14 Things To Do In Paris With Teens
Tried and tested with our son Dylan, from the Catacombs to a real boulangerie baking class
Paris is genuinely great with a teenager if you plan it right. We have visited with our son Dylan since he was 6, returning again and again and refining what actually keeps him engaged from morning to night. The mistake most families make is trying to do everything. Paris rewards a slower, more selective approach: mix iconic landmarks with hands-on experiences, throw in a few weird and surprising stops and suddenly the whole city feels alive, even for a 14-year-old who does not care about museums.
Below are the 14 things to do in Paris with a teenager that consistently worked for us, ordered by how much Dylan loved them, with honest planning notes so you can skip the queues and the mistakes we made early on.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend experiences we would do ourselves.
Quick Overview: Best Things To Do In Paris With Teens
- Climb (or ice skate on!) the Eiffel Tower
- Explore the Paris Catacombs
- Take a baking class at a real boulangerie
- Cruise the Seine at night
- Wander the street art and shops of Le Marais
- Go underground at the Sewer Museum
- Spend a morning at the Centre Pompidou
- Browse the Marche aux Puces flea market
- Visit the Louvre but keep it short and focused
- Climb to Sacre-Coeur and explore Montmartre
- Rent bikes along the Seine
- Shop and people-watch on Rue de Rivoli
- Do a chocolate or macaron workshop
- Explore a food market in the Latin Quarter
If you are planning a longer France trip with teens, our guides to Versailles with kids, the Champagne region and Burgundy pair perfectly with a Paris base.
1. Climb the Eiffel Tower (Or Ice Skate On It)
The Eiffel Tower is iconic for a reason and teenagers are usually more impressed than they let on. Long lines can drain the fun fast, so book timed-entry tickets online well in advance. This is non-negotiable, especially in summer. You can climb the stairs to the second floor (a good energy outlet for restless teens) or take the elevator all the way to the summit. One year we visited in winter and discovered the Eiffel Tower has an ice skating rink on the first-floor terrace. Dylan still talks about it. It runs from November through February and is free with your tower entry ticket. Even if you skip the climb, Champ de Mars park below is perfect for a picnic or simply letting your teen decompress between sightseeing stops.
2. Explore the Paris Catacombs
Of everything we have done in Paris, the Catacombs left the biggest impression on Dylan. In the late 1700s, Paris's overflowing cemeteries were a public health crisis. The solution: move the remains of more than six million people into the city's old limestone quarry tunnels beneath the streets. The bones are now meticulously arranged into walls, pillars and patterns that stretch for miles underground. It is quiet, eerie and completely fascinating. Teenagers who are curious about history, true crime or just the genuinely unusual tend to be fully absorbed by it. The standard visit takes about 45 minutes to an hour. The underground temperature stays around 14 degrees Celsius year-round, so bring a layer even in summer.
3. Take a Baking Class at a Real Boulangerie
This was one of the biggest surprises of our trips: our teenager was more enthusiastic about baking croissants than about the Louvre. Paris has several hands-on boulangerie workshops where you learn to make baguettes, croissants and pain au chocolat from scratch, with a real baker, in a working bakery. You get to take home what you bake and eating it warm on the walk back is the best part. The experience connects food to place in a way that teens actually remember. Look for classes with small group sizes: 8 to 12 participants gives a much better experience than a large tourist group.
Practical tip: Viator and Airbnb Experiences both have well-reviewed Paris baking classes with flexible cancellation. Filter for “small group” for the best experience. Prices typically run 80 to 130 euros per person.
4. Cruise the Seine at Night
Seeing Paris from the river is a completely different experience and the evening cruises are the best version of it. As the sun goes down, the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour, the bridges glow and the whole city takes on a cinematic quality. Even teens who have spent the day acting unimpressed tend to go quiet and actually look. Most cruises run 60 to 90 minutes and leave from near the Trocadero or Pont de l'Alma. We prefer the open-air decks even in cool weather. It feels more alive and you get a better view.
