YMMV, but we couldnt wait to get away from L’Orangerie. It was mobbed and few people in the crowd were actually contemplating the art. They were scrambling to get their perfect selfie or to film the perfect bits for their vlogs. Lots of loud talkers. Ugh. We left and headed up to the Parc Monceau for some peace and quiet.

A few words from a seasoned traveler:
Some folks think the French are rude. In part because they don't speak English fluently ("why don't they all speak English?"), in part because their courtesy sometimes conflicts with an American's "let's cut to the chase" manner of speaking.
When you land in France, remember, you're not in Kansas any more, Dorothy.
You're in THEIR country; they wish you spoke THEIR language.
But you don't. BUT you COULD learn (and use) a few phrases. Use of them will come across as intrinsically saying, "I don't speak your language, but I'm making a little effort here to do so, just as an ice breaker".
Things like: bonjour (immediately upon entering a shop); merci; au revoir (when about to leave a shop); pardon; Excusez-moi; S'il vous plaît"
Check this link out: https://blog.duolingo.com/french-phrases-for-travel/
Even just 5 minutes learning these few phrases (pronounced well) will get you treated better than just some average Joe who makes no effort to bridge the gap.

Hold the presses, this may be a once in a lifetime event, BUT,,,
I agree with tomboy.

Since you asked also in another thread about Versailles/Fontainebleu - well both are magnificent but if you have to choose one it would definately be Versailles. No question about it.

HOWEVER

If it's you're first time in Paris it would be best to explore this endless city. Your plans seems OK other then the Panteon. Just drop it. Not interesting enough certainly not in your first visit to Paris.

Note that Arc de Triomphe is (almost) the end of a long straight axis along Champs Elysees leading to the Concorde and Tullieries. It is doable walking all the way (I did it) but it will cover most of the day, certainly if you arrive after Tour Eiffel which in itself takes time so perhaps you should split the two. Personally I wouldn't miss Eiffel either climbing or not. You could arrive to Trocadero (Metro 9) where you will have the best view on the Tour. If you decide to climb it book your tickets in advance and expect long queues because there is a strict security check and there is a long waiting time to the elevator. After Eiffel allow yourself time to stroll in ths Chmps de Mars.

If you do go to the Orsay I advise to read a little before about the collections and the temporary exhibitions because it's quite a big museum and loaded with treasures so it's best to know what to focus on. The Impressionism room on the 5th floor is a MUST and this room is big enough to justifies the visit.

Good advice from Zvi. If Impressionism is your main interest, from the museum entrance head straight back to the rear of the ground floor where you will find escalators that will take you up to the 5th floor and the start of the Impressionist gallery. After you have spent as much time as you like making your way through there, you might be ready for a break in the nice café just outside the gallery. There's a lot of interesting information about the museum here:
https://www.parisdiscoveryguide.com/musee-d-orsay.html

awesome. Ty. Very helpful

I have been a tourist in Paris a half dozen times over almost 60 years. There are places I return to, places I would never go back to, and all kinds of places in between. This will be your first trip, so you will be attracted to a tourist's "usual suspects." My advice will be a sort of distillation of my favorite memories and my places to avoid.

Usual suspects: Being on the Eifel Tower was a waste of time. The Louvre is huge, overwhelming if you want to see everything, yet is full o gems. Pick your favorite gems, see them, then head to the collection of non-Western art near the Lions Gate. The Champs Elysees is a waste of shoe leather unless you want to collect designer labels. The Pantheon rates less than a "meh." See the Unicorn Tapestries in the Cluny. (extra points if you get to attend a concert of Medieval music there.)

My favorite "do it once" things are the view of all Paris lighting up from the top of the Tour Montparnasse at sunset. Replacing the view from the Eifel Tower with an ascent on the captive balloon. A meal in a famous brasserie. Viewing the world's largest oil painting (la Fee d'Electricite) (yes, I failed spelling in French while in school). The stained glass of the Ste-Chapelle at 3 pm on a sunny day.

Things to do: Buy some chocolate at every chocolate shop you pass (my favorite: La Maison de Chocolate). Get something you have never seen or eaten before at a patisserie, every day, and you will never run out. Buy a necktie, or a hat, or second-hand T-shirt. Assemble an impromptu picnic at a street market and find a small park to eat it at. Bertillon ice cream. Thwart a pickpocket.

