Two grandparents. Their daughter and son, with their spouses. Five grandchildren aged 8 to 13. One week in Paris, from the last days of December to New Year’s Day.
When this family first wrote to us, their request was simple: “We want to spend the holidays together, in Paris, and we want everyone to enjoy it.” Behind that sentence was a real puzzle. How do you plan a trip that works for a grandmother, a 13-year-old and an 8-year-old at the same time? Here is how we designed it, step by step.
The dream: a family trip to Paris for three generations
For multigenerational trips, the first conversation is always about rhythm. Grandparents want time with their grandchildren, but they also need quiet moments. Parents want their children to discover Paris without long queues or tired legs. Children want fun, not lectures.
So we set one rule for the whole week: share the big moments, and leave room for everyone to breathe.
Where to stay on a family trip to Paris: one roof, three homes
Finding a hotel for 11 people in central Paris is not hard. Finding one where three families each feel at home is much rarer.
In the end, we chose a boutique hotel in the Latin Quarter, on a quiet street near the Luxembourg Gardens. Its secret? Real family apartments:
- A two-bedroom duplex for the daughter’s family of five, with two bathrooms
- A two-bedroom suite for the son’s family of four
- A studio for the grandparents, close to everyone, yet entirely their own
Each apartment has a living room and a full kitchen. As a result, mornings can start slowly, and tired children can enjoy a quiet evening in. Plus, the Luxembourg Gardens are just around the corner for a run before breakfast.
Your driver, your Paris
When you walk out of arrivals, your drivers are already there, smiling, with a sign bearing your family name. The bags disappear into the vans. The children pick their window seats. And just like that, the holiday begins.
All week long, your drivers wait for you outside the hotel, the museums and the restaurants. No maps, no metro tickets, no counting heads on a platform. They know the shortcuts and the most beautiful views of the city. You simply open the door and step into the next adventure.
Your driver, your Paris
When you walk out of arrivals, your drivers are already there, smiling, with a sign bearing your family name. The bags disappear into the vans. The children pick their window seats. And just like that, the holiday begins.
All week long, your drivers wait for you outside the hotel, the museums and the restaurants. No maps, no metro tickets, no counting heads on a platform. They know the shortcuts and the most beautiful views of the city. You simply open the door and step into the next adventure.
Your family trip to Paris, day by day
Day 1: Paris lights up for you
After a night over the Atlantic, nobody wants a busy first day. So you take time to settle in. Then, at 6 p.m., the whole family gathers around a table in a neighborhood bistro. It is early for Paris, but perfect for children whose body clocks are still in America.
The City of Light from your window
Outside, night has already fallen. At 7:30 p.m., your drivers are waiting for a private two-hour tour of Paris by night.
Slowly, the city switches on. The Arc de Triomphe glows at the top of the Champs-Élysées. The bridges shine over the Seine. Picture the two youngest cousins, noses pressed against the glass, as the Eiffel Tower starts to sparkle. By 9:30 p.m., you are back at the hotel. Everyone is tired, and everyone is already in love with Paris.
Day 2: from Notre-Dame to the top of the Eiffel Tower
Your second morning begins on the Île de la Cité, the island where Paris was born. Two passionate guides meet you at the foot of Notre-Dame Cathedral, beautifully restored and open again.
With two guides, the family splits into smaller circles. While the adults discover the secrets of the Gothic builders, the children hunt for gargoyles and hear the legend of the Hunchback. Then you cross the Seine into the oldest streets of the Latin Quarter. Finally, the walk ends at Shakespeare and Company, a bookstore where young readers could stay for hours.
At the top of the Iron Lady
In the afternoon, your driver drops you at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Your tickets are ready, so you skip the ticket line and ride the lifts all the way up. Just keep in mind that security checks still take a little time.
At the summit, the wind is sharp and the view is endless. The children look for the river, the hotel and the cathedral they visited that morning. Beside them, the grandparents watch the city and the children at the same time. It is the moment they had dreamed of.
Day 3: a slow morning and the sweet side of Paris
A morning that belongs to you
No alarm today. Some sleep in. Others run through the Luxembourg Gardens, past the bare winter trees and the old carousel. Meanwhile, the grandparents enjoy a quiet coffee on a Left Bank terrace, wrapped in their scarves.
A walk that tastes of chocolate
In the afternoon, your driver takes the whole family to Saint-Germain-des-Prés. There, a passionate food expert leads you on a private two-hour pastry and chocolate walk.
One door opens on a perfect fruit tart. Another hides pralines lined up like jewels. At every stop, there is a tasting and a story. Soon, the youngest and the oldest travelers agree on one thing: this is the sweetest walk of the week.
Day 4: Versailles and a dinner cruise on the Seine
The palace of kings, without the queues
In the morning, your private guide meets you at the hotel, and a minibus drives the family to the Palace of Versailles. As the golden gates appear, so do the long lines at the entrance. You walk right past them.
Inside, room after room tells the story of kings and queens. Then the Hall of Mirrors opens before you, with its chandeliers and its view over the gardens. The children try to count the mirrors, while the adults simply stare. By lunchtime, you are back at the hotel for a quiet afternoon.
Paris glides past your table
At 6:15 p.m., you board a dinner cruise on the Seine, each guest with a seat by the window. Course after course, Paris drifts by. First comes the small Statue of Liberty, a wink to Franco-American friendship. Next, Les Invalides, the Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame and the Louvre slide past in the dark. Finally, the boat stops in front of the Eiffel Tower, sparkling just for you.
Day 5: a treasure hunt at the Louvre on New Year’s Eve
Young detectives in the world’s greatest museum
The Louvre is huge. So rather than a classic tour, the children receive a mission, and each one opens their own treasure hunt kit.
Then, guided by an expert, they search for hidden symbols in medieval walls. They decode secret marks left by the ancient Egyptians. Even the Mona Lisa becomes a clue to solve. At the end, a small prize-giving ceremony crowns the young detectives, and the adults realize they have learned just as much.
A quiet afternoon before the countdown
The afternoon is yours. After all, tonight is special. It is New Year’s Eve, and the whole family is in Paris, together.
Day 6: Happy New Year, and home sweet home
On New Year’s Day, the streets are quiet and the city seems to rest. Your drivers are waiting one last time. On the way to the airport, imagine the children comparing their favorite moments. Was it the treasure hunt, the chocolate walk or the sparkling tower? Nobody agrees, and that is perfect. Eleven travelers, three generations, and a new year that begins with shared memories.
Why winter is a great time for a family trip to Paris ?
Yes, Paris is cold in late December. However, the city has a special charm at that time of year.
First, the holiday lights and decorations are still up, and the great department stores show off their festive windows. Second, night falls early, so evening tours and cruises start at a time that suits children. Third, winter is the season of hot chocolate, crêpes and warm bistros, which children and grandparents love equally.
Above all, the holidays give the whole family the same free time. For many families, it is the only week of the year when three generations can travel together.
Your family’s story starts here
Every family has its own Paris. For some, it is the top of the Eiffel Tower. For others, it is a chocolate shop or a quiet garden in winter.
If you dream of a family trip to Paris, tell our travel designers who is traveling and what makes each of you smile. And if one week is not enough, the story can continue in Switzerland or England.
