Paris with Kids: The Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary Your Family Will Never Forget

This post is all about traveling to Paris with Kids.

Paris with kids in the summertime, what’s not to love? Honestly, I was never someone counting down the days to see Paris. Going into our first visit, my expectations were pretty low. But maybe that’s the secret, because we ended up absolutely loving it! Paris has a vibe all its own. Give me a cozy café, a glass of wine, and a charcuterie board, and I’m one happy lady. I am already planning our return!

Paris with Kids Table of Contents:

Family-Friendly 7-Day Paris Itinerary

Our summer vacation began with 5 nights in London, followed by 3 nights at Disneyland Paris, and wrapped up with 6 dreamy nights in the heart of Paris. In this post, I’m sharing all about our time in the Paris city center. If looking for ideas on where to stay in Paris with kids, click here. And the London and Disneyland Paris posts are coming soon!

Day 1: Arrival

Travel day! Leaving Disneyland Paris was bittersweet, but it definitely helped knowing we still had a full week in Paris ahead of us. We started the morning by packing up and grabbing a quick breakfast at Market House Deli in Disneyland Park. Staying at the Disneyland Hotel made it easy to pop into the park one last time before heading out. Then we were off to the train station, a 5-minute walk from the hotel to the RER. About a 40-minute train ride later, we were navigating the Paris Metro and arriving at our Paris Airbnb.

With a couple of hours to spare before check-in, we went in search of our first French café moment. Stumbling upon Café Georgette, we instantly slipped into that laid-back Parisian vibe. After enjoying our charcuterie board (and the girls’ French fries), we went back to settle into our home away from home. Conveniently, we had a Monoprix grocery store right across the street from our Airbnb, making our kitchen stock up easy.

As the day faded away, we wandered toward the Seine. What we thought would be a quiet stroll turned into an unexpected celebration—music in the air, people gathered along the riverbanks, and a golden sunset painting the sky at 9:30 p.m. It felt like the city of Paris itself was welcoming us.

Day 2: Eiffel Tower

The big day had finally arrived—we were going up close and personal with the Eiffel Tower! My youngest had been talking about this moment nonstop, so I did my homework on how to snag tickets in advance. The most important tip: only buy from the official Eiffel Tower website.

The click-clackety ride up to the top took less than 90 seconds, and the views on the way and at the summit were really something special. I’m so glad we had the experience, but for me, it’s one of those “once is enough” kind of moments. The summer crowds were huge, which definitely made it feel a little more overwhelming—especially if you don’t love heights or tight spaces. Still, if you’re traveling in the off-season, I would highly recommend it! *And my youngest gave it 2 thumbs up!

Place de Trocadero & Arc de Triomphe

While the Eiffel Tower was our only ticketed event for the day, from there I had planned to slowly walk over to the Arc de Triomphe with a few stops along the way. I used Wanderlog to optimize my route, which brought us to Rue Buenos-Ayres (a great photo spot for the Eiffel Tower). Then, we walked over the Seine via the Pont d’lena bridge, which still had the Olympic rings set up for photo-ops. Lastly, the uphill climb to Place de Trocadero for even more Instagrammable views.

Pop Mart

By late afternoon, we were ready to lounge at our Airbnb. After some downtime, the hubby and I slipped out for a casual date. We had pizza and a beer at a little café nearby called Les Turbines—good food and an excellent spot for people watching. Later, we all went for an evening walk to catch the sunset, which was the perfect, relaxed ending to a busy day.

Day 3: The Louvre

Every trip needs at least one ‘Mom Day,’ and this was mine—museums and fancy restaurants! I’ll be honest, I always feel like I’m dragging the kids (and my husband) through a museum, and the Louvre is about as overwhelming as it gets. That’s why I booked a highlights tour instead of braving it on our own.

