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Merde. Help me

20 replies

Iloveberets · 05/04/2025 23:10

I’m off to Paris with my 12 year old on Wednesday for 4 nights and I’ve been so so so busy and caught up in life shit that I’ve not had much time to plan. I was thinking of winging it (I know we won’t get Eiffel Tower but not bothered) but am suddenly panicked that I don’t have more of a plan, beyond wandering about, eating nice food and enjoying being in Paris.

Anyone got any tips and advice to make this a good trip - my child really deserves it after the year they’ve had.

OP posts:
Outofthepan · 05/04/2025 23:14

panic not! Just wandering about Paris is lovely, so much to see. Without actually needing to go into attractions!

I can highly recommend Angelina for the best hot chocolate.

Angelina Paris | Accueil

Salon de thé parisien mythique de 1903, proposant des pâtisseries raffinées, une carte salée du chocolat chaud à l'ancienne dans un cadre de style Belle Époque. ☕

https://www.angelina-paris.fr/?y_source=1_MTE5MzAwODYtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D

TheSassyAmberNewt · 05/04/2025 23:18

Planning on going to Paris with my 12 yr old this summer! I’ve been watching Les Frenchies on YouTube for some tips. Enjoy :)

Badknitter · 05/04/2025 23:18

https://ticket.toureiffel.paris/en You can still buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower for next week if you wanted.

i like the hop on hop off bus tours so you get a good idea of what you’d like to see whilst having a trip round the city

Eiffel Tower : purchase a ticket – OFFICIAL ticket office

Compre ahora su billete al mejor precio desde 3,60€ hasta 35,30€ - Billetes para el 2º piso o la cima

https://ticket.toureiffel.paris/en

Outofthepan · 05/04/2025 23:21

Badknitter · 05/04/2025 23:18

https://ticket.toureiffel.paris/en You can still buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower for next week if you wanted.

i like the hop on hop off bus tours so you get a good idea of what you’d like to see whilst having a trip round the city

The bus tour is really good 😊

SiobhanSharpe · 05/04/2025 23:28

A trip down the Seine on a river boat is touristy but nice nonetheless, as long as it's dry! And it gives you a chance to take a break from all the walking.
I'm told the Musée d'Orsay is well worth a visit.
But I'm sure you'll have time to do a bit of research before you go, even if it's just on the train. You know what you and your DC will enjoy so there's not much point in just giving you a list of all the attractions.
But then again, there is this -https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/things-to-do/best-things-to-do-in-paris
Bon courage!

The 54 best things to do in Paris, tried and tested by us

Your ultimate Paris bucket list. Thank us later.

https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/things-to-do/best-things-to-do-in-paris

Notmyrealname22 · 05/04/2025 23:30

Go to ChatGPT. Tell it a bit about who is going (eg: Mum and 12yo son/daughter). A few things you enjoy doing (eg: museums, beautiful gardens, or want to eat the best croissants in Paris, etc). You could also state which area you are staying in so it finds eateries close to your accomodation. Then ask it to give you an itinerary for x days in Paris. Maybe also say if you are on a tight budget or looking for some special experiences.

Cherrysoup · 05/04/2025 23:30

Just turn up at the Eiffel Tower, but do book Catacombes now. Sacre Coeur is fab, run up the steps for shits and giggles, great crepe restaurants behind. Norte Dame is back open. Louvre if he’s into art. He might like a stroll down the Champs Elysées where all the designer shops are found. Get out of the métro at Charles de Gaulle Etoile and walk down.

BaronessBomburst · 05/04/2025 23:31

DS was a bit younger when we went. He particularly liked the boat trip down the Seine and all the cake shops.

Shallana · 05/04/2025 23:43

You can buy tickets on the day for the Eiffel tower - we visited last year and had no problem. We booked Catacomb tickets and Louvre tickets the day before - there's still tickets available for Wednesday onwards.

Iloveberets · 05/04/2025 23:46

Eiffel Tower is sold out - checked last week. Guess it’s Easter. Honestly, not bothered about that though as looking at it is enough!

OP posts:
TadpolesInPool · 05/04/2025 23:48

Do the hop on hop off boat tour. Takes you past all the major sights.

stayathomer · 05/04/2025 23:49

Montremarte is a place you climb to for the most wonderful view. Louvre is fab (mona Lisa underwhelming but amazing wandering about). We took a horse and carriage through the grounds of the palace of Versailles and it was beautiful. I’d consider Disney but plan what you want to do there beforehand, the light show late at night is mind boggling and would recommend ratatouille and crushers coaster . Best of luck op x

Delphigirl · 05/04/2025 23:51

Stroll down the rue mouffetard at lunchtime to see the fabulous food shops (300 cheese anyone) and have lunch at whichever fantastic little bistro takes your fancy. Proper Paris

abricotine · 06/04/2025 00:05

a number of friends of mine have got the Notre Dame tickets by checking first thing — 08:30 I think.

Airwaterfire · 06/04/2025 00:08

Do an early evening/twilight boat trip up the Seine (some good ones leave from the point of the Ile de la Cité) - they are great and usually timed to pass the Eiffel Tower on the hour to see the lights flash. The boat tours usually go right in front of the tower so you get a very good view.

You can get walk up tickets for the tower - we were actually surprised at how small the queues were if you go quite early in the day.

The Ile St Louis for Berthillon ice cream at the Berthillon shop is not to be missed! Then cross over the Seine for a walk round the Marais — great for window shopping and nice bistrots/cafes and the Place des Vosges is lovely. When we were there there was a nice pop up cafe in the lovely courtyard of the Musee Carnavalet.

We went last year with my 12 y o who loved it, (but she is arty and does like museums — yours may not). Saw the Louvre greatest hits & the IM Pei pyramid, the Pompidou Centre, the Musee d’Orsay, the Sainte-Chapelle. Highlights the 12 y o liked most: the Eiffel Tower, the boat trip, going on a double-decker RER train (between the tour Eiffel and the Musee d’Orsay); the ice cream; shopping at the museum shops; the Tuileries; the Pompidou; steak haché.

One funny thing about Paris (if you haven’t been for a while), is that currently, English style, food etc. are very much in fashion! So lots of adverts with English in them; lots of the city was done out with English-style grass and garden planting for the Olympics; and trying to find authentic French food is nigh on impossible because everywhere seems to be serving “fashionable” English food, Heston Blumenthal style. Think Aberdeen Angus steak with earl grey foam and “English” chips on all the upscale bistro menus! French food seems to have been temporarily replaced by burrata and heritage tomatoes, and stuff you’d expect to see at a gastropub here. And weirdly vegan salad bars are suddenly the dernier cri. So you may find it easier to get food that a 12 y o will eat than you’d think.

Enjoy! Let us know how you get on!

Airwaterfire · 06/04/2025 00:15

Oh and as well as adding lots of planting for the Olympics, the city has gone very green and clean in the centre - there are bicycle lanes everywhere and drinking water fountains and it all looks far nicer, cleaner and brighter than the Paris I remember from way back when.

All along the Seine is really nice nowadays - tapas bars with craft beer, spicy chicken wings and salad right on the riverbank, and people rollerblading along and so on. Very nice for a walk if the sun is out!

TheGaaTheSkaAndTheRa · 06/04/2025 00:32

Bus tour - open top. Unforgettable.

Ohnobackagain · 06/04/2025 00:53

@Iloveberets can you still go to the Tour de Montparnasse? That’s a very tall building and you get a good and different view including of the Eiffel tower.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/04/2025 01:24

Where are you staying ? I quite fancy the idea of a Eurostar trip to Paris but I would be clueless

Settles down to pilfer ideas from your thread

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