Best Tours for the Family in Paris

Finding the best tours for the family in Paris is something most parents spend so much time researching. Whether it’s Paris with a baby, things to do in Paris with teenagers or the best Paris museums for kids, I’ve done all the hard work and come up with an extensive selection of free activities and the best family tours in Paris for your family holidays in Paris.

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Best tours for the family in Paris: what to do in Paris with toddlers and babies

Just because you are travelling to Paris with a toddler or baby doesn’t mean you can’t get out and do things. Things to do in Paris with babies and toddlers may need a little planning and flexibility, but you still have plenty of things to do in Paris with a toddler or baby. Here are my top choices:

Parks and playgrounds in Paris

There are numerous parks and playgrounds in Paris, which are perfect toddler and baby friendly Paris things to do. If you are visiting Paris with toddlers or babies it is well worth finding out about nearby parks and playgrounds and planning your Paris accommodation accordingly.

Best Paris parks for kids and babies

The Tuileries gardens are very centrally located adjacent to the Louvre. There are plenty of shady areas and places to sit in addition to a pond where you can hire model sailing boats on the weekends.

The Luxembourg gardens is well located on the Left Bank and also has plenty of seating, shady grassy areas, and a pond with sail boat hire. There is also a café and playground on site. This is an excellent location for a picnic.

Place de Vosges. Located in the Marais, Place de Vosges is an excellent park for small children. Not as big as the Tuileries or Luxembourg gardens it has the advantage of being fenced and offering a playground. The Place de Vosges is where local Paris parents and nounous (nannies) bring their little ones to play, so it’s a wonderful place for young children to have a run around with some other kids. Also picnic friendly.

The seventh arrondissement. There are no big ticket parks and gardens in the 7th arrondissement (apart from the terribly busy Champs de Mars at the Eiffel Tour) but it contains so many small grassed parks, many with little playgrounds. These are very local and usually fenced, so are great for families with babies and toddlers staying in this part of Paris. In particular there are two excellent ones close to Le Bon Marché department store – one directly opposite the store at the Sèvres-Babylone metro and the larger Jardin Catherine-Labouré which is also fenced and comes complete with a kitchen garden and playground.

Tours suitable for babies and toddlers

Getting around Paris with a stroller can be difficult at times – narrow footpaths, cobblestones and big crowds conspire against you. Then there’s the little issue of the metro and its hundreds of steps…… but help is at hand.

The Batobus is a Seine River cruise that works exactly like a hop on hop off bus. Buy your one or two day pass, and jump on and off at a number of convenient stops between the Eiffel Tower and the Jardin des Plantes. The ship is excellent for strollers – single level and plenty of aisle room.

Buy your Batobus pass here >>

Many parents may think they can’t take a baby or toddlers on a Paris tour because they worry about the little ones annoying other participants. Many parents also think a private Paris tour is out of their price range. With Locals has a solution to this problem with their Family Friendly Paris City Tour – a private Paris tour that can be customized. This tour is well priced for a private tour, and not too long for little travellers. You can even choose your guide.

Find out more about the Family Friendly Paris City Tour here >>

Fun things to do in Paris at night with kids

While a Paris dinner cruise or a night at the opera may not be every child’s idea of a fun night in Paris, there are still family friendly night tours of Paris to choose from.

An evening drive around Paris

A ride in a classic 2CV is a fun activity for all the family, with lots of opportunities for photos too. This is a 3hr private tour, that includes pick up from your hotel, or another agreed location. Of course, it hits all the big ticket attractions – the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, the Place de la Concorde, and Sacré Coeur to name a few. Your classic 2CV is a convertible for even more family fun!

Book your Classic 2CV Paris tour here >>

If a classic 2CV is not your thing, you can still do a family drive as a night tour in Paris. Our favorite private driver company Welcome Pickups has a private evening drive in Paris. Your 3hr customisable experience includes pick up and drop off, snacks and water and wifi. This tour includes plenty of opportunities for photos, but does include a tour guide (this can be added at an additional cost.

