Perhaps I am getting slightly ahead of myself, but yes, it is absolutely possible to enjoy Paris without spending a fortune, and there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to enjoy Paris. I realised this after our summer trip to the city (first impression you can find in this article “Things to do in Paris France on your first trip while learning about joie de vivre”), when we spent four days in Paris and, unfortunately, arrived right in the middle of a heatwave. The sun that Parisian residents spend much of the winter dreaming about had suddenly become our biggest enemy, and we found ourselves looking for any possible way to escape it.
In the end, we understood that the best places to hide from the heat were pharmacies and chocolate shops (Yesss! there is some inrony in this!). It still makes me laugh, two places with completely different purposes: one sells things designed to make us feel better, while the other sells things designed to make us happy. Yet during that particular summer, they offered exactly the same precious luxury: air conditioning.
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and its historic buildings are an essential part of its grandeur and charm; but those beautiful old buildings can be surprisingly difficult to adapt to a changing climate, which means that air conditioning is still relatively uncommon in many apartments and smaller hotels. Keep this in mind when planning a budget trip to Paris and searching online for cheap hotels in Paris, cheap hotels in Paris, France, or more generally economical hotels in Paris. The price may look attractive, but during a summer heatwave, the presence or absence of air conditioning can make a surprisingly big difference to your experience.
So, based on our four days in Paris, I want to share some practical ideas for keeping your trip affordable without feeling as though you have to compromise on the pleasure of being in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Here are some of my favourite things to do on a budget trip to Paris, France
Stay in an Airbnb or Hostel
When Airbnb and the modern hostel concept first became popular, they offered travellers something hotels often could not – a much more affordable way to stay. Over time, both concepts have evolved considerably. Today, some hostels in major cities offer private rooms with hotel-style facilities, while Airbnb has grown into a huge part of the short-term rental market, ranging from simple rooms to beautifully designed apartments.
During my first solo trip around Spain, I stayed exclusively in hostels, and it turned out to be such a fun experience that I still look back on it with a smile. Over the past few years, while travelling around the US, Mexico, where I lived for nine years, and Europe, including Paris, my husband and I have mostly booked our accommodation through Airbnb. Paris was no exception.
We had a specific budget in mind, and since our trip to Paris was in June, right in the middle of the high tourist season, we started looking for accommodation through Airbnb and hostels from the very beginning. Eventually, we found a wonderful apartment through Airbnb and it turned out to be one of the nicest surprises of our budget trip to Paris.
Despite being a budget-friendly option, the location was fantastic, and our two Parisian hosts, Claude and Paul, were simply wonderful! We will remember the breakfasts Paul prepared for us for a very long time. When we booked our room in their apartment, we somehow overlooked the fact that breakfast was included, so discovering this was a particularly lovely surprise. Check out their Airbnb here.
Our experience reminded me that looking beyond traditional hotels can make a huge difference when travelling to an expensive city like Paris. If you are searching for affordable places to stay in Paris, it is worth comparing Airbnb apartments and hostels with traditional hotels rather than automatically choosing a hotel. In particular, when looking for cheap hotels in Paris, France, or economical hotels in Paris, I would always check several accommodation platforms and compare not only the nightly price, but also the location, included extras, air conditioning and reviews.
Here are a few hostels worth checking when planning a budget trip to Paris:
- The People – Paris Marais
- Generator Paris
- St Christopher’s Inn Paris – Canal
- Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels
- JO&JOE Paris – Gentilly
- Auberge Internationale des Jeunes
- Oops! Hostel
Stay Near the Airport & Close to the Metro
This is actually what we have decided to do on our next trip to Paris, which will hopefully happen in autumn or winter. We would love to explore more of the city’s museums and galleries, and somehow the colder, rainy weather feels much more appropriate for spending hours indoors surrounded by art. There is something particularly appealing about walking through Paris in the rain and then escaping into a warm museum for a few hours.
When we were planning our summer trip, we started looking at hotels and apartments in different parts of Paris and noticed something quite interesting: many well-known hotel chains have properties near the airports, and their prices can be considerably more affordable than staying in the centre. So, for our next budget trip to Paris, we are planning to consider one of these hotels, with one important condition: it must be within easy walking distance of a metro station.
This can potentially save a significant amount on airport transfers. By staying near the airport and using the metro for the rest of the journey, you can avoid expensive taxi or Uber rides to and from a centrally located hotel. In our case, our Uber trips from the airport to our Airbnb in central Paris and back cost us €180 in total. Of course, this was our experience, and the cost can be quite different for other travellers depending on the airport, time of travel and location of their hotel or apartment. That is a considerable part of a travel budget that could easily be spent on something much more enjoyable.
