Are you dreaming of visiting Paris but afraid your wallet can’t afford it? Think again! You can see the city of love on a budget, and still not miss out on all the excitement and history the city has to offer!
In this article, you’ll learn how to visit Paris on a budget, and different places to see. Read on to discover these money-saving tips and book your vacation of a lifetime.
1. Booking the Trip
First off, you’re probably thinking once you get to Paris you can check out different places, but what about getting there? Thankfully, they’re many tips for scoring excellent deals on flights and trains.
You’ll want to book your trip far in advance for your best deals, preferably at least 6-8 months. Check out different discount sites such as Kayak and CheapTickets and make sure to compare them to find the best deal.
You’ll also want to travel during the off-season for the best rates. There’s still plenty to see in the winter-time! Before booking, always make to read any fine print as far as the deals. If you’re booking a train, then check out Rail Europe.
2. Use Public Transportation
Tour buses can be inexpensive but if you’re looking to really save on a tight budget, public transportation is an option as well. You can easily get around the city using the Paris Public Bus System. You can still sightsee and travel through different areas of the city.
You can also use what’s called the Velib. This is Paris’s bike-share program and you can easily rent a bike for a day, week, or however long you’d like to for a reasonable price. You can either use a pin and chip card or buy a ticket online and then use your access code at the different stations.
You’ll want to skip taxis since they tend to be overpriced, and you can save by taking a bus or subway.
3. Sightseeing
Sightseeing is part of any great trip to Paris, and when you’re on a tight but still want to see Paris’s tourist attractions, this section has you covered.
If you’ve always wanted to check out the Louvre, the great news is admission is free for the first Saturday of every month from 6-9:00 pm. Or if you fall under certain requirements for other days.
You can also buy a Paris Museum Pass which offers plenty of discounted and free admission to different museums. You also get to skip the ticket lines.
Most of the museums are free on the first Sunday of the month from October through March.
Some museums that are always free are:
- Musee d’Art Moderne
- Maison de Victor Hugo
- Maison de Balzac
- Most churches and parks
- Fragonard Perfume Museum
They’re many more to see for free besides this list.
You’ll definitely want a guided tour to see the Louvre, and learn as much as possible while enjoying the art and history. Don’t miss out on the history and secrets in the art located within this extraordinary building.
4. Stay in Hostels
You’ll need a place to sleep but don’t have to break the bank. You can stay at different hostels in the city. They usually range from only about 20-30 euro per night.
A great feature of many hostels is they have bars, so you can save your money by buying inexpensive beer at their bars.
5. Eat and Drink
When you go to restaurants, specifically ask for tap water. It’s safe to drink, but if you don’t ask for it they’ll automatically give you bottled water. The great part is tap water is free.
As far as eating lunch, ask for the prix fixe menu which is a set menu and tends to be less than other meals on the menu. Try to find restaurants away from tourist traps so you can find more reasonably priced places.
You can also go to several of their local markets and pick up cheese, different loaves of bread, sandwiches, and take it to the park for a picnic.
If you’re looking to enjoy some alcohol out of hostels, you can picnic along the Seine river with alcohol you bought from a market or grocery store. This is a very popular picnic spot in the summer.
6. Budget Shop
If you’re really looking to travel on a budget, try to keep shopping at a minimum in Paris since it’s very expensive. You can check out flea markets in Paris to save but still shop. If you decide to go to Paris in January or July, that’s when their big sales happen in the city.
You can also check out vintage shops in the area such as Chine Machine or GoldyMama. GoldyMama offers high-end selections, and Chine Machine is more funky fashion. Frip Sape offers great low prices, and Free’P’Star has 3 locations which you can easily get to by foot.
Visiting Paris
In this article, you learned all about visiting Paris on a budget. Before you know it your dream of finally visiting the city of love will happen, and you’ll be floating down the Seine River enjoying freshly baked bread and cheeses from the market.
Don’t forget to keep this guide so you can make sure to see all Paris has to offer. Remember, you can still experience so much in Paris, even on a budget.
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