Visit Paris on a Budget
We are excited to hear that our blog was chosen by Air France and the winner of free tickets on their Premium Voyageur Class, to Paris, France but at the same time, we had to cut our very cheap travels through central Asia short to make our way to Europe. So how does this couple go from a budget of $7 guest houses and $3 meals in India to one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit? We find ways to Visit Paris on a Budget. We find cheap things to do in Paris, we find cheap places to stay and we find interesting ways to stretch our Canadian dollar. We learned that you can Visit Paris on a Budget! After doing some research and reading, we found out that there are a lot of budget travel ideas for Paris from Free Museums, cheap transit and creative dining, there’s lots that you can do to keep from breaking the bank.
Paris on a Budget
Budget Paris, free bridge
We were surprised to see just how much money we could save in Paris and here are some tips for you that we learned to budget our money and stretch our Canadian dollar while we were there.
1. Don’t eat at bistros or restaurants. Paris has amazing restaurants, but they are expensive. Instead eat outside at a boulangerie or patisserie. Make sure to sit outside as you can be charged extra to sit inside. We ate excellent lunches for 6.50 Euros. They included a large baguette sandwich, delicious dessert of our choice and a drink.
Use the Metro in Paris to stretch your budget
2. Use the metro, not the tourist buses. Buy a 10 pack metro ticket for 11.50 Euro. The three day pass is too expensive at $30 Euros. You can mix walking and taking the metro or bus and only use 3 tickets in one day if you plan your route wisely. Staying away from tourist buses, boats and taxis will stretch your budget greatly in Paris.
3. Don’t sit down for coffee at a restaurant, drink it at the bar you will save quite a bit of money. Real estate is expensive in Paris and tables take up space. Sitting down to eat will cost you a surcharge. If you are watching your budget, stand at the bar to enjoy your beer or coffee. Besides, you will meet more people that way and experience Paris the way true Parisians experience Paris.
Stay in a hostel in Mont Martre
4. Stay at a hostel in the Montemartre area. The hostels in Paris are quite nice. We stayed in a hostel in this charming neighborhood accessible by metro and bus for 35 Euro per person. We had a private bath, but you can get a cheaper room for 28 Euro if you share a bath. The shared bath is quite also clean. The price of a hostel in Paris doesn’t break the bank at all and leaves plenty of money to spare to enjoy the city of lights sites.
5. Book a hostel that has breakfast included. Our Hostel, The Perfect Hotel/Hostel included a breakfast of coffee, juice, bread and chocolate croissant. We didn’t have to spend any money until lunch. Food can be expensive in Paris, so the more you have included with your accommodations the better.
Yes You Can Visit Paris on a Budget!
6. Shop at the many supermarkets around town and pack your lunch. Paris has many places to picnic and you can buy wonderful cheeses, meats, breads and fruit for a very reasonable price. We never spend more than 10 Euro on lunch for the two of us and that included wine! For a low budget, we ate like the rich enjoying good French wine with incredible scenery. The parks of Paris are beautiful. Note: Keep your wine hidden and discreet. Like anywhere drinking in public areas is frowned upon even thought everyone does it.
Use the Menu Formule for cheap eats
7. When you do eat out for dinner, take advantage of the Menu Formule. It is a fixed price menu for tourists in the Latin Quarter. This is a great way to save money and keep the budget down. It includes an appetizer, main dish, dessert and one drink. These meals range from 9 Euro to 15 Euro. The Latin Quarter near Notre Dame, Montemartre near Sacre Couer and La Rue Cler near the Eiffel Tower all have very reasonable fixed price meals.
Discounts at the Musee D’Orsay after 4:00
8. After 4:15 pm on Thursdays, the Musee D’orsay slashes its prices to 5.50 Euro. We knew that all we were really interested in was the Impressionists exhibit, so 2 hours was more than enough time to take it in. We even saw most of the other exhibits in that time as well.
9. The Louvre slashes its prices after 6:00pm on Wednesdays and Fridays to 11 Euro. If all you want to see is the Mona Lisa and a few of its other famous pieces, this might be the time for you to go and save some cash.
10. Take advantage of Paris’ free sites and tours. You can see the list in our previous post here. 11. Take the Air France shuttle from the airport instead of a taxi. It takes you to Mont Parnasse for 16.50 Euros. We heard that the train is even cheaper, but you will have to lug your luggage through the metro. If you don’t mind doing that, take the train, it will save a lot of money.
12. All McDonalds have free wifi and good cheap coffee.
13. You don’t necessarily have pay to go in to every site to enjoy them. The Eiffel Tower is impressive enough to just view it from the many different vantage points in the city, The Arc Du Triomphe is free unless you go upstairs to view the city. If you don’t want to pay to go up these structures, head to Sacre Coeur for a great overhead view of Paris. The Champs Elysees is an interesting site in its own right, walking down the street people watching and window-shopping is an event. The Louvre has beautiful gardens with works of art scattered throughout and so does the Jardin du Luxombourg.
