Planning a family trip to the French capital can easily feel like a fast track to draining your travel budget. Between the flights, the boutique hotels, and the endless array of pastries, the expenses add up quickly. However, the secret to mastering this city is knowing that some of the absolute best things to do in paris with kids won't cost you a single Euro. The heart of Parisian culture revolves around public spaces: sprawling manicured gardens, pedestrian-only market streets, and world-class architecture that can be admired right from the sidewalk.
Even better, the French government heavily subsidizes its cultural institutions. For families, this translates to a massive financial perk: nearly all national museums and monuments grant completely free entry to children under 18. You can expose your kids to some of the greatest art and history in the world without paying a dime for their tickets.
If you are building your itinerary and want to balance those pricey guided tours with budget-friendly exploration, this guide will walk you through the top free (and "kids go free") experiences across the city. For a broader look at everything the city has to offer, bookmark our complete Paris city guide.
The Best Free Things to Do in Paris with Kids: Parks and Gardens
Parisian parks are not just patches of grass; they are cultural institutions. They offer a place for children to burn off energy while parents soak in the ambiance.
Jardins du Trocadéro & The Urban Savanna
The Jardins du Trocadéro is widely considered the ultimate spot for that iconic family photo with the Eiffel Tower. Offering unobstructed views across the Seine, it is breathtaking—but it is also incredibly crowded.
Pro Tip: Instead of fighting the chaotic throngs at Trocadéro for a photo, walk a few minutes over to the Musée du Quai Branly gardens. This wild-feeling "urban savanna" garden offers a peaceful, heavily shaded, and entirely stroller-friendly view of the Eiffel Tower. The winding paths and tall grasses make it feel like a secret jungle right in the middle of the 7th Arrondissement, and entry to the garden is completely free.
- Practical details: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:15 AM to 7:30 PM (closed Mondays). Stroller accessible. Nearest food options are the crêpe stands along the river.
Parc André Citroën
If your kids are tired of the traditional, formal French gardens with their dusty gravel paths and "do not walk on the grass" signs, head to Parc André Citroën. Located in the 15th Arrondissement on the site of a former car factory, this sprawling, modern 35-acre park trades traditional gravel for wide open lawns, futuristic glasshouses, and computer-choreographed dancing fountains that children are actually allowed to run through on hot summer days.
- Practical details: Open daily from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM (hours vary slightly by season). Completely free to enter. You can also pay a small fee to ride the tethered hot air balloon (Ballon de Paris) located inside the park, but simply watching it go up and down is free entertainment for toddlers.
Le Jardin du Luxembourg
While the park itself is completely free to wander, Le Jardin du Luxembourg - location de voiliers (bateaux) requires a mention because it hosts a quintessential Parisian childhood rite of passage. For about €5 (~$5.50 USD), kids can rent vintage-style wooden sailboats to push around the Grand Bassin (the large fountain in front of the Senate building) using a long wooden stick. It is the gold standard for kids in Paris. The park also features a massive, gated playground (LudoJardin, which charges a nominal fee of around €3) and classic pony rides.
- Practical details: Park opening hours follow the sun (opening around 7:30 AM and closing between 4:30 PM in winter and 9:30 PM in summer). Stroller-friendly, though the gravel can be tough on small wheels. Excellent kiosks nearby sell ice cream and fresh waffles.
Iconic Landmarks & Views Without the Price Tag
You do not need to pay for a pricey observation deck ticket to see Paris from above, nor do you need to spend money to soak in the local neighborhood vibes.
Printemps Haussmann Rooftop Terrace
Skip the expensive viewing platforms and head to Printemps Haussmann. This sprawling, three-building luxury department store in the 9th Arrondissement is as much a historic monument as a shopping destination. Take the elevators up to the 7th and 8th floors of the Printemps Femme building to access the outdoor rooftop terrace. It offers a stunning, 360-degree panoramic view of the city, including the Palais Garnier opera house and the Eiffel Tower.
- Practical details: Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Sundays 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Completely free to access, though there is a cafe if you wish to purchase a drink. Elevators make it stroller-friendly.
