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15 Amazing Things to do in Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids

Paris is an amazing city and there are plenty of activities that are fun for both kids and adults. We first visited Paris as a family when our twins were two year old and loved wandering around and exploring the Louvre. More recently we spent time in Paris with our now teenage twins and tween and they all loved this city.

Below you can find our suggestions of what to do in Paris with tweens, teens and kids.

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Quick Look at the Best Things to do in Paris with Tweens, Teens and Kids

  1. Eiffel Tower
  2. Do a Paris Scavenger Hunt
  3. Notre Dame
  4. Take a River Boat Cruise
  5. Take a Cooking Class or Food Tour
  6. Watch a Football Game
  7. Walk the Champs Elysee
  8. Do an Instagram Tour
  9. Explore an Art Museum
  10. Stroll the Streets of Montmarte
  11. Visit the Catacombs
  12. Versailles
  13. Stop at a Cafe
  14. Top of the Arc De Triomphe
  15. Take a Tour

What to Know about Visiting Paris with Teens, Tweens and Kids

How Many Days do you Need in Paris with Kids and Teens?

If you are exploring Paris with kids or teens, you need at least 3 days and ideally 5 days. This gives you time to see the main sites and time to relax and have some down time throughout the day. It is possible to spend a single day in Paris to get the feel for the city, but this will just give you a snapshot of this amazing city.

Is Paris good with Kids and Teens?

Paris is a great city to visit with kids and is one of our favorite cities in the world. We’ve explored many cities around the world with out teens and kids and my 14 year old daughter is absolutely in love with Paris. Our most recent visit has even inspired her to take French this year. Our favorite thing about Paris is that the best things to do with kids are also fun for adults making everyone happy!

When is the Best Time to Visit Paris with Tweens, Teens and Kids

Paris is a great city to visit all year long, the best time with visit is during the warm months and the holiday season. Summer can get busy and crowded, so if you can visit during the shoulder seasons (May, June, September, October) you will get the best weather and lowest crowds. The holiday season is also beautiful when the city is all decked out for Christmas and the New Years.

Where is the Best Place to Stay in Paris with Tweens, Teens and Kids

Paris has many amazing places to stay. You can search for the best options on a site like booking.com or tripadvisor.com. Note that many Paris hotels are small and don’t cater to large families – we like to use Booking because if often has options for apartments that fit our family of 5. A few of our favorites are:

Getting Around Paris with Kids

Paris is a large city, and while walking around Paris is a great activity with kids, at some point you will need to take another form of transportation. Some of the best ways to get around the city are the Metro, city bus, and taxis. As you begin to plan your itinerary and where to stay, try to keep the transportation options in mind.

15 Things to do in Paris with Tweens, Teens and Kids

Below are a list of 15 activities to do in Paris with tweens, teens and kids with links to learn more and purchase tickets. We love to pack our days full of activities, but in Paris there is a benefit to giving yourself extra time. We loved being able to sit on a bench along the river, or stop for a street performer without the pressure of keeping to a strict schedule.

Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic buildings in the world and a must see in your visiting Paris with kids. The classic way to see the Eiffel Tower is to take a tour up into the structure. You can either get up tower in an elevator or by taking the stairs. If you are up for it, the stairs are often less crowded and fun for kids.

You will want to book your ticket in advance.

When visiting the Eiffel Tower with kids, another fun thing to do is to have a picnic in the park around the tower. Pack some bread, cheese, and fruit and sit out on the lawn or a park bench. You will also find food carts in the park or nearby and can grab some food at one of these before enjoying the park and view.

Do a Paris Scavenger Hunt

One of the best ways to get your kids excited for exploring Paris is to turn it into a scavenger hunt. We’ve used this book series in several different cities and have found so many interesting things. The book has small scavenger hunts for the different sites. We love this option as you can do the hunt at your own space and it can be a fun adventure for both kids and adults.

Notre Dame

At the moment, Notre Dame is currently under construction after the recent fire. When the building is open, this is a fun place to explore, and even now there is an interesting art display outside the construction zone. Explore this incredible and intricate church.

