Paris with kids in one day: 24-hour itinerary from a local

Explore My City with Guest Blogger Virginie from Travel with My Kids

Paris is my hometown, the place where I was born and raised, as my two oldest children were. If I had only 24 hours to spend in Paris with some friends and kids, Iโ€™d love to share with them a great stroll from the historic center of Paris through the Left Bank side, among some of our familyโ€™s favorite spots, gardens and museum.

Follow me, and letโ€™s go for our perfect Parisian day!

Explore My City Paris in 1 day

A morning among Gothic gems

Letโ€™s meet in front of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, on the ยซ Parvis ยป square. Will you find the bronze star set into the cobblestones, right in front of the Cathedralโ€™s main entrance? Bingo, youโ€™ve hit the ‘Point Zero’: the exact center of Paris and the location from which all roads of France are measured.

The kids may also recognize that the Cathedral is The Hunchback of Notre Dame Disneyโ€™s movieโ€™s set (and of course Victor Hugoโ€™s novel ยซ Notre-Dame de Paris ยป) and have a look to the famous gargoyles, Quasimodoโ€™s friends!

Notre Dame | Explore My City Paris | OurGlobetrotters.Net

From there, a 5-10 minutes walk will lead you to the Sainte Chapelle. The nicest way is to walk along the banks, where stands the ยซ Marchรฉ aux fleursยป (Flower market) every day and the Birdโ€™s market on Sundays.  (Place Louis Lรฉpine-Quai de Corse) Then weโ€™ll visit the Sainte Chapelle, a real gem!

This splendid Gothic Church masterpiece was the private chapel of king Saint-Louis. Go to the first floor to discover the wonderful stained-glass windows, retracing the most important episodes of the Bible. When the sunlight illuminates the colors, it is really magical: one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen!

Get the childrenโ€™s booklet guide (from 7 to 8-year-old) that indicates the most interesting parts and explains who the characters on the stained glass are. You can spend there about one hour to enjoy the visit. (4 Boulevard du Palais)

A typical Parisian lunch

Iโ€™ll suggest to have lunch in a simple and typical Parisian cafรฉ.  Ask for a baguette sandwichjambon-beurre” (ham and butter), or a ยซ croque-monsieur ยป with French fries. To do as French do, try some of our most popular drinks: โ€œGrenadineโ€ for the kids (syrup made from pomegranate seeds), and โ€œpanachรฉโ€ for the grown-ones, that is simply a combination of a light beer and a citrusy soda like Sprite.

If itโ€™s a sunny day, it could also be nice to have a picnic at Square du Vert Galant (at the end of the Ile de la Citรฉ). Any bakery can provide some nice sandwiches and beverage to take away.

Sightseeing with Seine river cruise

Because everybody needs to seat and relax sometimes, all the family will enjoy a ride on a Seine riverboat (that we call โ€œbateaux-mouchesโ€). Itโ€™s a great way for the kids to have a glimpse and admire some of the Parisโ€™ highlights, passing by the Palais de Justice, the Louvre, and of course the Eiffel Tower.

Donโ€™t forget to give the kids anything to take pictures and make their own photo story! Cruising lasts approximately one hour. Departure from Pont Neuf (Parisโ€™ oldest bridge), with the โ€œVedettes du Pont Neufโ€.

Look out for cruise specials such as this Christmas cruise for something truly unique!

An afternoon having fun in Luxembourg Gardens

Itโ€™s time to play! The Luxembourg Gardens is the largest park in Paris, in the heart of the Quartier Latin. Of course, you can simply stroll in the beautiful gardens โ€œร  la franรงaiseโ€, or lie down on the lawn, but there are also many fun things to do for children: eat a good waffle, go on a swing, crawl around the playground or ride a ponyโ€ฆ

Our very favorites: for the small ones, the puppet theatre, a real institution, for the oldest, miniature sailing ships (for rent) that you push with a stick and watch them gliding on the large central pondโ€ฆ all the charm of old amusements! (Free entrance, 2 rue Auguste Comte 75006 Paris)

Swing at Luxemburg Garden | Explore My City - Paris | OurGlobetrotters

If the weather is not great for outdoor activities, you can head to Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden), where there is a great Natural History Museum. Go straight to the โ€œGalerie de lโ€™รฉvolutionโ€, where stands a spectacular parade of stuffed animals: giraffes, elephants, hippopotamuses, tortoisesโ€ฆ a procession worthy of Ice Age! (Museum dโ€™Histoire Naturelle: 36, rue Geoffroy Saint Hilaire 75005 Paris – closed on Tuesdays).

