- Car seats: French law requires one for children under 10, but taxis and ride-hailing cars are exempt, so most don’t carry one. Book a car with a seat or bring your own.
- Strollers: the metro has many stairs and few elevators. Buses and walking are easier.
- Easiest: a private driver with free child seats, waiting for you in arrivals, from €170 per car.
Getting around with children
| Option | Car seats | Strollers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro and RER | Not needed | Many stairs, few elevators | Older kids and light bags |
| Bus | Not needed | Ramps and a space for strollers | Short trips with a stroller |
| Taxi | Not required to have one | Trunk space varies | Short rides with older children |
| Uber and ride-hailing | Rarely available | Trunk space varies | Older children |
| Private driver (ALEGA) | Free child seats and boosters, booked in advance | V-Class fits strollers and suitcases | Airport arrivals, day trips, families |
Car seat rules: French Code de la route, as summarized by the French Ministry of Justice and the FNAUT passenger association.
Car seats: the French rules
In France, children under 10 must ride in a child seat or booster suited to their size, normally in the back. A rear-facing baby seat can go in the front only if the airbag is switched off.
There is one important exception: taxis and ride-hailing cars are exempt. It is legal for a child to ride with only the adult seat belt, and most drivers simply don’t carry a seat. Some taxi companies can send a car with a seat if you book ahead, but it is never guaranteed on the street.
If you would not do it at home, you have two good options:
- Bring your own seat. Most airlines check car seats free of charge. A light travel booster is easy to carry for older kids.
- Book a car service that provides seats. At ALEGA, child seats and boosters are free. Tell us your children’s ages when you book and the seats are installed before you get in.
The metro with a stroller
The Paris metro is quick, but it was built more than a century ago. Most stations have stairs, long corridors and turnstiles, and only a few have elevators. Line 14 is the exception: it is fully accessible.
Buses are much easier: they have low floors, ramps and a dedicated space for strollers, and you see the city on the way. A compact, foldable stroller is the best choice for Paris sidewalks and cafés.
What kids love in Paris
- The Eiffel Tower, ideally with timed tickets to the top, and the carousel at its foot.
- A boat on the Seine: an hour on the river is often the highlight for younger children.
- The Luxembourg Garden: a playground, a puppet theater, pony rides and toy sailboats on the pond.
- The Jardin d’Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne, a small amusement park with rides and animals.
- The Cité des Sciences and its Cité des Enfants, a hands-on science museum for ages 2 to 12.
- The Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, with its parade of animals at the Natural History Museum.
- Disneyland Paris, about 40 minutes away. See our Disneyland guide.
Good news for parents: children and teens under 18 get in free at the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and Versailles. At Versailles, renting a rowboat on the Grand Canal or a golf cart in the gardens keeps little legs going.
Planning tips for families
- One big thing a day. A museum in the morning and a park in the afternoon works better than three monuments in a row.
- Eat at noon. Restaurants serve lunch from about 12 to 2 pm and dinner from 7:30 pm. Brasseries and cafés serve all day, and many have a kids’ menu.
- Picnic in the parks. A baguette, cheese and fruit from the market is a Paris experience in itself.
- Pharmacies are everywhere, marked with a green cross, for diapers, formula and children’s medicine.
- Pick a hotel near a park or along an easy bus line rather than next to a busy metro hub.
Arriving with children
After an overnight flight, the hardest part of the trip is often the first hour: passport control, luggage, tired kids and a line for a taxi without a car seat. With a private driver, your chauffeur tracks your flight, waits in arrivals with your name and has the seats installed.
- Up to 3 people in an E-Class: €170 from CDG or Orly to Paris.
- Families of 4 to 7 in a V-Class: €190, with room for strollers and suitcases.
- Child seats and boosters: free.
Tips from our drivers
- Tell us ages and weights when you book, so we bring the right seat for each child.
- Keep snacks and a tablet in your carry-on for passport control, which can be slow since the new EU entry system.
- Book a V-Class for four or more. An E-Class seats three passengers, and a stroller plus suitcases needs space.
- Plan a rest day. Jet lag hits children too; a slow second morning makes the rest of the trip better.
FAQ
Do taxis in Paris have car seats?
Usually not. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are exempt from the French car seat rule, so most drivers don’t carry one. Bring your own or book a car service that provides seats.
Is it legal for a child to ride without a car seat in a Paris taxi?
Yes. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are exempt from the child seat requirement for children under 10. Many parents still prefer a proper seat.
Is the Paris metro stroller-friendly?
Not very. Most stations have stairs and few elevators. Buses, with low floors and a stroller space, are much easier.
What are the best things to do in Paris with kids?
The Eiffel Tower, a Seine boat ride, the Luxembourg Garden, the Jardin d’Acclimatation, the Cité des Sciences and Disneyland Paris.
Does ALEGA provide child seats?
Yes. Child seats and boosters are free. Tell us your children’s ages when you book.
Andrei founded ALEGA in 2014 on the Champs-Élysées. His drivers meet families at CDG and Orly and take them to Disneyland, Versailles and beyond, with the car seats already installed.