Café Lapérouse

When planning, I knew we’d be starving after the Louvre tour, so I made lunch reservations nearby at Café Lapérouse. I was a little worried it might feel too fancy for our crew, but the alfresco dining option was calling out to me. My plan was a lovely walk from the Louvre, through the Jardin des Tuileries, straight to lunch. To my surprise, an event was happening in the park—the Fête des Tuileries (Tuileries Fair). If you’re visiting between late June and August, it’s definitely worth checking out. Sadly, we had to bypass the fun this time to make our reservation.

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Lunch at Café Lapérouse ended up being my favorite meal in Paris. Tucked into a beautiful private courtyard, it felt elegant but still welcoming for our family. I ordered the Château filet with sauce au poivre and pommes allumettes—absolute perfection. We couldn’t resist the escargot either, and it was just as good. The kids stuck with classics: Le Croque-Monsieur Lapérouse for one, and (true to form) plain buttered noodles for my youngest. The only complaint came from my husband when the bill arrived, “Too pricey for lunch.” But honestly, it was worth it for me.

A Parisian Night In

Still, not every Parisian meal was extravagant and served in a private courtyard. We decided to spend the evening in and picked up some essentials (bread, meat, cheese, and wine) at the market. Of course, in true American fashion, we enjoyed it together… while glued to our phones and iPads. Maybe not the most idealistic Parisian scene, but it was real, it was us, and honestly? It was perfect.

Day 4: Food Tour

Café de Flore

The next morning, we let ourselves sleep in. Once we rolled out of bed, my hubby headed to the gym at our Airbnb, while the girls and I set off for breakfast. It was time to see Café de Flore in all its glory. Honestly, I expected a long wait for what would probably be an overrated café, but I was pleasantly surprised.

We walked right in and were seated at a cute covered table. I ordered a cappuccino while the girls went for hot chocolate with whipped cream. We had a croissant, pain au chocolat, and pancakes, and everything was delicious. Also, the service was friendlier and more attentive than I’d imagined, making it the perfect start to our day.

Montmartre Food Tour

The 18th arrondissement is home to expansive views from the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the excitement of Moulin Rouge, fascinating stories of the artists who once lived here, and yes, plenty of incredible food. One thing I learned from our Italy trip is that our family loves a food tour. So, I booked the Eating Paris: Montmartre Food & Wine Tour from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. I wasn’t sure how the kids would feel about a three-hour walking food tour, but it turned out to be a fun experience for all of us.

Word to the wise: This tour is best enjoyed if you’re comfortable with hills and walking, as Montmartre’s cobblestone streets and slopes are a part of the charm.

We made six delicious stops. First was a delicate cream puff (choux) that was pure perfection, followed by buttery croissants made entirely in-house—a process that takes three days! Then came the surprise of the tour: raw oysters! I usually steer clear, but these were so fresh and briny that I think I might actually be an oyster convert now.

Next up was a hearty sausage paired with aligot—cheesy mashed potatoes taken to an entirely new level. I didn’t realize I needed a cheese pull with my taters! My next trip to Paris will definitely include a stop for aligot. Another highlight was Alain Ducasse’s chocolate boutique—hands down the best chocolate I’ve ever tasted! To finish, we enjoyed a savory crêpe and, of course, a magical macaron to end on a sweet note.

Our guide, Betsy, an expat who’s lived in Paris for over a decade, made the experience even more memorable with her mix of history and storytelling. My favorite? The one about Picasso and the donkey—if you know, you know! The kids weren’t brave enough to try the oysters, but they loved the pastries, aligot, chocolates, and macarons. I highly recommend this tour for foodies and history lovers alike!

Day 5: Sightseeing & Dinner Cruise

Notre-Dame Cathedral

As our trip was nearing its end, I kept the itinerary light. We eased into the morning and strolled out the door around 9:30 a.m., which for us felt like a late start. The idea was simple: wander toward the Seine, take in Paris as it came, and eventually make our way to Notre-Dame.

I had tried (unsuccessfully) to reserve the free tickets online in advance, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. When we arrived, the cathedral was still surrounded by scaffolding and very much a construction site. There was also a long, winding queue—but to our surprise, it moved quickly. It felt less like waiting in line and more like being funneled straight through. Bottom line: no advance tickets necessary, even in peak summer.

