10 Free Things to Do in Paris With Kids
Experience a budget friendly family trip with these ten free things to do in Paris with kids!
Planning a trip to Paris with kids doesn’t have to be expensive, despite the city’s lavish reputation.
The City of Light offers plenty of free, family-friendly activities that both children and adults will love. From exploring numerous enchanting gardens and iconic landmarks to discovering hidden gems, there are endless ways to experience the magic of Paris for free and with kids.
In this guide, dive into some of the best free things to do in Paris with kids, ensuring a fun and memorable adventure for the whole family!
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Quick List: Free Things to Do in Paris With Kids
- Take a Photo with the Eiffel Tower
- Wander Through Beautiful Parks and Gardens
- See the Louvre Pyramid
- Tour a Free a Museum
- Step Back in Time Through a Historic Passageway
- Walk Along the Seine
- Hike Up to Montmartre
- Enjoy the Street Art
- Join a Free Walking Tour
- Visit a Cute Toy Store
The Essentials for Visiting Paris With Kids
🚊 Get around using the Metro! Children under 4 years old travel for free, and kids under 10 receive a 50% discount.
🍽 Stick to dining at a café, bistrot, or brasserie when traveling with kids, as a restaurant in Paris may not be the most appropriate setting for young children.
🌹The numerous grand gardens, many of which have playgrounds, are one of the best features of Paris. To enjoy them fully, plan your visit for when it’s not too cold to be outside.
🎟 Many museums offer free admission for children under a certain age, so double-check the museum’s website to confirm the discounts you’re eligible for!
👀 Paris is a safe destination for families, but it is still prone to incidents like pickpocketing and tourist scams. It’s essential to remain vigilant while out and about.
10 Free Things to Do With Kids in Paris
1. Take a Photo with the Eiffel Tower
As cliché as it may seem, it’s true: you can’t go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Fortunately, not only is the Eiffel Tower one of the best free things to do with kids in Paris, but it’s also the easiest.
You can catch a glimpse of it from many different spots, so you don’t need to plan ahead to see it. However, the best viewpoint is widely considered to be from Place du Trocadéro. The Eiffel Tower is spectacularly lit after sunset, with a twinkling light show every hour.
You only need to pay a fee if you wish to go inside and up to the top.
2. Wander Through Beautiful Parks and Gardens
Compared to other major cities in Europe, Paris reigns supreme in one area – its gardens. Not only are they stunning, but most are completely free to enjoy! As tourists, we’re pretty lucky to have free access to some of the most iconic landmarks in Paris.
Many of Paris’ most famous gardens were originally created for French royalty and aristocracy. Today, they serve as peaceful retreats. In addition to being visually appealing, these gardens provide much-needed green spaces in a densely populated urban environment.
Not to mention, Paris knows what it’s doing when it comes to children’s playgrounds. There are many, and all of them often offer more than just a swing set and slide.
Some of the best famous and free gardens in Paris include:
- Tuileries Garden
- Jardin des Plantes
- Champ de Mars
- Jardin du Luxembourg
- Parc Monceau
3. See the Louvre Pyramid
Entry to the Louvre Museum is not free and can be challenging to secure due to high demand. Fortunately, the legendary Louvre Pyramid is located outdoors and is free to visit at any time.
Unlike the historical treasures inside the Louvre, the Pyramid is relatively young, having been constructed in the 1980s. Initially, its modern design faced significant backlash, but over time, it became an accepted and admired part of the Louvre’s identity.
The Pyramid is also situated in the middle of a vast courtyard, often home to rotating modern art exhibits. So even if you don’t go inside, you can still visit the Louvre and leave with an artistic impression!
As a bonus, the Louvre Pyramid is the best place in Paris to take some creative (and maybe cheesy) photos with the kids.
4. Tour a Free a Museum
While the Louvre isn’t free, there are several museums in Paris that are. For a prominent city known for its world-class art and history, you may be surprised by how many free museums are at your disposal.
It’s also helpful to note that many museums in Paris already offer free entry for children, typically under 18, although this varies by museum. Additionally, many museums (at their own discretion) offer free admission on certain days of the week or month to the public.