Museum of natural history | Explore My City - Paris | OurGlobetrotters.Net

In the Botanical garden itself, there are plenty of things to do for young people: adventure playground, old and pretty merry-go-round, and a small zoo.

Yummy crepes for dinner

Although you may dream of a French cuisine gastronomic meal, I bet that the kids will love yummy crepes in a casual but cozy eatery. Itโ€™s more a Brittany than a Parisian speciality, but anyway youโ€™re sure to treat your kids! Try both savory (ยซ galettes ยป) and sweet crepes, with a cup of fresh apple cider for the parents. My favorites ยซ Crรชperie ยป in the Latin Quarter are: Crรชperie des Canettes, (10 rue des Canettes 75006 Paris) or Little Breizh, (11 rue Grรฉgoire de Tours 75006) (donโ€™t miss their salted caramel crepe, a real delight !).

Tips: This one-day itinerary can be done by foot and bus. It mixes fun and educational activities for kids and sightseeing of beautiful authentic and historic areas of the city. The more convenient would be to stay at an hotel or rental apartment on the Left Bank (Saint-Germain-des-prรฉs or Latin Quarter), not the cheapest area but surely one of the loveliestโ€ฆ worth it!

Read more of Virginie’s tips to prepare for Paris on Travel with my kids!


Resources for Visiting Paris

  • Travelling with Teens? ย We love this review from Phoebe at Lou Messugo on how to keep your older kids entertained

About the Blogger

Virginie is a French native, born in Paris and living in Rome. Mother of 3 and former French teacher, she combines her passion for writing, travelling and discovering the world with kids on her website. You can read her family travel reviews in English on http://travel-with-my-kids.com and French https://avec-mes-enfants.fr/

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Jardin de Luxemberg and Champs Elysee wth text Paris in One Day with Kids

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13 thoughts on “Paris with kids in one day: 24-hour itinerary from a local

  1. Pingback: Things to do in Versailles, France with Children - TRAVEL WITH MERAKI

  2. Diana says:

    We will be spending two weeks in Paris with our 5 year old, 2 year old and 11 month old. What do you think about bringing a double stroller and a baby carrier? We plan to take the bus since it is the most stroller accessible from what we’ve read.

    • Keri Hedrick says:

      Hi Diana, with these ages I have personally still taken the stroller and just tried to walk as much possible without transport, occasional taxi if need be. We’ve not specifically been to Paris with a double but other cities around the world. It is a little bit of a hassle but travelling with 3 tinies is hard work no matter what, having somewhere to put them all is sooooo helpful!!

  3. Anne says:

    We’re going to Paris in March! Thanks for the tips on the Notre Dame area. My kids are a bit older (13 and 15) but I’ll let them search for the bronze star!

    • Keri from Baby Globetrotters says:

      So glad that Virginie’s pointers can help you! What a fabulous age for the kids to travel to Paris, they will get so much from it I’m sure

  4. Gabi says:

    Such a rich list of places to visit with kids… and without them too! Every year I promise myself to spend my birthday in Paris, and every year I change destination at the final minute saying to myself “Paris will always be there”… I think it’s time to change my mind ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Keri from Baby Globetrotters says:

      Thanks for the top tips too! Its so hard to know when your time is limited and such a big city what are the mustn’t miss highlights. Glad to say we ticked off most of your suggestions when we had 48 hours with a baby many years ago now!

    • Keri from Baby Globetrotters says:

      It such an easy going city to get around, despite its size, new things to discover around every corner I bet they loved it!!

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