We have thought and imagined a tourist circuit for a weekend or over 2 days for parents and children from 7 to 12 years old. We sought to answer the question “how to visit Paris in 2 days with a child and allow the whole family to enjoy it”!
The objective is to see (and visit) places, monuments, museums, emblematic and unmissable sites in Paris that appeal to adults and also to the youngest.
For those who have already come and are looking for other ideas to enjoy Paris with your family, take a look at our section ” Paris with 7 / 12 year olds ” or pick other ideas on “The 3-day tour with 7/12 year olds ” or the “Tour for 5 days and more with 7/12 year olds ”
- The evening before : a cruise on the Seine or a Bus Tour
- Day 1 : Eiffel Tower, Aquarium, Champs-Elysées, Louvre, Montmartre
- Day 2 : Ile de la Cité, Centre Pompidou, Jardin des Plantes
- Practical information
THE EVENING BEFORE: cruise on the Seine or panoramic bus tour
The day before day 1 : Cruise on the Seine > or Panoramic Bus
Paris by night, from the Seine
- A cruise on the Seine with the Bateaux Mouches (departure from the Pont de l’Alma – Paris 8th – right bank) or with the Bateaux Parisiens (departure from the foot of the Eiffel Tower – Paris 7th – left bank)
- Reduced tickets for families with the Bateaux-Mouches company,
- All cruises are free for children under 4 years old
The day before day 1 : Cruise on the Seine > or Panoramic Bus
A tour of Paris by night bus:
- Discover, aboard a panoramic bus, Paris at night and its illuminations.
- Admire the magic of Paris at night : its illuminated monuments, illuminated bridges…
- The route : the Place de l’Opéra, the department stores, the Champs-Elysées, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saint-Germain-des-Prés…
- Duration of the tour : 1 hour 30 minutes
- At 6:15 p.m. or 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. depending on the season
- A very pleasant and relaxing way to discover Paris
DAY 1 : Eiffel Tower – Aquarium – Champs-Elysées – Louvre – Montmartre
Day 1 : Eiffel > Tower, Aquarium > , Champs-Elysées > , Louvre > , Montmartre
The Eiffel Tower: a must!
- Go up to the 2nd floor or the summit (accessible by lift): book as soon as possible
- Fun : in summer, a merry-go-round and small games are set up on the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower
- Free : for children under 4 years old
- Champ de Mars : Games, merry-go-round and snack break
- Trocadero : after visiting the Eiffel Tower, go for a walk on the Trocadero esplanade (the view of the Champs-de-Mars is splendid)
Day 1: Eiffel > Tower, Aquarium>, Champs-Elysées>, Louvre>, Montmartre
The Aquarium Ciné Aqua
- It is the most beautiful aquarium in Paris : 43 tanks, a giant aquarium full of sharks, a shark tunnel, 3 “nursery” aquariums, a medusarium (fascinating) and a tank to pet carp and goldfish
- Practical: located very close to the Trocadero (between the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Elysées)
- Tip : Discounted rates all year round
- Free : for children under 3 years old
- Good to know : there is a restaurant for those who want to take their lunch break there
Day 1: Eiffel > Tower, Aquarium>, Champs-Elysées>, Louvre>, Montmartre
Stroll along the Champs-Elysées
- Stroll: quietly walk down the Champs-Elysées from the Arc de Triomphe to the Concorde
- Shopping : luxury boutiques, major brands such as Zara, the buotic Disney Store, Abercrombie, Nike, Addidas… And for young and old football fans, the Official PSG Store !