Once inside, I was blown away by the sheer size of the interior. You can either jump right into a walk around or sit for a few minutes to simply take it all in. We did a little of both—sat for a bit before joining the flow of people down the left side, around the back, and up the right side toward the exit. The crowd moved steadily, and it didn’t feel overly packed until the very end near the makeshift gift shop and exit. Overall, visiting Notre-Dame is one of those boxes you just have to check. The best part? Since you don’t need to plan ahead or book tickets, you can easily stop in whenever you’re nearby.

Le Calife Dinner Cruise

Out of everything on our Paris itinerary, this was the event I had circled in my mind from the moment I booked it. Months later, I was still the most excited about our Seine dinner cruise—and it did not disappoint.

The vibe was definitely romantic, but not so stuffy that our kids felt out of place. On the night we went, the cost was €159 per adult and €45 per child (12 and under). Honestly, that’s a great value for the kids, even though the menu isn’t especially geared toward them. They were offered the same courses as we were, which they tried, but in true kid fashion, they filled up mostly on the bread and happily polished off dessert.

For us, though, the food was better than expected (the lamb was amazing, while the sea bass was just okay), the service attentive, and the atmosphere unforgettable. Cruising along the Seine at night while enjoying dinner with the family felt like one of those “pinch me” Paris moments I’ll always remember. And if you’re wondering whether you’ll catch the Eiffel Tower sparkle, the answer is yes—absolutely!

Day 6: Macaron Baking Class & Final Day

Cooking Class

Our last full day in Paris had finally come, and we still had so much to experience. However, the only thing officially on the books was a macaron baking class booked through Airbnb. So, we made our way back to the 6th arrondissement for another breakfast at Café de Flore, conveniently just around the corner from our class. Once we arrived at Maison Fleuret, we started with a quick introduction, then began prepping to make our macarons.

This was a very involved process that I do not think I could recreate at home. But, in class, they made it easy enough that even my husband was able to follow along and participate happily. The sweetest part? We left with four boxes of our own creations to snack on during our final hours in the city. Our macarons may not have been beautiful, but they were yummy! More importantly, the class gave us plenty of laughs and memories. I’d recommend this experience to anyone, especially families visiting Paris with kids.

Last Day of Roaming Around

After packing up our precious boxes of macarons, we headed back to our Airbnb for a quick break. We whipped up some sammies for the kids with the chocolate spread we bought on our food tour, then the hubby and I went out for one last Parisian lunch date. We went over to rue des Gravilliers, which had become our favorite street to walk along. If you are in the 3rd arrondissement, be sure to stop at the Boucherie des Gravilliers (butcher’s shop) and our hidden lunch spot, Restaurant Derrière.

With our summer vacation fully behind us, we sat and talked about our experiences over steak frites and green bean salad. We both felt that we only scratched the surface of what Paris had to offer, and knew that we would be back. Once our leisurely lunch wrapped up, we went back to finish our packing and prepare for our long journey home the following day.

Day 7: Departure

With a 9 a.m. flight, we aimed to arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport by 6 a.m.—and I’m so glad we did. If we’d cut it closer, the morning would have been super stressful. I booked an Uber the day prior for a 5:30 a.m. pickup. I chose Uber over G7 simply because it was cheaper, and I wasn’t concerned about traffic before 6 a.m.

Final Paris Thoughts:

Paris with kids was everything I hoped it would be and more. Beyond the museums, cafés, and landmarks, what mattered most was the chance to make lasting memories together as a family. Traveling allows us not only to see the world but also to teach our children how to approach it with respect, curiosity, and an open mind.

As we wandered through Paris, from baking macarons to strolling on the cobblestone streets of Montmartre, and sipping hot chocolate in Saint-Germain, I couldn’t help but dream about the future. I hope these adventures spark something in my kids, that they’ll carry this love of travel with them into adulthood and continue exploring the world long after our family trips are just fond memories. At the heart of it all, travel isn’t just about the places you see. It’s about the perspective you gain along the way.

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