Paris is lovely for a family-friendly trip: this plan mixes famous sights with parks, relaxed meals, and time to wander. Each day stays mostly within one area, with travel times between stops noted so you can keep the pace comfortable.
Budget
About €1,000–€1,700 per person for 12 days, excluding accommodation and flights; includes attractions, local transport, and meals at a moderate pace.
Best time to visit
April–June or September–October for pleasant walking weather and manageable crowds; book major museums and the Eiffel Tower ahead.
Île de la Cité and the Seine
Start with Paris’s historic heart, then enjoy the riverfront and an easy first evening nearby.
Morning
Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
Allow time to admire the restored cathedral and its surroundings. From the cathedral forecourt, is about a 5-minute walk.
FreeMorning
See
The stained-glass windows are a highlight; reserve timed tickets in advance. It’s about a 5-minute walk from Notre-Dame.
About €13Afternoon
Explore the
Visit the medieval royal palace and former prison, a short walk of about 3 minutes from .
About €13Afternoon
Stroll along the Seine
Take a gentle riverside walk and pause on the quays; allow around 10 minutes on foot from the to .
FreeEvening
Have dinner in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Cross the Pont Neuf and walk about 15 minutes to this lively dining area for a relaxed first-night meal.
About €25–€45
Louvre and Palais-Royal
Spend the day among central Paris’s great art, gardens, and covered passages, all close together.
Morning
Explore the Louvre
Choose a few galleries in advance rather than trying to see everything; book a timed entry. The Palais-Royal gardens are about a 10-minute walk away.
About €22Afternoon
Relax in the Palais-Royal gardens
Enjoy the arcades, garden paths, and courtyard columns. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the Louvre’s main entrance.
FreeAfternoon
Browse
Admire the elegant covered passage and its shops, about a 10-minute walk from the gardens.
FreeEvening
Walk through
Finish with a quiet look at this handsome circular square, about a 7-minute walk from , then choose a nearby restaurant.
Free
Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars
Pair the iconic tower with open lawns and a gentle Seine-side stroll in the 7th arrondissement.
Morning
Go up the Eiffel Tower
Reserve a timed ticket and allow extra time for security; the lawns begin just a few minutes’ walk away.
About €15–€36Afternoon
Picnic or unwind on the
Take a relaxed break with tower views. Walk about 5 minutes from the Eiffel Tower grounds to the lawns.
FreeAfternoon
Visit
Browse food shops and pick up picnic treats; it’s about a 15-minute walk from the .
About €10–€25Evening
See the Eiffel Tower sparkle
Return to the Trocadéro for a memorable view after dark; allow about 20 minutes by metro or 30 minutes on foot from .
Free
Trocadéro and the Arc de Triomphe
Enjoy grand viewpoints and an easy avenue walk, keeping the day focused on the western side of central Paris.
Morning
Visit the
Explore architecture exhibits inside the Palais de Chaillot. It is about a 5-minute walk from the museum to Trocadéro’s gardens.
About €13Morning
Enjoy the Trocadéro gardens
Take in the Eiffel Tower panorama and fountains; walk about 5 minutes from the museum entrance.
FreeAfternoon
Visit the
Reach the monument in about 15 minutes by metro or 35 minutes on foot from Trocadéro; climb for sweeping city views if everyone is up for it.
About €16Afternoon
Stroll the Champs-Élysées
Walk the avenue at your own pace from the Arc; the first stretch begins directly outside the monument.
FreeEvening
Dinner near the Champs-Élysées
Choose a brasserie around the avenue or nearby side streets; expect about a 10-minute walk from the lower avenue to .
About €25–€50
Montmartre
Discover village-like streets, artistic history, and hilltop views in one compact neighborhood.
Morning
Visit the Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Go early for a calmer visit and city views. The walk to takes about 5 minutes.
FreeMorning
Explore
Watch artists at work and browse the square; it is about a 5-minute walk from the basilica.
FreeAfternoon
See the
Learn about the neighborhood’s artistic past and enjoy its gardens; allow about 10 minutes on foot from .
About €15Afternoon
Visit
Stop for a quick look at the multilingual wall, about a 15-minute walk downhill from the museum.
FreeEvening
Dinner around Abbesses
Enjoy a casual meal in the neighborhood, about a 5-minute walk from the wall to the Abbesses metro area.
About €20–€40
Le Marais
Mix historic streets, a welcoming square, and a top-notch museum in this walkable central district.
Morning
Visit
Start with the arcades and garden paths; the is right on the square and about a 2-minute walk away.
FreeMorning
Tour
See the writer’s former home and displays; walk about 2 minutes from the square’s garden.
FreeAfternoon
Explore
Discover the history of Paris in this beautifully housed museum, about a 12-minute walk from .
FreeAfternoon
Browse
Wander the historic Jewish quarter and sample a snack; it’s about a 10-minute walk from the museum.
About €8–€20Evening
Dinner in Le Marais
Stay nearby for a relaxed dinner, roughly 10 minutes on foot from to .