- Exciting for children: the Palais de la Découverte, an extraordinary museum on science (please note that it is currently closed for renovations)
- Touristy and very nice : the view from the Arc de Triomphe (free for under 18s)
- Gourmandise : the Ladurée tea room, for lunch, snack or to buy a macaroon
- Lunch : buy a sandwich and have a picnic in the Tuileries Garden if the weather permits
- Take a 1h30 ride in a Tuk-tuk (departure from Place de la Concorde): the children (and you too!) will love it
Day 1: Eiffel > Tower, Aquarium>, Champs-Elysées>, Louvre>, Montmartre
The Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens
- 1h15 max visit to the Louvre (a bit short for adults but very sufficient for children)
- Then take a tour of the Jardin des Tuileries (funfair in summer) – merry-go-rounds, ponies, catering in the garden…
- Take the walk to the garden of the Palais Royal (and its Buren columns)
- Gourmet break : a hot chocolate at Angelina’s
- Ideal for discovering the Louvre-Tuileries district with 8-13 year olds : Milirue, the fun and intelligent exploration notebooks
4 cool ideas with the kids at the Louvre and in the neighborhood
1- GUIDED TOUR OF THE LOUVRE SPECIAL FOR CHILDREN (from 6 years old): group visits or private visits. Around the masterpieces of the Louvre, Greek antiquities or Egyptian antiquities. Duration 1h30
2- RIDDLE WALK AT THE LOUVRE (from 7-8 years old): the fun visit based on riddles, in complete autonomy (without a guide). Duration 1h30 to 2h
3-INVESTIGATION OR TREASURE HUNT VISIT AT THE TUILERIES (from 6 years old ): the investigation visit The Wonderful Legend of the Tuileries or the Mythology treasure hunt visit at the Tuileries. Duration 1h30
4- INVESTIGATION VISIT TO THE ROYAL PALACE (from 9 years old ): The investigation visit in the company of an actor. Duration 2 hours
If you are not tempted by the Louvre…
- The budding ♡ museum, the 1st museum dedicated to art for children (from 3 years old)
- The Musée de l’Orangerie (small museum – really ideal with children): a superb collection of Impressionists and also 2 rooms dedicated to Monet’s Water Lilies
- The Musée d’Orsay, our favorite museum in Paris (on the Right Bank)
Day 1 : Eiffel > Tower, Aquarium > , Champs-Elysées > , Louvre >, Montmartre
An evening in Montmartre
- It’s a very nice and lively neighborhood
- Tip: take the Montmartrobus or the funiculaire to go up to the Sacré-Coeur
- The view of Paris is to die for
- Nice: have your portrait sketched on the Place du Tertre
- There are a lot of small restaurants and terraces when the weather is nice
- Sweet break : we recommend ” Les petits mitrons ” for its sweet pies to die for and Scaramouche for its artisanal ice creams with original flavors
- Nice idea with toddlers: take a little ride with the Little Train of Montmartre
7 cool ideas with children in Montmartre
1- THE LITTLE TRAIN OF MONTMARTRE: the commented circuit of the district. Duration: 40 minutes
2- THE MONTMARTRE SHOW TOUR WITH ACTORS (from 6 years old ): The Eternal Spirit of Montmartre. Duration 1h30 – Free for children under 8 years old
3- A FAMILY ESCAPE GAME (from 6 years old ): the escape game for 6-9 year olds and the escape game for children from 10 years old . Duration 1h30
4- THE FUN VISIT OF MONTMARTRE (from 6 years old): Tell me about Montmartre. Duration 1h30
5- THE STREET ART TOUR OF MONTMARTRE (from 8 years old ): When Street Art tells the history of Montmartre . Duration 1h30
6- THE TREASURE HUNT IN MONTMARTRE (from 10 years old) : 2 hours to discover the secret of Montmartre. Duration 2 hours
7- RIDDLE WALK IN MONTMARTRE (from 5 years old): a riddle game in complete autonomy (without guide). The riddle walk for 5-9 year olds and the riddle walk for the older ones. Duration 1h30 to 2h.
DAY 2 : Ile de la Cité – Centre Pompidou – Jardin des Plantes
Day 2 : Ile de la Cité > Centre Pompidou > Jardin des Plantes
Sainte Chapelle and Ile-Saint-Louis
- Before the fire at Notre-Dame, we told you not to miss the visit of Notre-Dame…
- Before you can go back, we suggest you start the walk on the Ile Saint-Louis with a visit to the Sainte Chapelle. If you’re lucky enough to be there on a sunny day, it’s simply beautiful!
- Stroll along the banks of the Seine and get lost on the Île-de-la-Cité and the Île-Saint-Louis
- Indulgence: fall for an ice cream at Bertillon, a mythical address in Paris
- Ideal for discovering the Ile de la Cité with 8-13 year olds : Milirue, the fun and intelligent exploration notebooks
3 cool ideas with children on the Ile de la Cité and the Ile Saint-Louis
1- GUIDED TOUR OF MYSTERIOUS AND FANTASTIC PARIS (from 8 years old ): Paris in the time of the alchemists and the Knights Templar. Duration 1h30
2- GUIDED TOUR OF THE CENTER OF PARIS AROUND VIDEO GAMES (from 10 years old ): The guided tour of the Paris of video games . Duration 1h30
3- TREASURE HUNT ON THE ILE SAINT-LOUIS (from 10 years old): The last secret of Arsène Lupin. Duration 2 hours
Day 2 : Ile de la Cité > Centre Pompidou > Jardin des Plantes
The Pompidou Centre
- The Pompidou Centre opens at 11 am.
