Museum or metro tickets can be purchased and activities booked without paying full price during your Paris trip, especially when it comes to young visitors. Here are some tricks to help you get the most out of your stay in the capital with the kids for a fraction of the price.
The RATP transport network has discounted fares for children and families, which means you can enjoy unlimited travel on all the metro, tram and bus lines in Île-de-France, the RER express trains in Paris and the Montmartre funicular railway either free of cost or at reduced prices.
Children under 4 years of age can travel free of charge on all public transport as long as they do not occupy a seat.
Children under 10 years of age get a 50% discount on the purchase of a single train ticket or carnet (book) of 10 tickets.
Buy your book of 10 metro tickets
Large families (with 3 children or more) in possession of a Carte Avantage Famille SNCF family discount card can buy half-price tickets to travel on the public transport network in the entire Île-de-France region. You will have to show the card if there is a ticket check.
French nationals and European Union citizens under the age of 26 are given free admission to the permanent collections of national museums. Admission is free in 30-odd museums in Paris and Île-de-France, including the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Pompidou Centre, the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, the Musée national de l'Orangerie, the Musée national Picasso-Paris, the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, Les Arts Décoratifs, the Musée des Arts et Métiers, the Institut du Monde Arabe, the Musée national de la Marine, the Musée Rodin and the Grand Palais.
Free museums and monuments in Paris
Some other museums are free to visit for children depending on their age:
- Choco-Story Paris – the chocolate museum is free for children under 6.- The Musée Grévin Paris is free for children under 5.- The Fondation Louis Vuitton is free for children under 3, and has a family rate for groups of 1 or 2 adults with up to 4 children under 18 years of age. - The Explora exhibitions at the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie offer free admission to children under 2.- At the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, admission to events is free for children under 4 and there is a reduced rate for visitors under 26.
Like the national museums, 20-odd national monuments in Paris and the Île-de-France region offer free admission to French nationals and EU citizens under 26 years old. The list includes the Château de Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe, the Panthéon, the Royal basilica of Saint-Denis, the Château de Vincennes, the Conciergerie, the Chapelle expiatoire, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Villa Savoye and the Château de Rambouillet.Full list of free-entry monuments for under-26-year-olds
Free museums and monuments in Paris
- Sacré-Cœur: Admission to the Basilica is free for all visitors. Children aged 4 to 16 pay a reduced price for tickets to visit the dome and crypt.- Eiffel Tower: Admission to the Eiffel Tower is free for children under 4. Children aged 4 to 11 receive 75% off the admission price, while 12-to-24-year-olds get 50% off. - Catacombes: Skip-the-line tickets are available at a reduced rate for children and teenagers from 4 to 17 years old.
The big amusement parks in the Île-de-France region all offer family discounts: - Disneyland® Paris: Admission is free for children under 3, and children aged 3 to 11 pay a reduced rate.- Parc Astérix: Tickets and passes are available at a reduced rate for children aged 3 to 11 and for large families (at least 5 tickets paid for in a single transaction, parents and children included).- Sherwood Parc: Reduced-price entry tickets for children under 12.- Mer de Sable: Free admission for children under 3, reduced-price entry for children aged 3 to 11 and a special rate for families (4 people minimum).- France Miniature: Free admission for children under 4 and reduced-price entry for 4-to-14-year-olds.
- CentquatreThis large multi-disciplinary arts venue offers free entry to all visitors and has a dedicated area for families with young children (under 5 years of age). Known as the Maison des Petits, it welcomes children accompanied by their parents to play, meet other kids and get creative at workshops and events organized by a team of supervisors.
La VilletteLittle Villette is a 1,000-m² venue dedicated to children and families with a varied programme of activities and workshops. It offers free entry on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
- Bibliothèque nationale de FranceChildren aged 3 to 6 accompanied by their parents are given free entry to the children’s fiction section of the BnF François-Mitterrand at story time (4pm on Sundays) for a one-hour storytelling session. They are free to browse the books afterwards.
- The operaThere are many ways to get access to discounted tickets at the Opéra Garnier and Opéra Bastille so that the whole family can enjoy an outing to the opera.- Ma Première Fois à l’Opéra enables families who have never attended a performance at the Opéra national de Paris to purchase tickets at very affordable prices for up to 4 productions each season.- Last-minute seats are sold at preferential rates to under-28s at the box offices of the Paris opera houses, no later than 30 minutes before curtain-up.
Paris Passlib’ is the ideal way to enjoy a Paris trip with the family at reduced rates. Available from the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau in Mini, City, Explore and Explore + versions, the Paris Pass’lib adapts to what you want to do and lets you choose from a wide selection of attractions and activities.
More info about the Paris Passlib’
