As a global city and highly sought-after tourist destination, Paris is in high demand for travelers. Especially to those for whom visiting Paris has been a life-long dream, it is easier to justify investing more in a trip that you will remember for a lifetime. In one of the most expensive cities in the world, costs can certainly add up if visitors are not careful, but it is also important to know that your Paris experience does not have to break the bank. There is no need to write Paris off just because you are on a budget. In fact, there are several opportunities to lessen the financial strain of your time in Paris, and these usually just require some creativity and flexibility.
This article will explore various ways in which visitors can reduce their costs while still enjoying Paris to the fullest. From the best times of year to visit, to hotel and transportation deals and budget-friendly food and entertainment, you will find that you don’t have to sacrifice the experiences you may have imagined in Paris. You can still see your favorite points of interest, learn about the culture and enjoy yourself, and most of the money you save will be on things you won’t miss, such as services and conveniences you can go without or deals that were just waiting to be discovered.
Travel lightly, in more ways than one
Travel will likely constitute most of your trip’s budget, so anywhere you can save on the trips to and from your destination will have a big impact on your spending power for the rest of your voyage. Finding the best deals on flights and trains can seem overwhelming, but these tips will give you a starting point to guide your research and find the best possible travel options for whenever you want to take your trip.
Travel to Paris during the least expensive seasons
Paris is busy all year, but prices for flights and train tickets naturally spike during times of especially high demand. Many choose to visit Paris between late spring and early fall, when the weather is best for being outdoors, so you will usually find better deals on travel from late November to early March. This is with the exception of the winter holidays, as there is a worldwide surge in travel when people have more time off work and sentimental reasons to want to spend the holiday season in Paris.
Consider all arrival, departure and connection options
The most conveniently located arrival and departure points also drive demand, so another way travelers may be able to cut costs is to be flexible about which airports and train stations they travel to and from. When booking, be sure to also check rates for trips departing from stations and airports that may be a little out of your way but that you can still access. Before you decide on air or train travel into Paris, be sure to research the possibility of arriving in any of the available airports and train stations. Paris’s main international airports include the Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and the smaller Orly Airport (ORY), but you can also fly into Paris Beauvais Tille Airport (BVA) for domestic and European flights and take a shuttle from there. Trains to Paris will most likely take you to the Gare du Nord station, and from there it will be easy to get wherever you want using public transportation such as the bus or metro.
Try stopping at a destination near Paris
Because the airports will be less popular, you might consider flying to a city in the surrounding region of Paris before actually heading there, which coincidentally would be a great opportunity for a day trip to somewhere unknown. For example, if flying into international Saint-Gatien Airport (DOL) in Deauville, you can get to the Trouville-Deauville train station from there and easily find a train or bus directly to Paris. Lille Airport (LIL) has convenient transportation to its main train station, Gare Lille-Flandres, which connects to Paris as well. You may trade off some extra time spent traveling, but if it is convenient and makes your Paris trip more possible, it will be worth it.
Affordable accommodations
Another huge area in which vacation costs can be reduced is lodging. You always want to find somewhere safe, clean, and conveniently located to stay, but ultimately you will spend the majority of your time exploring the city, so staying somewhere in a lower price range or that is a little further from the city center may not matter as much. No matter what type of accommodations you choose, it is important to keep in mind that by law in France, guests are taxed on their temporary lodging at a rate ranging from EUR 0.25 to EUR 5, which is charged per person, per night. This will be denoted on your invoice, but it is not included in the posted price of your stay.
For a conventional hotel stay at a lower price, in addition to finding deals during off-peak times and choosing low-cost hotels, you can also opt for less popular areas for tourist stays. Some areas within the city that are known for having cheaper hotel rates include Montmartre, Gare du Nord in areas close to the train station, Bastille, student-friendly Belleville and the Latin Quarter. Not only is there much to be explored in these neighborhoods, but they are all only a quick metro or bus ride from the city center.
If you can forego some of the amenities of a standard hotel, you can afford to allocate more of your travel budget towards experiences. Hostels are the most functional low-cost accommodations you can get, as they primarily serve as a place to sleep, often providing lockers in which to keep your belongings and communal dormitories. Pay attention to the online reviews of the many independent hostels in Paris, and if you can get a recommendation from someone who has stayed in one before, even better. With the rise of short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo, there are now more options than ever for places to stay at any price range, and choosing a homestay rental can also allow you to take advantage of money-saving amenities such as the use of a kitchen or bikes provided by hosts for guests to use to get around the city.
Eating in Paris on a budget
No, you do not have to say goodbye to the French delicacies of your dreams. While you are exploring Paris on a budget, it is important to find a balance between being able to experience the culinary tradition and restaurant scene that Paris is so well-known for and saving money where you can on food. You will most likely want to dine out for at least a few meals, and Paris does have a multitude of sit-down restaurant options which include budget-friendly restaurants that still serve high-quality food. It may be best to decide ahead of time how much money you want to spend each day on restaurant food so that you are not tempted to go overboard. To make these restaurants more affordable, consider ordering fewer alcoholic drinks or making a lunch reservation instead of dinner for cheaper menu options. Also, look out for specials that change with what foods are in season.
For the rest of your meals, we recommend eating like a local by buying your own groceries and snacks at local markets, bakeries and shops when possible. Perhaps you can even pack food to take with you and stop for a picnic in between your daytime activities in one of Paris’s many beautiful public parks and gardens. To get a taste for some local dishes without paying for table service at a restaurant, you can also purchase delicious, freshly prepared foods from street or market vendors such as baguette sandwiches, crepes or pastries. Rue Mouffetard is the perfect environment to experience Paris through taste, because up and down the entire street are vendors forming a street food market to make your way through.