Once you are in Paris, the metro makes it relatively easy to reach the neighbourhoods where you want to spend your day, whether your plans involve museums, galleries, shops, restaurants or the city’s famous landmarks. After congested traffic we experienced during our trip to Paris, I have to admit that I am not particularly enthusiastic about spending future visits sitting in buses or other road traffic simply to get from one part of the city to another. The metro is faster, predictable and, most importantly, saves precious time.
So this is the plan we are taking with us for our next visit: find one of the cheap hotels in Paris, France or other economical hotels in Paris near the airport, make sure there is a convenient metro connection, and use public transport to explore the city. It may not sound as romantic as waking up in the centre of Paris, but for a budget trip to Paris, it could be a surprisingly practical compromise.
Take a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus for Three Days
On our first day in Paris, near the Eiffel Tower, we bought a ticket for one of the hop-on hop-off buses. The ticket was valid for the following three days, which made it feel almost like having pre-paid transport for the duration of our stay. The buses follow a circular route, with around 12–14 stops covering some of the city’s main tourist areas and attractions.
I found this particularly convenient for a first trip to Paris, when you want to see as many of the famous sights as possible without spending time figuring out how to get from one area to another. You pay once and can then hop off whenever you want, explore a neighbourhood on foot, and simply wait for the next bus to continue your journey. For example, you can spend part of the day exploring one area, then hop back on and continue to another without paying for each individual journey.
It is not necessarily the fastest way to move around Paris, especially when traffic is heavy, but as a sightseeing option it can be a practical and enjoyable way to get an overview of the city – particularly during a short budget trip to Paris.
Popular hop-on hop-off companies in Paris:
- Tootbus Paris
- Big Bus Tours Paris
- Open Tour Paris
Visit Small Galleries Instead of the Big Museums
I have always felt that some art galleries are like little art worlds of their own. They can be intimate, cosy and full of unexpected discoveries. You want to stand in front of a painting for a while, look at the details, hear the story behind its creation and simply take your time without feeling that you need to move on to make room for the next visitor.
Paris may be a city of big museums and world-famous art collections but there is still plenty of room for smaller private galleries. If you want to experience a different side of Paris beyond its major attractions, I would definitely recommend taking some time to wander into one of these smaller spaces simply because something catches your eye.
There is something wonderfully unpredictable about it. You might discover an artist you have never heard of, fall in love with a particular painting, or perhaps stand there wondering what exactly you are looking at, and that is part of the fun. Smaller galleries can also help you save both money on entrance tickets and time spent waiting in queues, leaving you with more of both to enjoy the city.
Here is a list of some Paris art galleries worth discovering, even during a short budget trip to Paris:
- Galerie Perrotin
- Galerie Templon
- Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac
- Polka Galerie
- Semiose
- Galerie Continua
- Galerie Lelong & Co.
- Galerie Marian Goodman
- Galerie David Zwirner
- Galerie Almine Rech
Avoid Instagram-Popular Cafés, Restaurants and Bars Near the Main Sights
Instagram is undoubtedly a popular platform for discovering restaurants, cafés and bars, but that does not mean you should automatically trust every “Top 10 Restaurants”, “Best Bars” or “Best Hotels” list that appears at the top of your search. In my experience, particularly in large cities like Paris, these highly recommended places are often much more expensive than you might expect and do not always live up to the hype.
While walking around central Paris, particularly in the area around the Eiffel Tower, we noticed several bars and restaurants with huge queues outside. Looking at the people waiting, I could not help but wonder how many of them were influencers or simply visitors hoping to get that perfect Instagram photo. Yet, just a few minutes’ walk away, in either direction, we found cafés without any queues at all but filled with local residents.
I usually take it as a very good sign. Locals know where to eat, and they are far less likely to choose a place simply because it looks good in a social media post. The food is often better, the atmosphere feels more authentic, and the prices can be much more reasonable. I always try to avoid tourist traps, especially those that have become popular on Instagram, and this simple habit can make a surprisingly big difference during a budget trip to Paris.
Enjoy Paris from the Viewpoints
One of the easy things to do to enjoy Paris without spending much money is to find a good viewpoint and simply take in the city from above. From this perspective, you can really appreciate the scale and depth of Paris, the rooftops stretching into the distance, the Seine winding through the city and the famous landmarks appearing almost like small details within a much larger landscape. For me, this is one of the simplest pleasures of a budget trip to Paris.
If you are a photographer like me, definitely bring a zoom lens. It allows you to pick out interesting details from that enormous view and create more intimate, almost compressed compositions. Instead of trying to capture the entire city in one frame, you can isolate a distant building, a rooftop or a familiar landmark and create a much more atmospheric photo.
