Exploring Paris with Kids

Have you considered exploring Paris with kids? Our family had an adventurous time in Paris, France with our 3 children. Just like many big cities, Paris was full of activity, fast moving, and overflowing with history and culture. We enjoyed some delightful and educational experiences going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, visiting the Palace of Versailles, and exploring Parc floral de Paris.

Our family joined the Instagram trend of taking kids on international adventures! No really though, if you search for world schooling or traveling with kids accounts, you’ll quickly find hundreds of families. In this spirit, we booked the flights and took our kids on a summer adventure in Paris in May 2023.

Video: Paris, France Family Adventure

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View from the Eiffel Tower

Of course, the Eiffel Tower was at the top of our list of places to see. We visited on a Thursday at 9:30 am, shortly after opening. The lines weren’t too long to get our walk-up tickets, go up the stairs to the second floor, and take the elevator to the top. However, about 2 hours later around 11:30 am, the crowd at the base of the Eiffel Tower had tripled. The experience didn’t disappoint us; although the Eiffel Tower is commercialized and very industrial in design, we enjoyed birds-eye views of Paris from the top.

After 674 steps from the ground to the second floor, we enjoyed the view of the expansive grassy park beneath the Eiffel Tower. Once we had appreciated this view, we headed to the elevator to travel the rest of the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

View from the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

Family photo at the top of the Eiffel Tower

Like many others, we enjoyed seeing this memorable landmark in Paris.

After visiting the Eiffel Tower, we went on a walk in downtown Paris and stopped by a local boulangerie (French bakery). We purchased some bread and a few sweet treats, which I think look as amazing as they taste. Many of the beautiful tarts are decorated with fresh berries.

Palace of Versailles Tour

Another day, we visited the Palace of Versailles, which was certainly a highlight of our time in Paris! The immense size of the buildings and the gilded details everywhere we looked was a lot to take in. We toured the buildings and elaborate rooms with our 3 kids, essentially just getting an overview of this beautiful palace.

Grand entrance of the Palace of Versailles, bordered by statues and golden gates

Elaborate detailing and statues on pedestals decorate the exterior of the buildings around the courtyard at the Palace of Versailles.

The immense gate to the palace courtyard is decorated with metal spirals and topped with a golden crown. If we could look through a window back in time, it would be interesting to see how these details have changed.

Inside the palace, golden flower trim decorates sections of wall. In this green bedroom (below), ornate frames border dramatic portraits and paintings, complimented by detailed gold trim.

I will have to write a second post about our tour of the Palace of Versailles, because there was so much to see and I took quite a few photos. Visiting was very worthwhile and we enjoyed seeing a glimpse of the exceptional wealth of the French monarchy in the 1700s.

Gorgeous section of wall displaying a painting of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Palace of Versailles

Exploring Paris through a Camera Lens

During the rest of our visit, we wandered through Paris with our kids and enjoyed the shops, sights, and parks.

Many of the shops in Paris are very unique, with their own style and offerings. This grocery shop sold fruit and vegetables, as well as fresh squeezed orange juice.

Parc floral de Paris

One afternoon we went to Parc floral de Paris and spent a few hours wandering around the garden paths. Our kids also found many interactive playgrounds to explore and play on. These beautiful iris were blooming in all colors of the rainbow.

We also rented a quadricycle at Parc floral de Paris, to ride along the garden paths. Our kids took turns peddling and steering, or riding up front.

Arc de Triomphe

Last but not least, we briefly stopped by the Arc de Triomphe, which is actually in the middle of a busy roadway. This famous monument in Paris is a sight to behold. It is immense in size and very detailed with beautiful stonework to commemorate the sacrifices and victories of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

We had a memorable, although busy time visiting Paris. I hope our kids are growing in their appreciation for other cultures and experiences as we explore Europe.