- There is a very fine collection of modern and contemporary art
- The bookstore for children is great
- There are stunning views of the rooftops of Paris from the 5th floor. Don’t miss it
Day 2 : Ile de la Cité > Centre Pompidou > Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes
- One can easily spend a whole afternoon at the Jardin des Plantes. It’s a very nice place with kids
- The Grande Galerie de l’Evolution, one of our favorite places, a magical place
- The menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes : a human-sized zoo that will delight the little ones
- The large Tropical Greenhouses (for parents)
- At tea time : a change of scenery guaranteed, right next to the Jardin des Plantes, at the café of the Grande Mosquée de Paris to drink mint tea and eat oriental pastries
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Tips and tricks before and during your stay in Paris…
- Find accommodation in the area of your choice
- Book your activities as early as possible
A photo shoot to immortalize your stay in Paris.
- A super nice idea for the family
- The private walking tour of Paris with a professional photographer
- A suggested itinerary: the Louvre, Palais Royal, Pont des Arts, the Tuileries Gardens… (all on foot)
- About 150 souvenir photos taken throughout the session (sent within 48 hours by Wetransfer)
Ideas for breakfast, dinner, snack, brunch…
- There is a restaurant at the Aquarium de Paris for those who want to take their lunch break there
- The restaurants of the world in the Carrousel du Louvre (on the mezzanine). are a practical solution for eating on the go. It’s affordable and there’s something for everyone
- For a snack, the luxurious Angélina tea room (under the arcades of the rue de Rivoli), a mythical address in Paris. Its hot chocolate is to die for and the setting is magnificent!
Visit Paris while resting, aboard a boat, a bus or a Tuktuk:
OUR IDEAS FOR FUN ACTIVITIES WITH 7-12 YEAR OLDS:
OUTDOOR IDEAS
- CRUISE ON THE SEINE FOR CHILDREN : The Miraculous Cruise (especially for 5 – 11 year olds) or The Family Cruise (ideal for 7 – 12 year olds)
- PANORAMIC TOUR OF PARIS FOR CHILDREN : The kids tour (for 5 – 11 year olds)
- ESCAPE GAME : An outdoor escape game to discover a district of Paris (from 6 years old)
- HOVERBOARD : The 1h30 hoverboard ride on the banks of the Seine (from 8 years old)
- TUK-TUK : The tour of Paris by Tuk-tuk, from 1h30 to 3h depending on the route (for all)
- BALLON DE PARIS : The spectacular view of Paris from a hot air balloon (for everyone)
- VISIT WITH ACTORS : visit show or investigation visit with one or more actors from a district of Paris (from 6 years old)
- STREET ART : visits to discover Street Art in Paris (from 8 years old)
- PARISIAN PARKS : fun and cultural visits to the garden of the Rodin Museum (from 6 years old), around Mythology in the Tuileries Garden (from 6 years old) or the Luxembourg Gardens (from 8 years old), and the investigation visit to the Tuileries Garden (from 6 years old)
- UNUSUAL VISITS : fun themed tours to discover different parts of Paris: Paris in cartoons (for 6-10 year olds), in the footsteps of Dilili (for 6-10 year olds), the Paris of the alchemists and the Templars (from 8 years old), the secrets of the Bastille (from 10 years old)
- THERIDDLE WALKS : riddles to download to walk at your own pace in Paris and discover one of its districts while having fun (from 5 years old)
- THE MILIRUE EXPLORATION NOTEBOOKS : 2 discovery trails to do on foot (for 8-13 year olds)
INDOOR IDEAS
- CULTURE : The family guided tour in a museum (from 6 years old)
- CULTURE : The family guided tour of the Palace of Versailles, the Basilica of Saint-Denis, the Pantheon (from 7 years old)
- FOR FOOTBALL FANS : the guided tour behind the scenes of the Stade de France or the visit to the Parc des Princes (for all fans)
- SPECTACULAR : Paris in virtual reality at FlyView (from 1.20 m!)
- ANIMALS : the Grande Galerie de l’Evolution, the Aquarium de Paris
OUR ITINERARIES FOR 2, 3 OR 5 DAYS IN PARIS
Some advice before coming to Paris with your family
5 days and more in Paris with teenagers
5 days to visit Paris with children
5 days in Paris with little ones
3 days to visit Paris with teenagers
3 days to visit Paris with children
3 days in Paris with little ones
2 days to visit Paris with teenagers
2 days to visit Paris with children under 6 years old
