Paris with kids.

On me: Jumpsuit. (comes in coral now too!) Bag. Sandals. Sunglasses. On Ava: Jumpsuit. Sandals. On Hannah: Skinny jeans. Sandals. Tee.

I know we all associate the city of light with romance, but Paris is incredibly kid friendly and a great idea for a family vacation.  My kids loved every minute of our time in Paris, and we all had so much fun exploring the different neighborhoods and soaking up the beauty and the history.  Ethan kept saying “I think we should definitely move here,” the whole time.  Couldn’t agree more buddy.

Here’s why Paris with kids is a fantastic idea for your next family vacation.

1. Kids are free at so many places.  There are so many things that don’t require you to buy a ticket for kids or cost significantly less for kids in Paris.  For example: Paris has, in my opinion the best museums in the world, and they are free for kids!  (There are also lots of smaller museums than the Louvre that are the perfect size for kids who get easily bored. My kids loved the Musee de l’Orangerie.). The Palace of Versailles is free for kids, as well as the Arc De Triomphe.  Metro tickets cost less for children, along with reduced tickets to the Eiffel Tower.  And then of course, there are all the Cathedrals that are free for everyone, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, etc.  I could go on and on…

2. It’s a very walkable city.  Paris is probably my favorite city in the world to walk in, and it’s such a walkable city with kids.  The sidewalks are wide and clean, and literally everywhere you go there’s something beautiful to see, interesting sounds, yummy smells, its the perfect sensory experience and such a treat to experience with kids.

3. It’s easy to get around.  The metro is amazing in Paris and so kid friendly.  It’s easy t navigate and clean which makes getting around even with a big family a breeze.  My kids love riding subways and trains in whatever city we visit and they loved the Paris metro.  I love it because the cost is great, and it’s way quicker and easier than finding an Uber that will fit all 6 of us.

4. Picnic Friendly.  Any parent who has traveled with their kids will understand me when I say that after a few days you get a little tired of eating out with the whole family.  Taking kids to a restaurant, even older well behaved kids is not super relaxing.  First of all because it can be hard to find seating for that many people, it adds up fast, you feel so conspicuous (like the circus at table 4) and it’s just such a process.  Getting everyone’s order and drink figured out, waiting for the food, eating the food, waiting for the check, etc. etc, it takes forever.  I don’t mind doing that once a day but for every meal.  No.  Our solution is to do picnics around the city we are visiting and Paris is probably the most picnic friendly city I’ve ever been in, with Patisseries on every corner selling yummy baguette sandwiches and pastries for dessert.  We would grab a few every afternoon and go sit down by the river to eat or in the Tuileries gardens.  It gave us all a chance to relax and people watch, unwind and just enjoy each other’s company.  Paris is so picnic friendly.

(Ava’s faces on the next few pictures are cracking me up so much, I couldn’t not include these.)

(observe: stink eye.)

(unimpressed.)

(I think I may have mentioned getting a gelato here. lol.)

5. It costs less to fly to Paris.  When you are buying tickets for 6 every dollar adds up, which means finding affordable airfare is a big part of making a trip like this happen.  Since Paris is a huge hub, airline tickets are often more affordable than flying into other European cities.  You would not believe the deal we got on our tickets, even months later I’m still in shock at the price we paid for them… more on that later.

6. There are tons of great AirBnb’s to rent.  I am a big fan of renting an apartment rather than staying in a hotel when you’re traveling with kids.  It’s really the best way to do a trip like this.  You have more space to stretch out, it feels more homey and it is a much more affordable and family friendly option than booking two hotels rooms every night.  There are so many airBnb’s options in Paris, you basically have your pick of neighborhood, size, etc.  And you can find great accommodation for a steal, and bonus, find a listing with a washer so you can easy do laundry if needed while there.

There you have it!  Six reasons I think Paris with kids is an excellent idea!

Would you go to Paris with kids?