NOE

Europe · France · Self-guided

Paris with kids,
the real way

How we actually do Paris with the girls — pick a home base near a park, keep the days flexible, and let the city come to you. Here’s the one-week plan, how to stretch it to two, and what it costs from Boston.

By The Fredette Family · Last updated June 2026 · 9-min read

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Paris with little kids is easier than it looks — if you stop trying to see all of it. The version we’d repeat: book an apartment near a garden, plan on about 4–5 days in the city itself, pick one thing a day, and leave the rest open. Here’s the whole approach — a flexible home-base plan, the day trips worth taking, and what it really costs flying from Boston.

Spring / FallBest time to go

2–10Good for ages

4–5 daysIdeal in the city

~$4.5–7kRough budget (family of 4)

One week in Paris

Pick a home base, then let the city come to you

With young kids we don’t do a packed day-by-day itinerary — it falls apart by lunch. Instead we book one apartment near a park and treat it as a jumping-off point. One outing in the morning, back to base for a nap or a run-around, maybe something small in the afternoon. The garden nearby is the secret weapon: antsy legs always have somewhere to run.

Where to base yourself

The 7th or the 1st — near a garden

We stayed near the Louvre, on a train line — close enough to walk to some things, easy to hop the Métro or RER to the rest. Our advice: pick anywhere near a garden so the kids have room to run. The 7th (near the Champ de Mars and Rue Cler) is the easiest, most stroller-friendly first-timer base. The 1st (by the Tuileries, near a train line) is central and walkable. Filter for a kitchen, a washer, and an elevator — then pick the quiet street.

Book a family apartment on Booking.com, or a full flat with a kitchen on Airbnb.

From that base, in easy reach

Eiffel Tower & Champ de Mars — go see it (a must), picnic on the lawn, ride the carousel. Just don’t climb it with little ones (more below).
Luxembourg or Tuileries gardens — sailboat pond, playgrounds, carousels. Easily a whole happy morning.
A Seine boat cruise — everyone sits, the city slides by, and tired legs get a break.
Croissants, repeat — the girls’ favorite Paris ritual. Let a bakery be the morning’s plan.
The Louvre — walkable from a central base, but honestly a lot for young kids (see what we’d skip).
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur — the funicular up is a hit; the views are free.

A note on the Métro & strollers

The Métro is fast and cheap, but be honest with yourself: many stations have stairs and no elevator, so you will carry the stroller at some point. Bring a lightweight umbrella stroller, not the big rig. Buses are easier (and you see the city), and for a longer stay a Navigo pass pays off. Strolling between close-together stops often beats going underground at all.

Two weeks in Paris

Same base, bigger radius

If you’ve got two weeks, don’t cram in twice as much city — keep the same calm home base and add day trips. Paris sits on a hub of fast trains and the RER, so the big-ticket family days are an easy ride away and you’re home for bedtime. These three are the ones worth the trip with kids.

~40 min on the RER A

Disneyland Paris

The girls’ favorite day, full stop. Direct on the RER A from central Paris. Pre-book tickets and go early. Easily a long, big day — plan for nothing else.

~45 min by train

Versailles

The gardens are the win with kids — endless room to run, the fountains, a little train, rowboats on the canal. The palace interior is optional with young ones.

~45 min by train

Giverny (optional)

Monet’s gardens and lily pond — a gentle, pretty half-day in spring/summer. Lower energy than the other two; nice for a calmer day.

Pre-book Disney tickets and any guided days through GetYourGuide. With kids, walking straight in beats a queue every time.

Honest notes

What landed — and what we’d skip

What the girls actually loved

Disneyland, hands down. The Eiffel Tower lit up at night. The carousels — there’s one near half the major sights and it’s an instant morale boost. The gardens, for running. And, every single morning, a warm croissant. The things they remember aren’t the monuments — they’re the small, repeatable joys.

What we’d skip or watch out for

The Louvre with young kids — it’s long, crowded, and mostly lost on them. Long sit-down restaurant meals — bakeries, markets, and picnics keep everyone happier. And over-packing the schedule, which is the fastest way to a meltdown.