Paris has many places that you can go to for cheap and reasonable prices. Many of Paris’ top sites are even free. You don’t have to break the budget traveling to this grand world city. You can enjoy it and save your wallet at the same time. For more tips on Visiting Paris check out our other blog posts
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My best free Paris tip is this – for a great view of the city, skip the overpriced Eiffel Tower and go instead to the Pompidou Modern Art Gallery. You can take the escalators to the rooftop bar without paying for admission. There is a walkway in front of the bar that offers excellent views of Montmartre and that overpriced tower
.-= Alison´s last blog ..Our Ten Year Anniversary =-.
Alison, that is fantastic advice! Thanks for sharing, when we go back we will check it out for sure!
Great tips! I’ve been there and as much as I could, tried to be cheap. Very similar with many that you mentioned here. We also went to museums in the free day (even though it’s usually jam packed), in the cheap hours, and we bought Paris museum pass that valid for a few days and pretty much used it as much as we could. (we love museums)
We stayed at B&B hotel that was only 50 Euro for a room for 2 person with indoor shower.
I like you mentioned McDonald’s for its free WiFi and good coffee. As Ryan had to work on the road through internet, free internet access was crucial to us, and we spent a lot of time in McDonald’s that consistently provide free WiFI through out Western Europe.
.-= Dina´s last blog ..Top Things Chosen by Travelers Around the World Series =-.
I’m so glad you mentioned the supermarket tip. In countries that have amazing food they also have amazing supermarkets and often with prepared food for great prices.
.-= ayngelina´s last blog ..Mexico isn’t all mangos and limes =-.
Wonderful tips! I didn’t realized that you will get charged extra depending on where you sit in the restaurant. That’s good to know.
.-= Amy @ The Q Family´s last blog ..San Antonio With Kids: Five Favorite Kid-Friendly Fun =-.
Awesome tips! especially about the museums. We aren’t big museum people but want to see the major ones and the major exhibits. What a great way to do it and save money too!
.-= Melanie´s last blog ..May 13, Travel Legends – Fact vs Fiction =-.
Wow – great advice and so important! It’s very easy to spend a lot of money in a city with such wonderful, but often expensive, attractions and restaurants. But like any big city, there’s an abundance of free and inexpensive entertainment to be had as well. The two of you are astute travelers to have discovered so much in such a short time there – I can’t wait to read more about your Paris adventure!
.-= Trisha Miller´s last blog ..The Write Time =-.
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Great tips! Thank you!
.-= Gray´s last blog ..Shiny Travel Objects: May 9, 2010 =-.
Congratulations on winning the tickets…couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple.
Thanks for shaeing this valuable advice, the wife and I are planning for a week in Paris soon
Awesome! I hope that you have a great time in Paris and can’t wait to read how your trip goes.
Great Tips! We are planning to head to Paris and it’s nice to know that you can keep to a budget if you try!
.-= Bethany´s last blog ..Somewhere In Time – Dublin, Ireland =-.
Although ‘budget travel’ in Paris is still more expensive than my travel budget can manage at the moment, these are some really great tips! And after reading about your Gaudi experience, I also agree that you don’t have to pay to go into every site to experience them.
Excellent information about budget traveling, especially in such a large city. Great Paris tips. Thanks a lot.
Thanks Axelrod. We always love finding deals and freebies wherever we go!
Great post because I am heading to Paris (finally!) in October. I was supposed to be going in April, but the flight was cancelled due to ash cloud. What I wanted to add is that you can go to any destination on a budget, even cities like Paris and Venice. With a little planning, you can find cheap restaurants, and ways to get around the destination.
.-= Darren Cronian´s last blog ..Guide to five cheap hotels in Leeds =-.
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Am going to Paris next Saturday and truly appreciate all the great tips you gave. Also had no idea that there could be a surcharge for sitting in a restaurant. After Paris, heading to Estonia…my fathers first time back since the war. Thanks again for the Paris advice! Cheers!
Have a great time in Paris Charmaine. The surcharge isn’t in all restaurants, but it is in many. Wow, that is going to be a wonderful and emotional trip with your father. I hope that you have an amazing time. I have heard that Estonia is awesome.
Hi again!
Well the trip to Paris was more amazing than I could have imagined and am going back in two years with my husband. Estonia was so emtional…..I was so saddened by the damage this tiny country has endured by the Russian occupation. I had been reading a magazine on the plane that stated “World War II ended for Estonia in 1994″….how many us never knew that. However, she is well on her way to recovery.
What a home coming it was for my dad and one I will never forget. What an honour it was for my brother and I to be there when he stepped on Estonian soil for the first time in 67 years.
As for France, Vimy Ridge did it for me…..so proud to be Canadian!
Well more adventures await I am sure.
Cheers to all and happy travelling!
These are some good tips. Some of them I would never do, but they are still good.
Traveling is some of the most difficult times to be responsible with your spending. That is why I like saving up for all inclusive cruises or resorts. Then everything is paid for and you can go crazy.:-)
.-= Ben´s last blog ..The Two Acocunt Simple Budget System =-.
This is a revelation,true enough what’s on my mind is totally different and surprising to what’s your post is all about.
I admit that,All this time,I thought Paris is expensive. I mean no doubt every product that comes from Paris is not cheap,such as their perfume,clothes,anything else.
Reading this post,I must say that I somehow view Paris from a different point.I am hoping that I xould someday visit this place.Guaranteed to follow your tips!
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