However, the museums listed below offer free admission year-round to everyone. The best free museums in Paris include:
- Musée national de la Légion d’honneur et des ordres de chevalerie
- Musée Carnavalet
- Bourdelle Museum
- Maison de Victor Hugo
- Musée du Parfum
- Museum of the Legion of Honor
- Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF)
5. Step Back in Time Through a Historic Passageway
Known as arcade passageways, or passages couverts, these charming, covered shopping galleries in Paris date back to the 19th century. These elegant passageways were among the world’s first indoor shopping centers!
They featured glass roofs, intricate ironwork, and elegant marble or mosaic floors, attracting wealthy Parisians who enjoyed their luxurious atmosphere. During the 19th century, these passageways housed high-end boutiques, cafés, bookstores, and entertainment venues.
Due to urban renovations, many of the arcades fell into disuse or were demolished. Fortunately, in recent decades, some have been restored and preserved.
Passage des Panoramas: The oldest arcade in Paris dating back to 1799, known for its antique shops and stamp collectors.
Galerie Vivienne: One of the most elegant and beautifully restored arcades, with luxury boutiques and art galleries.
Passage Jouffroy: Famous for its glass roof and home to the Musée Grévin (wax museum) and quaint toy shops.
6. Walk Along the Seine
The Seine’s banks in Paris, stretching from the Eiffel Tower to the Île Saint-Louis, were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. This recognition highlights the cultural and architectural significance of the landmarks along its course, making the Seine much more than just another river.
A lovely and scenic stroll along the Seine River is possible on both sides. Throughout its length in Paris, it is crossed by 37 bridges, including the famous Pont Neuf. Despite its name meaning “New Bridge,” it is actually the oldest standing bridge in the city, completed in 1607.
For the 2024 Olympic Games, the river was famously prepared to host swimmable conditions following a €1.4 billion cleanup project.
7. Hike Up to Montmartre
The hilltop neighborhood of Montmartre was once home to celebrated artists like Picasso and Dalí. Topped with the picturesque Sacré-Cœur basilica, it is also home to the iconic Moulin Rouge cabaret.
Quintessential Parisian streets filled with charming buildings and outdoor cafés wind through Montmartre, making it one of the dreamiest corners of the city. Needless to say, it’s a well admired destination for tourists that also happens to be free to admire.
Visitors who reach the peak of the neighborhood are rewarded with arguably the best overall view of Paris. It’s a perfect trek to do with kids, as there are many opportunities to stop for attractions and snacks along the way.
8. Enjoy the Street Art
The most affordable way to enjoy art in Paris is simply by walking around outdoors. The city is filled with impressive street art, much of which is concentrated in specific areas.
You’ll find no shortage of murals covering entire apartment complexes, illusion-style paintings, and expressions from activists.
Street art walking tours are often more budget-friendly than other guided tours. Outdoor tours also tend to be more relaxing for families with kids, free from the constraints of being inside a museum.
Unusual sculptures, such as Le Passe-Muraille, are also scattered throughout Paris, but you’ll need to set out to find them!
9. Join a Free Walking Tour
With its many nooks and districts, Paris varies from neighborhood to neighborhood, and there’s no better way to understand it all than with a guided tour. When choosing your tour, we highly recommend seeking one that’s actually led by a local—someone who knows their Paris and not just how to read a guide book.
Another great reason to consider free walking tours is that they tend to focus only on outdoor attractions, rather than stopping at sights that require an entrance fee.
While free walking tours are indeed free, they are tip-based. This means you’ll be asked for a tip at the end of your experience, but the good news is that you can contribute whatever amount you wish.
10. Visit a Cute Toy Store
It’s so easy to fall for the charm of anything aesthetically curated. Particularly if you’re a parent of a young child, it’s only natural to want to spoil them with the cutest of the cute, especially when it comes to toys!
In a land of handmade soaps, artisan perfumes, handcrafted leather bags, and more, Paris is the perfect place to buy high-quality items (if you know where to look). Toy stores are no exception, and there are some fantastic ones in Paris worth visiting!
Whether it’s a gift for your own child or a souvenir to bring back home, we recommend stopping at Pain d’Épices or Si Tu Veux. Both are adorable little shops that have everything for your little one’s imagination.
FAQs Visiting Paris With Kids
Is Paris Safe With Kids?
Paris is generally considered a safe city for tourists, but like any major tourist destination, it does experience some level of crime, particularly petty crimes targeting visitors. We’ve visited countless big cities in Europe and can confirm that pickpocketing is a scam present everywhere.
