Getting Around Paris With Kids: Uber, Walking, and What Actually Worked for Us

Getting around Paris with kids can feel overwhelming at first, especially when you’re trying to balance jet lag, short travel days, and tired kids who just want to get from point A to point B without a complicated plan.

Before our trip, I kept hearing how easy the metro is in Paris. And while I’m sure that’s true, we didn’t use it at all during our time there.

We were only in Paris for two nights at the start of a longer Europe trip, and with kids adjusting to their first overnight flight, we made a simple decision: we were going to prioritize what felt easiest.

For us, that meant walking as much as possible to explore the city, and using Uber anytime something felt too far, too confusing, or just not worth the extra effort at that moment.

This isn’t a full transportation guide to Paris. It’s what actually worked for our family, when Uber made the biggest difference, and when I’d consider doing things differently next time.

If you’re planning more of your trip, you can explore all of our guides and tips in our France travel guide.

Why We Skipped the Metro in Paris

We didn’t use the metro at all during our time in Paris, and that really came down to choosing what felt easiest for our family.

When my husband and I travel without kids, we actually use public transportation all the time in European cities. We’ve taken metros, trains, and buses in places like Rome, Munich, and other major cities, so it wasn’t about being intimidated by it.

This trip just looked different for us.

Paris was our first stop after an overnight flight, and it was our kids’ first time dealing with that kind of travel. Everyone was tired, a little off schedule, and not in the mood to figure out a new system right away.

We were also only there for two nights. That made a big difference. There wasn’t much time to “learn” the metro, make mistakes, or take a wrong turn without it cutting into a pretty short itinerary.

So instead of trying to force what we thought we “should” do, we leaned into what felt easiest in the moment.

We walked whenever we could, because that’s honestly one of our favorite ways to explore a new city. Paris is beautiful, and wandering through different areas ended up being part of the experience for us.

When something felt too far, or when everyone was just done for the day, we used Uber.

It wasn’t the cheapest option, but it made the days feel smoother, especially at the beginning of the trip when energy was low and everything still felt new.

When Uber Worked Really Well in Paris With Kids

For our trip, Uber ended up being the easiest way to get around Paris with kids, especially in a few key moments where convenience really mattered.

The biggest one was getting to and from the airport.

After an overnight flight, the last thing we wanted to do was figure out train routes, tickets, or connections while tired and juggling luggage. Booking an Uber gave us a simple, door-to-door option that felt worth it in that moment. The same was true on the way back to the airport, since we had an early morning flight and needed something quick and reliable.

If you prefer to plan this ahead of time, you can also compare private transfers on Viator.

We also had a limited amount of time in Paris, which played a big role in how we got around. With only two nights, we didn’t want to spend time figuring out transportation systems or dealing with anything that could slow us down. We wanted to make the most of every hour we had.

Uber worked really well anytime something felt just a little too far to walk.

This came up more for us because of where we were staying, which I talk more about in where we stayed in Paris.

Paris is incredibly walkable, and we did walk a lot, but there were moments where adding another 20–30 minutes just didn’t make sense for our energy level that day. Being able to call a car and get exactly where we needed to go made it easier to keep the day moving without pushing everyone too far.

At the end of the day, this is where Uber helped the most.

After long sightseeing days, when everyone was tired and ready to be done, not having to navigate public transportation felt like a relief. We could just head back to the hotel without overthinking it.

If you’re planning a similar trip, I usually compare options ahead of time on Uber and also check transfers on platforms like Viator, especially for airport rides or early flights when timing matters more.

If you’re still mapping out your itinerary, I walk through how we structured each day and where we used a mix of walking and rides in 3 days in Paris with kids: a family-friendly itinerary.

Walking in Paris With Kids: What Actually Worked

Even though we used Uber at times, we still walked a lot in Paris, and honestly, that ended up being one of our favorite parts of the trip.

Paris is a city that really lends itself to walking. So many of the major sights are grouped together, and just moving between them gives you a chance to take in the architecture, stop for a quick snack, or stumble on something you wouldn’t have planned ahead of time.

For us, walking worked best when we planned our days around specific areas.

Instead of bouncing all over the city, we grouped things that were close together, like spending time around the Eiffel Tower and the Seine, or staying near the Louvre, Tuileries Garden, and nearby streets. That made it feel manageable for the kids and kept us from constantly needing transportation.

We also built in natural breaks.

Stopping for a drink, grabbing a snack, or just sitting for a few minutes made a big difference in how far everyone could go without getting overwhelmed. Paris has so many small cafés and open spaces that make this easy to do without overplanning.

That said, walking didn’t work for everything.

There were definitely moments where distances looked shorter on a map than they felt in real life, especially after a full day of sightseeing. That’s where having Uber as a backup made the biggest difference, because we didn’t feel stuck or forced to push through when everyone was done.

Would We Use the Metro Next Time?

We didn’t use the metro at all during this trip, but I wouldn’t rule it out for a different kind of visit.

If we were staying longer in Paris, I can see the benefit of learning the system and using it to get around more efficiently. It would also make more sense later in a trip, once everyone is adjusted and has a little more energy.

Timing can change a lot about how the city feels and how you get around, which we noticed during our August trip to Paris.

I also think the Metro would be a great option for families with older kids or teens, especially if saving money is a bigger priority or if you’re covering more ground across the city.

We actually handled transportation a little differently in Italy, especially in how we got around Rome with kids.

For this trip, though, it just didn’t fit how we were traveling. Keeping things simple made a bigger difference than trying to optimize every part of getting around.

Final Thoughts: Getting Around Paris With Kids

Getting around Paris with kids doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does look different for every family.

For us, this was one of those trips where we didn’t overthink it. We were tired, we had limited time, and we just wanted to enjoy being there without adding extra stress.

So we walked when it felt easy, and we used Uber when it didn’t.

Looking back, that made the trip feel a lot more relaxed and let us focus on actually experiencing Paris instead of figuring out logistics the whole time.

If you’re planning your own trip, the biggest thing is to be honest about what your family needs in that moment. Sometimes that’s efficiency, sometimes it’s budget, and sometimes it’s just getting everyone where they need to go without overthinking it.

If Munich is also on your itinerary, don’t miss my Munich travel tips that actually made a difference for us before you go.

Our family and attraction photos were captured during our adventures in Paris, highlighting top family experiences, local culture, and iconic sights. Select scenic and landmark images courtesy of trusted stock sources and tourism archives.

Sharing is caring!