Daytrip to Paris from Disneyland

Paris is always a good idea! I’d been wanting to go with the kids for a while and then we ended up booking an amazing French Centre Parcs next door to Disney which allowed us to spend a day there. Here’s how we spent a beautiful autumn day {and some tips if you’re visiting!};

We were staying at this French Center Parcs and we took the red double-decker A RER train from Val d’Europe into central Paris, which felt like an adventure in itself for the kids. You can park for free at Val d’Europe near Auchan, although it wasn’t open early enough for us that morning, so we opted for nearby paid underground parking, which was easy enough and just a few minutes walk to the station from there. If you’re staying at Disney then take the train from the Marne-la-Vallée Chessy station on site. The train journey was smooth and surprisingly stress-free, and the kids loved sitting upstairs and watching the city slowly change as we got closer to central Paris.

We got off at the Arc de Triomphe stop and walked towards the Trocadéro for those classic Eiffel Tower views. Honestly, seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time never gets old — even through the eyes of children. The kids were most excited to see it up close (it’s so much bigger in real life!) and, of course, to buy a little model of it from one of the nearby souvenir sellers — a must-do moment.

From there, we walked underneath the Eiffel Tower, which felt pretty special, and then made our way to Rue de L’Université, one of those iconic Parisian avenues that gives you the most perfect, straight-on view. It’s such an easy walk and a great way to slow down and actually soak up the city rather than rushing from sight to sight.

To keep the kids engaged as we explored, we turned the walk into a bit of a game. We told them to look out for Space Invaders — the little mosaic artworks hidden all over Paris — and downloaded the free Flash Invaders app so they could log them and score points. This was such a win for us all and turned a long city walk into a fun scavenger hunt. Highly recommend if you’re visiting Paris with kids who need a bit of extra motivation! My husband and I actually got so into it that we’d love to go back to Paris on our own just to walk, patisserie stop and spot them all haha.

And the patisseries… wow. They really are out of this world. Even popping into a random bakery for a snack felt special, and it’s such an easy way to keep energy levels (and moods!) high while sightseeing.

We ended up spending most of our day in Jardin du Luxembourg, which was honestly the highlight. The kids absolutely loved sailing the vintage boats on the pond — and by pure coincidence, they picked the rench boat that matched their initials, which felt like fate. They spent ages trying to catch the magical falling leaves, ran themselves silly, and went on the jousting carousel, which feels so charming and old-fashioned.

There’s also a beautiful playground in the gardens. You do have to pay to enter, but it’s incredibly well kept and thoughtfully designed — definitely worth it, especially if your kids need a proper play break. The whole park is just stunning and felt like the perfect place to slow down and let the kids be kids.

If we’d had longer, there were so many more places I would’ve loved to squeeze in:
The Louvre, the Colonnes de Buren with their striped columns, the Orléans Gallery (which also has a beautiful-looking children’s room), the Les Halles playground, wandering around Montmartre, stopping for hot chocolate at Angelina or Carette, climbing the Arc de Triomphe for the views, and, of course, a bit of shopping at Sézane.

Other places that would be perfect with kids include a boat cruise along the Seine — a lovely way to rest little legs while still sightseeing — and Parc Monceau, which has great open space, play areas, and a really relaxed local feel. The Jardin des Plantes is another brilliant option, especially if your kids love animals or nature, with its zoo, galleries, and wide paths for scooting or walking.

For something a bit different, the Musée d’Histoire Naturelle looks fantastic for curious kids, and the Centre Pompidou has colourful architecture and family-friendly exhibitions that feel much more accessible than traditional museums. Even something as simple as crêpes from a street stand, watching street performers along the Seine, or spending time people-watching in a café felt like a very “Paris” experience for the kids.

Paris really surprised me as a city to visit with children — there’s such a good balance of iconic sights, green spaces, and little moments of magic. We always feel like if you take the pressure off of doing everything because it’s a city that’s super close to London, it makes it all the more enjoyable.

Top tips:

• Search on google maps for accessible travel if you are bringing a buggy on the Metro. Not every station has a lift. We find it easier to walk a little more above ground.

• Public transport is easier than you think
  Trains and buses were straightforward once you find the right station, and kids loved the novelty of them.

• Utilise the patisseries and supermarkets

  for easy snacks!

• Toilets need planning
  Public toilets aren’t always easy to find. Cafés, museums, large parks, and department stores are your best bet. It’s worth taking advantage whenever you see one.

• Playgrounds may cost money
  Some of the best playgrounds (like the one in Jardin du Luxembourg) charge a small fee. It’s usually well worth it for clean facilities and beautifully maintained equipment — just handy to know in advance.

• Early mornings are your friend
  Popular sights are quieter first thing, which makes everything calmer with younger kids. By mid-afternoon, it’s a good time to slow down, grab a treat, or head back to your accommodation.

• Embrace the café culture
  Sitting down for a drink or snack isn’t just a break — it’s part of the experience. Even short café stops helped everyone recharge and made the trip feel more relaxed.

Paris turned out to be far more family-friendly than we expected, especially when we stopped trying to see everything and focused on enjoying the moment.