If you are taking photos with your phone, do not forget about the panoramic mode, called Pano on an iPhone. Paris is one of those cities where a panoramic photograph can really help convey just how vast and layered the city feels.
Some of the most popular viewpoints in Paris include:
- Eiffel Tower – one of the most iconic places to enjoy panoramic views over the city.
- Arc de Triomphe – a fantastic viewpoint for seeing the grand avenues of Paris stretching out in all directions.
- Sacré-Cœur Basilica – offers beautiful views over the rooftops of Paris from Montmartre.
- Galeries Lafayette Rooftop – a great option if you want a central view of the city without paying for an observation deck.
- Montparnasse Tower – one of the best places to see the Paris skyline with the Eiffel Tower included in the view.
- Parc de Belleville – a quieter alternative with lovely views across the city.
Have a Picnic
This was actually one of the things I most wanted to do during our trip to Paris, but the heatwave that had settled over France in those days forced us to change our plans. Sitting on the grass, even in the shade, felt unbearably hot, and the heavy, scorching air seemed to push us towards interesting places where we could at least escape indoors and have a little hope of finding some relief from the heat.
Picnics are a very popular pastime in Paris, and there are plenty of parks and green spaces where you can spread out a blanket and enjoy a simple meal outdoors. If you want to make your picnic part of a budget trip to Paris, it can also be a great way to save money on eating out. Pick up some bread, cheese, fruit, pastries and a bottle of wine from a local market or shop, find a pleasant spot and simply enjoy the atmosphere.
Naturally, parks located close to markets and food shops tend to be more popular and can get quite crowded, especially on warm days; but that is also part of the Parisian picnic experience. Here are a few places you could consider:
- Champ de Mars – with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop.
- Canal Saint-Martin – a lively area popular with locals, particularly on warm evenings.
- Jardin du Luxembourg – one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris.
- Parc des Buttes-Chaumont – a more spacious option with lovely views and plenty of greenery.
- Place des Vosges – a beautiful historic square in the Marais where you can relax on the grass.
Rent a Bike to Get Around
This option will probably be most appealing to people who genuinely enjoy cycling and feel comfortable riding on roads filled with traffic. Cycling is a very popular way to get around Paris, and as a traveller, I found it fascinating to watch. These two- and three-wheeled vehicles add another layer of movement and energy to an already lively Parisian street scene.
If you feel confident enough to join them, renting a bike can be an interesting way to explore the city while also saving time on some journeys. You can rent bikes at various locations across Paris using Vélib’, the city’s public bike-sharing system, or apps such as Lime and Dott for electric bikes. Bonjour RATP can also be useful when planning journeys around the city.
Visit Museums on the First Sunday of the Month
If your trip happens to coincide with the first Sunday of the month, it is worth checking which museums and monuments are offering free admission. A number of Paris museums open their permanent collections to visitors free of charge on the first Sunday, although the exact arrangements can vary from one museum to another.
Among the museums that may offer free admission are Musée d’Orsay, Musée National Picasso-Paris and Centre Pompidou for their permanent collections. At Musée Rodin, free first-Sunday admission is generally limited to the low season, from October to March.
It is worth checking the official website of each museum before your visit, as free-admission policies, opening hours and reservation requirements can change. Even when admission is free, you may still need to reserve a time slot in advance, and the number of free tickets can be limited. For a budget trip to Paris, though, this is a great opportunity to experience some of the city’s world-famous art without paying the usual entrance fee.
Visit One of Paris’s Free Museums
Paris also has plenty of lesser-known museums that offer free permanent collections or free admission throughout the year. These can be a wonderful alternative to the city’s biggest and busiest museums, particularly if you have already spent several days surrounded by crowds and queues.
Some free museums worth discovering include:
- Musée Carnavalet – the history of Paris
- Musée Cognacq-Jay – 18th-century art
- Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris – modern and contemporary art
- Maison de Victor Hugo – the former home of the famous French novelist
- Fragonard Perfume Museum – the history of perfume
- Musée Curie – the history of radiological research
- Musée de la Préfecture de Police – the history of the Paris police
- Petit Palais – fine arts, with a free permanent collection
I think these smaller museums are a great option for a budget trip to Paris. You do not have to spend a lot of money or visit all the famous places to have an interesting day. Sometimes it is much more fun to find a museum you have never heard of, walk in without any particular expectations and see what you find. For me, these unexpected little discoveries are often what I remember most from a trip.
All images in this article were taken by Elena Sullivan, ArsVie Photo Studio and are protected by copyright. If you are interested in using any of the them, please contact me for permission. Thank you for understanding!
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