Find out more about the Welcome Pickups Paris by Night Tour here >>

The Moulin Rouge

The young dancer in your family may enjoy a visit to the Moulin Rouge for its colourful evening show. This show is not suitable children under the age of 6, and does include scantily clad dancers, so do your research before booking. Having said that, a number of members of my France Travel Planning Facebook group (you can join here if you are not a member) have taken children to the Moulin Rouge and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Book your Moulin Rouge tickets here >>

Seine River cruises

Seine River cruises are one of the most popular Paris tours for families. While there are multiple options, I like the idea of this particular one offered by the Bateaux Parisiens. While it operates from 11.00am I think it’s a good evening activity for families. Lasting an hour, and being stroller friendly, your ticket also includes a choice of a waffle, ice cream or soft drink.

Buy your Seine River cruise here >>

Paris food tours for families

Food tours are some of the best tours for the family in Paris

You can find more Paris food tours for families in my post here >>

The Ultimate Paris Address Book 2023 is your insider address book to Paris with 100pages and almost 500 listings of places to sleep, eat, shop and see.  Listed by arrondissement, and with a section at the back for your own special finds, The Ultimate Paris Address Book 2023 is the perfect accompaniment to a traditional guide book to plan your trip to Paris.  From where to find a charming country lane in the middle of Paris to the latest hip eatery​ in a fashionable arrondissement.  Each entry includes a website address or phone number as well as brief description of what to expect if you visit. Buy your copy now >>

Free things to do in Paris for families

Parks and playgrounds are suitable for older children as well as little ones and are completely free unless you bring a picnic or buy an ice cream. They are a great way for kids of all ages to let off some steam, and chosen carefully, can be great to help your kids find some new friends.

Not quite free but a real budget beater is a scavenger hunt. This one is a great way to see Montmartre at your own pace:

Self guided scavenger hunt walking tour >>

Street markets can also be a fun family activity. Check out all the different fruits and vegetables, the seafood and cheeses. Many stall holders offer free tastings which is an excellent way for young ones to try something different without having to commit. My favorite currently is the President Wilson in the 16th, just across the river from the Eiffel Tower. It’s open on Saturday morning and is excellent for families as there are no junky souvenirs to reduce the pester factor.

Things to do in Paris with teenagers and tweens

While many of the other family friendly activities I’m talking about in this post are suitable for teenagers and tweens, travelling with kids of this age can present some unique challenges.

Bike and segway tours can be great fun for older children, as can cooking classes and food tours.

But my special pick for the teens and tweens in your life is this Instagrammable Paris tour, because after all what teenager doesn’t want to create social media worthy photos and videos to share with their friends back home?

This 3hr private tour is fully customisable – 24hrs after booking you will be contacted to discuss your interests and preferences. A guide and an itinerary will therefore be matched to you.

Book your private Instagrammable Paris tour here >>

If your teen or tween is a fan of Emily in Paris on Netflix you will definitely want to treat her to the Emily in Paris walking tour. From Emily’s apartment, located in the historical 5th arrondissement to the charming “Jardin du Palais Royale,” located right next to Emily’s workplace – Savoir, in the 1st arrondissement, you will follow in the footsteps of Emily and discover what life is really like for expats in Paris.

Unlike Emily, it is essential to wear comfy shoes for this tour!

Book the Emily in Paris Walking Tour here >>

Family vacations in Paris: fun things for active families

Your family trip to Paris doesn’t have to be all stuffy museums and crowded metros. With cycle lanes throughout the city, Paris is surprisingly good to cycle around. Bicycle and Segway tours are some of the best Paris family tours for active families.

While other providers are available, Fat Tire are probably the most well known and reputable operators in this space. They offer a number of different Paris bike tours that you can check out here >>

Segway tours are a good option for families with children 12 yr old and above if you are looking for something a little more novel to do with your children. This tour also includes training on your Segway and helmets. There are specific requirements to participate in this tour so check the details before booking.

Check out the Fat Tire Paris Segway tour here >>

Slightly less active than a bike or Segway ride, but still active nonetheless, a Montmartre walking and photography tour is an excellent way to enjoy this popular Paris neighbourhood. This customisable, private tour includes 25 photos as well as all the popular Montmartre things you will want to see. This tour is rated 5 stars.

