Paris is one of those universally appealing destinations that is popular with couples, singles, and especially families with teens. But how much does a family trip to Paris cost? I’ve been to this bucket list city a handful of times in the spring, summer, and fall, both with kids and without. Plus, during my days as a travel advisor I have helped many families plan trips to Paris. Through this experience I’ve come to know the city fairly well and understand what most families like to see and do.
While Paris rarely disappoints, it isn’t a cheap city and it can be tricky to plan a trip here on a tight budget, especially when traveling at peak times. If you would like to take your family to Paris and want to know how much you need to save up first, the bottom line is that the average 5-day, family trip to Paris will cost approximately $9,200 or $460 per person, per day. But keep reading to see the full breakdown of costs and ways that you can save money.
Paris Trip Cost
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This post outlines pricing for a family Paris trip cost with two adults and two children between the ages of 6-11, traveling in the summer, and spending 5 nights in Paris. This Paris trip budget includes a mix of splurges and budget saving factors, which will provide a trip to remember that doesn’t break the bank.
The budget for this trip to Paris is made up of the following elements:
- Airfare
- Hotel/Accommodations
- Tours/Entrance Fees
- Transportation
- Food
- Souvenirs/Miscellaneous
Remember to keep in mind the exchange rate when looking at rates listed in Euros. I use xe.com to convert currency to USD.
Paris Airfare Costs
Summer flights to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) can be quite pricey because it’s such a popular route for leisure and business travelers. But on occasion, deals can be found, and it’s also a great route to cash-in points/mileage programs.
If you want to find the best way to accumulate points and miles through credit card spending and sign up bonuses, I’d suggest downloading the Travel Freely app to track your credit cards and learn how to earn points.
Another way to save money is to look into some of the budget airline options like Play Airlines through Iceland or French Bee, which offers cheap flights to Paris Orly airport from many U.S. cities. Flights on budget airlines can be found for under $900 per person, while major carrier can be up to $2,000 per person in the summer.
When looking for airfare deals, I highly recommend signing up for a membership to Going, which will send you airfare deal alerts for the cities that you are interested in.
Please be advised that CDG is about an hour outside the city of Paris, and it is a notoriously chaotic airport with frequent security interruptions. This is definitely an airport where you need to allow plenty of time before your departing flight. Pro Paris travel tip: I always advise getting there three hours early.
Total airfare cost: $3,600 ($900 x 4)
Paris Accommodation Cost
When planning a family trip to Paris, it is important to try to avoid major events like Fashion Week, the French Open, and any large international gatherings that may be scheduled throughout the year. For 2024, I’d frankly avoid visiting Paris in the summer unless you have tickets to the Olympics. To be honest, it is already too late to find hotel reservations for the summer Olympics.
One of the biggest decision factors families have when planning a trip to Paris is what type of accommodation will work best for them. Unlike solo travelers, it isn’t like most families are going to stay in a Paris hostel.
Paris hotel rooms are notoriously small, and typically only sleep two people. So families looking to stay in a hotel will need two adjoining rooms or one family-sized suite. The cost for a five-star central Paris hotel stay for a family will start at over $2,000 per night. At the four-star level, the starting pricing point is usually around $750.
Apartment stays in Paris are one of Europe’s best values. You’ll have more space, and you’ll truly be able to feel like a local. Shop the markets and prepare easy meals based on the delicious, fresh ingredients you can pick up in your neighborhood, just like Parisians do. It’s part of the experience in a city known for some of the best food in the world.
Cost for apartment rentals at the four-star level start at around $500 per night and goes up from there. Expect to pay a premium for views of the Eiffel Tower or for an outdoor terrace.
Location is key in Paris. Because it is such a walkable city, it’s best to stay in one of the central arrondissements. For apartment rentals, I love the St. Germain area and the Marais because of the charming, walkable streets lined with cafes, markets, and independent shops. If you’re looking for full luxury hotel services, my favorite five-star properties in Paris are clustered around the Louvre giving your family easy access to playtime in the Tuileries.
A few hotels that I’ve stayed in during the last few years and enjoyed include:
- Hotel Le Relais Saint Germain
- Hotel Lenox Montparnasse
- Hotel Riesner (near Gare du Lyon)
Find other places to stay in Paris:
Total accommodation cost: $3,000 (based on $600 per night for 5 nights)
Tours/Entrance Fees
Paris is one of those cities where it’s best not to overcommit yourself. The magic here is in the unplanned and the hidden gems…wandering the Seine and sampling crepes, riding a carousel in one of the amazing parks, and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle every evening. That said, you won’t want to travel all this way and not see the top sites. I encourage families to pick their five must-see sites, and plan to hit one each day of the trip, leaving the rest of your time open for serendipitous discoveries.
