3-day trip to Paris with 12-year-old

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We're taking our daughter to Paris for a short break. We arrive at Gare du Nord on a Friday around 5 pm and are staying nearby. We leave on Sunday around 4 pm.

What would you do during that time and can you recommend any nice restaurants? Our daughter is very adventurous with food and likes the good stuff (no kids food). She'll probably avoid museums as we've got so little time - I think our priority is giving her a feel for the city.

Any thoughts?

Any ideas?

OP, I wrote you a nice long reply, went to check a link and my reply disappeared! I'll start again.

I took DD12 for her visit to Paris last July for five days (which included museums). Ou our first day, we went to the rooftop of Galeries Lafayette for a view of the city which included the Eiffel Tower (and is therefore better than the view from the tower itself). We took this boat trip down the Seine which was recommended on here: www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/cruises/. We went up the Eiffel Tower on the basis that if she went on her first trip, she would never need to go again. I wasn't able to book advance tickets but we queued up on the day. The queue for the stairs to the second level and then the top is shorter than the one for the lift all the way.

Other than that we walked down the Champs Elysee, around the Tuileries and Montmarte. We could have easily spent a whole day in Montmarte. I loosely followed this route but there are plenty of others online: www.solosophie.com/montmartre-walking-tour/.

This doesn't fit your brief for a feel for the city but the Catacombs were a hit with DD. Food-wise, she's not very adventurous but we enjoyed quintessentially Parisian hot chocolate and pastries from Angelina and macaroons from Pierre Herme.

I took my 12 year old DD a couple of years ago. Eiffel tower was a hit. Boat ride of the Seine as well - we went in the early evening which was great as all the young people were lining the river bank, dancing etc. Great Paris vibe. Don't prebook boats - you end up being unnecessarily restricted.
We did a fox trails treasure hunt type tour. This was a great way to explore Paris esp the little corners you might miss as a tourist, and plenty of patisseries to stop off at en route to recharge!

You don’t really have 3 days. You have a full day and then a short day. Tourist Paris is pretty easy. River Trip ticks lots of boxes. Eifel Tower is good. Montmartre is fun. A museum will take up a lot of time. I would stick to looking at interesting areas. Not sure if Lonely Plsnet recommends walking tours but these books are usually great.

Some great ideas here, thanks! Love the Galeries Lafayette suggestion. A cruise might work as a quick way to get to see some of the main interesting ideas - going in the evening is a great tip, thanks.

Yes: it's a very short trip... I wish we had more time!

Take her to Chartier for lunch if you can, nothing amazing about the food but it is a uniquely Parisian experience. The building is stunning and the waiters are true old style French waiters.