Five days in Paris with 11 year old granddaughter in April

When our grandchildren were her age they loved looking in the windows of the patisseries at the beautiful pastries. Also, another thing they loved was being in the Jardin du Luxembourg, lots for them to do including sailing sailboats on the pond, riding on a carousel and riding ponies.

Thank you!

I'll second Jardin du Luxembourg!

Just so you can prepare her for potential disappointment, tourist aren't allowed to climb to the top of the Eiffel; only to the 2nd floor from where one must take an elevator. Be sure to buy the right ticket! ("Ticket with access stairs + lift")

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/rates-opening-times

A couple other ideas....You know your pre-teen best but I can't imagine she wouldn't delight in the glorious stained glass window of Sainte-Chapelle. It's like sitting in the middle of a box of gorgeous jewels!

https://www.sainte-chapelle.fr/en

Similar to New Orleans, the best of the Parisian cemeteries make for a fascinating wander; better than NOLA's, as matter of fact. Here are just a couple:
https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/cimetiere-du-pere-lachaise-p1104
Map: https://www.api-site.paris.fr/paris/public/2018%2F9%2FCPLMapEN.pdf

https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/cimetiere-de-montmartre-p956
Map: https://cdn.paris.fr/paris/2022/06/15/3e34e54fe886e92f7da4dbb710a7c527.pdf

You could treasure-hunt, sort of speak, for some of the famous residents in both. :O)

The Louvre has scavenger hunts for all ages, even young children. I've never been, but they get great reviews.

Does she like cooking or baking?

https://cooknwithclass.com/kids-cooking-classes-paris/

https://maisonfleuret.fr/pages/the-baking-school

Seine River boat cruise
https://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/

If interested in shopping:

Galeries Lafayette:luxury store with beautiful dome; go up to rooftop for the views

Covered passages: walk through these passages to browse through small stores or eat at one of the cafés
https://www.solosophie.com/secret-covered-passages-of-paris/

Go on a hunt for the best hot chocolate in Paris?
https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/restaurants/paris-best-hot-chocolates

A kid this age might enjoy Chateaux Vincennes if she has never been to an old fashioned medieval castle before and it is on the metro #1

If she is a strong sturdy 11, she might enjoy the Eternelle Notre Damn VR experience -- it is 45 minutes of walking around with a heavy backpack of the VR gear and 11 or 12 is about the bottom age recommended. It is pretty spectacular.

Definitely sail a boat at Luxembourg Gardens or the Tuilleries -- they tend to be available in late afternoon after school hours.

My daughter at this age loved the Cluny and the climbing the Tower of Notre Dame to see the gargoyles -- I don't know if that is now possible and of course it depends on the particular child's interests.

FWIW. it is pretty easy to get tickets to climb the ET on site -- that line is rarely very long. You buy a walk up to level two and the add on elevator to the top. That way you can choose a day that works well for you. There is a Seine Cruise that launches from the base of the ET and you might combine the two -- do the Tower then take the cruise which will return you to the tower.

Is she a fan of the Madeline books?

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/to-the-west/ludwig-bemelman-39-s-madeleine

Disneyland Paris

Le Hameau at Versailles? May be more interesting to a child than the palace itself. Does the little train taking you back to that area still exist?

As suggested above, let her choose and consume a fancy dessert.

I thought about Madeline too but the book was written (in English) and illustrated in Manhattan by Ludwig Bemelmans, much of it at Pete's Tavern, which we'd tracked down to raise a pint to its literary connections. William Sydney Porter, better known as O'Henry, wrote his famous short story, "Gift of the Magi" in the same place when it was named Healy's Cafe in 1903.

https://www.petestavern.com/vol-2-issue-5
https://www.petestavern.com/ourhistory

She could still look for old houses all covered in vines and some landmarks in the illustrations, though: Palais Opera Garnier, Notre Dame, Sacre-Coeur, etc. The book is too young for an 11 year-old but if she has it and loved it as a smaller child, why not?

I enjoyed a perfume making class at Fragonard's perfume museum. There were several family groups with kids from your grand-daughters age up through high school. Everyone seemed to enjoy. English language.

If you are interested, I would pre-book. Small groups and they do sell out.

https://musee-parfum-paris.fragonard.com/en/

If she is a Ladybug and Cat Noir fan, visit Boris Lume Patisserie Boulangerie in Montmartre - it’s from the show. A Seine river cruise is fun too.

Each of our kid's first visit to Paris was when they were 10. Interestingly, each of them were a bit old for the playgrounds in the parks, or sailing the boats, and weren't interested.

They did like (ok, they still like, as adults) taste-testing macarons from various patisseries. The small version is a good side to be able to purchase a couple of different flavors. Also, a crepe from a stand on the street, anywhere that you see one.

With one kid, we read the Hunchback of Notre Dame (the original by Victor Hugo), making our journey up to the towers very special indeed. We also visited the Pantheon, where Hugo is buried.

Our preferred tourist boats on the Seine are Vedettes du Pont Neuf, which leave from Pont Neuf. We took an early evening boat, and timed it so their first view of the Eiffel Tower was from the boat, in the evening, with the lights on the Tower all twinkling - it was magical. And for one kid, unplanned by me, it was also a full moon.

They each like art, so the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay were a must for them. For one kid, who REALLY loves art, we planned an entire day at the Louvre, with a mid-day exit to go to a creperie (we weren't really there 9-5, but we didn't plan anything else for the Louvre day). This is how long ago it was - we did a Teenage Mutant Ninja scavenger hunt, to see artwork by each of the "turtles." I thought they would also like the Rodin Museum, because there were outdoor sculptures. Nope, that was the one thing that was a big thumbs down.

They each also liked Saint Chapelle. I tried to "trick" them, by making them think the lower part, which you enter into, was "the" church, then leading them up to the glorious upper level for a colorful surprise, but they figured it out.

Enjoy your special trip!

I'll add in Montmarte /Sacre Coeur. Beautiful vantage point. Take the funicular down to the shops; take the petite train around to the different areas; tea or dessert at Maison Rose.