One real one: the Eiffel Tower is a must with kids — but don’t climb it. See it, picnic under it, ride the carousel. On our visit our daughter got her hand caught in the elevator door at the very top; everyone was fine, but it was a scary moment and a good reminder to keep little hands close up there. The tower from below, sparkling at night, is the magic part anyway.

Book it yourself

Everything we used for Paris

Flights from Boston

Boston (BOS) to Paris (CDG)

We search and book on Skyscanner. From Logan it’s a ~7-hour overnight — we take the evening flight that lands mid-morning so the girls sleep most of the way.

Skyscanner

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Where to stay

Family apartments with a kitchen

Filter for a family room, a washer, and an elevator — then pick a quiet street near a garden in the 7th or 1st.

Booking.comAirbnb

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Tickets & day trips

Disney, Versailles & cruises

Pre-book the two or three big experiences so you walk straight in.

GetYourGuide

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Staying connected

An eSIM before you land

Airalo for data the second we step off the plane — maps and translation with two kids in tow.

Airalo

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Travel insurance

We never fly without it

SafetyWing for longer trips — your home health plan usually won’t cover you abroad, and nothing covers a cancelled flight.

SafetyWing

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What it costs

Paris with kids, roughly — from Boston

Real ranges for a family of four (2 adults + 2 kids), flying from Logan and staying in an apartment with a kitchen. These are ballpark estimates to plan around, not quotes — season and how far ahead you book swing them hugely.

One week · family of 4

$4,500–$7,000

all-in, flights included

Flights (BOS–CDG, x4)$2,600–$3,600

Apartment (7 nights)$1,100–$2,100

Food (kitchen + eating out)$500–$900

Activities + transit$300–$600

Two weeks · family of 4

$6,500–$10,000

all-in, with day trips

Flights (BOS–CDG, x4)$2,600–$3,600

Apartment (14 nights)$2,200–$4,000

Food (2 weeks)$1,000–$1,700

Activities + day trips$600–$1,100

Adding more kids? It’s mostly about the beds.

Kids don’t add cost evenly — lodging is the real lever. Two adults + 1–2 kids fit a studio or one-bedroom. A third or fourth child usually bumps you to a two-bedroom apartment, which is the biggest single jump in the whole budget.

Flights: a child under 2 flies as a lap infant for very little; every child 2 and over is essentially another full seat (~$650–$900 round-trip from Boston). Food rises gently — little ones share plates, bigger kids eat a full meal. Most attractions are cheap or free for children (French national museums are free under 18).

Rule of thumb from Boston: +1 child ≈ one more flight seat + a step up in apartment size. That’s the bulk of it.

Flight figures reflect typical round-trip BOS–CDG economy fares (roughly $650–$900 per seat, less in fall, more in peak summer). Update the headline ranges with your own numbers once you’ve booked a trip — real receipts beat estimates every time.

Pack smart

The exact kit we pack for Paris

Lightweight stroller, the carry-on setup, and everything else that earns its space on a trip with two kids — in one tested list.

See the packing list →

From our trip

Paris, at three feet tall

Before you go

Read Rosie in Paris with them first

Kailah wrote and illustrated our Paris picture book, drawn from our family’s time in the city — a lovely way to get the girls excited about travel before wheels-up.

See the book →

Quick answers

Paris with kids: FAQ

How many days do you need in Paris with kids?

About 4–5 days in the city itself is our sweet spot — enough for the big sights at a kid’s pace without burning everyone out. With two weeks, keep the same base and add day trips rather than cramming in more city.

What’s the best area to stay in Paris with a family?

Anywhere near a garden. The 7th (near the Champ de Mars and Rue Cler) is the most stroller-friendly first-timer pick; the 1st (by the Tuileries) is central and walkable. Having green space to run off energy matters more than a famous address.

Is Paris good for toddlers?

Yes — gardens, carousels, boats, and bakeries are all toddler gold. Keep days short, base near a park, and skip the big museums for now.

Should we do Disneyland Paris with kids?

If your kids are into it, yes — it was our girls’ favorite day. It’s ~40 minutes on the RER A from central Paris. Make it its own full day and pre-book tickets.

Keep planning: Italy with kids · 30 days in Nerja, Spain · the gear we pack · how we book every trip · all destinations