Paris with kids can get expensive fast — tickets, transportation, snacks, attractions, tours, and all the little things that add up when you’re traveling as a family.
But there are also so many ways to save money if you know what to book, what to skip, what is free for kids, and where the real value is.
This is the kind of guide I wish I had before visiting Paris with my family.
1. Many major museums are free for kids
Why doesn’t every country have this rule?!
One of the best money-saving things about Paris is that many major museums are free for kids under 18, even if they are not from France.
This can save families a lot because those “$20–$30 per person” museum visits suddenly become much more affordable.
Places like the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay are free for kids under 18, but here’s the important part: you usually still need to select a free admission ticket or time slot online when booking.
Do not assume “free” means no reservation needed.
This changes the whole museum experience. If your kids last one hour, great. If they are done in 20 minutes, annoying but acceptable. You don’t feel like you have to force the visit just to “get your money’s worth.”
Money-saving tip: Choose one museum per day, book the kids’ free tickets, and keep the visit short and fun.
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Take support to the next level.
- General admission and member discounts for two adults
- Five free tickets per special exhibition
- Six single-use guest passes per year
2. Look for free museum days
Some Paris museums offer free admission on certain days, like the first Sunday of the month or special evening hours.
For example, the Louvre offers free admission for all visitors on the first Friday of the month after 6 PM, except in July and August. Musée d’Orsay lists the first Sunday of the month as free for all, with a required time-slot reservation.
These free days can be a great deal, but they can also be very crowded.
Money-saving tip: If you are traveling on a budget and your family can handle crowds, free museum days can help. If your kids get overwhelmed easily, it may be worth paying for adults on a calmer day while still using free child admission.
Some museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, including:
• Centre Pompidou
• Musée de l’Orangerie
• Musée Picasso
• Musée d’Orsay
• Musée Cluny
The Louvre is different — it’s free the first Friday evening of the month after 6 PM, except July and August, and also on July 14.
3. Eiffel Tower tickets are cheaper for kids and youth
The Eiffel Tower is not free, but kids and youth do get discounted rates when you buy directly from the official Eiffel Tower website.
Current official pricing shows reduced rates for ages 4–11 and youth ages 12–24, with children under 4 free. The exact price depends on whether you go to the second floor or the top, and whether you take the stairs or elevator.
This is where families can accidentally overspend. Tour operators often charge much more than the official ticket price, especially for Eiffel Tower packages.
Money-saving tip: Buy directly from the official Eiffel Tower site as soon as tickets open. Compare the official child/youth prices before booking a third-party tour.
4. The Eiffel Tower sparkle is free
One of the most magical Paris experiences costs nothing.
After sunset, the Eiffel Tower usually sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour.
This was one of those moments our whole family loved. The kids stayed up late, and it became a core memory.
Free viewing spots include Trocadéro Gardens, the banks of the Seine, and nearby bridges.
Money-saving tip: Instead of paying for another nighttime activity, plan a simple Eiffel Tower sparkle night. Grab a snack, arrive early, and be ready a few minutes before the hour.
5. Use the stairs option at the Eiffel Tower if your family can handle it
If your kids are older and have the energy, the Eiffel Tower stairs ticket to the second floor can be cheaper than the elevator ticket.
This may not be the best choice for little kids, tired parents, or families with strollers, but it can be a smart option for active families who want to save.
Money-saving tip: Compare stairs vs. elevator prices before booking. Sometimes the cheaper option is also a fun adventure.
6. Check child discounts for transportation
Paris public transportation can save a lot compared with taxis and rideshares.
Kids under 4 are typically free on public transportation, and children ages 4–9 may qualify for reduced fares. Once kids are older, they usually need regular fares, so check before you buy tickets or passes.
Money-saving tip: Before buying a family transit pass, compare single tickets, child fares, and daily/weekly passes based on how many days you’ll be in Paris.
7. Be strategic with airport transportation
The cheapest way from the airport into Paris is usually public transportation, like the RER B plus Metro.
