With just 4 days in Paris, our selection had to be just right in order to maximize our time and provide a lasting experience for our teenage children. If you are looking for things to do in Paris, this is the article for you.
It’s a balancing act between museums and shopping, Eiffel Tower selfies, macarons, and metro rides — but our recent trip showed it can be magical. With a mix of iconic attractions, hidden gems, and a few honest misses, our four-day itinerary was full of experiences we’ll always remember... and a couple we’d approach differently next time.
Where We Stayed: A Calm, Chic Retreat in Saint-Germain
We based ourselves at Villa des Prés Paris in Saint-Germain, and honestly, we couldn’t have picked a better location. This Left Bank neighborhood strikes the perfect balance between elegance and ease — close to everything yet tucked away enough to feel calm. The hotel had a boutique feeling, and our favorite post-exploring routine became an evening swim and sauna. Total bliss after miles of walking.
Day 1: Arrival, Classic French Dining & Eiffel Tower at Night
After settling in, we kicked things off with a walk to Brasserie Lipp — an old-school Parisian restaurant serving traditional French cuisine in a historic setting. Think white tablecloths, wood-paneled walls, and locals who’ve been dining there forever. It was a perfect first-night experience: escargot, steak frites, duck — quintessentially Parisian. Make reservations in advance!
After dinner we took a stroll, passing through beautiful, park-like areas and then along the Seine as we made our way to the Eiffel Tower, catching its sparkle at the top of the hour — a magical way to kick off our trip. We didn’t have tickets to go up this time, but we’ll definitely do that on our next visit.
We headed to bed around 10 p.m. but woke up at 3 a.m. thanks to jet lag. Our kids were starving, so we wandered across the street to the always-buzzing Le Mabillon, where the night crowd was still going strong. Cheeseburgers, duck, and an omelet hit the spot.
Day 2: Le Marais Shopping & a So-So Food Tour
We dove into Le Marais — a lively neighborhood packed with cool boutiques, vintage gems, and great people-watching. My daughter especially loved the edgy, expressive fashion in this area.
That evening, we did a tour with Withlocals that promised a sweet and savory tasting. In reality, it leaned heavily toward dessert, especially with a 6 p.m. start time, and we didn’t feel it offered great value. We wouldn’t recommend the tour, as we’ve had much better food tours in other cities. Going forward, I’ll always ask for a full itinerary and list of tastings before booking — and you should too. Also, avoid the big-name tour platforms; their customer service was nonexistent. (On a side note, we did have the most amazing macarons on the tour and would highly recommend Pierre Hermé — they melted in your mouth).
We ended the evening dining near our hotel in Saint-Germain, enjoying the vibrant café culture with people drinking wine and chatting under string lights.
Day 3: The Louvre at 9 a.m., Merci Finds & Notre-Dame’s Comeback
Despite lingering jet lag, we rallied for a 9 a.m. private tour of The Louvre, again booked through Withlocals. Booking early was smart — we beat the crowds, and our guide had skip-the-line credentials (always confirm this before booking!).
Post-museum, coffee was essential. Then we made our way to Merci — a beautifully curated concept store where we picked up standout pieces (jeans and shoes) and could’ve spent hours.
In the afternoon, we visited the newly reopened Notre-Dame Cathedral post-fire. Entry is free, but reserve your time slot online here to avoid long waits. It’s moving to witness the restoration up close — the details are extraordinary.
Dinner that night was at Chez Fernand Christine — a spot that came highly recommended but fell flat. It felt a bit touristy, and the food was just okay. Next time, we’d try somewhere else.
Day 4: Versailles Crowds, Market Bites & Biking to Dinner
We took the RER train to Versailles, having booked a Skip-the-Line tour via GetYourGuide. To be honest, the “skip the line” wasn’t impressive — tons of groups had the same idea, and we still waited. If we could redo it, we’d book the earliest time slot available to really beat the crowds.
The Palace itself? Jaw-dropping — all gold, mirrors, and grandeur. After touring, we wandered into the nearby Versailles farmers market (at Place du Marché Notre-Dame). We grabbed casual bites that ended up being one of the most memorable meals of the trip.
Back in Paris, we squeezed in more vintage shopping. Bobby Paris, a secondhand store, was the clear favorite — cool, curated, and not too over-the-top. My daughter was obsessed.
For dinner, we booked Ferdi — known for burgers and celebrity sightings. Honestly? Overhyped. Still, we had a blast riding Lime e-bikes there — zipping through Paris on two wheels was one of the most fun parts of our trip.
Final Thoughts: What We’d Do Again (and What We’d Rethink)
What we loved:
- Staying in Saint-Germain — elegant, central, and not overly touristy
- Early Entry to The Louvre — totally worth it
- Vintage Shopping — especially at Bobby
- Riding Lime Bikes — fun, easy, and teen-approved
- Place du Marché Notre-Dame — great cheeses, nuts, fruit and more
What we'd skip:
- Mid-day Versailles Tour — go early to beat the crowds
- The Withlocals Food Tour — too dessert-heavy for the price
- Chez Fernand Christine — high prices for touristy food
Tips
- Stay Central – Less commuting, more time to enjoy
- Book Early – Especially for The Louvre and Versailles
- Add Downtime – Mix cafés, bike rides, and browsing into your itinerary
- Take the Metro – As with any major city, the roads can get really full
Would we go back? In a heartbeat.
Paris is a city that keeps revealing new sides of itself — and seeing it through my teen’s eyes made it feel brand new again. Already dreaming of our next visit.
