Visiting Paris for less
One of the great things about Paris is that there are ways that you can go on trips to Paris for less, you just have to make a few changes to your itinerary and come to a couple of compromises, so you can still enjoy this fantastic city and stay within your budget. There’s lots of great Paris accommodations for vacations and romantic rental places in Paris, but the truth is you do have to shop around and plan in advance, because this city is always filled to the brim with tourists.
Food
Who doesn’t want to eat well in Paris? The city is full of world-famous, utterly wonderful and very, very expensive restaurants that are frequented by the rich and the famous. However, for people on a budget, food in Paris can be a real chance for an adventure.
For breakfast, fresh baguettes are always available in the morning for less than a Euro, so head out to the nearest bakery and buy one in the morning and eat with butter and jam. This is an inexpensive and filling way to start the day.
One of the best tricks is to make your lunch the biggest meal of the day. Lunch in Paris is much cheaper than dinner, so find somewhere that offers ‘une formule’, or as it’s otherwise known, a set menu, which is much cheaper, but generally only offers one option per course, so while you save money, you have to compromise on choice.
Travel
Paris is an extremely well-connected city, and it’s easy to get around using the metro system, which allows you to bulk buy journeys for less, or you can buy a Paris Pass travelcard, which covers your travel in zones 1-3 on most forms of public transportation, including the Metro, bus, tram and RER.
However, a much cheaper way to navigate the city is to hire a bike. It costs just over a Euro to hire a bike for a full 24 hours, which means you can take it all over the city for a full day. Alternatively, the first 30 minutes of the rental are free, so you can just take it for short trips too.
Sightseeing
There are many sites in Paris that are worth visiting, but you’ll find that the price can be a little too high. However, a few simple hacks can help you get your foot in the door for less.
On the first Sunday of every month, many museums and are galleries offer free entry, and if you’re under 26, or work as a teacher, you can also get in for free. Many museums offer so-called ‘after work’ rates, on a Thursday evening when the price of admission drops substantially.
Paris’ greatest site is, without a doubt, the Eiffel Tower, which is understandably, very popular with tourists. An elevator ride to the top will cost around 15 Euros, while taking the stairs to the second floor offers great views and even better selfie opportunities for just five Euros.
Alternatively, you can climb the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre for free at sunset, more great views and even better selfies.
There are many ways to save money on a trip to Paris, so why wait until you think you can afford it? You probably already can!