After having lived in Paris and traveled there many times, here's a little guide on what to do in Paris on a budget.
11min
Paris the city of love, as some call it. Have you actually asked yourself why people call it the city of love? I thought it had to do with the love lock bridge, but there are actually several reasons for its name:
Now back to some more factual information about the city...
The capital of France is the most populous city of the country with over 2 million habitants; not to be confused with the region of Ile de France (which is Paris and it's suburbs) which counts over 12 million people.
It has sometimes been referred to the "capital of the world" because it's one of the world's major centres for finance, fashion, arts, gastronomy, science and diplomacy.
Paris is so culturally rich and holds hundreds of monuments that tourists flock to every year. Amongst some of these are the: Eiffel Tower, l'Arc de Triomphe, Le Louvre (museum), Notre Dame (cathedral), Sacré Coeur, Les Catacombes, Statue of Liberty.
Today, Paris has over 30 million tourists per year, with flights coming in from all destinations all over the world to its 3 airports.
If you're going to be one of those 30 million, but you have a slightly smaller budget, keep on reading to find out about budget travel in Paris!
Read more: Where to go in France: the ultimate guide on the 29 best places to see other than Paris
Firstly, whether Paris, or any major capital, I think that there are a few basics that stand for budget traveling:
In regards to Paris particularly, I have found that planning a little ahead of time helps a lot budget-wise, as many people flock to Paris at all times of the year to visit this beautiful city.
You can find cheap flights on Ryanair (but note that there are 3 airports for Paris) but usually a few months in advance; same as for trains (Ouigo especially) and buses (Flixbus). Last minute (even a week in advance) could be a little pricey.
Since Paris is the type of destination on everyone's bucket list, I would also recommend applying for volunteering positions in advance (more about them below), as well as sending out Couchsurfing requests a week or two in advance.
Hostels are relatively affordable... if booked in advance. I consider anything above 10 euros/night "expensive" for a hostel dorm (but this is perhaps just personal opinion).
The Generator is a go-to hostel to many tourists visiting: it's good quality, clean, decent people, but still at least 30 € for a bed in a dorm. The cheapest dorms I've found were around 23€/night (Peace & Love Hostel, Le Coffice Auberge De Jeunesse)
Since the crisis/pandemic, most prices have risen in Paris- which includes public transportation.
A one way single use metro (bus, and tram) ticket is now 1,90€, but you can buy a pack of 10, day passes and weekly passes.
There's a "Navigo" card that you can top up and use quite freely; I believe that there might not even be any paper tickets available anymore.
The main public transport system is the RATP and always anticipate your travels: metros and buses often do not come on time, and it is quite likely you will be rerouted during a trip (the reasons can be varied from a suspicious bag in a station, someone falling on the tracks, a technical issue... welcome to Paris).
I would recommend walking most places: this is the best way to visit the city, but do beware of your belongings (no phones in back pockets or in jacket pockets that don't close properly). Always have your bag well strapped to you (not just on the shoulder) and properly closed. Paris is overall a safe city, but it is a capital, and certain neighbourhoods are a little more rough than others (more in the tips section).
As aforementioned, my first choices would be volunteering in Paris with Worldpackers. This will enable you to save a lot of money, and spend actual quality time in Paris, visiting things you want to see, instead of mindlessly wandering the streets (which isn't bad idea).
Here are the top 3 positions in and around Paris:
Okay so you won't be living like "Emily in Paris" if that's what you had in mind... but for the more nature-lovers, this is perfect. Keep in mind that Paris is a hustle-and-bustle city, so this would be the ideal location to find that little safe haven outside of the big city vibes.
Your host is Frenchman who works in Paris but lives on a farm, and needs an extra pair of hands to help with the animals, gardening, and handyman tasks.
Similarly, this farm needs some help with gardening, but also cleaning and housekeeping.
Mare aux coqs means a sort of pond for roosters, and is actually a 5000m2 farm in the town of Neauphlette consisting of three historic farm buildings and a private pond.
You will get a shared dorm here but breakfast and lunch, free drinks/beverages, bikes at your disposal, and pick up.
Neauphlette is in the Yvelines - a renowned Parisian suburb, and is quite easily accessible from the centre of Paris (just one local train).
Even if you weren't volunteering with Worldpackers, you would probably visit Fontainebleu, so might as well kill two bird with one stone!
This guesthouse maintains excellent 5 star reviews as the world is still gardening, cleaning, and some handyman tasks.
If you haven't checked out Worldpackers on social media yet, I suggest doing so. There are often posts of ongoing volunteers in positions so you might just see what these experiences offer in real time! Where to go? Youtube, Tiktok and Instagram.