Affordable transportation around Paris
Transportation does not have to be very expensive in Paris if you can avoid renting a car or taking taxis. Not only is the city very walkable, but it is very accessible by public transportation. A series of metro lines and bus routes connect all areas of the city, and to get around in Paris cheaply,
visitors have the option to purchase travel passes that allow for unlimited travel on these networks. The city’s public transportation operator, RATP, offers Paris Visite travel passes on its website or for sale at any of its stations, and you can opt to pay for any travel within a set number of days and a set area within certain zones of the city. Individual tickets for metro and train tickets can also be bought electronically or at any station. Carnets, which are packs of 10 tickets, allow you to buy the tickets you need ahead of time.
Low-budget options for Paris sightseeing
There are many free and low-cost options for sightseeing around the city. You can save on admission into some of the most popular tourist destinations by opting for a guided or group tour that includes admission to more than one site and sometimes museum exhibitions as well. Of course, the cheapest and most flexible way to sightsee is to make your tour up as you go along and simply explore the city on foot. Take a stroll along the Seine river or venture into a charming, hip neighborhoods like Marais or Montmartre.
Many important historical sites are public, outdoor locations such as city squares or monuments that you can explore for free. For example, Champs-Élysées avenue is a famously beautiful commercial street that connects Place de la Concorde – Paris’s largest square, famous for its Egyptian obelisk – to L’Arc de Triomphe, an imposing monument commemorating past French wars. Other noteworthy city squares such as Place de Bastille, sight of the storming of the Bastille, and Place des Vosges, Paris’s oldest square, feature landscaping, monuments and walkways that make beautiful backdrops for a stroll or picnic.
Even though the most famous and crowded landmarks charge a moderate admission price, that does not mean they cannot be enjoyed from the outside. The Eiffel Tower can easily be viewed from the public park Champ de Mars, and the exterior of the Louvre Museum is adjacent to the beautiful Tuileries Garden.
You can enter many of Paris’s famous cathedrals and churches without having to pay. Admire the beautiful architectural styles of locations such as the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (with the exception of the towers and crypt, which charge admission), the Church of Saint-Sulpice, constructed during the 17th century, and the Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, with its Corinthian columns.
Free events
Depending on when you visit, you may be able to find free or low-cost events occurring in Paris while you are in the city. These are a great opportunity to enjoy unique activities to make your trip special and maybe even meet some locals. In June, temporary art installations and light shows combine with Paris’s monuments and buildings during the Nuit Blanche event. Free music festivals like the Paris Jazz Festival and Fête de la Musique provide chances to hear free performances of live music throughout the summer. The Open Air Cinema Festival takes place every year during July and August in Parc de la Villette and films are screened in the park for free viewing. On Bastille Day in July, there are firework displays and many patriotic festivities to take part in.
Free or discounted entry to Paris museums
Many of the museums in Paris are city-owned, and because their mission is primarily to preserve and educate on historical and cultural topics, it is important to make their offerings as accessible as possible. This means it is very easy to find completely free admission or waived admission fees at certain times or for certain populations. Often, a museum’s permanent exhibitions will be open to the public free of charge, while visitors are charged for temporary exhibitions that are brought in and hosted for a limited time.
For a free, entertaining activity with the added benefit of learning something new, visit the entire permanent collections of The Paris Museum of Modern Art; the Musée Carnavalet museum focused on Paris history; The Liberation of Paris Museum; Musée Cognacq-Jay, which displays artwork, furniture and artifacts from the 18th century; the Maison de Victor Hugo, which is the writer’s former Paris apartment; or many others. Free admission is offered on the first Sunday of every month at Musée de l’Orangerie, which displays art from the impressionist and post-impressionist movements and is most well-known for housing Monet’s Water Lilies painting series.
Even with free admission, it may still be necessary to book entry in advance to these museums so that you can guarantee your spot. Before visiting any museum in Paris, check its website to see if you qualify for discounted and waived admission, often available for populations such as seniors, students or members of the European Union.
Make your own memories
The savviest travelers probably already know that it is far more rewarding to spend money on experiences than on material things, and this includes souvenirs. Photos and videos serve as a meaningful reminder of your trip, and if you must have a physical memento, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to find something to take home with you. Flea markets and vintage shops in Les Puces de Saint-Ouen are wonderful places where you can find something unique. Local patisseries and fromageries provide a perfect way to give someone back home their own taste of French macarons or cheeses. If you long for the shopping experience, there is no better place to window shop than Champs-Élysées Avenue, where all Paris’s famous luxury brands have their storefronts.
Other frugal travel tips
Using your credit card for most daily transactions abroad has a lot of benefits, such as not having to carry as much cash and avoiding commission charges on money exchanges or ATM fees. And don’t forget that you can also earn rewards for certain types of travel or purchases, which can make the spending you do in Paris more worthwhile. You should only need cash for small purchases at street markets, local shops and restaurants, because credit card minimums are common to find. Your ATM card from your own bank can be used to withdraw euros at ATMs with little to no exchange rate, so there really is no need to acquire this currency beforehand and exchange it. However, these ATM withdrawals are likely to incur international fees from your own bank, so it’s not advantageous to do this more than once or twice.
Fit Paris into your budget
We believe that Paris is for everybody, and we hope that you feel inspired to experience it for yourself, no matter your budget. Not only will these tips help you save money throughout your trip, but a frugal mindset has the added advantage of leading you toward unique experiences that you would not have encountered otherwise. It will take you to unexpected places, whether that is down an interesting side street to see a piece of street art or an impressive architectural façade, or to a new neighborhood further away from the central tourist areas of Paris. Maybe you will discover a hidden gem in a lesser-known museum or restaurant. You could have the chance to converse with local Parisians and enjoy the freedom to take in the outdoors or seek out a new adventure, rather than moving from one scheduled activity to the next.