What can you do in Paris with teenagers? Now that our children are older, their tastes and interests have changed. Whenever we return to Paris, we try to plan activities they will enjoy. We visit the capital often, so we have explored — and revisited — quite a few places. Here is a list of places and activities that Ticoeur and Titpuce (aged 14 and 16) enjoyed. I hope these 12 ideas will make your teenagers fall in love with Paris!
1 – See Paris from the rooftops of the department stores
Paris 9th arrondissement – métro: Chaussée d’Antin or Opéra – free – For teenagers who enjoy a “wow” factor, shopping and architecture.
Head to the rooftops of Galeries Lafayette and Printemps for magnificent free views across Paris. Your teenagers may also be tempted by a shopping session in these famous Parisian department stores.
Galeries Lafayette
Make your way to the eighth floor. On the way up, admire the monumental Art Nouveau glass dome. Once outside, the terrace offers a panorama of the Palais Garnier and far beyond. This was Titpuce’s favourite view.
Printemps
Head to the seventh floor for another superb panorama of Paris, from a slightly different angle and still with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. When you reach the rooftop, you will first notice the Veuve Clicquot bar, but you need to order something to sit on its terrace. To enjoy the rooftop for free, walk through the designer clothing shop and take the other door leading to the public section:
2 – The Paris Catacombs
Paris 14th arrondissement – métro: Denfert-Rochereau – admission charge – For teenagers who enjoy unusual places and underground adventures.
This unusual visit was a big hit with our teenagers! Head beneath Paris into a labyrinth of former quarries containing the bones of millions of Parisians. At the end of the 18th century, some Parisian quarries were used to store bones after several cemeteries were closed for public-health reasons.
I was surprised by how methodically the bones were sorted: femurs with femurs, skulls with skulls, and so on. The catacombs I had visited previously in Italy contained complete skeletons. An audio guide is included. Allow about one hour for the visit.
Please note: timed tickets are released online seven days in advance, and booking is strongly recommended. Check current information and prices on the official Paris Catacombs website.
3 – Street art in Paris
For teenagers who enjoy urban art and unusual sightseeing.
Our teenagers found two places particularly interesting for discovering street art in Paris:
La Butte aux Cailles
Paris 13th arrondissement – free
Near Place d’Italie métro station is a small hill that few tourists know: La Butte aux Cailles. This picturesque neighbourhood has little cobbled streets, old houses and plenty of street art on its walls! We think many of the works are excellent. Between the charm of the area and its urban art, there is a lot to catch your eye. You will see work by well-known artists, including the celebrated Parisian artist Miss.Tic and Seth (Julien Malland). Allow about one hour. There are plenty of café and restaurant terraces for a break in this typically Parisian neighbourhood.
Where to stay in La Butte aux Cailles? Try Beauquartier – Butte aux Cailles aparthotel.
The Tuileries Tunnel
Paris 1st arrondissement – métro: Concorde – free
This has a completely different feel: there is no pretty neighbourhood to explore, but instead an underground atmosphere along the 800-metre Tuileries Tunnel, which is filled with street art. Many of the works feature superheroes or manga characters. Another advantage is that the tunnel offers a long, cool respite on a hot summer’s day!
We entered near Place de la Concorde on Quai Aimé-Césaire and came out near Pont Neuf on Voie Georges-Pompidou. You can, of course, walk the route in the opposite direction.
4 – Musée d’Orsay
Paris 7th arrondissement – métro: Solférino or RER station Musée d’Orsay – free for under-18s and eligible 18–25-year-old EU/EEA residents – For teenagers who enjoy art, architecture and Lupin!
My children have always enjoyed visiting the Louvre, but now that they are teenagers they prefer the Musée d’Orsay. Here, they can discover Impressionism, which is more approachable than some other artistic movements. Ticoeur and Titpuce particularly enjoyed paintings by Van Gogh, Claude Monet and Renoir.
The building itself is magnificent: a former railway station covered by a vast glass roof. The giant clock makes a wonderful setting for photographs over Paris, and teenagers may recognise it if they have watched Lupin on Netflix.
Check opening times and current admission conditions on the Musée d’Orsay website. Closed on Mondays.
5 – Le Marais
Paris 3rd arrondissement – métro: Saint-Paul – For teenagers who enjoy a “wow” factor and shopping.
Wandering around Le Marais is a delight for teenagers: it is a picturesque walk through some of Paris’s oldest and most charming streets. It is also full of independent designer shops selling clothes, jewellery and fashionable gadgets. Titpuce particularly enjoys our shopping trips in Le Marais. You will also find plenty of café terraces for a pleasant break, secluded little squares and excellent museums (Musée Carnavalet, Musée Picasso, Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature and Maison de Victor Hugo). Do not miss Place des Vosges, an absolutely beautiful square lined with matching stone-and-red-brick façades. Its formal central garden is lovely, and cafés and art shops sit beneath the surrounding arcades.
Stay in Le Marais? This ideally located apartment for five is a perfect base for exploring the neighbourhood and has a beautiful view.