In all honesty, I wouldn't particularly recommend Airbnb unless you are in a group, since prices have sky-rocketed recently.
You can occasionally find good deals on Booking for affordable hotels and hostels, but to really be budget-savvy, go for Worldpackers or Couchsurfing.
Eating in Paris can actually be affordable, but this also depends on what you consider as "affordable".
If you're on the extreme budget, I would recommend sticking to your hosts from Worldpackers for food - they will probably be able to offer you the best home-cooked French meals, or give you the best insiders tips.
If you can spare a bit for eating out, then your main place is going to be bakeries and patisseries. Here, you can find all sorts of sweet and salty delicacies (evidently from all price ranges). Here is a small guide to how much you should pay for what:
Aside from patisseries and bakeries, you'll find quite a lot of kebab shops around the city, but the ultimate best isn't a kebab, but a crepe, and not the sweet one.
In the neighbourhood of Grands Boulevards especially, are some of my favourite crepe shops. Fine, they are extra tasty after a night out, but can be enjoyed at any time of the day for roughly 5-7€. A classic one to order would be ham and cheese (you know we like our cheese) but they are quite filling!
You will also obviously find cheap eats when it comes to other types of cuisines like Lebanese or Chinese, but we'll stick to French only.
A little tip I'd recommend for going to "brasseries" (think of like a more casual bistrot) is to go for lunch and not dinner, and get a set menu. They often have "formules" (set menus) where you shouldn't pay more than 15€ for a 2 course (sometimes 3) meal with a drink included.
Once you visit these brasseries (and my top 3 most affordable picks would be: Bouillon Chartier, Breizh Cafe, La Cantine de la Cigale), be sure to try out the following:
Starters:
Mains:
I'll stop now because you probably don't want to gain 5kg during this trip! We do have a big food culture and love our gastronomy... eating and drinking and probably one of the best things to do in France, at any time of the year, which takes us nicely to when is the best time to visit Paris.
The obvious answer is to not visit Paris during peak season, which is mainly the summer.
Realistically speaking, Paris is the type of city that will always be full of tourists, whatever the season, so my best advice to you is to just plan a little bit in advance.
Paris is not the most pleasant in the winter, but if you just want to tick the city of your list and be as economical as possible, then give it a shot.
I'd say the best time to visit Paris is in the Spring or Autumn, but probably every other person visiting this capital will think the same.
Whatever the season or weather, there are some hidden gems that will forever remain timeless.
All these places are walkable, and completely free. So not only will you get a good workout, a tour of the city, but you'll also save up!:
This should be a good start! Always remember: you will never be able to see, do, and taste everything when traveling to a new destination, so pick wisely and also go with the flow!
1. How to deal with Parisians... yes, there is a certain reputation, so my best advice would be to learn a few French words, and put on your best accent. Avoid asking older people for advice as they might not speak English.
2. Keep your belongings safe and out of reach (especially in the metro and whilst walking) and for the love of ... please do not leave your phone or wallet ON the table, even/especially in a restaurant. This is just a no no.
3. You will probably see pick-pockets, or people trying to get you to sign papers saying they're deaf or blind or whatever - DO NOT even make eye contact - they will steal your sh*t while you're signing whatever, especially the kids.
4. Watch out for the bike lanes and always look before crossing. Traffic can be crazy, between the cars, buses, bicycles, scooters, dogs, runners, prams... just have your eyes peeled at all times and stay in your lane.
5. You don't need to pay for water in restaurants - just ask for "une carafe d'eau" (pronounced, "u -nn karaff d'o"), it's tap water and free. Water is fine to drink all over France; it might have a little calcaire but you'll be fine. Bread is usually free too (in restaurants) and don't hesitate to ask for more!
6. There are a lot of homeless people and you do not need to give to every single person you see. Trust me you'll be broke if you do.
7. Don't have too high hopes and expectations - always expect the worst but hope for the best. Some people have been very underwhelmed by Paris. The Eiffel Tower isn't as pretty in real life. Paris has a lot of homelessness and some districts are very dirty and poor. The metro isn't the nicest, especially during peak hours..
8. Museums are free every first Sunday of the month - if you're a museum fanatic, be sure to plan your trip around then!
9. Take public transportation from the airport(s): yes it will take longer but you will save a lot (an RER train ticket from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the centre should be about 10€).
10. Have some money saved up - Paris is one of those cities where you don't exactly want to be counting every penny, so perhaps have a little back up to be as stress free as possible.
I could honestly write a full book about visiting, studying, and living in Paris. I have lived multiple lives in this city, at different periods of time in my life. It will always hold a special place in my heart and I hope that you will create unforgettable memories on your trip there too.
Merci, et à la prochaine!
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