About €15–€30
Latin Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens
Spend a gentle day among bookshops, the , and one of Paris’s loveliest gardens.
Morning
Visit the
See the monument and its historic interior; the walk to takes about 10 minutes.
About €13Morning
Browse
Enjoy the lively market street and pick up a snack; it is about a 10-minute walk from the .
About €8–€20Afternoon
Explore the
Relax by the fountains, lawns, and playground; allow around 15 minutes on foot from .
FreeAfternoon
Visit
Browse the famous English-language bookshop, about 15 minutes by metro or 25 minutes on foot from the garden’s north side.
FreeEvening
Dinner in the Latin Quarter
Choose a casual restaurant on nearby streets; is roughly a 5-minute walk from the bookshop.
About €20–€40
Musée d’Orsay and Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Enjoy Impressionist art, riverside scenery, and a relaxed café-filled neighborhood nearby.
Morning
Explore
Focus on the Impressionist galleries and the building’s famous clock; reserve entry ahead. Walk about 10 minutes to the riverfront.
About €16Afternoon
Walk the Tuileries riverside edge
Enjoy a calm stretch beside the Seine and gardens; it’s about a 10-minute walk from across the river.
FreeAfternoon
Visit
See one of the city’s oldest churches, around 15 minutes on foot from the Tuileries’ west end.
FreeEvening
Have dinner around Odéon
Enjoy an easy neighborhood meal, about a 10-minute walk from the church to the Odéon area.
About €25–€45
Canal Saint-Martin and République
Take a slower day with canal-side wandering, independent shops, and a lively local dining scene.
Morning
Walk along
Follow the waterside paths and watch the bridges and locks; begin near , about 5 minutes’ walk from the canal.
FreeMorning
Browse the canal-side boutiques
Explore the shops and cafés along , about 10 minutes on foot from the central canal footbridges.
About VariesAfternoon
Visit
Browse the covered market for lunch and local specialties; allow about 15 minutes’ walk from .
About €10–€25Afternoon
Relax at
Return to the broad square for a break and people-watching, about 10 minutes on foot from the market.
FreeEvening
Dinner near
Head back to the canal-side dining streets, about 10 minutes on foot from République, for an informal evening meal.
About €20–€40
Versailles
Make a full-day outing to the palace and gardens, with plenty of time for the scale of the estate.
Morning
Tour the Palace of Versailles
Take the RER C from central Paris to , then walk about 10 minutes to the palace; the train ride is around 40 minutes each way.
About €21–€32Afternoon
Explore the gardens of Versailles
Wander the formal gardens and fountains at an easy pace; they begin just beyond the palace’s Hall of Mirrors.
FreeAfternoon
See the
Visit the quieter estate buildings, about 25 minutes’ walk through the gardens from the palace; a small train also runs on the grounds.
About Included with eligible passport ticketsEvening
Return to Paris for dinner
Take the train back to central Paris, about 40 minutes from , and keep dinner close to your accommodation.
About €4–€8 for transit
Parc de la Villette
A playful, spacious day in northeast Paris with science exhibits, open lawns, and a family-friendly evening option.
Morning
Explore the
Try the hands-on exhibits and children’s spaces; allow about 10 minutes on foot to reach the Géode from the main entrance.
About €13Afternoon
See a film at
Check the current program for an immersive screen experience; it is about a 10-minute walk from the science museum entrance.
About €12–€20Afternoon
Relax at
Enjoy the lawns, themed gardens, and outdoor installations; the nearest park paths begin right outside the museum complex.
FreeEvening
Catch a performance at
Check the family program or exhibitions; the hall is about a 15-minute walk from the park’s central lawns.
About Varies
Opéra and Grands Boulevards
Finish with ornate architecture, a graceful department-store rooftop, and a final central Paris stroll.
Morning
Tour
Admire the grand staircase and auditorium; it’s about a 10-minute walk to .
About €15Morning
Visit
Browse the famous glass dome and take in the rooftop view; walk about 10 minutes from .
FreeAfternoon
Explore
Browse one of Paris’s historic covered passages and stop for lunch; it’s about a 15-minute walk from the department store.
FreeAfternoon
See
Enjoy a final look at the elegant square, about a 15-minute walk from .
FreeEvening
Take a Seine dinner cruise
End the trip with a scenic cruise; reach the boarding area at in about 20 minutes by taxi or 30 minutes by metro from .
About €70–€120
Good to know
Getting around
Use the Métro and buses for longer hops, and walk within each day’s neighborhood. A single Métro ticket is typically around €2.50; check current fares and passes before travel.
Family pace
Leave room for breaks and playground time, especially on museum days. The itinerary is a menu rather than a checklist—skipping a stop is perfectly fine.
Reservations
Reserve timed entry for the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Versailles, and popular museums. Check opening days and current prices before you go.
Meals
For a lower-cost lunch, try a bakery, market, or picnic in a garden; Paris restaurants can be busiest at standard meal times.
Versailles
The estate is extensive, so wear comfortable shoes and check garden fountain schedules. Buy the right ticket for the palace, gardens, and Trianon estate you plan to visit.