Practical tip: The 9pm or 10pm cruise times catch the Eiffel Tower sparkle show. Tickets are around 15 to 20 euros per person. Arrive 20 minutes early for the best deck spots.
5. Explore Le Marais: Street Art, Shops and Falafel
Le Marais is our favorite neighborhood in Paris and teenagers almost universally love it. It is a dense, walkable mix of vintage clothing boutiques, independent bookshops, street art murals and some of the best food in the city. Key stops with teens: street art along Rue du Temple, the covered Marche des Enfants Rouges (Paris's oldest covered market, great for lunch), the falafel spots on Rue des Rosiers and Place des Vosges for a sit-down break. Budget 3 to 4 hours to wander properly. This is also one of the best neighborhoods to give a teenager a little independent time: hand them a budget and let them explore a block or two while you find a cafe.
6. Go Underground at the Paris Sewer Museum
If your teenager is into the weird and fascinating, the Paris Sewer Museum (Musee des Egouts de Paris) is genuinely worth a detour. It takes you below street level into the real, working underground tunnels that have run beneath the city for centuries. It is part history, part engineering and part gross-out experience, which hits differently than any regular museum. You will see old tools, historical maps and walk through actual sewage passages. The smell is real but manageable. The museum explains how the system was built under Haussmann's grand renovation of Paris in the 1850s and how it still operates today.
Practical tip: Located near Pont de l'Alma on the Left Bank. Entry is around 8 to 10 euros. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Pairs well with the Seine cruise in the same evening.
7. Visit the Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou is one of the most visually striking buildings in Europe. The infrastructure that most buildings hide (pipes, escalators and air ducts) is all on the outside, painted in bold colors. Teenagers interested in art, photography, architecture or design usually find it immediately arresting. Inside, the rotating modern and contemporary art collection always has something unexpected. The top-floor terrace has sweeping views across Paris that rival most paid observation decks. The surrounding Piazza Beaubourg is a constant hub of street performers and skaters.
Practical tip: Under-18s from the EU get free entry. The museum cafe on the top floor is worth a stop for the view alone. Book tickets online to avoid queues. Closed on Tuesdays.
8. Browse the Marche aux Puces Flea Market
The Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen is one of the largest flea markets in the world and it is full of personality. From vintage Levi's and retro sneakers to old vinyl records, antique posters and genuinely bizarre collectibles, there is something around every corner. Even if you do not buy anything, wandering the maze of stalls for a couple of hours is an experience in itself. Teenagers who are into fashion, music or vintage culture tend to go wild here. Haggling is acceptable and part of the experience. Budget 20 to 40 euros per teen for browsing money.
Practical tip: Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Take Metro Line 13 to Garibaldi or Porte de Saint-Ouen. Go in the morning for the best selection. Watch your pockets in the crowded lanes.
9. Visit the Louvre (But Keep It Short and Focused)
The Louvre is incredible, but trying to do the whole thing with a teenager is a recipe for a meltdown. The museum has over 35,000 works across 9km of gallery space. Pick 3 or 4 anchor pieces you genuinely want to see and build your route around those. Our go-to shortlist: the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Egyptian and Greek antiquities. Teenagers consistently find the mummies and ancient artifacts more engaging than the paintings. Use the Louvre's free app to navigate. Aim for 2 to 2.5 hours maximum, exit for lunch before anyone hits a wall and you will all remember it fondly.
Practical tip: Book timed-entry tickets at louvre.fr. EU residents under 18 enter free. Friday evenings after 6pm are less crowded. Enter via the Richelieu entrance rather than the pyramid if you have a pre-booked ticket.
10. Climb to Sacre-Coeur and Explore Montmartre
Montmartre has a completely different energy from the rest of Paris. It is hilly, slightly chaotic, full of artists and feels less polished than the grand boulevards below. The walk up to Sacre-Coeur (or the funicular ride if legs are tired) rewards you with one of the best panoramic views in Paris. After the basilica, explore Place du Tertre, find the famous Amelie cafe (Cafe des Deux Moulins) and walk down through the vineyard and the quieter residential streets on the back of the hill. Montmartre rewards wandering without a fixed route.
