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The capital of France, nicknamed “The City of Love”, is the second most visited city in Europe after London and is one of the most well known cities worldwide. Crammed with rich culture, arts, history and iconic architecture, Paris is a place that truly lives up to the hype.
It’s no secret that it is one of the most expensive destinations to visit in Europe though, and that’s exactly what this guide is here for. I have visited Paris on 4 separate occasions and I can safely say that it is possible to spend a few days here and not head home with an empty wallet. Contrary to popular belief, there are loads of cheap and free activities you can get up to in Paris, from free museums and walking tours to riverside strolls and picture-perfect neighbourhoods.
From my experiences in the city I’ve created this post of 24 things to do in Paris on a budget including both popular tourist attractions and some hidden gems.
- Country: France
- Language: French
- Population: 2.2 million
- Currency: Euro (£1/$1 = €1.20/€0.90)
- Visa info: France is part of the Schengen Zone, allowing visitors from 27 European countries to travel here for up to 90 days without a visa. Find out more here.
- Popular for: Museums, galleries, beautiful architecture and fashion
Where is it
Paris is located on the banks of the Seine River in north-central France.
Check it out on the interactive map below.
When to visit
Paris is always busy and nothing usually closes seasonally, so really you just have to consider the weather.
The summer months of June to August are the busiest time of year, when the weather is warm and rain is minimal.
In my opinion, the shoulder seasons of April/May and September/October are the best times to visit because the weather is still decent but without the summer crowds.
Winters in Paris are very cold, but much quieter.
How to get here
As Paris is one of the most visited cities in the entire world, getting here could not be easier.
Overall, the best way to reach Paris internationally is to fly in and the best way domestically is to get a bus or train.
- Flight: Paris has a well connected international airport, Charles de Gaulle, with flights coming from all over Europe. Skyscanner is the best place to search for flights. From the airport there is an airport train with RER to get you to the city for 10 Euros, or for a door-to-door service use Uber. As a rule, I never use airport taxis because they’re always more expensive and more likely to rip you off.
- Eurostar: The Eurostar train links London to Paris with a journey time of only around 2 hours. The price for a standar ticket is around 50 Euros.
How to get around
- Walking is by far the best way to get around Paris if you want to stick to a budget. However, sometimes public transport is necessary.
- The underground metro is the most convenient mode of public transport in the city centre, and just €1.90 will get you a ride across the city. €13 will get you a day pass including all 16 line, so in other words; if you can’t walk there, take the metro.
- To and from Charles de Gaulle international airport, there are RER trains to the city centre that depart every 10 minutes for €10.
- Electric scooters have become popular now too. Around €1 will unlock most scooters through that company’s App, followed by minute by minute payments of around €0.15 – €0.20.
- Uber is always cheaper than a taxi and I would always recommend this for airport transfers or getting around a city if public transport isn’t ideal for you. Journeys can be paid automatically by card so you don’t need to worry about having the right change too
- Finally, if you book a day tour in Paris, you’ll be chauffeured around the city to each attraction. Sometimes, if time is vital, day tours are the perfect way o see the highlights of a destination efficiently and with a local guide. Check out GetYourGuide or Viator for tours.
Where to stay in Paris
Paris is a sprawling city where points of interest are very spread out, so deciding where to stay can sometimes be quite difficult. That said, there are numerous budget and mid-range accommodation options to choose from in the city centre, walking distance from the best bits.
Use the map function on Booking.com to find a hotel in a location that suits your budget, or try Hostelworld to find a good budget hostel.
- Backpacker: St Christopher’s Inn Canal
- Budget: Generator Paris
- Mid-range: St Christopher’s Inn Gare du Nord
How long to stay
Paris is vast and you could easily spend a lifetime in the city and not be bored, but I would recommend that 3 or 4 days is perfect to explore the main highlights.
24 Cheap & Free Things To Do in Paris
1. Get a metro card
First things first, Paris is a sprawling city and sometimes walking between A and B is not very appealing. Purchasing a metro card really is a no-brainer for any budget visit to the city.
Just €13 will get you a day pass which grants you access to over 300 subway stations within the city. When compared to the €1.90 per individual ticket, this could definitely save you a few quid depending on how much you use it!
2. Take a free walking tour
Kick your visit off the right way and gain some first-hand local knowledge on a free walking tour of the city.
It’s the perfect way to get your bearings somewhere new and learn something from a local’s perspective. There’s an array of different free tours on offer with Walkative.
