5 Day Itinerary For Paris : Family Vacation

Visiting Paris on a family vacation is a dream. But it can be a big task to see everything the city has to offer, especially when traveling with kids. We were lucky to have our friend, who lives in France, create a 5 day itinerary for Paris for us; so we are sharing this with you to help you maximise your time in the city.

We are also going to share our observations of Paris, from cultural differences, to tips on visiting Paris with a teen!

Paris Family Vacation

Paris is a great idea for a family vacation for so many reasons. The culture, the history, the food and the atmosphere is such a great experience for kids and for families. As a homeschool family we also incorporate teaching / learning into our travels everywhere we go and Paris was a dream trip. Payton was able to learn necessary words / phrases and customs before arrival that greatly enhanced her experience.

I was an exchange student in Paris more than 25 years ago but didn’t freshen up on my French before arrival. Payton was definitely more prepared than the two of us and was often ordering for us in restaurants, asking for the check and directing us on the subway. We were proud of how much she learned prior to arrival and the way she adapted while in the city.

5 Day Paris Itinerary for a Family

It’s good to group activities together in concentrated areas. But there are also times when you have to change up your itinerary to suit the weather! Thanks to having Hannah, from HH Lifestyle Travel, on hand for the first few days; we were able to shuffle the itinerary to make the most of some sunny weather in between the spring rain.

Day 1: Ballon de Paris, Eiffel Tower, River Cruise, Trocadero

Optional extras: Paris Aquarium, Musée de Quai Branly

Ballon de Paris

Start your day at the Ballon de Paris. This tethered pollution-monitoring balloon has a platform below and offers great views out over the city. It doesn’t run in fog, or if bad weather is predicted later in the day.

Eiffel Tower

Make your way to the Eiffel Tower (it pays to buy skip the line tickets during high season), and enjoy the experience of going up the grand old ‘iron lady’. Don’t bother going to the restaurant at the top of the tower, there are much better places to eat.

River Cruise

After lunch, take a river cruise along the Seine – the boats leave from just opposite the Eiffel Tower (and many other major spots along the river). This helps you orientate yourself and see parts of Paris you may not reach during your 5 days in the city. DON’T bother with the river cruises that offer meals – they are overpriced and the food isn’t very good. A simple hour-long river cruise with commentary is a great way to kick-off your Paris visit.

Trocadero

After your river cruise, meander over the road and up through the Trocadero Gardens – gaining elevation and more stunning views out over the Eiffel Tower. If you are super keen, visit Trocadero at dawn for sunrise over the Tower.

Tips for American families

You can’t visit Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower and this was definitely our most touristy day. The skip the lines tickets were worth every penny. There was some fog on the day we visited but that is something that cant be controlled. We made the best of it and the views were still amazing. I am sure on a clear day you would be able to see much more of the city from the top. We had some extra time on our hands between the Eiffel Tower and our river cruise and decided to have coffee at a cute cafe at the base of the tower. Lesson learned – the most expensive coffee ever!

The river cruises offer indoor and outdoor seating options so weather isn’t a concern for this activity. It was very cool and windy so we choose to stay indoors with the heat. The views were still spectacular and unobstructed. The commentary is offered in English as well as many other languages.

Trocadero Gardens across the road is definitely worth the walk. The views are some of the best of the Eiffel Tower and a great spot for instagram worthy fun photos. Beware of the multiple locals offering to take your photos. They are not trying to be nice but looking to be paid for their time. After photos we found a very nice restaurant in this area called Le Coq where we enjoyed a very nice upscale lunch before a busy afternoon.

Food options in Eiffel Tower area

This is a very touristy area, so prices are higher. If you are on a budget, consider taking a picnic or eating at one of the crêperie kiosks in the Trocadero Gardens. A casual restaurant option is Le New York, and the terrace still affords tower views.

If you want to partake in the very best views of the Eiffel Tower while in the area, we recommend Girafe or Les Ombres (the rooftop restaurant at Musée de Quai Branly). They both require advance booking, and the latter is fine dining. Les Ombres was our favorite restaurant during our stay. It was the perfect mix of food and atmosphere and the most spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower.

Day 2: ‘I Love You’ Wall, Montmartre, Galeries Lafayette & Shopping

Optional extras: Tuileries, Place Vendome

Montmartre

Montmartre is one of the most famous arrondissements in Paris. Some people know about it because of it’s ancient Gallo-Roman history, but most people know it as the epicentre of Belle-Epoque artistry and antics. And then of course there’s Moulin Rouge!

