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The perfect guide to a mother-daughter bonding weekend in Paris

As Audrey Hepburn said “Paris is always a good idea”, although we think that she shouldÂ’ve added “especially with your daughter”! Paris is the perfect place for some mother and daughter bonding where you can take a break, experience life as a Parisian, and leave with memories that will last a lifetime. Here you will find our top tips on where you could spend your days from visiting museums and monuments, taking a cruise on the River Seine, discovering French fashion and eating out at the best bistros – Paris will be all yours! What you must see… Montmartre One of the first things that your daughter would love to see is Montmatre, the place where the movie Amelie is set! You could spend many hours strolling through these quaint cobbled streets in one of the most charming and historic neighbourhoods in Paris. Seeing as you are already in the 18th to check out the many flea markets with your daughter. She might find all sorts of quirky treasures you might miss! Ile de la Cite At the centre of Paris, and linked to the banks of the Seine by a series of bridges, are two small islands: Ile St Louis and Ile de la Cite. There is no doubt you and your daughter would love the picture perfect views all around. The Ile de la Cite is affixed by the iconic Notre-Dame and near here you will also find one of ParisÂ’ oldest squares, the beautiful Place Dauphine. Following this the almighty Palais de Justice sits between Sainte-Chapelle, the exquisite medieval chapel of saintly King Louis IX, and the Conciergerie, the stunning prison where Marie-Antoinette and other aristocrats awaited the guillotine. Ile de La Cite Opera Garnier At some point in a girlÂ’s life they must see a ballet and opera performance and where better to do this than Opera Garnier. Built in 1875 this is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in Paris and you be in awe of the ceiling by Marc Chagall. Remember you must book tickets several months in advance as shows sell out very quickly and are highly coveted worldwide. If you donÂ’t get chance to see a performance, donÂ’t worry as you can still take a tour. You must have a drink at Café de la Paix afterwards as it is de rigueur. Opera Garnier Where to shop? Boulevard Haussmann No shopping trip in Paris would be complete without visiting the incredible Belle Epoque department stores on Boulevard Haussmann including Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, where the food halls and the selection of fashion are not to be missed. Finally, to browse the best selection of young designers, including Claudie Pierlot, APC and See by Chloe, you must drop by le Bon Marche. Even if you are all shopped out the beautiful escalators and architrave of le Bon Marche makes it more than worth the visit. Boulevard Haussman Where to eat? Mere et Filles This restaurant which is located in the 4th actually run by two sisters. Other than the food, which is very highly rated (especially the Nutella tiramisu), one of the best things about this restaurant is its originality. All mother-daughter diners have a Polaroid picture which is immediately placed on the wall, and another idea is that the two sisters choose a recipe each month, made by a mother and daughter duo, and place it on the menu! La Creperie de Canettes One cuisine your daughter is bound to love if she has a sweet tooth is Crepes, especially those found at La Creperie des Canettes in Saint Germain. This quaint restaurant located in the 6th arrondissement serves the best crepes in town and you will taste a unique recipe for French galettes and crepes which you will find nowhere else in the world. If you have to try one thing to share with your daughter make it La Brehat, a home-made caramelized crepe with salted butter and galette corsaire! La Creperie de Canettes Angelina If you happen to be thirsty at tea time in Paris you should head to Angelina in the 1st arrondissement. Opened way back in 1903, this is the most famous tearoom in Paris. Their hot chocolate is a delight which will leave you craving for more, and all in all the whole establishment is a lovely experience. Where to stay? When going on a city break one of the most difficult parts of the trip is deciding where to stay especially when youÂ’ve got a potentially difficult daughter to please. Holiday rentals are ideal for mother and daughter breaks as you can find somewhere that gives you enough space so that you are not on top of each other, stylishly designed like a Parisian, completely integrated into the community and great value for money. Where to stay Irina Raileanu is the owner and Director at Avenue Story. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Irina Raileanu

Irina Raileanu is the Owner and Director at Avenue Story, a company that specialises in offering short-term luxury apartment rentals for holiday and business travels in Paris , London and Barcelona, with the view of expanding to New York in the future.

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4 Comments

  1. I visited Paris many years ago with my late mother. She was very self-conscious about her French, though it was her first language, because we were from Louisiana and it was a bit different from the Parisian version we were hearing. So I would ask for directions and information in my basic schoolgirl French and she would interpret the answers that would come rattling back at us. A little unusual, but it was good teamwork, and it got us what we needed. In any case, it was a great trip, I look forward to bringing my own daughters one day.

  2. Couldn’t agree more – “Paris is always a good idea”, especially if you have a daughter who is a Francophile at heart and is excited about everything from bike riding through the Parisian streets to musing over hot chocolate in Place des Vosges. Don’t miss the Marais. It’s full of little hidden treasures for kids and adults alike!

    What did my 12 year old daughter want to bring home – French butter!

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