The world-famous City of Love can definitely be one of the most expensive. If you’re looking for how to travel to Paris on a budget, here are 12 tips so your visit to this city doesn’t leave you broke.
Is Paris expensive? Let’s be honest — it’s not one of the cheapest destinations to visit in Europe. But if you plan your trip well and keep a few things in mind, you can save money and even visit some attractions for free.
From our more than three visits to Paris, here are our tips to help you save money on a trip to the city.
1) How to get to Paris on a budget
The first thing to consider is where you’re starting from. If you’re coming from another continent, the best option is often to fly into a cheaper airport and then make your way to the city from there. If you’re already in Europe, the most common ways to get to Paris are by low-cost flights, train, or bus.
Low-cost flights often land at Beauvais Tillé Airport, which is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from central Paris — and the transfer into the heart of the city can be quite expensive.
If you choose to travel by train or bus, know that both are excellent budget-friendly options. These two modes of transport often cost half the price of a plane ticket, with the added benefit that you don’t pay extra for luggage and they drop you close to the main tourist areas. Common arrival points are Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon, right in the city center or just a few minutes away.
2) Travel against the crowds
If you want to travel to Paris on a budget, you should seriously consider going in low season. Not only are costs much lower, but there are also far fewer crowds, making it easier to enjoy the city at a more relaxed pace.
The summer months (June, July, and August) are the peak tourist season, which means prices for all services are much higher than average, and the summer heat can make sightseeing less comfortable. The months of October, November, February, March, and April are the best for visiting Paris cheaply, as demand is low and the weather is more stable — with autumn or spring just starting. September, December, and January tend to be mid to high season, as they overlap with school holidays in some weeks or with the festive period.
No matter when you decide to go, it’s important to book in advance, as this will help you secure better prices. The higher the season you choose, the more in advance you should plan to ensure you can visit Paris on a budget.
🔝 Looking for more places to see in the city? Check out this article on 47 things to do in Paris.
3) Look for budget accommodation in these areas of Paris
Finding a place to stay good, nice, and cheap can be a challenge when trying to visit Paris on a budget.
The most affordable areas to stay in are the Latin Quarter and Montparnasse. While they are still touristy, they’re safe neighborhoods and much cheaper than staying near the Eiffel Tower. These areas can offer accommodation under €100 if you book in advance, compared to €150 or more in areas like Champs-Élysées.
As for the type of accommodation, we recommend hostels, especially if you’re traveling solo. But if you prefer more privacy, you can opt for an aparthotel or an apartment. The latter has the big advantage of having a kitchen, which is great for longer stays. Saving money on breakfasts and main meals is a huge help to your budget.
One last tip: use booking platforms like Booking.com to find cheap accommodation in Paris. Apply filters, sort by price, read the reviews to see what other travelers say about the place, and you’ll quickly find what you’re looking for.
🏨 Find the best accommodation in Paris here.
4) Free water all over the city
Yes, you read that right — Paris is famous for its water dispensers and fountains located throughout the city, allowing you to refill your bottle with 100% drinkable water. This is definitely a big help if you’re looking to visit Paris on a budget.
In restaurants, instead of ordering bottled mineral water, you can ask for a jug of water or carafe d’eau — for those willing to give their French a try. By law, restaurants must provide you with a jug of water at no cost, and if you run out, you can ask for it to be refilled.
5) Get friendly with supermarket shopping
When it comes to visiting Paris on a budget, supermarkets are your best ally — whether it’s for lunch or dinner, to buy cheese and wine, or to enjoy classic Parisian pastries. Sitting down to eat in a restaurant can quickly blow your budget, as very few places offer meals under €25–30.
Chains like Carrefour or Auchan, among many others, sell ready-to-eat meals that you can heat up or eat right away — like salads or sandwiches, often complete with dressings and cutlery. If you want to take home or try French cheeses and wines, avoid tourist-focused boutiques or wine shops. You can find the same products (or very similar ones) of excellent quality in almost any supermarket for much less.
6) Enjoy the parks and the River Seine promenade
Paris is full of beautiful parks and gardens worth exploring. Many are even hidden behind monuments and churches. You might see a gate, but you can enter for free.
The most famous parks, like the Tuileries Garden and Luxembourg Gardens, are truly large. You could easily spend half a day walking through them and still not see it all. In addition to the greenery, fountains, and statues, there are plenty of areas where you can sit and relax between sightseeing.
And of course, the River Seine promenade is another must, offering a long scenic route. Don’t miss having a picnic with a unique perspective of the city. You’ll find many stairways and ramps leading down to the river, with spots to sit and eat while watching the boats go by. Also, be sure to check out some of Paris’s most beautiful bridges, such as the Pont des Arts, Pont Neuf, and Pont Alexandre III — all must-sees if you’re visiting Paris on a budget.