Start at Abbesses metro station (be sure to take the elevator, otherwise you’ll have to climb 460 steps); and visit the ‘I Love You’ wall. Le mur des je t’aime has ‘I love you’ written 311 times in 250 languages. It is free to visit and is a lovely heartwarming stop on your tour of Montmartre.

A walk up the gardens to Sacré-Cœur is a must, although if you can also choose to take the funicular, but the views aren’t so splendid.

Other places to visit in Montmartre include Place du Tertre, where artists sell their paintings and restaurants take over the square in summer. The Dali Museum showcases the weird and wonderful mind of this famous artist. Take your turn as some of the most instagrammable spots, La Maison Rose, Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Le Passe-Muraille. And see a the urban vineyard, Vignes du Clos Montmartre, which produces a small batch of wine for charity each year.

Galeries Lafayette & Shopping

While you can spend the whole day at Montmartre, if you are trying to pack a lot into your 5 days in Paris, you may choose to keep your days busy and fruitful. The view from the top of Galeries Lafayette department store is worth a visit alone, but the shopping in the area is pretty good too.

Food options

In Montmartre, Le Relais Gascon is a great traditional bistro located between Pigalle and Abbesses metro stations. Serving southern French favourites like Tartiflette and Cassoulet, plus all the usual standards, it’s a good value pitstop.

If you’ve shopped a little too much in Galeries Lafayette and need a snack there are many cafe options inside. Or if you’re feeling snazzy and your kids have adventurous tastes like ours, try Kaspia Caviar bar!

Notes from the Biggers Family

The I Love You Wall and Sacré-Cœur are a must. I remember visiting Sacré-Cœur 25 years ago and the atmosphere is still wonderfully the same. The hill is covered with people relaxing, socializing and enjoying the amazing views of the city. It was a very nice experience. No one was in a hurry. Just enjoying a sunny afternoon outside. We also took a trolley from this area for some additional site seeing. The cost was $7 USD per person. 

Day 3: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, Ladurée, Napoleon’s Tomb

Optional extras: Pont Alexandre III, Petit Palais

Arc de Triomphe

Take a walk from the Arc de Triomphe, down and across the river, stopping along the way at some of Paris’s most famous landmarks. Take the underground passages to get to the Arc (both the stairs up it and to see beneath it). You can buy your tickets in advance, although there isn’t usually much of a queue unless you visit in the height of summer.

Champs Elysées and Ladurée

Time to wander down the Champs Elysées. We don’t recommend you spend a lot of time in the shops or eating along this famous boulevard – it’s pricey! But a stop at Ladurée for morning tea or a box of macarons is a must!

Napoleon’s Tomb or Petit Palais

There are a few options for things to do in the afternoon – we chose to walk all the way down the Champs Elysées and across to Napoleon’s Tomb and the military museum.

Tips from our family to yours

We chose to take the stairs to the top of the Arc and I do recommend it. It is a climb but it is worth it. We did not purchase our tickets in advance and in early April the line was very short. The views are phenomenal. Since this was Payton’s birthday trip we chose to shop along the Champs Elysées. We stopped in Ladurée for macarons, a cafe for coffee and hot chocolate and Gucci for new sneakers.

Hopefully it was a birthday she won’t soon forget. This was our most leisurely day with no timed events or schedules. We walked, we shopped, we ate and we spent birthday money. It’s important to build these kinds of days into your family itinerary for Paris, as you don’t want to burn out!

Day 4: Notre Dame, Left Bank, Pantheon, Rue Mouffetard, Montparnasse Tower

Optional extras: Sainte Chapelle, Luxembourg Gardens, Catacombs, Montparnasse Cemetery

Notre Dame

The famous Left Bank of Paris is famous for books, writers and intellectuals… but is also an ancient part of the city, with some incredible sights to see. Start at the Notre Dame church. While it was severely damaged by fire in 2019, it is due to reopen in 2024. The Archaeological Crypt of the Île de la Cité located under Notre Dame is still open and is a fascinating glimpse into the ancient history of Paris.

Left Bank

Cross the river to admire the UNESCO World Heritage Bouquinistes (book sellers along the river) and visit the famous Shakespeare & Co bookshop.

Pantheon

Walk away from the river, and up the hill (Montagne Sainte-Geneviève) to the Pantheon. This grandiose former church is now the resting place for many of France’s most revered citizens – Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Èmile Zola, Marie Curie and most recently, Josephine Baker. It is also home to the Foucault Pendulum, which demonstrates the earth’s rotation.

Rue Mouffetard

Rue Mouffetard starts nearby at Place de la Contrescarpe, a fantastic place for a coffee or apéritif. It is one of the oldest streets in Paris, and you can enjoy this ancient and wonky street and all the markets and shops along it.

