Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world with millions of tourists travelling here every year.
This city is somewhere you really need to visit, come on who can say they love to travel and haven’t been to the Eiffel Tower!
But Paris is also expensive to visit, even compared to other cities in Europe. Whether you are planning your first trip to Paris, or have been before and are keen to keep costs down, our guide will help plan a trip without spending a fortune.
View our top money-saving tips and tricks helping you to travel to Paris on the cheap.
Getting to Paris
Paris is one of the most well connected cities in the world with lots of affordable ways to get there including flying, train and bus.
There are direct flights to Paris from airports around the globe. To get the best deals we recommend using a comparison website like Skyscanner. Be sure to book as far in advance as possible for the cheapest prices. Several low cost airlines fly to Paris daily including Easyjet and Ryanair.
From other destinations in Europe, it is usually cheaper to travel to Paris by bus or train. Bus is the cheapest form of transport although journeys can be long.
Where to Stay
Finding somewhere cheap to stay in Paris can be a challenge, this is likely to be your biggest outgoing money wise.
Hotels in Paris are notoriously expensive, even for basic rooms far from the main tourist attractions. Staying centrally is recommended as you will be close to all the main touristy locations, but if you stay further out of the city centre prices are a lot more affordable.
Booking.com is one of the best accommodation comparison websites helping you to find cheap rooms.
If you are on a really tight backpacker budget, you should consider staying in hostels if you are open to sharing a dorm room with others to keep costs down. Although in recent years even the price of a dorm bed has gone really expensive, its still cheaper than your basic hotel.
Hotel Georgette is a recommended place to stay for any travellers on a tight budget but who don’t want to stay in a hostel. The ambiance, décor, and hospitality are the epitome of French decadence and a stay here can only be classed as an artistic experience.
The majority of the rooms have been given a ‘Pop Art’ facelift that incorporates bright art and stylish bed throws. Book accommodation in advance if you want an en suite then you do have to request one, but other than this the hotel has all the amenities that you could possibly need.
The hotel is located just ten minutes from the centre of Paris and there are many beautiful restaurants nestled around the hotels that are well worth a visit. Prices do change, but they are competitive per night for two adults.
Another option is reserving an Airbnb, sometimes prices can be high but you will get access to a kitchen which will allow you to cook food at home rather than eating out and this can save you a lot of money.
Airbnb’s in Paris can be more expensive compared to hotels if travelling solo, but cheaper if you have a partner, family or friends to share with.
Transport
Getting from Charles de Gaulle Airport
The cheapest way to get from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is via bus or train/metro. There is an Air France shuttle to Montparnasse and costs 16.50. If you are happy to spend a bit more you can pay for a taxi or Uber.
Getting Around Paris
Paris is a huge spread out city and there are several options for getting around:
Walking is a totally free way to navigate the French capital, and it is also a great way to see more of the city and see the beautiful Parisian architecture. A lot of tourist attractions are located centrally and not too far from each other too.
Take a good pair of trainers and you can aim to walk to lots of the main locations. But if you want the full tourist experience you will need to use transport as the distances for the different neighbourhoods are too big.
The Paris Metro is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to get around connecting the whole city and highly recommended for an affordable transport option. A single metro ticket costs €1.90, and can be used for one journey, including all connections. There is also a Navigo Weekly Pass (Navigo Semaine) costing €22.80 which permits transport for 7 days oon all Paris Metro, RER, trams, and buses.
There is a Velib’, a bicycle-sharing network that you can rent at the 750 stations available throughout Paris. Choose between electric or mechanic bikes and pay for the amount of time you use. Sometimes though if you use it for half or a whole day can be quite expensive, well more than the metro.
You can also navigate the city by taxi, although more expensive than the other options on our list it offers a quick and reliable way to get around.
Food & Drink
French food is amongst some of the best in the world but eating out everyday can be expensive.
There are many Michelin starred restaurants in Paris, where a typical meal could cost you triple figures, so what is there for those of us on a limited budget who don’t want to compromise quality. Well quite simply, there are hundreds of smaller bistro’s and restaurants in Paris that are affordable in price but high in quality.