6 – Maison de Victor Hugo
Paris 4th arrondissement – métro: Saint-Paul – admission charge at present – For teenagers studying Victor Hugo’s work or interested in historic Parisian interiors.
When Ticoeur studied Les Misérables at secondary school, I took him to Victor Hugo’s former home on the magnificent Place des Vosges I have just mentioned. Visiting the places where famous writers lived is always an interesting way to enter their world. The rooms reveal that Victor Hugo was also an accomplished artist and craftsman: he loved searching for pieces of furniture and turning the wood into sculptures. He was also a talented draughtsman, and you can admire his work in pencil, charcoal and ink. Even if you do not know Victor Hugo’s books very well, the apartment offers a fascinating glimpse of a wealthy Parisian interior in the 19th century. Check opening times and current prices on the Maison de Victor Hugo website.
7 – Musée Carnavalet
Paris 3rd arrondissement – métro: Saint-Paul – permanent collection free for everyone – For teenagers curious about Paris and historic Parisian interiors.
This museum is devoted to the history of Paris. Renovated in 2021, Musée Carnavalet displays a wide range of objects and collections covering many subjects, all connected to the city. Its galleries form an eclectic sequence. Not everything held our attention, but we recommend this free museum; you can simply move quickly through the rooms that do not interest your teenagers. Ours particularly enjoyed the displays recreating the interiors of old Parisian homes. They are perfect for imagining life in the past! Visit the Musée Carnavalet website.
8 – Musée Rodin
Paris 7th arrondissement – métro: Varenne – admission charge – For teenagers who enjoy art.
Titpuce is the artist in our family, and she recommends the Musée Rodin! It is a beautiful museum, both for its collection of sculptures by Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel and for the charm of the setting. The gardens are magnificent — a haven of peace in Paris. You will encounter Rodin’s famous Thinker while enjoying views of the Eiffel Tower.
9 – Atelier des Lumières
Paris 11th arrondissement – métro: Rue Saint-Maur – admission charge – For teenagers who enjoy immersive experiences.
I am including the Atelier des Lumières because Titpuce enjoyed it very much. Personally, I have more mixed feelings. If you have already seen the light shows in the quarries at Les Baux-de-Provence or at Bassins des Lumières in Bordeaux, you may find it a little disappointing because the setting is not nearly as spectacular. It is essentially a large rectangular hall. That said, it is enjoyable to rediscover works by great masters projected to music and light. If you decide to go, choose a quiet, off-season weekday if possible, as crowds are the other potential drawback.
2026 programme: “Renaissance”, featuring works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo, runs from 13 March to 13 October 2026 on selected days. Check the current timetable before visiting.
For your information, there is a good little restaurant just around the corner from Atelier des Lumières: Diggity.
10 – Musée des Égouts de Paris
Paris 7th arrondissement – métro: Alma-Marceau – free for under-18s and under-26s from EU countries – For teenagers who enjoy unusual places.
This is an original visit that appeals to teenagers because it feels like an exploration of the city underground. It is unusual and interesting. I should add that Ticoeur was the one who enjoyed it most — perhaps because of his interest in engineering? Titpuce, meanwhile, was struck by the smell! It certainly made a lasting impression on her.
It is also worth knowing that this is somewhere you can always find some relief during a heatwave.
11 – Experience Japan in the heart of Paris
For teenagers who enjoy Japanese culture and food.
Our teenagers love food from around the world, especially Asian cuisine, so we always take the opportunity to eat in Asian restaurants when we are in Paris. Japan fascinates them most of all. For an immersive experience, we had lunch at Kodawari Ramen (12 Rue de Richelieu, Paris 1st): a Japanese noodle restaurant that immediately transported us to Japan! The décor is very convincing — it feels like Tokyo’s fish market. The children loved it! There is another branch inspired by old Tokyo streets and decorated with small lanterns (Kodawari Ramen, 29 Rue Mazarine, Paris 6th), serving meat-based broths. You cannot book, so it is best to arrive 15 minutes before opening and choose a weekday lunchtime.
12 – A Paris-themed escape room
Paris 19th arrondissement – métro: Stalingrad or Jaurès – admission charge – For playing together!
An escape room is an excellent family activity with teenagers: playful and entertaining, and even better when the game has a Paris theme! The benchmark is Le Magicien de Paris, which takes you into the capital’s underworld in the Cité des Martyrs. It is suitable from age 12, for two to six players, lasts 70 minutes and is available in French or English. It is best to book several days ahead.
There are, of course, many other escape rooms throughout the capital, in every arrondissement and covering all kinds of themes.
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And the great classics that appeal at any age!
Children and adults alike are fascinated by Paris’s essential sights. Even as teenagers, our children never tire of:
- The Eiffel Tower, which they enjoyed climbing on foot to the second floor for a more active visit!
- Montmartre: for its village atmosphere and the artists on Place du Tertre. Titpuce likes watching them draw portraits.
- Palais Garnier: Titpuce recommends visiting this magnificent building to everyone who, like her, loves classical ballet!
Find all the great classics in my article:
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What about you? Are you coming to Paris with teenagers soon? What are you planning to visit?
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