But with kids, luggage, jet lag, and multiple people, cheapest is not always best.
Sometimes a taxi or Uber is worth it, especially after a long international flight.
Ⓜ️The Nabigo card is convenient if you stay more than 3 days and going to different areas. It cover multi use transit and ALL metro areas.
Money-saving tip: Use public transportation when you can, but don’t feel guilty paying more when it protects everyone’s sanity. Save money where it makes sense, not where it makes the trip miserable.
8. Skip expensive “skip-the-line” bundles unless you really need them
Some third-party tours and ticket bundles are helpful, but others are just expensive versions of tickets you can buy yourself.
Before booking a package, compare it against the official site price.
This is especially important for Eiffel Tower tickets, museum entries, and Seine River cruises.
Money-saving tip: If a tour costs much more, ask yourself: is it giving me a real guide, easier access, or a better experience — or am I just paying extra because I didn’t book early?
9. Book the most popular tickets early
Booking early is not just about convenience. It can save money.
When official Eiffel Tower tickets or timed museum entries sell out, families often end up paying more through third-party sellers.
Money-saving tip: Set calendar reminders for popular attractions and book direct whenever possible.
10. Do a Seine River cruise around sunset
A Seine River cruise is not free, but it can be one of the better-value paid experiences in Paris with kids.
Everyone gets to sit, rest their feet, and still see beautiful landmarks from the water.
Money-saving tip: Compare cruise companies before booking, and choose a simple sightseeing cruise instead of a fancy dinner cruise if you’re trying to save.
11. Eat like a local sometimes
You do not need to eat every meal at a restaurant.
Some of the best Paris family meals can be simple: croissants from a bakery, sandwiches from a café, groceries from Monoprix, or a picnic by the Seine or in a park.
Money-saving tip: Do one sit-down meal per day and keep breakfast or lunch simple. This can save a lot with kids.
12. Watch restaurant hours
Many Paris restaurants close between lunch and dinner, sometimes until around 7 PM.
If your kids get hungry during that awkward afternoon window, you may end up overspending on whatever is open nearby.
Money-saving tip: Keep snacks with you and know where the nearest bakery, grocery store, or casual café is.
13. Mix paid attractions with free Paris moments
Paris is full of free or low-cost experiences that still feel special.
Walking along the Seine, watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle, visiting parks, exploring neighborhoods, seeing beautiful churches from the outside, listening to street music, and finding playgrounds can all become real family memories.
Money-saving tip: Plan one paid experience per day, then fill the rest with free or low-cost moments.
14. Consider Fontainebleau instead of Versailles
Versailles is iconic, but it can be crowded and expensive depending on your plan.
Fontainebleau is about 45 minutes from Paris by train and can feel more peaceful while still giving you a beautiful royal palace experience.
Money-saving tip: If your family wants palace history but not the biggest crowds, compare Fontainebleau with Versailles before booking.
15. Don’t pay for Paris pressure
You do not have to see every landmark in one trip.
You do not have to buy every ticket.
You do not have to make every day packed.
Some of the best Paris memories are simple: a bakery stop, a carousel, a walk, a picnic, a view, or a moment your kids notice something beautiful.
Money-saving tip: Choose what matters most to your family and skip the rest without guilt.
Quick Paris Family Savings Checklist
Book kids’ free museum tickets online
Check free museum days
Compare official tickets before booking tours
Book Eiffel Tower tickets directly
Use child/youth discounts when available
Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle for free
Use public transportation when it makes sense
Compare transit passes before buying
Mix restaurants with bakeries, groceries, and picnics
Pack snacks for afternoon closures
Choose one paid activity per day
Build in free parks, walks, neighborhoods, and views
Consider Fontainebleau as a palace alternative
Skip the pressure to do everything
Paris with kids does not have to be a budget disaster.
When you know what is free, what is cheaper for kids, and where families usually overpay, you can plan a trip that feels magical without spending money on every single moment.
Save where you can. Splurge where it matters. And leave room for the simple memories too.
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