Book your Montmartre Walking and Photography Tour >>

Best tours for the family in Paris: museums

My favourite Paris museum for families is the Museum of Natural History. Suitable for children over the age of 5-6 this is certainly one of the best museums in Paris for kids. Featuring dinosaur bones, and an enormous woolly mammoth skeleton is also interesting for older children who love science and their parents. The museum is a very well preserved version of the original 19th century museum. It features a lot of specimens preserved in glass jars, so may not be appropriate for very young or more sensitive children (and their squeamish parents).

Organise your Paris Natural History Museum tickets here >>

Louvre tours for families

The Louvre is a hard ask for everyone – it’s overwhelmingly large and overwhelmingly crowded, so a family Louvre tour will make sense for more than one family vacation in Paris. Unfortunately there are an overwhelming number of tours, but I’ve found what I think are the most suitable options for families with children.

First up is a private tour. Private tours can be very expensive but With Locals offer well priced private tours that can be a good option for families – choose what you are interested in seeing and choose your guide.

Book your With Locals Louvre tour here >>

If a private tour is outside your price range, never fear because I’ve found what I think is a great group tour for families. The Take Walks closing time at the Louvre tour is popular with the Facebook group, because you enter the Louvre later in the afternoon, and arrive at the Mona Lisa last. While there are still crowds (it’s the Mona Lisa after all) they are reduced, making it a better experience for everyone.

You can book your Closing Time at the Louvre tour here >>

Versailles tours for families

There are so many options for visiting Versailles. My post sets out a range of options for visiting Versailles, but if you are committed to taking a tour, I’ve got two excellent options for families:

First up one for families with older children by Fat Tire. This cycling tour of Versailles is very popular in the Facebook group. It’s a fun tour option that includes a picnic lunch and a cycle around the expansive gardens, as well as a visit to the Chateau itself. And if this particular Fat Tire cycling tour isn’t for you, they have a range of alternative tours to Versailles that also include a bike ride.

Choose your Fat Tire Versailles tour here >>

Families with younger children or those looking for a more relaxed visit to Versailles will love the morning Versailles tour with fountains and music from Take Walks. I took this tour myself recently and thought it was excellent. This is an excellent Versailles tour for families as it includes skip the line entry to the Chateau as well as the stunning fountains and classical music.

Currently this tour transfers from Paris to Versailles via minivan, avoiding the train that most other tour operators use. You are also welcome to return to the gardens after the tour to explore more – don’t forget your picnic lunch! You can read about this tour here and you can make your booking here >>

The Catacombs

Not really a museum, but the Catacombs are popular on a Paris family vacation. Again there are multiple tours available, but I really recommend this very small group tour by LivTours. With a maximum of 6 participants you won’t miss out on any of the details, and depending on your family size, may find you are on a private tour. Your kids will also love the LivTours VIP access to usually restricted chambers.

Book your LivTours Catacombs tour here >>

Family cooking classes

I’ve got a whole post on Paris cooking classes, but here are two picks that are excellent for kids:

This macaron cooking class can be booked as either a morning or afternoon activity. Especially designed for children it will have your junior chefs cooking up a storm of sweet almondy goodness.

Book your macaron cooking class here >>

If your kids prefer a croissant over a macaron, there’s also a croissant cooking class where they can learn to cook those buttery breakfast staples.

Book your croissant cooking class for kids here >>

You can find more Paris cooking classes for families in my post here >>

Plan your Paris with family trip

The Ultimate Paris Address Book 2023 is your insider address book to Paris with 100pages and almost 500 listings of places to sleep, eat, shop and see.  Listed by arrondissement, and with a section at the back for your own special finds, The Ultimate Paris Address Book 2023 is the perfect accompaniment to a traditional guide book to plan your trip to Paris.  From where to find a charming country lane in the middle of Paris to the latest hip eatery​ in a fashionable arrondissement.  Each entry includes a website address or phone number as well as brief description of what to expect if you visit. Buy your copy now >>

I have an entire post on Paris hotels suitable for families that you can read here >>

For a private driver transfer to or from your airport or train station, I recommend Welcome Pickups. They will provide appropriate car seats and help with luggage, making your arrival and departure much easier. You can book your Welcome Pickups pick up or drop off here >>

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