With a child, Paris can quickly become exhausting: too much Métro, too much walking, not enough breaks. From Hotel Montpensier, the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden are a few minutes' walk away, and you can pop back to your room in the middle of the day. This guide helps you plan a stay for three, without rushing.
A guide for families of three
This guide is for parents travelling with one child. Everything in it is designed for a stay for three, two adults and one child, from choosing the room to the pace of each day.
For three, the Triple Room gives each of you your own bed, in a room with Parisian character. With a toddler, a Double Room can also work: ask us for a baby cot when you book.
Why the area is ideal with a child
The first advantage is distance. The most visited museum in the world is six minutes' walk away, and a large garden begins just behind it. No Métro to catch in the morning, no long journey back when tiredness sets in.
The second is being able to return to the hotel in the middle of the day. A nap, a snack, a change of clothes after the fountains: this is often what makes the difference between a successful stay and a child worn out by the second evening. At the hotel, a small lift serves every floor (pushchair folded), and luggage storage keeps your suitcases on the day you leave.
The Tuileries Garden, your playground
The Tuileries Garden is where local children come to let off steam. It stretches from the Louvre to the Concorde along a long, car-free promenade, and is about eight minutes' walk from the hotel.
- The play area, for climbing and sliding between two visits.
- The Grand Bassin Rond, with its green chairs for parents and, in the warmer months, the little sailing boats that children push along with a stick.
- The trampolines and the carousel, along the garden's paths.
- In summer, the Tuileries funfair, with its big wheel and rides for all ages.
Bring a change of clothes for the little ones: the fountains attract small hands, and the sandy paths soon leave their mark on shoes.
The Louvre with a child
Entry to the Louvre is free for under-18s, but still book a time slot for the whole family. Come as soon as it opens, at 9am, and keep the visit to an hour or two: it is the best way to keep good memories of the museum.
Choose a few works rather than a whole wing. The mummies and sarcophagi of the Egyptian antiquities, the large sculptures and the suits of armour often fascinate children more than the painting galleries. For 7 to 11-year-olds, the Louvre Kids app turns the visit into a game.
On the ground floor of the Richelieu wing, the Studio welcomes families with a museum ticket at no extra charge: short workshops with no booking, games, colouring and a baby area for a break. Pushchairs are allowed, and the museum lends pushchairs and front baby carriers free of charge under the Pyramid. Back carriers are not allowed. Our guide Visiting the Louvre from the Palais-Royal covers tickets, entrances and opening hours in detail.
Three days without rushing
Here is one way to plan three days around the hotel, with a child from the age of four or five. The principle: one activity in the morning, a break at the hotel, and a garden or a stroll in the afternoon.
Day one: getting your bearings
Arrive at your leisure, drop off your things, then set off to explore the area on foot. Cross the Louvre's courtyards, which are free to enter, walk round the Pyramid and end the afternoon in the Tuileries, at the play area. Our walk What to do on foot around the Palais-Royal is easy to shorten for little legs.
Day two: the Louvre
Visit the Louvre as soon as it opens, for two hours at most, then have an early lunch in the area. Back to the hotel for a nap or some quiet time, and end the day in the Tuileries Garden, by the Grand Bassin Rond.
Day three: at your own pace
Keep this last day for whatever your child enjoyed most: a return to the Tuileries, a second short visit to the Louvre in another wing, or simply a stroll through the neighbouring streets. On the day you leave, drop your suitcases at the hotel's luggage storage and enjoy the morning hands-free.
Eating with a child
In the area, a family lunch is easy as long as you avoid the rush. The local Japanese counters serve quickly, and a bowl of noodles pleases most children. Brasseries often have a children's menu and serve all afternoon, handy after a morning at the museum.
In the warmer months, a picnic in the Tuileries remains the most relaxed option: a sandwich from the bakery, some fruit, and a break on the chairs around the Grand Bassin Rond. Our guide Where to eat near the Opéra and the Palais-Royal points you to the right places for each time of day.
Getting around with a pushchair
In the area, walking remains the best option: the pavements are wide, and from place du Palais-Royal, the arcades of rue de Rivoli lead to the Louvre and the Tuileries under cover. The route to the garden stays flat all the way.
On the Métro, many stations only have stairs. Line 14, at Pyramides station, four minutes from the hotel, has lifts: it is the most practical line with a pushchair, including to get to Orly airport. All the details are on our Location & access page.
Our tips
- One visit per half-day, and a garden for the rest of the time.
- Have lunch at noon sharp to find a table easily, especially at weekends.
- Bring a snack and a water bottle: drinking fountains and snack stalls are few and far between near the play areas.
- Book your Louvre time slots before you leave, even if entry is free for your child.
- For a toddler, ask us for a baby cot when you book.
- At reception, the team knows the area well: feel free to ask them for a child-friendly restaurant.