11. Rent Bikes Along the Seine
Paris has an excellent public bike scheme (Velib') and several stretches of dedicated riverside cycling paths. Riding along the Seine on a sunny morning, with Notre-Dame on your left and the Ile Saint-Louis ahead, gives you a ground-level perspective that no bus tour replicates. Teenagers who get restless with walking love the change of pace. The stretch from the Trocadero to the Marais is particularly good: about 5km, mostly flat, passing major landmarks. Velib' bikes can be unlocked with a credit card directly from the docking station.
12. Shop and People-Watch on Rue de Rivoli
Rue de Rivoli is Paris's great shopping boulevard, running from the Tuileries Garden all the way to the Marais, with arcade-covered pavements that keep you dry in the rain. The covered section near the Louvre has a particularly nice blend of bookshops, poster stores and boutiques that teenagers can browse without feeling rushed. Stop at W.H. Smith for English-language books, one of the few places in Paris to find a good selection. It is a good one for teens who want to browse familiar brands alongside independent shops, and a natural end or start to a Louvre visit.
13. Do a Chocolate or Macaron Workshop
A chocolate or macaron workshop is a fantastic 2-hour activity that teens actively look forward to. You will learn tempering, piping and decoration techniques from a professional pastry chef, then take your creations home (or eat them on the way back). Several Paris ateliers specifically cater to families and teens. Look for ones with English-speaking instructors if your French is limited. Prices range from 70 to 130 euros per person depending on the class length and the atelier.
14. Explore a Food Market in the Latin Quarter
The Marche Maubert in the 5th arrondissement (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) and the Marche Monge (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) are two excellent neighborhood food markets that feel genuinely local rather than touristy. Wandering stalls of cheese, charcuterie, fresh produce, rotisserie chicken and crepes is a full sensory experience and a great way to let teenagers try unusual French foods with zero pressure. This pairs naturally with a stroll through the Latin Quarter past the Sorbonne and down to the Seine. It is a slower, cheaper morning that recharges everyone before the afternoon's main event.
Paris with Teenagers: What Things Cost
| Activity | Approx. Cost (per person) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower (summit) | 29 to 35 euros | Book online; cheaper with stairs-only ticket |
| Paris Catacombs | 15 to 29 euros | Higher price for guided tours; book in advance |
| Boulangerie baking class | 80 to 130 euros | Includes all ingredients; you keep what you make |
| Seine cruise (evening) | 15 to 22 euros | 1-hour sightseeing cruises are best value |
| Centre Pompidou | Free to 15 euros | Free for EU residents under 18 |
| Louvre | Free to 22 euros | Free for EU residents under 18; free for all on first Sunday of the month |
| Sewer Museum | 8 to 10 euros | One of Paris's best-value museums |
| Marche aux Puces | Free entry | Budget spending money for browsing |
| Velib' bikes (2 hours) | 5 to 8 euros | First 30 min free with subscription; per-use rates vary |
Planning Paris With a Teenager: What Actually Matters
Best time to visit
Spring (April and May) and fall (September and October) are ideal: fewer crowds, mild weather and easier restaurant bookings. Winter is magical for the Christmas markets and Eiffel Tower ice skating. Summer is lively but can be very hot and crowded.
Getting around
The Metro is easy, safe and fast. Buy a carnet of 10 tickets or use the Navigo card for unlimited travel. Buses are slower but let you see the city while traveling. For outer areas, rideshares and taxis work well.
Where to stay
Le Marais, Saint-Germain and near the Eiffel Tower are the best family bases: all walkable, safe and central. For more space and better value, Airbnbs in the Bastille or Republique areas are both well-connected to everything.