Take a River Boat Cruise

On our first day in Paris we walked well over 10 miles. We were just starting to get tired and cranky, and happily boarded the board for our Seine River cruise. There are several different tours, but we did one of the shorter cruises and enjoyed seeing the main sites all while seated on a boat. The tour was engaging and interesting and our kids enjoyed the trip.

Take a Cooking Class or Food Tour

France is famous for its food and kids and teens will love learning more about the local culture and eating delicious food. A fun way to do this is to take a cooking class or a guided food tour.

This tour includes a visit to some of the markets or you can check out this cooking class where you can learn to make macrons or learn to make crepes.

 Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids
Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids: Macrons

Visit the Catacombs

This is a creepy part of Paris. Under the streets of Paris, a labyrinth of tunnels is the final resting spot of over 6 million Parisians. You can book your tickets online directly, or join a guided tour so you can skip the lines. Older kids in particular enjoy exploring the underground side to the city.

Watch a Football Game

If your kids are sports fans, watching a PSG Football (soccer) game is a great way to spend your time in Paris. Check out the PSG official page for the schedule and to book your tickets. The stadium is about a 30 minute drive from the center of Paris and seats almost 50,000 people.

 Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids
Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids: Enjoying a Cafe at night on the Champ-Elyss

Walk the Champs Elysee

Walk this famous street in Paris and check out some of the high end shops. This famous (and beautiful) road runs from the Arc De Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde and even if you don’t want to shop, the window displays in these stores are a thing of art. Our tween and teens loved people watching on this road and we walked sections of the street almost every day we were in Paris.

Do an Instagram Tour

Kids love to take photos and share them. Check out this Instagram photo tour of Paris. This self guided tour lets you go at your own pace, but takes you to some of the fun an photogenic sites in Paris. Leave the city with some amazing photos!

Explore an Art Museum

Visiting an art museum is an absolute must when you visit Paris. There are so many art museums. We love the famous Louvre and Musee d’Orsay. Many of these museums have guided tours or self guided tours for kids. Even when our kids were very young, they still enjoyed visiting the Louvre.

Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids

Stroll the Streets of Montmarte

Montemarte is an chic and beautiful neighborhood to explore in Paris. Full of small shops, cafes, and cobblestone streets with view out across Paris, this is a great place to wander with kids. My teens loved exploring these streets. Give yourself plenty of time to walk around this part of Paris

 Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids
Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids: Walking around the City

Versailles

Located a bit outside the city, this incredible site include beautiful grounds, intricate buildings and an impressive art collection. You can either take the train out to Versailles, or join a tour that will pick you up at your hotel.

Stop at a Café

There are so many cafes in Paris that you could simply spend an entire day walking from café to café. Stop in the morning for a coffee and pastry, stop in the afternoon for a soft drink, and end the day with a treat and a lemonade or hot coco. My teens loved sitting at a cafe in the afternoon and watching people go about their business.

 Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids
Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids: Choosing a Cafe

Arc De Triomphe

Located at one end of the Champs-Elysses, the Arc de Triomphe is the center of 12 streets that come together in a giant traffic circle. Climb to the top of the Arc, or take the elevator for excellent views out across the city. You can book your tickets in advance. The tomb of the unnamed soldier sits at the base of the Arc and the eternal flame is reignited at 6:30 every day.

 Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids: Eiffel Tower
Paris with Tweens, Teens, and Kids: Eiffel Tower

Take a Tour

For kids and teens, one of the best ways to see the city and learn a little more is to take a guided tour. There are many different types of tours and you can choose something fun for your groups. Consider some of the following options:

A Note about Disney Paris

Disney Paris often makes the list of the best places to visit in Paris with kids. While I agree that Disney Paris is a fun place to go as a family – it is not a ‘Paris’ experience. We visited when our twins were young, but if you are looking for an authentic French or Parisian experience, stick with some of the suggestions above!

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