5 days with kids
5 Days in Paris with Kids
A 5-day Paris plan anchored at Jardin du Luxembourg, built for an 8- and 12-year-old. It trades multi-hour museum lines for 90-minute targeted visits, groups stops by neighborhood to keep walking under 8,000 steps a day, and schedules downtime before dinner.
Who this is for
with kids
Where to stay
Near Luxembourg Gardens
Why this itinerary works
Kid-sized museum blocks, park afternoons, and crêpe breaks — anchored around the Jardin du Luxembourg for easy recovery.
This itinerary hits an optimal sweet spot for a family of four staying near Luxembourg Gardens: late starts, focused 90-minute cultural visits, built-in park time, and top-tier family dining without exceeding the $3,400 budget.
At a Glance
The shape of this trip, at a glance.
5
Balanced
$3,180
$636
13
5
Walk & transit
Interactive map
The itinerary
Day 1
LATIN QUARTER & SAINT-GERMAIN
Local Home Turf, Toy Boats & Prehistoric Giants
Grande Galerie de l'Évolution (Jardin des Plantes)
Latin Quarter, 36 Rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, 75005 Paris
Swaps dense painting galleries for a wide central hall filled with taxidermy caravans that keep an 8- and 12-year-old moving without sensory overload.
DirectionsLunch at Crêperie de Cluny
Latin Quarter, 20 Rue de la Harpe, 75005 Paris
Casual table turnover and simple buckwheat galettes near Saint-Michel give everyone quick calories after a flight without waiting on a multi-course service.
DirectionsVintage Toy Sailboats at Jardin du Luxembourg
Saint-Germain / Luxembourg, Jardin du Luxembourg, 75006 Paris
Renting wooden boats at the Grand Bassin lets kids reset outdoors while parents sit down on the terrace chairs near your rental.
DirectionsDinner at Bouillon Racine
Latin Quarter, 3 Rue Racine, 75006 Paris
This 1906 room is loud enough to absorb noisy children, and the kitchen serves simple roast chicken and steak frites before evening fatigue hits.
DirectionsDay 2
SEINE & EIFFEL TOWER
The Paris Postcard: River Cruising & Tower Views
Vedettes du Pont Neuf Seine Cruise
Île de la Cité, Square du Vert-Galant, 75001 Paris
Boarding at Square du Vert-Galant gets you onto the water in 10 minutes from Luxembourg, covering Notre-Dame and the Seine bridges while everyone sits.
DirectionsBistro Lunch at Café Constant
7th Arrondissement / Eiffel, 139 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris
Serves high-quality mashed potatoes and roast poultry in a tight bistro setting, feeding hungry kids near the tower without relying on tourist kiosks.
DirectionsEiffel Tower Ascent & Champ de Mars Carousel
7th Arrondissement, Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007 Paris
Pre-booked summit elevator tickets skip the 600-step climb, delivering broad city views in under two hours before energy drops.
DirectionsCasual Dinner at Le Petit Cler
7th Arrondissement / Rue Cler, 29 Rue Cler, 75007 Paris
Set on pedestrianized Rue Cler, allowing kids room to step outside the table safely while waiting for croque-monsieurs.
DirectionsDay 3
TUILERIES & CONCORDE
Impressionist Giants, Trampolines & Royal Gardens
Musée de l'Orangerie Water Lilies
Tuileries / 1st Arrondissement, Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris
Contains Monet's massive water lily murals across just two oval rooms, letting kids experience major art in 45 minutes without museum fatigue.
DirectionsLunch & Hot Chocolate at Angelina Paris
1st Arrondissement, 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
The dense, melted hot chocolate serves as a midday treat for the kids right as morning energy dips near Rivoli.
DirectionsTuileries Garden Trampoline Park & Playground
1st Arrondissement, Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris
Sunken trampolines under the trees give the 8- and 12-year-old physical release right after indoor museum behavior.
DirectionsDinner at Café de Flore (Early Evening Light Fare)
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 172 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
Arriving before 6:00 PM bypasses the sidewalk queue, offering basic omelettes and open-faced Poilâne toast back near your home turf.
DirectionsDay 4
LE MARAIS & 11TH
Digital Art Spectacle & Medieval Courtyards
Atelier des Lumières Immersive Exhibition
11th Arrondissement / Marais Border, 38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris
Floor-to-ceiling floor projections in a former foundry allow kids to walk, lie down, and move while looking at art instead of standing quietly.
DirectionsLunch at Breizh Café Le Marais
Le Marais, 109 Rue Vieille-du-Temple, 75003 Paris
Serves crisp buckwheat galettes using Bordier butter, giving adults exceptional food quality while keeping kids happy with melted cheese and ham.
DirectionsStroll & Lawn Rest at Place des Vosges
Le Marais, Place des Vosges, 75004 Paris
An enclosed grass square where kids can run inside the arcades while parents sit on the lawns seven minutes from lunch.
DirectionsDinner at Chez Janou
Le Marais, 2 Rue Roger Verlomme, 75003 Paris
The lively room handles family energy well, and the self-serve chocolate mousse bowl brings dessert drama to the table.
DirectionsDay 5
MONTMARTRE
Hilltop Village, Street Artists & Funicular Ride
Montmartre Funicular & Sacré-Cœur Dome Esplanade
Montmartre, Rue Foyatier, 75018 Paris
Taking the funicular up from Rue Foyatier saves little legs from climbing 222 steps up to the Sacré-Cœur esplanade.
DirectionsLunch at Le Relais Gascon
Montmartre, 6 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris
Giant fried-potato salads and large pasta portions offer big calories to recharge kids after walking up and down Montmartre's slopes.
DirectionsPlace du Tertre Portrait Artists & 'I Love You' Wall
Montmartre, Square Jehan Rictus, Place des Abbesses, 75018 Paris
Watching street caricaturists paint on the square gives an 8- and 12-year-old an interactive look at working artists without entering a gallery.
DirectionsFarewell Dinner at Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse
Montparnasse / Luxembourg Border, 59 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
Waiters scribble orders straight onto the paper tablecloths, keeping kids entertained while serving fast, low-cost French staples.
DirectionsBudget
UNDER BUDGETTarget
$3,400
Estimated
$3,180
Difference
$220
Trip Balance Score
How well this trip will actually work
Heavily weighted towards Pace and Logistics to accommodate a family with kids ages 8 and 12, avoiding museum fatigue and long transits.
What works well
- Strict geographic clustering around Latin Quarter, Seine/Eiffel, Tuileries, and Marais keeps walking under control.
- Pacing includes afternoon open play at Jardin du Luxembourg and interactive visuals rather than static tours.
- Food choices combine top-tier quality (Breizh Café, Bouillon Chartier) with welcoming family atmospheres.
What we would improve
- Securing Eiffel Tower summit elevator tickets requires planning 60 days ahead during peak season.
- Metro stairs require brief moderate walking stamina for the 8-year-old on Day 3 and Day 4.
Use this as your starting point
We already planned a great Paris trip. Copy it into your account, then make it yours — change your dates, group, budget, or pace and we'll reshape the days.
Opens in the planner with the full day-by-day plan, budget, and score already loaded — then you edit.
Get better at planning trips like this
Occasional notes on planning smarter — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Use this as your starting point
Copy the plan, then edit dates, group, budget & pace — free.