Paris has a reputation for being an expensive city, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re on a budget, you can still have an amazing time in Paris and I’ll tell you how. In my 20 years living in Paris, I’ve come across some really great budget-friendly ways to enjoy the city – and some are even better than pricier options. From free museums to food on the cheap, these top Paris budget hacks can save you a LOT of money.
Stay a little outside of Central Paris
Before you even arrive in Paris, you can save tons by being a little savvy about where to stay. Staying outside the historic core (arrondissements 1-8) can lead to HUGE savings. As a general rule, the farther out in Paris’s 20 arrondissements you go, the cheaper prices get – the exceptions being the posh 16th arrondissement and Montmartre (part of the 18th).
On the whole, Paris is also a pretty safe city so you don’t have to worry about the safety factor of not staying near famous monuments. You’ll also have a more local experience by staying in the outer districts. These neighborhoods are both safe and affordable:
- The 11th arrondissement
- The Canal Saint Martin area
- Le Peletier, which is in the 10th district between South Pigalle and Grands Boulevards
- The 14th and 15th (these are a bit more family-oriented, so not the best if you’re looking for liveliness)
The Love and Paris website has some great articles on hotels, including in these safe areas. These articles may just have the perfect match for you:
Image Courtesy of MIJE Hostel via Hostelworld
Consider staying in a hostel
I remember the first hostels I stayed in during my backpacking days – or rather, I wish I could forget them entirely, just awful! However, hostels have actually improved A LOT in recent times. “Cool” hostels are popping up all over Paris and there are now some really fabulous options. These can even be found in great neighborhoods, have a stylish look, and cool bars. Most of these hostels also have private rooms. This means that you can have privacy while being in a fun setting, maybe meet some new friends – and definitely make BIG savings. You can find some great ones in this article I wrote on the best hostels in Paris.
Plan your trip around the 1st of the month
I know it isn’t always possible to select your trip dates, but if you can plan to be in Paris around the 1st Sunday of the month, you can get free entry to a whole bunch of national museums and monuments. These include big-name sites like the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Picasso, Orangerie, and Arc de Triomphe. The downside is that these sites are usually busier on the free days, but if you can squeeze a few in on the same Sunday, you can save a fair amount.
If you can also travel a bit off-season, you can save on the Louvre and Versailles. From November to March, Versailles is also free on the 1st Sunday of the month. Since it’s one of the most expensive attractions in and around Paris, costing up to 32 euros, this could save you a bunch. The Louvre is a little different from the others and is free from 6 to 9 pm on the first Friday of the month, except July and August. Friday nights are actually the BEST time to visit the Louvre because it’s MUCH less crowded.
Oh, and by the way, kids 17 and under and EU passport holders 25 and under get in for free at national sites and museums any day… in case that helps you or part of your travel group.
Image Courtesy of Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris via Facebook
Visit free museums
Instead of going to the more expensive big-name museums, why not visit some free ones? Managed by the City of Paris, there are 12 free museums, most of which are pretty cool places. My favorite is certainly the Musée Carnavalet, the museum of the history of Paris which is located in two private mansions in the Marais. The Petit Palais, which is kinda like a mini Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay combined, is also fantastic and has a really lovely courtyard café. I’m also really fond of the museums within two former houses of writers: La Maison de Victor Hugo (overlooking Place des Vosges) and La Maison de Balzac (with a fabulous view of the Eiffel Tower). All these museums are much less busy than the more famous museums, which is another great advantage. I go into more detail on some of these in my article on unique smaller museums in Paris.
Take a small group tour
If you’d like to make the most of taking in some culture, art, and history without it costing a fortune, consider joining a small group tour. This way you can have a tour experience but at a much lower price than taking a private tour. We generally don’t recommend taking the “free tours”, namely because they aren’t really free (you’re supposed to leave a tip), and the guides aren’t usually experts on the topic, like the professional guides who work through established tour companies. We’ve got a whole bunch of great tour and activity ideas in the Paris Tours and Experiences section of our site, and many are small-group experiences.
Use the Métro or Lime bikes
Paris is such a great walking city so you’ll likely get around a lot on foot – which of course is completely free. However, you’ll likely need some form of transportation at some point during your trip. Luckily, Paris has an AMAZING public transit system, called the RATP or Ile de France Mobilités. It’s pretty affordable, safe (just be mindful of pickpockets), and is often faster than traveling by car. Learn more about taking public transportation in Paris in these articles or our video on the topic.
Another great and affordable way to get around Paris is by Lime Bike. These electric bikes are all over the city and can be booked through the Uber app. For safety reasons, just be a little careful and stick to the bike lanes because helmets are not provided.
Go to free viewpoints
So, you’ll likely want to see the Eiffel Tower when you come to Paris, but going up it is pretty expensive, although you can make some savings by taking the stairs and not the elevator. However, the Eiffel Tower isn’t the only place where you can get a good view in Paris and actually some of the best views of the city are 100% free. Here are some of my top picks for free views:
- Port Debilly and Avenue de Camoëns: If you’d like a close-up view of the Eiffel Tower, cross the river, but don’t go to the over-crowded and tacky viewing plaza at Trocadéro. The riverbank across from the tower is called Port Debilly and you can get some pretty good views from here. A short walk away is the Avenue de Camoëns which has a poetic view of the Eiffel Tower.
