The lovely photos in this blog were all taken by Katie Donnelly Photography. Katie and her team were voted best portrait photographers in Paris. They love photographing families and travelers. If you live in or are traveling to Paris, schedule a photo session with Katie and her team. Photos are a tidy souvenir, and a way to capture and preserve memories of your time in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

I’ll never forget the moment that I first saw the Eiffel Tower. After a whirlwind 24 hours in London, and a nearly 3 hour train ride to Paris, I opened the window of our Airbnb apartment and looked out over the skyline. The sun was shining and the February air was crisp. I spotted the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

I called to Emily, my mom, and our three girls to come and see the view. For months, we’d been planning our trip. We’d read about Paris in picture books. We’d watched the Fancy Nancy episodes where she finally gets to fulfill her lifelong dream of traveling to Paris. We’d packed our bags. We’d flown across the Atlantic ocean. The moment was finally here! It was our turn to see and experience the sights of Paris!

Paris with Kids

Our family recently wrapped up a four night, three day stay in Paris. The Eiffel Tower was just one of many sights that entranced us and our girls. During our time in Paris, we were completely captivated by the beauty and accessibility of the city. There is so much for families to see and do. Paris with kids is a beautiful experience. The city will always hold a special place in our hearts.

I’m sharing a few memories and thoughts from our time in Paris with kids. My reflections just might inspire you to plan a trip to Paris with kids too!

Food

Paris is full of bakeries and cafés. We enjoyed picking up pastries and coffee each morning and eating them at the café, in the park, or on the train as we navigated the city. In the evening we took the girls to different Parisian restaurants and invited them to try different French inspired dishes. On the way back to our apartment each night, we would window shop and choose patisserie, macarons, or ice cream to eat as we walked home. Each day felt like a wonderful Paris food tour, and the girls were delighted.

Language

Before leaving on our trip, Mabel and Matilda said they were most nervous about the language and not being able to understand what people were saying. They asked a lot of questions about WHY people speak different languages in different countries around the world. They were excited to try and learn a few new phrases.

While in Paris, many people messaged me on Instagram to express their hesitation with traveling to France because they don’t speak the language. We also do not speak much French, but we would start with saying Bonjour (hello). Many people then automatically switched to speaking English for us, or we could point to a map or ticket sign or food image etc to communicate. Our girls also frequently said Merci (thank you), and people seemed delighted that they were trying to communicate in French.

Museums

Paris is home to many world class museums. Most museums and historical sites in France are FREE for children up to age 18! During our time in the city we visited the Louvre and the Musee de Orsay. Both museums are expansive and you could easily spend a full day exploring. We chose to visit the two museums on separate days, and arrive at each when they first opened.

Before we arrived, I had researched the MUST SEE areas of both museums. When traveling with kids, we choose to move at a slower pace. Instead of rushing from exhibit hall to exhibit hall, the girls asked if they could just sit and sketch. In both the Louvre and the Musee de Orsay, the girls spent time sketching in their Travel Journals, and their drawings will likely prove to be their most special souvenirs from the trip.

Parks and Playgrounds

In the afternoons, we allocated a lot of time for play in parks and playgrounds. The girls rode carousels, rented toy boats, and even rode ponies through the Luxembourg Gardens. They climbed play sets with the Eiffel Tower in the background. While the girls played, Emily, my mom, and I would sit, rest our feet, and make dinner plans for later in the day. We also just enjoyed sitting back and taking in the sites surrounding the parks. After mornings filled with museums and historical sites, this daily play time became something that we all looked forward to enjoying.

Public Transportation

Walking is a wonderful way to see the city, but the public transportation options are excellent too! Google Maps navigation tools were very helpful when navigating the city. Each day we rode the Metro and also enjoyed taking the city buses. We found the Metro stations to be clean and incredibly user friendly. Paris will play host to the 2024 summer Olympics and it’s clear that preparations for all of the visitors are already underway.

We did learn the hard way when traveling to the Palace of Versailles that it’s important to ALWAYS hang on to your Metro, bus, or train ticket after entering the station, because you WILL NEED that ticket to leave. After boarding the train to Versailles and eating our breakfast, my ticket was accidentally thrown out with the trash. I noticed that my ticket was missing when I attempted to exit the station. The rest of the family exited first, but then I couldn’t get through the exit station.

I explained the situation to the attendant and she told me that I’d have to find the ticket or pay a fine in order to leave. After failing to locate the ticket in the trash bins, I paid a reduced fine of 35 euros (fines can range up to 100 euros) and was able to exit.

Lesson learned. Keep your tickets until you exit!

Family Connection

Each day in Paris was an opportunity to make core memories as a family. I loved experiencing Paris alongside our girls, and hearing their insights, feelings, and reflections at the end of the day. They loved riding carousels and playing in the park. I also enjoyed savoring those small, seemingly ordinary moments, surrounded by the beauty of one of the greatest cities in the world. I’m so glad we were able to have this time together, and that my mom was able to experience this trip with us.

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