Start by looking back toward the Tuileries and the Louvre side, where the garden order meets the big stone face of the palace. This walk exists because Paris grew in layers: first a royal garden, then a river crossing, then the historic island where the city began. As you reach Pont des Arts, pause for the wide open view over the Seine. This is a fully pedestrian bridge, so the feeling is slower here, and you can actually take in the line from the Louvre side toward the Institut de France. If you’re here with a teenager, this is the easy part of the walk to enjoy together, because the path is simple and the views keep changing. Keep one eye on the quay surface, then save your longest stop for Square du Vert-Galant or Pont Neuf, where the river opens up again and you can see how the Seine bends around Île de la Cité.