½ hours, including security. The restored interior is especially impressive in the morning, and children usually enjoy spotting the sculpted details. From there, walk just a few minutes to Sainte-Chapelle. Reserve a timed ticket in advance—adult admission is roughly €13, with reduced or free entry for some children—and allow about an hour. The upper chapel’s stained glass is spectacular, though the narrow spiral staircase can be tiring for younger children.

Midday and Lunch

After Sainte-Chapelle, stroll along the Bouquinistes of the Seine, browsing the green riverside boxes between Île de la Cité and the Louvre. Allow around 45 minutes and keep children close to the river edge; this is a relaxed walk rather than a formal sightseeing stop. Continue toward Le Fumoir, beside the Louvre, for an early lunch around 12:30–1:00. Expect approximately €25–45 per person, with French brasserie dishes and a setting comfortable enough for families. Booking is sensible, particularly on a weekday with good weather, and lunch usually takes about 1¼ hours.

Afternoon and Evening

From Le Fumoir, take a taxi or use Metro Line 1 from Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre toward Saint-Paul, then walk into Le Marais; allow roughly 20–30 minutes. Spend the late afternoon at Place des Vosges, where children can run across the central garden while adults enjoy the arcades and elegant 17th-century façades. Finish with ice cream at Berthillon on Île Saint-Louis, reached on foot in about 15–20 minutes from the square or by a short taxi ride. A scoop generally costs around €4–6; go before early evening if possible, since popular flavors can sell out and opening days or hours may vary.

Morning

Leave your hotel 45–60 minutes before your timed entry and head to the Eiffel Tower by Metro or taxi. From central Paris, expect roughly 20–35 minutes by public transport; a taxi is often easier with young children, though traffic can be slow. Arrive at least 20–30 minutes before the slot for security—large luggage is not permitted, and the queues can be tiring. Allow about 2½ hours for the elevators and upper levels, with spectacular views but plenty of waiting, so bring water and a small snack. Afterward, stroll 10 minutes along Rue Cler, one of the pleasantest food streets in the 7th arrondissement. Pick up pastries, fruit, cheese, and something savoury from its specialist shops for a relaxed lunch; budget around €15–30 per person, and note that individual shops typically close for a short afternoon break.

Afternoon and Evening

Walk or take a short bus ride toward the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, where the garden path and atmospheric galleries make a good change of pace after the tower. Reserve an afternoon entry if possible and allow about two hours; check the museum’s official calendar because opening hours and temporary exhibitions vary, with Thursday generally offering later hours. From the museum, it is a pleasant 10-minute walk back to Champ de Mars. Settle on the lawn for a picnic with your Rue Cler purchases and unobstructed views of the tower—early evening is cooler and more comfortable for children, though lawns or picnic areas may occasionally be restricted. Finish at Port de la Bourdonnais with a one-hour Seine river cruise; check the operator’s departure schedule in advance, arrive 15–20 minutes early, and bring a light layer for the breeze. Expect roughly €15–25 per adult and reduced fares for children; after dark, the tower’s illumination and sparkling display are particularly memorable.

Morning

Leave your hotel in the 7th Arrondissement around 8:00–8:15 for the Louvre Museum. Metro Line 1 to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre takes about 20–30 minutes; with children, a G7 taxi is easier if you have a timed entry, usually 15–25 minutes depending on traffic. Book the museum for the earliest practical slot, arrive 20–30 minutes ahead for security, and allow roughly three hours. Keep the visit focused: head first to the Mona Lisa, then explore the Egyptian antiquities and a manageable selection of sculpture galleries rather than trying to cover the whole museum. Children do better with a simple “spot five things” game and a snack packed for the queue; check the Louvre’s official calendar, as opening hours and room access vary.

Lunch and Afternoon

Walk out toward Rue de Rivoli for Angelina Paris, where the famous chocolate chaud is a fun family treat alongside sandwiches, salads, or pastries. Expect about €15–30 per person, and go early for lunch if possible—queues can be long. Afterward, spend about 1½ hours in the Jardin des Tuileries, letting the children run between the playground area, ponds, and green metal chairs while adults enjoy the formal garden views. From the garden’s western end, it is a short walk to the Musée de l’Orangerie at Place de la Concorde. Allow about an hour for Monet’s Water Lilies; the oval rooms are calm and immersive, but young children may appreciate a brief visit rather than a slow, extended museum tour. Reserve timed tickets where available and check the museum’s closing day before setting out.

