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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Paris with a teen

13 replies

Pullywoolover1 · 17/05/2025 19:44

Hi all, hoping for some Mumsnet expertise on things to do with dd 13 on a trip to Paris. I know the city well, but this is my first time going with a teen - I’m feeling the pressure to make this a brilliant trip for her. She’s into beauty, fashion, possibly could be persuaded by something cultural. I’d be so grateful for your must-see or do top tips l. What can I plan that will make me the coolest mother everrrrr? (Clearly I am not!)

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Forgottenmyphone · 17/05/2025 20:08

Hot chocolate and cake at Angelina. It’s a must, even if it’s 25+ degrees! The best you’ll ever have!
The light show at the Eiffel Tower is quite memorable.
Pink Mamma is a very pretty and instagramable restaurant.
The vintage sidecar tour was great fun. We did it fairly early on Sunday morning when there was little traffic so we got some great pics! https://txangotours.com/en/
Musee de Parfum is a tiny museum with a very affordable perfume making class. My girls absolutely loved this. You get to make your own perfume to take home. It’s across the street from Galeries Lafayette, which is a massive department store and quite fun just for a browse.

Forgottenmyphone · 17/05/2025 20:08

How long are you going for?

Forgottenmyphone · 17/05/2025 20:10

If you’re going in the summer, there’s an annual funfair in Tuileries Garden. Lots of rides, games, slushies… Tons of fun.

Pullywoolover1 · 17/05/2025 22:17

Amazing, thank you! I will investigate those - the perfume museum sounds right up her street.

we’re going for three days.

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FrodoBiggins · 17/05/2025 22:20

Forgottenmyphone · 17/05/2025 20:08

Hot chocolate and cake at Angelina. It’s a must, even if it’s 25+ degrees! The best you’ll ever have!
The light show at the Eiffel Tower is quite memorable.
Pink Mamma is a very pretty and instagramable restaurant.
The vintage sidecar tour was great fun. We did it fairly early on Sunday morning when there was little traffic so we got some great pics! https://txangotours.com/en/
Musee de Parfum is a tiny museum with a very affordable perfume making class. My girls absolutely loved this. You get to make your own perfume to take home. It’s across the street from Galeries Lafayette, which is a massive department store and quite fun just for a browse.

While you're at Galeries Lafayette, make sure to see the glass dome (which you will as it's directly above the perfumes) and then go to the top floor for a mocktail (you can have a real one 😉) on the roof terrace! Or even if you don't want a drink, the roof is great and free to access. Gorgeous views of the Opera, plus Eiffel tour on one side and Montmartre on the other.

TranquilWater · 18/05/2025 18:41

Would your daughter enjoy visiting the various fashion house museums? I know both Dior and Yves St Laurent have them.

BnmLK · 18/05/2025 19:08

It's worth booking the Dior exhibition if it's still on. I think it's just off the Champs Elysees.

fuzzwuss · 18/05/2025 19:16

I went with DD (14) and we went to the Fragonard Perfume workshop thing in their museum which she liked. Galeries Lafayette, and tickets for the top of the Eifel tower,(get them well in advance). Definitely also the Louvre,maybe more for the building than the art, but we had a good time.

Oriunda · 19/05/2025 04:38

I live there. I rinse the fashion expos. Dior is one of the best, imho. You could then go to the takeout counter at Ladurée on the Champs-Elysées, and have your coffee and macaron at the seats there, rather than the overpriced seating.

If still on, Louvre Couture is amazing. Usual Louvre ticket, but head to Richelieu wing. Haute-couture dresses interspersed amidst beautiful things.

Louis Vuitton’s LV Dreams expo is free and good for teens, as not too long. There’s a cafe serving expensive cakes with LV logo, with fab view of the Seine. Much cooler than Angelina. It’s directly opposite La Samaritaine, which is a lovely department store. Book your slot here https://lvdream.seetickets.com/timeslot/lv-dream

Another free place is Le Petit Palais. Great pit stop on the CE, with decent loos and cafe. Current (paid) expo is Worth. Free art and sculpture museum that’s not too long.

Other fashion museums abound, depending on taste. The YSL is not as interesting as Dior, but still ok. Then there’s the Alaia gallery. The Paris fashion museum is good: https://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr - just check out what their current expo is.

Fragonard Musée is free, pretty, and kills 30 minutes. There are mini workshops you can do to create your perfume. It ends in their store, but this is crazy full of tourists. You’ll get a better browsing and service experience just round the corner at their flagship store on Rue Boudrée, just off Auber RER.

Food-wise, the Pink Mamma chain as mentioned above is great. You need to book or be prepared to queue. My top tip for teens would be La Felicità; it’s part of said Pink Mamma chain, but is in an enormous industrial space. Think huge food court. The loos are very, very instagrammable.

Free viewpoint is the Pompidou Centre. This is closing in September, but you might be able to access the viewing gallery still (no charge to get up there).

If your teen can bear some culture, the Fondation Louis Vuitton always has great expos, plus you can then exit into the Jardin des Acclimatation for free. Gorgeous gardens, some fairground rides, mini zoo and aviary, lovely Korean gardens with deckchairs. Very peaceful spot for a picnic.

Or, the current expo at Musée Jacques Branly (next to Tour Eiffel) is called ‘Fil d’Or’. It’s amazing… so good, I’m going again. It traces the history of gold, but with a special emphasis on haute couture. The golden dresses and costumes are just stunning. The museum restaurant is very nice (in a chic, Parisien ladies who lunch way), and the gardens have the best view of the Tour Eiffel for that photo op.

Page d'accueil

Palais Galliera · 10 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie 75116 Paris · Gagnez du temps. Avant de vous déplacer, vérifiez l'affluence en temps réel.

https://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr

Oriunda · 19/05/2025 04:46

Oh, one more thing, that my 13 yo son loves, and our visitors have always enjoyed. The virtual reality Notre Dame experience is not cheap, but absolutely amazing. We’ve done it twice. It’s called Ephemère Notre Dame. The actual church itself is, of course, worth revisiting. It’s simply stunning after the renovations.

Pullywoolover1 · 19/05/2025 11:09

This is all marvellous, thank you SO much, everyone, for taking the time to share these tips and recommendations - I’m hugely grateful to you all for boosting my cool points with dd 😊

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Pullywoolover1 · 19/05/2025 16:14

Booked! Thank you ⭐️

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