One recommendation is the Bistro de Piente, set in the heart of the city, this is an excellent place for eating at any point of the day. Serving a traditional mix of French Cuisine and classic bar food, there is certainly something for everyone on the menu.
Prices start (on average) from £11 per head. Almost as interesting as the food however, is the fact that this bistro is a listed Art Nouveau building and the interior and exterior is thoroughly awe inspiring.
Most restaurants in Paris charge a “sitting fee” if you want to literally sit down to eat. A quick tip to escape paying this fee is to stand at the bar to enjoy your drinks or snacks. You’ll get to hear the Parisian conversations, people watch and live the local experience. If you do sit down to eat, most Paris restaurants offer free filtered water for your meal, so there is no need to purchase bottled water.
If you really are looking to spend as little as possible, you could shop at supermarkets and plan for days out rather than eating at cafes and restaurants which can eat away at your budget. There are also local shops throughout Paris, Google Maps can help find these close to where you are located.
If you do buy food at supermarkets you could make snacks for the day and even have a picnic in one of the many great parks located throughout the city. There are also lots of tasty boulangeries and patisseries where you can buy cheap food to take away.
Filling your water bottle up before departing, and buying sandwiches and snacks can easily save you around 10-25 euros per person per day. Something else you might not have thought about, or might not want to do but will save you money, is to visit McCafés or McDonalds.
You won’t get to sample some of the amazing Paris food on offer, but the prices especially for drinks are really cheap. You will also be able to use the WIFI and toilet for free.
Sightseeing & Free Things to Do
Be sure to visit some of the famous sights including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Nôtre Dame and the Sacré Coeur to name just a few. Stroll along the Champs Elysées and wander through the Jardin des Tuileries, a peaceful haven right in the centre of the city.
Idle away a few hours in the labyrinth of alleyways and back streets which make up the charming area of Montmartre.
If you want to take in all the main highlights for example going up the Eiffel Tower, seeing the Louvre or going to watch a live PSG football game at the Parc de Paris, you can easily spend a few hundred euros.
Some things like seeing art the Louvre and going up the Eiffel Tower are iconic and some of the most essential things to do, and if you have never done them before, you should spend the entry fees, they really are things you have to do once in your life.
To get the best value on sightseeing, we recommend searching activities and tours on Get Your Guide and booking in-advance before arriving.
There are also lots of completely free and affordable things to do in Paris so it is possible to visit without spending a small fortune. There are also some attractions which you might want to give a miss.
Here are some money-saving Paris sightseeing tips:
Tourist Attractions
Some of the most famous Paris tourist attractions can be done completely free. Like you can visit The Eiffel Tower, The Arc Du Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathédrale, The Champs Elysees, The Louvre and Montmartre and just take photos from outside. If you want to grab an iconic Paris skyline photo, then Montmartre has some of the best free views in the city.
Museums
Lots of museums also have no entry fee, including the highly rated Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville. Many museums in Paris which do usually charge entry fees do have free and discount hours and days, look online in-advance to check dates and times.
Gardens & Parks
Paris is blessed with beautiful gardens and parks which are free. Our top picks include the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Gardens of the Louvre, Parc Monceau and Parc des Buttes Chaumont.
Free Sightseeing Tours
There are lots of walking sightseeing tours with local guides which cost nothing. It is polite to tip at the end, but this is totally optional.
Cemeteries
This might sound like a rather odd idea, but the Paris cemeteries are popular locations with foreign tourists and are free to enter. Famous dead people residing in Paris Cemeteries include Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde at Cimetiere du Père Lachaise, Samuel Beckett and Jean-Paul Sartre at Montparnasse Cemetery and Alexander Dumas and Edgar Degas who are laid to rest at Montmartre Cemetery.
How to Visit Paris on the Cheap
Paris really is a special city to experience and our recommendations will help you to keep costs down. Before departing you might want to learn some basic French words for travel to impress the locals. Now go explore this city for yourself!
