Paris for family: A 5-day itinerary full of fun

Paris is an ideal city for a family vacation, with a wealth of green spaces with playgrounds and interactive museums to keep restless toddlers and teens entertained.

You can stay a month in Paris and still have plenty left to do—but for vacationing families, five days is a good start to cover the main highlights, like the Eiffel Tower and the Tuileries Garden. This 5-day family itinerary covers the city’s main districts and must-see attractions, with family-friendly activities for you to choose from, including a day trip to Disneyland Paris. 

You can start the trip during the weekend to mingle with local families, but note that many museums are closed on either Mondays or Tuesdays. If your schedule doesn’t allow for a 5-day family vacation, check out these 3-day or 4-day Paris itineraries for more trip ideas.

It’s easy to find family-friendly hotels in Paris but the question is: which districts are best for families? For your first visit to Paris, Le Marais makes an excellent base for its central location, expansive parks, and abundance of shops and eateries. Check out boutique hotels with family rooms such as Hôtel Jeanne d'Arc.

The Latin Quarter is another bustling district with value-for-money accommodations such as Hotel La Lanterne and Villa Pantheon. Alternatively, book a stay near the Eiffel Tower to get close-up views of this landmark. Citadines Tour Eiffel Paris is a family-friendly option that offers fully-equipped apartments.

Spend your first day in the center of Paris, home to cultural sites such as the Louvre Museum and the Notre Dame Cathedral. This pedestrian-friendly area encompasses the 1st to the 4th arrondissements on the right bank of the Seine. Visit the stunning Tuileries Garden, which will keep the kids busy for hours with its trampoline park, carousel, and Ferris wheel. Walk along the Seine and cross historic bridges such as Pont Neuf for splendid city views.

Travel tip: If you're worried that the little ones might get bored at the Louvre, inject a dose of fun to your museum visit with an interactive treasure hunt in the Louvre.

Wander into Le Marais, a trendy district with 17th-century mansions and architectural gems such as Hôtel de Ville. Grab some sandwiches from a bakery for a picnic lunch on the grassy lawns of Place des Vosges. Check out the exhibitions and workshops for kids at Centre Pompidou or explore Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest market in Paris. There are also plenty of kid-friendly museums in the vicinity.

Kid-friendly museums in the center of Paris:

The Eiffel Tower is a must-do on every traveler’s Paris itinerary, and with some planning, you can have a fun hour or two at this iconic landmark with your family. Book skip-the-line tickets or a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower to avoid wasting time standing in line. You have the option to climb the Eiffel Tower by stairs, which can be exciting for the energetic young ones. After marveling at the skyline from the observation decks, wind down at Parc du Champ de Mars or head off for museum-hopping at Musée d'Orsay and Musée Rodin.

Travel tip: Kids aged four and under can visit the Eiffel Tower for free, but you’ll need to obtain a free ticket for them first.

You can begin the second part of your day at Place de la Concorde, which marks one end of the city’s famous shopping street, Champs-Élysées. As you stroll along this grand avenue, you can drop by the Disney Store for cute souvenirs and the Paris Saint-Germain shop for soccer jerseys. Call it a night at the Arc de Triomphe, which greets you at the end of the street.

Travel tip: If your legs need a break, hop on a tuk-tuk tour of Paris with a private guide instead.

Delight your kids with a visit to the happiest place in France: Disneyland Paris. Located 20 miles east of Paris, Disneyland Paris can be easily reached with shuttle buses offered by Disneyland Paris Express. Give in to your inner child and embrace the world of fairytales where you can meet popular Disney characters like Mickey and Goofy. Stroll down Main Street and begin your quest for the best rides, shows, and parades in the land where dreams come true. Book your 1-day pass or multi-day tickets of Disneyland Paris before you go.

Travel tip: To make the best of your day trip, download the Disneyland Paris app to check the show schedules and waiting times for attractions, or read our Disneyland Paris guide for survival tips and tricks.

Leave the hustle and bustle of Paris and spend the day at Bois de Boulogne in the west of Paris. Popular with local families, this massive park features nature trails for walking and biking. Rent a boat to paddle across Lac Inférieur, admire flowers in bloom at Parc de Bagatelle, or see artworks at Fondation Louis Vuitton. Set aside time for Jardin d'Acclimatation, an amusement park with thrilling rides, from trains to roller coasters.

Before the sun goes down, head back to the city center for a river cruise. Bateaux Mouches is one of the companies offering Paris cruises that combine sightseeing with music and dinner. Watch the night lights twinkle as you pass by the city’s top attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Sit back and enjoy the food and views in the company of your family.

The Latin Quarter on the left bank of the Seine is a vibrant student hub as it houses many high schools and universities. Take your family into Parisian bookstores like Shakespeare and Company or the Abbey Bookshop to pick up your next read, or visit Jardin des Plantes, a botanical garden with a small, hidden zoo. Pop into the family-friendly museums in this youthful district or get lost in its nooks and crannies. Stop by Luxembourg Gardens to let the kids run free at the playground while you take a breather.

Travel tip: Up for a challenge? Team up with your family and solve puzzles to break out of an escape room in the Latin Quarter.

If you’re traveling with older kids or teens, take them to the Paris Catacombs. This labyrinth hidden 65 feet underground is the resting place of millions of Parisians. The bones and skulls in the limestone quarries add to the eerie atmosphere—but the attraction is more fascinating than it is scary, and it remains a firm favorite among children. Check out this skip-the-line tour of the Paris Catacombs which grants you special access to off-limits parts of the tomb.