Rue Cler Market Street
For a sensory experience that costs nothing, take a slow stroll down Rue Cler market street. This mostly pedestrianized, cobblestone street in the 7th Arrondissement is lined with fromageries (cheese shops), boulangeries (bakeries), and colorful fruit stands. It is perfect for window shopping, teaching your kids about French culinary culture, and assembling a budget-friendly picnic to take to the nearby Champs de Mars.
- Practical details: Best visited in the morning (around 10:00 AM) when the market is bustling. Many shops close on Monday mornings. The cobblestones are slightly bumpy for strollers but manageable.
The Eiffel Tower Grounds
While going up the Eiffel Tower requires a ticket and military-grade planning to avoid massive queues, walking directly underneath the world's most famous iron lattice is completely free. You do have to pass through a quick security check to enter the esplanade beneath the tower, but once inside, the sheer scale of the structure looking straight up from the center is mind-boggling for kids.
- Pro Tip: If you do decide to buy tickets to go up, skip the summit. The summit often has a second, hour-long queue and can be highly claustrophobic. The 2nd floor offers the best height for kids to actually identify landmarks like the Seine and the Louvre without everything looking like tiny ants.
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Museums Where Kids Under 18 Get in Free
One of the greatest gifts Paris offers traveling families is its policy on national museums: anyone under 18 gets in absolutely free. (Adults will still need to pay, usually between €12 and €22 depending on the venue, but the savings for families are massive).
Musée du Louvre
The Musée du Louvre is the world's largest art museum and a literal palace that can swallow a family whole if you don't have a solid game plan. Kids under 18 enter free, making it a low-risk endeavor if your toddler only lasts an hour.
- What to see instead of the Mona Lisa: Do your family a favor and skip The Mona Lisa (Close up). Waiting in a 45-60 minute "mosh pit" queue just to see a surprisingly small painting from 10 feet away while being shoved by selfie sticks will ruin your morning. Instead, take your kids to see the massive, dramatic Winged Victory of Samothrace at the top of the Daru staircase, or explore the fascinating Egyptian antiquities wing, complete with real mummies and giant sphinxes.
- Practical details: Open 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (closed Tuesdays). Adult tickets are €22 (~$24 USD). Book a timed entry slot in advance, even for the free child tickets.
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Sainte-Chapelle
Located on the Île de la Cité, Sainte-Chapelle is a compact but jaw-dropping Gothic chapel. It is famous for its 15 towering walls of 13th-century stained glass. Because it is small, it is highly manageable with kids. The way the light floods the upper chapel looks like being inside a giant kaleidoscope, which easily captures the attention of even the youngest travelers.
- Practical details: Open daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (later in summer). Kids under 18 are free, adult tickets are €13 (~$14 USD). There is a narrow spiral staircase to the upper level, so you will need to fold your stroller.
Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Grande Galerie de l'Évolution)
Located within the Jardin des Plantes, the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Grande Galerie de l'Évolution) is a stunning 19th-century glass-and-iron hall housing over 7,000 taxidermy specimens. It famously features a massive "caravan" of African animals marching down the center of the main floor. It is visually spectacular and a massive hit with school-aged kids.
- Practical details: Open 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (closed Tuesdays). Kids under 26 (yes, 26!) are free. Adult tickets are €13 (~$14 USD). Highly stroller accessible with ramps and elevators.
Fun Things to Do in Paris with Kids by Age Group
Customizing your itinerary to your children's ages will save your sanity. Here is how to break down the best free or cheap activities by age.
Toddlers (Ages 2-3)
Toddlers need space to roam safely. If the city feels too crowded or hot, seek out the 19th-century glasshouses (Grandes Serres) located in the Jardin des Plantes. They offer a warm, quiet botanical escape filled with massive tropical leaves and winding paths. They are highly stroller-friendly and free for kids (adults pay a small fee). Alternatively, let them chase bubbles and run on the wide lawns of Parc André Citroën.
Preschoolers (Ages 4-5)
This is the prime age for the sailboat rentals at Le Jardin du Luxembourg. The simple joy of running around the fountain to catch their boat as it crosses the water will keep them occupied for a solid hour. Afterward, grab a fresh crêpe from a nearby stand and watch the vintage puppet shows (Guignol) often hosted in the park (small fee applies).