My top splurge is to invest in a guide for the Louvre. My family absolutely loved our Closing Time at the Louvre tour with Take Walks. This museum is so large, that it’s almost not worth seeing unless you have someone with you who can help you focus on some highlights and make it more engaging for your children.
And consider gifting yourself a fun introductory experience. A bike tour is popular, as Paris has some wonderful and easy bike paths that wind around their way to many of the major locations. You may also want to try a pastry cooking class or a food tour. We loved our Ultimate Paris food tour with Devour Tours. Or for a less expensive option, an hour-long Seine cruise is often a highlight and you can see a lot in a short period of time.
The main sites can also be notoriously crowded. It is common for a family of four to spend around $55 on tickets to the Eiffel Tower, not including souvenirs. Definitely book ahead for anything you know you want to see, like tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower or a bike tour at Versailles (see all my Paris travel tips and download my Paris planning checklist). Then balance that out with free afternoons playing in the parks, visiting some of the major churches, and sitting in cafes.
If you plan on visiting many of the main museums and sights, you may want to evaluate whether or not a Paris City Pass or Paris Museum Pass is worth it. If you are planning a day trip to Disney, be sure to check out this guide to Disney Paris!
Total tour/sightseeing cost: $900
Transportation Around Paris
I recommend booking a private airport transfer upon arrival. I always use Welcome Pickups to arrange a transfer in advance and have always had great service. Expect to pay about $125 each way.
Fortunately, if you stay in a central location, Paris is fairly easy to do on foot, with an occasional metro or taxi ride to locations a bit further out (like Montmartre). If you’ve got your mind set on a day trip out to places like Versailles or Disneyland Paris, then you’ll want to factor in train tickets to your budget plans.
Total transportation costs: $350 (based on airport transfers and some taxi/metro rides)
Food Costs in Paris
I’ve always believed everything tastes better in France, so a trip to Paris is no time to penny pinch on food. That said, meals at upscale restaurants in Paris can be slow and time-consuming, and children are expected to behave and demonstrate good manners. Given that, I have always found the best way to enjoy dining in Paris is to mix a few pricier restaurant meals with more casual, grab-and-go options throughout the trip.
And the best part is that you’ll only be enhancing your culinary experience in this city, by grabbing picnic fixings in upscale markets and shops, or even quick croissants at the local patisserie if you don’t have access to breakfast at your hotel.
Total food cost: $950
Souvenirs/Miscellaneous
Paris has some of the world’s finest shopping, anything from independent shops tucked away in beautiful neighborhoods, to some of the most well-known department stores in the world, like Galeries Lafayette or Le Bon Marche. So if you love to shop, this is a great place to splurge on a few special items.
Warn your children that vendors will approach them at many of the major tourist stops (the Eiffel Tower in particular) to buy kitschy souvenirs. Perhaps give your kids a small budget in advance of this, or discourage them from this type of purchase altogether.
Total souvenir cost: $400 (based on each family member spending $100 while on the trip; you may spend quite a bit more or far less depending on how much time you devote to shopping)
Total Cost for a 5-day Family Trip to Paris: $9,200
I’ve never met anyone who regretted a trip to Paris, so while your bank account may temporarily suffer from the cost, the memories of this magical city will be money well spent. Keep in mind that nearly half the cost of this budget goes toward flights… consider spending another week in a different part of France to get the most bang for your travel buck. Accommodation and food costs are typically much lower outside of Paris (just avoid the popular beach areas of France if traveling in the summer). And France has a robust network of high-speed train lines… you can be on your way to enjoying gorgeous countryside landscapes within a few hours of leaving the city.
| Category | Expense |
| Airfare | $ 3,600 |
| Accommodations | $ 3,000 |
| Transportation | $ 350 |
| Tours & activities | $ 900 |
| Food | $ 950 |
| Souvenirs & miscellaneous | $ 400 |
| The total cost of a trip to Paris for 4 people for 5 days | $ 9,200 |
Not sure where you want to go yet? Find out the cost of other destinations, be sure to check out these posts:
- How much does a trip to Europe cost?
- How much does a trip to Italy cost?
- How much does a trip to Portugal cost?
- How much does a trip to London cost?
- How much does a trip to Iceland cost?
- How much does a trip to Greece cost?
- How much does a trip to Japan cost?
Visiting Paris? You may also be interested in…
- 5 day Paris itinerary
- Paris vacation planning checklist
- How to find and book a holiday apartment in Paris
- Paris travel tips
- Things to do in Bordeaux
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.
