Paris for 8 days

The Basilique St. Denis is a fabulous place with the tombs of France's Kings and Queens. There is even a glass vial with the little Dauphin's heart encased. The Parc des Buttes Chaumont is hard to beat on a fair day. There is a restaurant up top on site but you can buy picnic sandwiches and drinks at a pastry shop outside of the park near the entrance and take them into the park with you. I am including links so you can see if these would suit you.

St. Denis

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

15 yr old grandson will likely enjoy a visit the Catacombs and Invalids Army Museum , both my boys did .

Also , a fun day trip might be to Provins , world heritage site , fun shows ( Birds of Prey, Medevil Weapons , Jousting ) it's like like a living museum town .

He should also like the Sewer Tour (near Orsay), maybe Disneyland Paris, and street markets.

Put him in charge of completely planning at least one day. We have seen all sorts of things we would not otherwise have seen as a result of our kids' plans. For day trips. Provins might be good choice; the Champagne houses of Reims are pretty interesting (cave tours) if his parents don't object to him having a glass of champagne. There are dozens of great day trips in the area including of course Chartres, Giverny, Auvers sur Oise and Versailles. Climbing the Tower of Notre Dame is quite interesting and now you can book your time the morning you want to go either on site at a machine or on line with an ap. You book then show up just before your time slot, pay and go up. This is a great improvement on the wait in line for 3 hour approach previous.

Janet I am excited to see info about booking Notre Dame towers in advance. Could you please share the link or app info. Thanks!

A food tour with Paris by Mouth and/or a walk with Paris Walks.

Wonderful suggestions! Thank You ALL! Aloha, Diana

The Parc de la Villette, near the St-Martin boat basin at the city's northeast, includes the new philharmonic hall, a technology museum that may be aimed a little young for your teenage (hands-on, so maybe enogh fun), and the Musee de la musique. It holds a big collection of instruments, antique and more modern, and often stages special displays on music-related subjects. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cit%C3%A9_de_la_Musique#Mus%C3%A9e_de_la_Musique

The Canal St-Martin leads the river down the hill to the Bastille where it meets the Seine. It has its own cruise boats, but not like the Seine's famous tourist craft. These are small, to fit the canal, which traverses several locks, close enough to the neighborhood to look into apartment windows. Its other novelty is that about a third of the route, once past Republic going down, is in a tunnel. Not scenic, but an unusual experience. http://www.canauxrama.com/en/

Amazing walking tours with Sight Seekers Delight.

I recommend the sewer tour. Most of us liked it, though...uh...it is definitely interesting. I HIGHLY suggest Musee de Arts Forains. Get the English tour. It was one of my most favorite things we did in Paris. I also enjoyed walking through the Pere Lachaise cemetery. It feels like Disney's Haunted Mansion-- but it is the real thing.

Also-- forgot to add -- Musee de l'Armee is quite a museum. Both of the guys in our family loved it (we ladies did too, but not as much). Napoleon's tomb is there and so is his taxidermied horse (just standing at the end of a long hallway). It was amazing to see. The relief maps (hidden away on the third floor) impressed the entire family.