I always think the guides on free tours are far better than paid tours because they need to impress you if they want to earn any money. They’re factual with a bit of humour, and it’s a perfect opportunity to ask any questions you may have, for example where the best local place to eat is or if there are any common tourist traps and scams to avoid in the city.
Soak up the information while you wander around the highlights of Paris, and if you’re happy with the tour don’t forget to tip the guide. A few euros is perfectly acceptable.
3. Rue Crémieux
Rue Crémieux is a secret, short, pedestrianised, cobbled street right in the centre of town that is famed as being Paris’s most instagrammable street.
It’s definitely worth a detour to admire the colourful houses if you’re in the area, but be respectful because people do live in the buildings and their patience understandably doesn’t last too long towards nosy tourists taking photos of their houses!
4. Visit at Christmas time
Paris really comes into its own during the festive season and I can’t recommend it more: visit at least once at Christmas time.
Parisian Christmas markets are special, and the decorations and displays inside department stores and throughout the city really capture the winter vibe. Make sure to admire the tall and dazzling Christmas tree at Galeries Lafayette at that time of year too!
5. Arc de Triomphe
One of the most famous monuments in Paris is the world’s 2nd largest triumphal arch, the Arc de Triomphe.
t took 30 years to build and is located at the north end of the Champs-Élyseés, providing epic views over the city after the 284 step climb to the top.
The best bit is that if you are an EU resident aged 25 or below you can enter and go to the top for free! Just make sure to have your passport with you as proof, otherwise general admission is €12.
Get your skip-the-line entrance ticket beforehand for £11 below.
6. Bouquinistes Riverside Shopping market
The Bouquinistes Riverside market is an opne-air bookshop and is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
The market follows the Seine river and you’ll find local vendors selling second-hand books and funky artwork.
The prices are usually fair and can be cheaper than standard books stores.
7. The Eiffel Tower
Does the most visited paid attraction in the world really need an introduction?
The image of the Eiffel Tower is known worldwide, raking in an average of 25,000 visitors every single day. Until 1930 it was actually the tallest man-made structure in the world.
8. Eiffel Tower light show
Go up the tower in the daytime and come back in the evening to witness the spectacular Eiffel Tower light show.
Every day the tower lights up for 5 minutes on the hour from sunset until midnight, which can be seen from many vantage points across Paris. Pont de l’Alma bridge is a great place to watch the show with an uninterrupted view over the Seine.
9. Parc du Champ de Mars
If climbing the Eiffel Tower stretches the budget too far or the queues are too long that day, why not admire the iconic landmark from underneath instead?
The large green space of the Parc du Champ de Mars sits at the foot of the tower and hosts picturesque, well maintained flowerbeds and plenty of grassy space to relax in the sun – perfect for a summer picnic with a unique view!
10. Notre Dam Cathedral
Please note this is currently closed for the foreseeable future due to the 2019 fires.
The Notre Dam Cathedral is a must-see location and a true icon of Paris and all of France.
In French Gothic design, this medieval cathedral is one of the oldest cathedrals in the world and has a stunning display of stain glass windows which are definitely worth admiring from the grand interior.
Notre Dam Cathedral is free to enter.
11. Sacre Coeur
Climb the 300 steps to reach the top of Paris’s highest hill and be rewarded by the sight of this awesome white marble basilica.
Entry is totally free and a lap of the church’s interior to admire the gold mosaics and colourful stain glass windows will only take around 5 minutes. The Sacre Coeur is also home to one of the world’s largest bells and offers visitors the chance to enter the dome or crypt for an additional fee. Can you see the people in the photo above?
Even if you aren’t keen on going inside, I still highly recommend going up the hill to admire the city from a unique perspective. The last time I visited was during the riots of 2019, so my view was clouded by the smoke from street fires and smoke bombs over the city.
Remember to turn off your flash when taking photos inside.
12 . Visit Montmarte district
13. Paris Flea Market at Port Saint Ouen
The largest antique market in the world is to the north of the city and comprises of around 2,500 shops in 15 markets.
The Paris Flea Market is not easy to find, but once you’re there it’s quite fun to get lost amongst the confusing maze of stalls. Browse the weird and wonderful items, from vintage cameras and postcards to clothing, handicrafts and souvenirs.
Free to visit and with items starting at as low as €1, you’re sure to discover some hidden gems with an afternoon here!
14. Walk along the Seine river
Everyone loves a river walk, especially somewhere as beautiful as Paris!