Late Afternoon

Finish at Place de la Concorde, just outside the Orangerie, for about 30 minutes around the obelisk and its broad views along the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe and east toward the Tuileries. Stay well back from the traffic and use the riverside or garden edges for a calmer walk. This is a good point to head back before dinner: Metro Line 1 from Concorde or Palais Royal is straightforward, while a taxi is worthwhile if everyone is tired.

Morning

From the 1st Arrondissement, take Metro Line 12 toward Abbesses—allow 30–40 minutes, including the walk—and aim to arrive around 9:00. With children, ride the Montmartre Funicular up rather than tackling the steep streets immediately; the short ride uses a standard Metro ticket and saves energy for the hilltop. Visit the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre soon after opening, generally from 6:30, with the dome opening later and requiring a separate ticket. Entry to the basilica is free; dress modestly and expect security. The interior takes about an hour, and the steps and terrace outside offer one of Paris’s best city panoramas.

Wander downhill through the cobbled lanes to Place du Tertre, arriving around 11:00 when the artists’ square is lively but not yet at its busiest. Give children time to watch portraits being sketched, but agree on prices before commissioning anything. For lunch, settle at Le Relais Gascon, where generous salads, crêpes, and regional-style dishes make sharing easy; budget roughly €15–30 per person and expect a relaxed hour. It is wise to check the day’s opening hours and reserve or arrive early, especially on a Saturday.

Afternoon and Late Afternoon

After lunch, walk about 10 minutes to the Musée de Montmartre, a calmer introduction to the neighborhood’s artistic past. Allow 1½ hours for the galleries and gardens, and check its current hours before setting out; admission is usually around €15 for adults, with reduced or free entry for some children. From there, take Metro Line 12 from Lamarck–Caulaincourt or Jules Joffrin, changing as needed toward Jaurès, then walk roughly 10 minutes to Parc des Buttes-Chaumont—allow 25–35 minutes overall. Finish among the lawns, bridges, and winding paths, letting the children run toward the lake and the hilltop Temple de la Sibylle viewpoint. The park is free and usually remains open into the evening; comfortable shoes matter, as its paths are surprisingly hilly.

Morning

Leave Montmartre around 8:00 for Jardin du Luxembourg. The simplest route with children is Metro Line 4 from Barbès–Rochechouart toward Châtelet, continuing south to Saint-Michel or Odéon; allow 30–40 minutes, or take a G7 taxi in roughly 25–40 minutes (€20–35, traffic permitting). Enter near Porte Saint-Michel and spend the morning around the palace gardens: children can use the playgrounds, watch the model boats on the basin, and enjoy pony rides when operating. The gardens generally open around 7:30–8:15 depending on the season and close at dusk; bring a little cash for activities and let everyone have unhurried time here.

Walk about 15 minutes north through the Latin Quarter to the Panthéon, arriving late morning. The monumental interior and crypt usually take around 1¼ hours; adult admission is generally about €13, with reduced or free entry for eligible visitors and children under 18 often free. Check the official schedule before leaving, since hours and access to the dome can vary. Afterward, follow Rue de l’Arbalète and Rue Mouffetard downhill for lunch on Rue Mouffetard. Browse the food shops and market stalls, then choose a casual crêperie, bakery, or small bistro—budget €15–30 per person. It is lively but narrow, so keep younger children close, especially around delivery traffic.

Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, walk roughly 15 minutes toward Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge, one of the best-sized museums in Paris for families: compact enough not to exhaust children, but full of intriguing objects, Roman baths, and the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. Allow about 1½ hours; standard admission is usually around €12, with free entry for under-18s, and the museum is generally open Tuesday–Sunday, roughly 9:30–18:15. Continue a few minutes to Shakespeare and Company beside the Seine, where you can browse the charming English-language shelves and let each child choose a book; expect about 45 minutes, though the shop can be crowded and bags may be checked. Finish with a 10-minute walk across to Place Dauphine on Île de la Cité. Its quiet triangular garden, shady benches, and occasional pétanque games make a lovely early-evening pause; pick up an ice cream or picnic supplies nearby and stay until the children are ready to head back.