Food with teens
Casual cafes, crepe stands and bakeries are teen-approved and inexpensive (5 to 12 euros). Let your teenager order in French even imperfectly. Stop for a pastry more than once a day. There is no such thing as too many croissants in Paris.
Skip-the-line tickets
For Paris in summer or over school holidays, skip-the-line tickets are worth every euro. Viator and GetYourGuide both offer flexible cancellation booking for the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Catacombs.
Getting to Paris
CDG is the main international airport; Orly is smaller and closer to the city. Both connect via the RER train or taxi/rideshare. If you are flying with carry-on only, check our European carry-on size guide: rules vary significantly between airlines on short-haul routes.
Where To Stay in Paris With Teens
Getting the base right makes a real difference with teens. You want somewhere central enough that you are not spending the first hour of every day on the Metro, and in a neighborhood lively enough that they feel engaged the moment you step outside.
Le Marais (4th arrondissement)
Our top pick for families with teenagers. Walkable, full of street art and independent shops, and within easy reach of most of the activities in this guide. The neighborhood itself is part of the experience.
Saint-Germain-des-Pres (6th arrondissement)
Quieter and more elegant than Le Marais. A short walk to the Seine, the Louvre and the Latin Quarter food markets. Great if you want a calmer base with easy access to everything.
Near the Eiffel Tower (7th and 15th arrondissements)
Works well if the Eiffel Tower is the centerpiece of your trip. Slightly further from Le Marais and the Catacombs but you wake up to that view, which counts for something. Tends to have more space for the price.
We have stayed across all three areas and written up our full recommendations by neighborhood, budget and what each property is actually like. If you are still deciding where to base yourselves, our Paris hotels guide covers it all.
FAQ About Paris With Teenagers
Is Paris good for teenagers?
Yes. Paris is a fantastic city for teenagers when you mix iconic sights with hands-on experiences. Skip the marathon museum visits and instead blend movement, food, street art and a few quirky stops like the Catacombs or Sewer Museum. Teens who feel engaged (not dragged around) consistently enjoy Paris.
What is the best age to take a teenager to Paris?
The sweet spot is roughly 12 to 17. At this age they can appreciate the history of the Catacombs, enjoy the food independently and navigate the Metro with you. Older teens (16 to 17) often love the freedom of wandering Le Marais or the flea market on their own.
How much does a trip to Paris with a teenager cost per day?
A realistic daily budget per person (excluding accommodation and flights) is 80 to 150 euros. This covers two or three paid attractions, lunch, dinner, transport and incidentals. Many Paris museums are free for EU residents under 18 and free for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month.
Is the Paris Metro safe for teenagers?
Yes. The Metro is safe and easy to use. The system uses a simple numbered line map and most stations have English signage. Pick-pocketing is the main thing to be aware of, especially on busy lines like Line 1 near tourist sights.
Can teenagers visit the Paris Catacombs?
Yes, and most teens love it. Not recommended for very young children or those with claustrophobia, but curious teenagers typically find the underground ossuary fascinating. Book tickets online well in advance as they sell out fast, especially in summer.
What neighborhoods are best for staying in Paris with teenagers?
Le Marais is our top pick: central, walkable, full of street art, cool shops and great food. Saint-Germain-des-Pres is quieter but elegant and well-located. Near the Eiffel Tower works well if that is your priority. All three are safe, transit-connected and teen-friendly.
How many days do you need in Paris with a teenager?
A minimum of 4 full days for a first visit. That gives you enough time to hit the main highlights without rushing, roughly one big attraction per morning and a neighborhood to explore each afternoon. Five to six days is ideal if you want to add day trips to Versailles or Champagne.
More Family-Friendly France Guides
If you are building a longer France trip around Paris, these guides will help you plan the rest of your route.
Versailles with Teenagers – What to focus on for a half-day or full day
The Champagne Region – Vineyard visits and fizzy fun, an easy day trip from Paris
Exploring Provence with Kids – Lavender fields, hilltop villages and market towns
Alsace in Every Season – Storybook villages, wine routes and Christmas markets