- Sacré-Coeur: The plaza in front of Sacré-Coeur has a soaring view over the whole city. This doesn’t include the Eiffel Tower… but I can fill you in a secret. Take the street that goes left away from the church (when facing it), which is Rue Azaïs, and goes in the direction of Place du Tertre. Stay on the side of the road with the park, and there are various views of the tower beyond the trees.
- Place de la Concorde: Although this isn’t a “high up” vantage point, there’s a great view of the city from this large square. If you go into the Tuileries Gardens and up to the terrace just in front of the Orangerie Museum, you’ll have a little more height.
- Galeries Lafayette Viewing Deck: A lot of people like to pop into this famous department store to see its gorgeous dome, but don’t leave without going up to the 7th floor. This is where you can access the free viewing deck which has a great view over the Opera district and with the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
- Belvedere de Belleville: This is a lookout above the Parc de Belleville in the 20th. It has a sweeping view of the city, including the Eiffel Tower. There are also some bars just behind it if you want to linger and enjoy the vista over a drink.
By the way, we’ve pinned these on the Digital Map that comes with our very own Paris Itineraries.
Look for lunch “formules”
Food is another area where you can make good savings, and this first tip is definitely one of the top Paris budget hacks. Many bakeries and restaurants in Paris offer fixed-price menus. These are called “formules” and are usually only available at lunch, but you can sometimes find them at dinner too. When it comes to bakeries, you can get a sandwich or salad, a dessert, and a drink for around 8-10 euros. The lunch formules at sit-down restaurants can vary in price. I’ve seen super deals for about 12 euros, but many bistros offer a 2 or 3-course meal for 18 to 25 euros. Just look out for the word formule, which is often advertised on a chalkboard menu, and check out the details.
Image Courtesy of Bouillon Chartier via Instagram
Dine at a crêperie or a bouillon
Another way to save on your eating out in Paris is to look for a “bouillon” or a crêperie. The word “bouillon” means soup broth in French, which was the original specialty of these large and affordable restaurants when they first opened in the 1800s. There are about a dozen bouillons in Paris today and they offer you the chance to try traditional French cuisine (and even some vegetarian dishes) at bargain prices. Main courses are generally 8 to 12 euros (yes, you read correctly), and everything else is really cheap too, so you can have a 3-course meal with wine for around 20-25 euros. Some also have gorgeous decor, like the Petit Bouillon Pharamond, the Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse, and the Bouillon République, so they make for a unique dining experience in Paris that won’t break the bank.
You can also have a pretty cheap meal at a crêperie. Now, there are crepe stands around the city, but I’m talking about sit-down crêperies. You’ll find them all around the city and they are authentic and much better quality than the takeaway stands. A savory crepe will only set you back 6-12 euros, and it shouldn’t cost more than 25 euros to also get a drink and dessert crepe. Learn about one of the best historic crêperies in the city in our video on the best French dishes to try below.
Visit local markets
Among my favorite Paris budget hacks, this tip can lead to food savings as well as give you some insight into French culture and lifestyle. Paris has a whole array of markets, including food and flea markets. There are open-air markets taking place in different neighborhoods all around the city two or three times a week. Then there are about a dozen covered market buildings which are usually open six days a week (most are closed on Monday).
Either type has a huge variety of food vendors and some have stalls selling handicrafts or other items. This is a great way to learn about French food habits and pick up some picnic supplies or some ingredients to cook if you’re staying in an apartment. A small word of caution, some of those market vendors might try to get you to buy more than you want to. Don’t feel bad about saying “juste un petit peu” (just a little bit), or asking them to give you a few of a specific item and not a huge quantity.
There are also some great flea markets and vintage shops in Paris. These can be fun to simply browse through, or you might find some unique Paris souvenirs on the cheap. I’ve included lots of vintage shops and flea markets included in our Paris Itinerary.
Make sure you have a card with no foreign transaction fees
I’ve got one last Paris budget hack for you if you’re visiting from a country that doesn’t use euros. You might know that many bank cards will charge you extra fees for buying things in a foreign currency, like euros. This can REALLY add up, especially if your bank has really high fees. But there’s absolutely no reason to be dealing with that since there are other options, especially if you’re from the USA. If you’re planning your trip in advance, you’ll want to get a credit card that doesn’t charge international fees. These are the best cards with no foreign transaction fees.
Use your credit card points for free hotels and other perks
You might also want to check if your credit card allows you to convert points from your everyday spending into travel. If yours already allows you to book hotels and other travel experiences with your points, you might be able to get a few free nights a luxe hotel in Paris. If it doesn’t and you’re planning your trip several months in advance, you might want to switch to a credit card that offers this. Within a few months of regular purchases, you could build up some serious points, possibly enough to cover your whole stay in Paris. These are the best credit cards for earning free hotels and flights.
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