Paris with a teen

[Gnittensmum]

Taking my 17 year old DD to Paris for a few nights next week. Any tips on good restaurants and things to see/do?

we were too late to get Eiffel Tower tickets so going to try going on the day - any tips for avoiding a huge queue?

thank you!

What are you both in to?

The catacombs, the Louvre and Pere Lachaise cemetery.

You can get great views of Paris from the Sacre Coeur. Last entry is 8pm and there are hardly any queues then.
There’s a 5 minute light show at the Eiffel Tower every night, every hour on the hour.
I definitely recommend a one-hour Seine boat cruise. Tickets are around €15 so very good value for money.
Angelina is very touristy but it’s gorgeous. I would recommend their hot chocolate but perhaps not in this heat!
La Felicità is quirky and always has a great choice.
Pizzeria Popolare (try and book a table) does the best pizza in stunning surroundings.
La Creperie du Clown - you can’t go to Paris and not have crepes!

My kids loved the Bato Bus. Goes up and down the river and yes you can hop on and off for Louvre, Musee D’Orsay, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower. Pompidou Centre if they like art but it’s a cool building anyway.

These all sound great! Thanks guys.

Walk along champs elysees to see all the posh shops then climb up the arc de triomphe

Dont miss the Galeries Layfaette make sure you go up to the roof top there has much better view than Eiffel Tower as it’s a view of the Eiffel Tower and it’s free. Try to book on one of their free fashion shows

Wander round the Marais make sure you visit the mansions

Louis Vuitton gallery is fab too. And musee d’orsay third floor

Visited recently with same age girls.

We’ve never bothered with Eiffel Tower. Montmatre / sacre coeur is good too for views

@Gnittensmum My DD has just been to Paris. She’s older but has been several times.

She’s just been to the Louis Vuitton Foundation to see the Warhol and Basquiat exhibition. She said it was amazing. The musee D’Orsay has Degas and Manet at the moment so that’s good too if she likes art.

Take a trip down the Seine. Eiffel Tower is ok but just looking at it is iconic. Champs Élysée is not that great. Look out for Hermes, LV and Chanel! Also visit Galleries Lafayette for the ceiling. Opera Garnier is beautiful. The Left Bank is great for restaurants and mooching. Have a great time.

We're taking teens to Paris for couple of nights so I have jumper on this thread, thanks @Gnittensmum😊
I've been wondering about a Paris pass type thing for attractions and travel. Has anyone got experience/recommendations please. We're only there for two days. TIA

Some really awesome ideas here! LV foundation sounds right up her street!

Eiffel Tower is fun, opera house for a tour and their foyer ceiling is amazing, pluny (Pliny?) where they have woman with unicorn tapestries, Pompidou centre, Le Marais and also has good falafel restaurants there. Victor Hugo house. Maxims if you have money! Can also do day trip to monets house at Giverny. Think left bank has flea market.

We didn’t bother with a pass. Our teens don’t like incessant sight seeing so you need to tread carefully and not overdo that.

Overheard dd16 and her mate talking about paris friend was moaning that it was crap as her mum marched her round all sights. Dd said she had a great time as we went to glam shops and only one gallery that was really good. Felt smug! Purpose is to have fun not tick the boxes.

The shops I mentioned are not in Champs Elysee. Look elsewhere for chic shopping. Eg Rue Saint Honore has a Louboutin store. Also I forgot to mention Fauchon. Window displays and food to die for!! Place de la Madeleine. Especially the cakes. Sacre Couer and Montmartre is iconic too. Just a bit touristy.

My teens liked looking at the big stores of the champs elysees there’s a Sephora there too

Sephora are everywhere. 27 stores around Paris. Paris is about window shopping high end French stores. Their window displays are fantastic. Plenty of options for cheaper brands on any street.

Yes we were not shopping there!

That said they both got one decent thing from the galeries Lafayette which they loved Dd uses the bag we got there daily so if the budget it’s worth getting one decent thing somewhere special rather than lots of tat.

Great advice and tips on where to go. Thanks everyone, esp @TheaBrandt

Food wise Dh booked a fancy restaurant but we end up cancelling it. Teens much preferred the authentic local bistros near where we staying with simpler albeit delicious French food full of lively locals rather than haute cuisine.

Fauchon is a deli. It certainly does coffee and cakes. At a price. They are world of art though.

We didn’t book special restaurants when DDs were teens. The Michelin Guide has excellent recommendations at all price points. Plenty don’t have stars!!

Maxims? Tourist trap.

My fancy restaurant is Alcazar. Nice to get dressed up.

Sacre Coeur and all the little streets behind, fun to get the metro at least once.

The Bateau Bus is great and I LOVE an open top bus tour in any city.

You won't miss going up the Eiffel Tower just make sure you see the light show!

Eat croque Monsieur anywhere for lunch and people watch.

I love Paris. Watch your purse though, especially at Gard du Nord.

I agree with La Felicità - we ended up there 2 nights running with our teens

Chartier for lunch - old fashioned French brasserie, food fairly basic but it's gorgeous. Stay around the Latin Quarter and have a picnic on the banks of the Seine at sundown with all the Uni students. Last time we were there with kids they were 14 and 19 and loved it.

If they have any artistic interests, then the Musee Marmatton Monet. If their history studies included the Holocaust, then the Shoah Memorial.

We got short notice Eiffel Tower tickets from Lastminute.com.