7) Get a Paris Pass
The Paris Pass can be a great ally when planning your budget trip to Paris. It’s a pass that gives you access to over 60 attractions across the city. This way, your entry tickets are already included, along with extra perks like discounts and special offers at restaurants and shops.
The pass includes entry to museums, palaces, and attractions — including a Seine River cruise.
You can purchase it for 2 or more days, but the key is to plan your itinerary carefully to make the most of it during your budget trip to Paris.
🔝 Want to know more about the Paris Pass? Check out this article: Is the PARIS PASS worth it? Tips.
8) Enjoy FREE museums in Paris
Paris is one of the cities with the highest number of museums in Europe — around 40 of various themes — and the best part is that some of them are completely free.
The list is long, but some of the highlights include:
- Petit Palais – Museum of Fine Arts, perfect for those interested in Medieval and Renaissance art.
- Cognacq-Jay Museum, ideal for exploring life in the 18th century.
- Victor Hugo’s House, located in the home where the famous author of Les Misérables once lived.
- Carnavalet Museum, focused on the history of Paris.
- Museum of Mankind, which also offers an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower.
📢 IMPORTANT! Some of the most important museums — such as Les Invalides, the Pantheon, and La Conciergerie — are FREE on the first Sunday of the month.
9) The best panoramic views of Paris are free
That’s right — the city is full of panoramic viewpoints where you can admire the Eiffel Tower in all its glory from different angles. From Trocadéro, you’ll get an unobstructed postcard-perfect view of the tower. The best part? You can capture beautiful photos without struggling to fit the entire Eiffel Tower in the frame. It’s perfect both as a keepsake and, of course, to show off on social media.
If you’re looking for a wider view of the city, head to Galeries Lafayette, an icon in its own right in Paris. This is an ideal spot to save money when visiting Paris on a budget, as it’s also free to access. On the eighth-floor terrace, you’ll find a famous panoramic view. While there is a café and restaurant service, you don’t need to purchase anything to enter.
If you’re visiting the Montmartre neighborhood, located on top of the hill of the same name, be sure to walk up to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. From Rue du Cardinal Dubois, you’ll get one of the most beautiful views of Paris. And best of all, you can also enter the church without spending a single euro.
🔝 Visit the Palace of Versailles on your own. Check out these tips to get there in the cheapest way possible.
10) Take advantage of the Free Tours offered in Paris
A city with as much history and culture as Paris deserves to be explored with the help of an expert guide. That’s why we recommend joining a Free Tour — one of the best ways to discover the city alongside people who know it in great detail.
Take a closer look at these Free Tours you’ll love:
📷 Free Tour of Paris — the most general option; a great overview of the highlights.
📷 Free Tour of Montmartre — explore one of Paris’s most artistic neighborhoods around Sacré-Cœur.
📷 Free Tour of the Latin Quarter — a bohemian neighborhood full of history.
📷 Free Tour of the Eiffel Tower and surroundings — including landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe.
11) Use public transportation in Paris
While paid group excursions can be convenient for getting around, moving through the city and its surroundings by public transport is simple — and it’s one of the best ways to travel around Paris on a budget during your stay.
The public transportation system is very complete, and you can reach any point by combining trains (RER), metro, and buses. Transport fares are divided into zones, and each ticket price depends on the zones you travel through.
If you’re only moving within zone 1 for a round trip, a single ticket is a good option. But if you’re staying several days, buying a pack of 10 tickets is more economical, reducing the price by about 20%. You can also share the pack with your travel companions, as you’ll receive 10 separate tickets.
If your stay is longer than 4 or 5 days, your best option is the Navigo card. You purchase it once, it lasts 10 years, and you can reuse it on future trips to Paris.
The great thing about this card is that you pay a fixed weekly fare for the zones you’ll be traveling in, and you can load it by week for unlimited travel. It includes all the mentioned transport options and even the Montmartre funicular, which takes you up to Sacré-Cœur, saving you the climb up the stairs.
12) Saving the best for last – How to go up the Eiffel Tower on a budget
The icon of Paris deserves an inside visit for every fan of the city. Tickets to go up by elevator are the most expensive. But if you’re looking to save money, the best alternative is to put on your sneakers and climb up to the second floor by stairs. Keep in mind, though, that it’s exactly 674 steps — but considering the total number of steps in the tower is over 1,600, it’s not that bad.
You’ll still need a ticket for this option, but the price is lower. Note: If you’re afraid of heights, this might not be the best choice, as the staircase is open and you can see straight down.
Children under 4 years old enter for free. Whichever option you choose, make sure to book your ticket online — this is the most visited spot in Paris, and tickets sell out quickly.
📷 We recommend you to buy your ticket to the Eiffel Tower from the official website at least one month in advance, as they are usually sold out quickly. If you want to visit the Eiffel Tower with a guide who will explain the history, we recommend this tour.
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