I hesitate to jump in because you have SO much advice here, but I just returned from two weeks in Paris and have a few suggestions: First, if you'd like to see the Opera House, you can purchase a ticket for timed entry or a ticket for a performance. I've done both and discovered that by purchasing a 25 Euro ticket for nosebleed seats in Tier 3 of the opera house for a one-hour chamber music performance, I was able to not only tour the entire building but also sit just a few feet beneath the incredible Chagall ceiling. Amazing! I believe normally you can't enter the theater without a ticket to a show.

Also, if you're thinking of Versailles, remember it's a hike to get there and the building and grounds are enormous. A great alternative is the recently restored Hotel de la Marine, which offers a fantastic window on lavish living, conveniently locasted on Place de la Concorde. And finally, if you're thinking of having lunch before visiting Musee d'Orsay, lunch in the museum under the clock is a nice option. They have a simple menu, and I love taking a break there.

Its been like 25 years but we had 5 teens in tow and they got quite burned out going from point to point, non-stop. Tourist overload. As I recall they enjoyed going to the Latin Quarter and watching people and Greeks smashing plates ...corny, but funny for kids. The big department stores were fun as we had all girls they spent an afternoon looking at fashions and perfumes. I do know jumping from site to site with a checklist left them blurry eyed about 2 pm and everyone cranky. Buying some sandwiches and cheese and sitting by the Seine for a picnic, grabbing a rotisserie chicken and tearing into it in a park....that was most memorable. Perhaps this was in an older, outdated era.... I can only imagine crowds and logistics would be even more difficult today.

I’ve been a member of this Forum for a long time but never posted a reply to a post until now. I’ve gotten so much helpful info from the many Fodorites on this Forum when planning my last three trips to Europe. Now that I’ve been to Paris a few times (once with my then 14-yr-old daughter), I’ll offer my advice on things you might enjoy. First, we did the Musee d’Orsay in the morning. It opens at 9:30, so if your 14-yr-old can get up early enough to get there when it opens, that would be best. You could make a beeline to Manet’s Olympia (Gallery 14 on the ground floor level) and then go to the 5th floor. Make sure to see the clock. We then went to the nearby Rodin Museum and paid only for entrance to the Garden. My daughter really enjoyed both museums.

To maximize the time at Sainte-Chapelle, I got tickets in advance for an evening concert at 8:45P through Classictic. It’s a two-for-one: You get to see the windows all around you and hear a terrific concert. Go on a night when they are performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. My daughter, who loves all kinds of music, really enjoyed it. I brought a small pair of field glasses to view the windows more closely while seated. No need to get premium seats close to the stage – you won’t see as many of the windows, and you can still see the performers from the back rows.

Go to some of the covered passages, which date back to the 18th century and house shops, restaurants. They are beautiful and very Parisian. We did three of them – all close together – starting with the Passage Verdeau which then leads to the Passage Jouffroy and then to the Passage des Panoramas. Great places to buy macarons or small souvenirs like vintage postcards. I have a great photo of the window of a shop that only sells canes and umbrellas. Only in Paris! After the last passage, we had lunch at Bouillon Chartier a short walk away. Bouillons are old school restaurants from the 1800s where workers could get lunch for an affordable price, and bouillons like Chartier still serve good food for a very good price.

A great way to combine a Seine cruise with your transportation around the city is by taking the Batobus hop-on, hop-off boat that stops at locations named after the main tourist sites they are near (e.g., Tour Eiffel, Concord, D’Orsay, Louvre, etc.). I have only used it in June and October and not in the height of tourist season. If your hotel is in the Latin Quarter, you could take the Batobus to Tour Eiffel, get off and see the Tower and have lunch in the area, then take it to the St. Germain des Pres stop for some shopping, etc. Hop back on to go back to your hotel.

One really nice thing we did with our 14-yr-old was taking her to a perfume shop – just your ordinary perfume shop that you find all over Paris. We wanted to get her a nice perfume as opposed to all the cheap stuff kids that age buy for themselves. The sales woman was lovely and very helpful in identifying the best scent for her. It was a Dior perfume that we could get just as easily at home. But the experience of getting it in Paris was really special!