School-Age (Ages 6-10)
Take advantage of the Gardens of Versailles (Jardins du Château de Versailles). While the Château de Versailles and the famous Château de Versailles (Hall of Mirrors) are spectacular, the indoor palace is often a crowded, high-stress shuffle. The 800-hectare gardens, however, are a parent's playground. They are entirely free to enter on days when the musical fountains are not running. Rent a golf cart or just walk the massive hedge mazes.
If you need an indoor activity, look into the Cité des Sciences in Parc de la Villette. The interactive zones here are strictly timed 90-minute sessions and sell out completely, especially on rainy weekends, so book well in advance.
Tweens and Teens (Ages 11-14)
Older kids crave independence and a bit of edge. The Catacombs of Paris (a macabre yet fascinating underground ossuary holding the remains of over six million Parisians) is a guaranteed hit for this age group. While it is not free, it is worth the budget allocation. For a free evening spectacle, if you happen to be venturing out to Marne-la-Vallée, you can actually view the Parc Disneyland Paris fireworks/nighttime spectacular viewing from the Disney Village area without a park ticket.
What to Skip: Tourist Traps to Avoid with Kids
Protecting your budget also means knowing what not to do. Here are a few heavily marketed experiences that you should confidently skip when traveling with a family.
- Bateaux Mouches Dinner Cruise: Do not do this with children. You are paying a significant premium (over €130 per person) to be trapped on a boat for 2.5 hours with a strict, multi-course meal pacing. Kids get incredibly restless, and you cannot leave early. Take a basic, 1-hour daytime sightseeing cruise instead for a fraction of the cost.
- Afternoon Tea at Le Meurice: While beautiful, this is a high-stakes, two-hour formal marathon in a hushed "Palace" hotel where the bill can easily exceed €100 per person. Taking kids here is incredibly stressful, as you will spend the entire time policing their volume and crumbs. Grab a legendary hot chocolate at Angelina's to-go counter and drink it in the Tuileries Garden instead.
- Le Carrousel du Louvre (shopping mall): While it sits directly beneath the world's most famous museum and features the inverted glass pyramid, this is ultimately just an underground shopping mall filled with standard global chain stores. Don't waste precious vacation hours here.
- La Défense (quartier): This is Europe's largest purpose-built business district. That translates to a sterile environment of concrete and glass towers with very little charm or historical appeal for families.
- Moulin Rouge Show & Moulin Rouge: While it is a bucket-list item for many adults, this is an adult-oriented cabaret featuring significant nudity, late-night showtimes, and a strict dress code. It is entirely inappropriate for children.
- Musée Rodin (Indoor Collection): The indoor galleries within the Hôtel Biron are notoriously tight and feature fragile, priceless sculptures displayed on low pedestals right at toddler height. It is a disaster waiting to happen. Stick to the outdoor sculpture garden, which only costs €3 and gives kids room to roam safely around "The Thinker."
Pro Tips from Parents for a Budget-Friendly Trip
- Dine at the Bouillons: Traditional French dining can be slow and quiet, making parents anxious about noisy kids. However, "Bouillons" (like Bouillon Chartier or Bouillon Julien) are high-energy, cavernous dining halls where noise is expected, service is fast, and the traditional French food is incredibly cheap.
- Take a Day Trip to Provins: If your kids are tired of art galleries and city concrete, take a one-hour train to the UNESCO medieval town of Provins. Walking the ancient walls is free, and the live jousting and falconry shows (paid, but inexpensive) are phenomenal for families.
- Use the Bus over the Metro: The Paris Metro involves endless stairs, which is a nightmare for strollers. The above-ground public buses are cheap, stroller-accessible, and provide a free sightseeing tour out the window as you travel between neighborhoods.
- Find the Free Carousels: During the holiday season (usually mid-December to early January), the city of Paris frequently offers free rides on select vintage carousels scattered across the city's various arrondissements.
Paris does not have to be an exclusive, overly expensive destination reserved only for luxury travelers. By leaning into the city's incredible park culture, taking advantage of the generous free museum entry for minors, and knowing which expensive tourist traps to avoid, you can build an unforgettable itinerary. The absolute best things to do in paris with kids are often the simplest: a fresh baguette, a sweeping view, and a little room to run.