Fun and original things to do in Paris

This autumn holiday, four of my friends are going to Paris with their teenage children. They don't know each other, but I think it would be hilarious if they end up sitting in the same restaurant one evening. I like them all, so they should click with each other too. The link to this piece is that almost everyone asked me for Paris tips. Not very strange, since I think I've been to Paris about 60 times. Only that was mostly for work (I was the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire and was there almost every month) and often on invitation (in hotels so expensive that you skip those privately), so I'm not really an expert on fun outings with teenage children and hotels.

But then I received an email from José Schouten, editor-in-chief of Frankrijk.nl, who told me that she has created a lovely little book titled: Paris with Teenagers. And that, dear people, is the solution. Even if you're not going with teenagers, by the way.

It contains everything about the arrondissements (that they are built like a snail and that the last two digits of the postal code ‘reveal’ the arrondissement), how to travel by metro and how the metro system works, fun facts about the Eiffel Tower, but also really a lot of fun things to do because just shopping can sometimes be a bit overwhelming.

Fun things to do:

1. Climb the Arc de Triomphe
From there you have a beautiful view of the Champs-Elysées.

2. Visit the Hall of Mirrors at Opéra Garnier
It could very well be that your children have seen the movie Ballerina, which takes place partly in Opéra Garnier. You can go inside and visit the Hall of Mirrors. You will be uplifted by so much beauty. I once got to (yes, also on invitation, very annoying) look at the costume department and there I learned that many costumes are made by great designers like Christian Dior, Lacroix, and so on).

3. Take a kids' bike tour
There are also safe grandma bikes with seats. In José's book, you can find where to rent them.

4. Visit Stade de France
The stadium of Paris Saint-Germain is, especially now that Messi plays there, a pilgrimage site for many boys and girls.

5. Shopping at Le Bon Marché
The toy department of Le Bon Marché is heaven. But what I also think is great is the stationery department. The most beautiful pens, pencils, cards, notebooks: Love with a capital L.

6. Palais de Chaillot, or Trocadéro
From there you can view the Eiffel Tower, the beautiful carousel in front of it (Paris has a real carousel culture, as I also read in that lovely little book) and it is the place where skaters show off their tricks.

Fun, laid-back restaurants:

1. Le Derrière, 69, rue des Gravilliers, Paris
It is a house where you can eat in every room. Even in the bedroom. Very Instagram-proof. They are part of the Sketch Group in London, so you know it's good.

2. Burger at Ralph Lauren, Ralph’s Restaurant 173 Bd Saint-Germain
Not very French to eat at an American designer in Paris, but hey, it's on Boulevard Saint-Germain and Parisians also like to go there, and children are often happier with a hamburger than with moules frites, so just a tip from me.

3. La Coupole
A classic, huge brasserie. They are not really fond of Dutch people (they don't accept large groups of Dutch), but if you keep a low profile, it's lovely there. There is always someone celebrating a birthday for whom the waiters will sing at the top of their lungs. 102, Boulevard de Montparnasse

3. Café de Flore
A classic. Especially for a croissant in the morning. Real Parisians sit inside and definitely not in the conservatory, but who cares. The chance that they will see you as une vraie Parisienne is negligible, so go ahead and sit in that conservatory and watch the spectacle on the street. 172, Boulevard Saint-Germain

So that little book is really a recommendation. You can order it here. And no, this is not sponsored, I just think it's nice.