Unfortunately, people traveling with children tend to look like easier targets because they’re often carrying a lot of belongings, and parents may be distracted. It’s of utmost importance to remain vigilant, especially when traveling with kids and amidst chaotic situations.
This is also up to your own preference, but here are some common scams that we immediately turn away from when we see them starting:
- Friendship bracelet scams, where scammers approach visitors, tie bracelets on their wrists, and demand payment afterward.
- Fake petitions, often used as distractions for pickpocketing.
What is the Best Age to Bring a Child to Paris?
Take it from us, any age can be the perfect age to enjoy any destination—it all depends on your perspective and priorities. That being said, you can equally enjoy the sights of Paris with a newborn strapped to your chest as you could with a teenager.
Personally, we believe a family trip to Paris should be well balanced. Children between the ages of 7 and 12 are at an ideal stage: they still have plenty of energy for physical fun (playgrounds and lots of walking), and their eager curiosity makes them open to learning new things along the way.
Where to Eat in Paris With Kids?
Food establishments in Paris are, overall, very family-friendly. Notice we did not say ‘restaurants’ in Paris, because there’s a difference!
It’s important to know the various types of places to eat in Paris. Families with young children will likely want to stick to eating at a café, bistrot, or brasserie (listed in order from casual to more formal).
We don’t recommend dining at a restaurant with young kids, as restaurants in Paris are often world-renowned institutions—not the best places for little ones to make a mess, yell, or run amok.
Casual eateries may not always offer a kids’ menu (menu enfant), as it’s not very common among independent establishments in Paris. However, you can always ask for a smaller portion of a dish.
When is the Best Time to Travel With Kids to Paris?
Families who are primarily interested in enjoying the best free things to do in Paris should consider booking a trip for late spring (May) or early fall (September-October). These times offer a balance of manageable crowds and pleasant enough weather to enjoy the gardens and other outdoor activities.
If you’re seeking the most affordable time to visit Paris as a family, plan a trip between December and February. Assuming you don’t mind the cold, you’ll be rewarded with the lowest hotel prices and fewer tourists.
If you’re visiting in December, there’s the added bonus of holiday festivities—and who doesn’t love the idea of Christmas in Paris?
How Many Days in Paris Is Enough With Kids?
Give yourself enough time to cover a lot of ground while touring Paris. It’s not a particularly small city, and its landmarks and sites are spread across various districts. We know how tedious it can be to shuttle young children from one side of the city to the other on a tight schedule.
A Paris trip of four or five full days is long enough to take in all the major attractions while still allowing some time to relax.
To make the most of your trip, consider grouping activities by neighborhood to minimize travel time and maximize enjoyment for the whole family
How to Get Around Paris With Children
If you’re visiting Paris on a budget, we highly recommend utilizing the public transportation system or walking as much as possible. The Metro is Paris’s most convenient form of transportation, and it is just as easy for tourists to use as it is for locals.
While the Paris Metro doesn’t go directly to every single attraction, it does efficiently cover the vast majority of major sites. Paris has 16 Metro lines, each identified by a number and color. Always check a map or a navigation app for the best route and nearest station when planning your visit to a specific attraction.
Tickets for the Metro can most commonly be purchased from kiosks located at stations. We recommend the Navigo Easy card, which is a reusable pass that you can load with tickets.
Important to know: Families riding the Metro together should know that the Navigo Easy card cannot be used by several people simultaneously. Each family member needs their own card to be “tapped in” at the station.
Children under age 4 can travel for free throughout the Metro, railway, bus, and tramway networks, provided they do not occupy a seat. Children under 10 can travel with reduced fare tickets, typically a 50% discount.
Where to Stay in Paris for Families
There are two essential features to keep in mind when choosing where to stay with kids in Paris. First is accessibility to public transportation. If you’re sightseeing, you want to be able to quickly hop on the Metro and get started with your itinerary.
Secondly, consider the proximity to green spaces or, ideally, a playground. We know how much of a lifesaver it can be for parents of young children to have a park nearby when kids need to let out their energy.
Here are the best places to stay in Paris for families:
- Canal Saint-Martin
- Montparnasse
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Le Marais (Eastern Part)
Recommended Family Friendly Hotels in Paris
Au Coeur du Quartier St Germain – CHECK PRICES
Hotel Alhambra – CHECK PRICES
Waldorf Montparnasse – CHECK PRICES
Appartement Vertus – CHECK PRICES