Montparnasse Tower

Take a bus, metro or taxi (or walk if you have the energy) over to the Montparnasse Tower at dusk, and take in the most stunning 360-degree views of Paris from the observation deck.

Food Options

South of the river is ripe with great food options. From the budget prix fixe menus of the Left Bank, to the hip bars of Place de la Contrescarpe – there is something for every budget and taste. Le Relais de l’Entrecôte at 101 Boulevard du Montparnasse is a favorite for us; but be warned, you’ll have to queue because it’s so popular (but it’s worth it). It only serves steak – so not for vegetarians!

Experiencing the Leftbank as a family

The Left Bank provided a great deal to see and do and lots of walking. The Montparnasse Tower is a must as the views are amazing. You can choose day and night tickets so that you may visit twice to see it in both lights. I highly recommend the skip the line tickets. The restaurant Le Relais de l’Entrecote was one of our favorites even with the long wait. I recommend arriving very early. It was such a fun restaurant but only if you love steak. Just tell them how you like it cooked because that is your only option; and if you clean your plate of fries they will bring you more. And that sauce – there are no words but let’s just say best steak sauce ever.

Day 5: Louvre, Marais, Pompidou

Optional Extras: Musée d’Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle

Louvre

If there is only one museum to visit while in Paris, it’s the Louvre. Not just to see the infamous Mona Lise, but also because it is one of the most important cultural institutions in Paris. You can buy skip the line passes, or even take a small group guided tour to ensure you see all the highlights with ease.

Marais

A wander round the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris is a delight. It has hidden courtyards, cobbled streets, ancient gallerias; not to mention wonderful shops and cafes.

Pompidou

To counter the classical art of the Louvre, we have added the modern art gallery, The Pompidou Center, to the itinerary. Even if you don’t go inside, the building itself is quite famous on its own; the inside workings are all on the outside, including an escalator!

The Biggers take on the Louvre

The Louvre was definitely one of our favorite experiences in all of Paris. Payton loves art and history and there is nowhere in the US that can come close to the thousands of years of history and art in the Louvre. Every room was more and more astonishing. I think the 3 or of could have stayed here for days. I highly recommend the skip the line tickets here as the lines were very long. Upon arrival, take a look at the map and choose the items or areas you want to see the most. There is no way to see it all so you definitely want to focus on your top items instead of wandering aimlessly. 

Food in Paris

I am not sure where to begin when it comes to the food in Paris. Phenomenal would be understatement. We made sure to sample a variety of restaurants throughout the city. During our 5 days in Paris, we visited cafes, authentic restaurants, touristy areas, and 5 star Michelin restaurants.

We are all foodies but Payton will try absolutely anything. She had been wanting to try steak tartare and had the chance to enjoy it twice while in Paris. She loved it and is still talking about it. Payton also enjoyed escargot and caviar more than once and indulged in chocolate and hot chocolate every day. If we have to choose, our favorite restaurants were Les Ombres and Cave la Bourgogne.

Visiting Paris with Teens

I think the teen years are the perfect time to visit Paris as a family. It is such a different culture than America. At the cafes along the street, all of the chairs face out instead of facing each other. You sit back, relax, take in the scenery and enjoy the time together. It was amazing the difference of how few people were on their phones at the table. The meals were enjoyed at a much slower pace. And almost everyone walked everywhere.

We averaged 5 miles a day during our time in the city. It was so different to see local markets on the street with vegetables and a butcher shop next door. No Walmart anywhere in sight.

Not to mention the history is something you can’t experience here in the US as we are such a young nation. To really see art and buildings that are many hundreds of years old is something you can’t just tell your kids about.

I don’t think Payton would have appreciated this 5 day itinerary for Paris, or enjoyed it as much as a young child. I really think the teen years are the perfect time to visit as a family. It also gave her a chance to learn some of the language, the history and the customs before arriving which made her experience even that much more meaningful. Kids can read a hundred books describing a place or they can jump in and experience it for themselves and never forget it. 

5 Day Itinerary For Paris

Paris is a bucket list for many families – from the famous sights to the cultural ‘wow’ moments – it is a fascinating destination for any age group. Enrich your family with lots of history, learn some french words or just enjoy the beauty of the place. A 5 day itinerary for Paris is jam-packed, and we would recommend at least 7 days if you want to take it a bit slower.

We also took a day trip to Reims (the unofficial capital of Champagne country) while we were there; and there are lots more day trips to add on if you want to see more of France. If you want to visit Paris with your family, get in touch and we would be happy to help you plan a visit!

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