Take an afternoon stroll along the path beside the Seine river, which is a lovely free activity to spend a portion of your day. Alternatively, rent a bicycle to mix it up and get around a bit faster.
Admire the views and stunning architecture you see on your way with a local guide on a Seine River Walking Tour here.
15. Try some crepes from street vendors
You’ll find them all over the place and, let’s be honest, you can’t really come to Paris and not try a crepe!
Usually the best ones are found in street vendors and they’re also the cheapest there too. Ideal for a sweet little pick-me-up while you wander around the city!
16. The Louvre Museum
The largest museum in the world welcomes an incredible 9 million people annually.
They say it would take around 100 consecutive days to view everything on display in The Louvre so yeah, it’s pretty massive!
Allow around 1-2 hours to browse the best of the displays, most notable of which is of course the famous Mona Lisa, but obviously that depends on your personal level of interest and time-frame. You could easy fill a whole day getting lost with purpose here if that’s your thing.
The price is €17 for online bookings which is something to consider to avoid the queues, or it’s €15 at the desk inside.
17. Galeries Lafayette View
This enormous and upmarket department store is stunning, but the real treat lies in waiting on the rooftop. Make your way up for amazing sunset views over the district.
Note: Shopping inside is definitely not something for the budget-concious as many shops are designer, but the view is free!
18. Walk across Pont Alexandre 3rd bridge
Crossing the Seine, this extremely extravagant bridge boasts golden statues and an array of other unique decorations. It is frequently considered as one of the world’s most beautiful bridges.
Any fellow movie buffs may recognise it from a certain scene in “James Bond: A View To Kill”.
19. Pére Lachaise Cemetery
20. The Catacombs
In all my visits to Paris I’ve somehow and sadly still not experienced the Catacombs, but below the city streets lies a labyrinth of interconnected tunnels that were formerly mining tunnels.
These days they’re home to the bodies of around 6 million Parisians who were placed here after the 18th century clearances of cemeteries in the city due to overflowing. Prepare for creepy vibes!
The price for the Catacombs is €15 at the desk or €29 online, which comes with an audioguide.
21. Pont de Bir Hakeim
This beautifully symmetrical bridge offers amazing views over the river Seine River to the Eiffel Tower.
It triples up as a pedestrian, car and train bridge across two levels and was featured in Christopher Nolan’s 2010 film “Inception”, which brought it worldwide recognition.
22. Museé D’orsay
Le Museé D’Orsay holds the largest collection of impressionist art in the world.
It’s actually an old train station that was renovated and now hosts famous pieces by numerous impressionist artists, most notably Van Gogh and Monet. The entrance price is €16 for adults, so I’d maybe choose between visiting this or the Louvre if I were on a tight budget.
23. Rue de l’Université
For another awesome view of the Eiffel Tower, head to Rue de l’Universite.
Providing a unique perspective, you can find this cute little street on the northeast side of the tower and expect there to be many other people taking photos. This is a very popular Insta spot!
24. Free movies at Parc de la Villette
In July and August every year there are free outdoor movie screenings across Paris, but the biggest screen and most popular destination is Parc de la Villette.
Normally movies are shown later on in the evening at around 9pm in their native language. You can nearly always find something in English with French subtitles!
My thoughts on Paris
Although things like dinner and accommodation may hit the wallet hard, visiting all the main attractions of Paris certainly doesn’t have to break the bank! For reference, on my most recent trip in 2018 I spent about €150 (not including accommodation) and I visited everything on this list apart from the catacombs. That’s proof that it can be done on a budget!
I also walked over 45km in 4 days. Everything is quite spread out and there are many stops to make, so the best way to get around Paris is to walk. Prepare for a lot of steps and keep your camera handy because you never know what’s going to happen next in a city like this. It’s the type of place where you can read blogs and check out famous landmarks, but you’ll be surprised daily at all the random beauty you find.
During that trip, Paris was in the height of the well-documented protests and riots, so it was a bit crazy around town. It was certainly the first time I’ve seen burning traffic lights and street fires!
Even though I’ve been to the city 4 times, there is still so much I haven’t explored. Paris is the type of place you can keep going back to and discover even more gems, that’s for sure!
Best tours in Paris
Thank you for reading this travel guide – I hope you found it helpful! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible 
Happy travelling!
HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Accommodation: Booking.com, Hostelworld
Tours: GetYourGuide, Viator, Klook, TripAdvisor
Transport: 12Go, Omio, Trip.com, Rome2Rio
WHO IN THE WORLD IS JAMES?
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