Anyway, just my two cents. Enjoy your trip!

As I understand, you'll be arriving around noon on your first day, with four full days to follow. My recommendation for day one is to take a Seine River Cruise. Not one with a meal, but one like the Vedettes du Pont Neuf. Get tickets on line and arrive early to get seats on the roof outside. It will be warmer, but the views are much better. Their route takes you east around both Ile St. Louis and Ile de la Cite. You will see Notre Dame and the Rose Window, as well as the Conciergerie on the turn back to the west. From there you'll see the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Musee des Invalides, and several views of the Eiffel tower. It turns around just past the tower and heads back to your starting point. It really gives first times an understanding of both the importance of the river and an overview of much of the city sights.

Also the Pantheon comments above are correct.

[QUOTE=abbydog;17653137]I hesitate to jump in because you have SO much advice here, but I just returned from two weeks in Paris and have a few suggestions: First, if you'd like to see the Opera House, you can purchase a ticket for timed entry or a ticket for a performance. I've done both and discovered that by purchasing a 25 Euro ticket for nosebleed seats in Tier 3 of the opera house for a one-hour chamber music performance, I was able to not only tour the entire building but also sit just a few feet beneath the incredible Chagall ceiling. Amazing! I believe normally you can't enter the theater without a ticket to a show.

I've visited the Opéra Garnier several times over the past few years, last time two years ago, just walking in and buying a ticket. Each time one or more of the boxes has been opened up so a few visitors at a time can walk in to see the interior of the theater from the box. Of course, that is not the same special experience as attending a performance, but if you can't do that, I hope visitors still have the opportunity to see the interior and the Chagall ceiling from a box. I would now get a timed ticket, though, since the website states that admission cannot be guaranteed without one.

What neighborhood are you staying in? That might impact your choices of what to see when. Here are my thoughts for a first-trip, and with a teenager:

Walking tours are great, and food (and chocolate) tours are great, especially if it's your first time in a city. Day 2 looks good.

I'd suggest mixing up some of the other days.

By "Opera House" do you mean the Palais Garnier? It's gorgeous. I think you have to book tours in advance. There are a couple of special tours you can do in August, an immersive virtual-reality tour called "La Magie Opéra," and an "Immersive game tour." I thin the VR tour looks fun, and (if it were me, and my kid) I would make that a major stop one of the days.

Link: https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/visits/palais-garnier

You want art, but don't want museums? Consider the immersive music and art exhibition at Atelier des Lumières. It's high-art meets pop-art. I saw the original Lumières in Provence and was blown away. If the Paris one is half as good it would be worth the time.

Link: https://www.atelier-lumieres.com/en

I'm with the others in thinking the Champs-Élysées is just another shopping street. The window displays are cool, but the one time I walked it it was just a long, hot slog. At the Arc de Triomphe you'll see a long line of tourists standing on the median of the road waiting in line to take the same selfie from the same place as everyone else. If your teen is prone to such behavior I'd avoid the area! Otherwise, prepare for an afternoon waiting in line in the hot sun with no shade.

I've never actually been in the Eiffel Tower. It's always been a cool backdrop.

As for the Left Bank ... it's the only place where I've encountered that famous Parisian attitude. I suspect it's because it has the highest density of gauche tourists. But there are some good sites there. I'd actually combine Musée d'Orsay with your walk in the Jardin des Tuileries and a stroll through the Champs de Mars to see the Eiffel Tower up close. Musée Rodin is a small sculpture museum in the area that might appeal to your family.

I'm not sure I'd make the Jardins de Luxembourg a destination in itself, but maybe combine it with a visit to the Catacombs nearby? The Musée de Cluny is nearby, and might also be worth your consideration. It's a medieval history museum, and not big. I know you said your teen isn't into museums, but Paris museums aren't like the ones back home!

Finally - if you want to introduce your daughter to Paris cool (and be the coolest parents ever), pack a picnic dinner and enjoy it on the banks of the Seine at sunset. There will be a lot of groups of young people doing the same. The Trocadéro Esplanade will give you a direct view of the Eiffel Tower across the river, but really anywhere along the right bank would be great. And Paris at sunset is beautiful.