Paris On a Budget: How to Save Money in Paris

Here’s How to Plan a Budget Trip to Paris

One of the most visited cities in Europe, Paris has everything your heart might desire: world-class museums, stunning architecture, delicious food, and amazing parks. However, none of them come cheap.

Paris is indeed one of France’s most expensive cities, and it will melt your wallet as much as your heart if you’re not careful.

Below are my top tips for a budget trip to Paris so that you can enjoy a memorable vacation without breaking the bank.

How to Visit Paris on a Budget – Top Tips by a Local

Here are some smart tips on how to save money in Paris. If you need more guidance during your planning process, check out my Paris Trip Planner.

1. Travel to Paris Off-Season

One of the best pieces of advice for a budget trip to Paris is to plan it when hordes of tourists aren’t overrunning the French capital.

Vacationing off-season will guarantee lower accommodation prices, which are usually the highest expense during a trip.

Another great perk of avoiding the peak of tourist season is cheaper flight (and train) fares.

Everything else, like the cost of food, city transport, and attractions, remains the same throughout the calendar year. You can compare transportation prices here.

So, if you want to travel to Paris on a budget, consider visiting the city from mid-November to mid-December and from mid-January to March. Here’s more information and tips about the different seasons in Paris.

2. Don’t stay in the touristy areas (and book your hotel well in advance)

Paris is a notoriously expensive city, but like every other, it has budget-friendly neighborhoods that are a great choice if you want to cut down on expenses.

Heading out of the touristic hotspots will get you lower hotel room rates. However, avoid booking your accommodation outside the city, as you’ll need to rely on public transport and your transfers will be long and tiring.

Instead, choose to stay in one of the affordable neighborhoods, like Montparnasse and Belleville.

Another fundamental aspect is to reserve your hotel room well in advance – hotel prices tend to increase as the date approaches and availability lowers.

You can read more about the best Arrondissements to stay in Paris. You will especially like suggestion #5.

3. From the Airport, take the RER or the Metro to Paris center

As soon as you land in Paris, you’ll have to decide how to get into the city. To save money, opt for taking public transportation into Paris.

You have two transfer options depending on which airport you arrive at: the RER B (regional train) and the Metro.

If you arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), your only option is the RER B train. The journey takes around 40 minutes.

If you land at Paris Orly Airport (ORY), you can take the Metro Line 14, which, in approximately 30 minutes, will take you to Paris’ city center.

You can also take the RER B train from Orly airport after catching the OrlyVal (an airport Metro) and go to Antony station, where you connect to the RER. But this option is more expensive.

4. Choose the Taxi instead of the Uber from the Airport to the City

Although public transportation is the cheapest way to get from the airport to the city, you may want to travel more comfortably, especially if you have big and heavy luggage or are traveling with kids or seniors.

When considering more private transfers, prioritize taxis over Ubers. This is mainly because a taxi from/to the airport has fixed prices, while ride-sharing services like Uber don’t, meaning that at peak times, you can end up paying well above the odds and much more than you otherwise would have done.

5. Enjoy all the Free Activities in Paris

One of the best ways to save money in Paris is by taking advantage of the city’s countless free activities.

Parcs, churches, and cemeteries are always free to enter. Among these are some Paris highlights you can’t miss, including the Jardin des Plantes in the Latin Quarter, the Basilica of Sacré Coeur in Montmartre, and the Père Lachaise Cemetery.  

There are also many free museums in Paris, like the Musée Curie and the Museum of Modern Arts. More popular museums, such as the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Pompidou, have a monthly free day, usually the first Sunday of the month.

Another fantastic (and free!) activity in Paris is walking along the banks of the Seine River, admiring beautiful sights and passing by iconic monuments. 

6. Use my suggested self-guided walking tours  

I’ve written several self-guided walking tours that are a great way to explore the most beautiful neighborhoods in Paris without spending a single euro.

Immerse yourself in the bohemian soul of Old Montmartre, discover Paris’ beating heart, the Ile de la Cité, or explore the wonders of the Latin Quarter – the choice is yours!

If you’re looking for a free, themed tour, this Paris chocolate tour is an awesome way to learn about chocolate in Paris and taste the finest in town.

If you need extra guidance, Civitatis offers a couple of very popular free guided tours. With this one, you can explore Paris’ highlights, while this other tour is perfect if you want to discover the city’s darker side. However, a tip to the guide is expected at the end of the tour. 

So wear comfy shoes, bring your camera, and get ready to explore!

7. Buy a Paris Tourist Pass

If you plan to visit as many of Paris’ top museums as possible, you should consider buying the Paris tourist pass.

Passes work out cheaper than purchasing individual attraction tickets. Moreover, you won’t need to queue to enter your preferred attractions since the Paris pass will allow you to skip the line.

The Paris Museum Pass lasts 2, 4, or 6 consecutive days, and it guarantees access to over 60 museums and other attractions, including the Louvre Museum, the Musée d’Orsay, and Versailles.

However, depending on which attractions you are interested in visiting, you should consider purchasing other passes. Compare different options by checking out this article on the best tourist passes in Paris. If you only want to visit a couple of top-tourist attractions, have a look at this list of Paris bundles that come with interesting discounts.

8. Walk, walk, walk (or take public transportation) 

Among the best pieces of advice I can give you to visit Paris on a budget is to avoid taking any form of transport.

Walking is free, and you can reach every single attraction in the city on foot. Besides, walking will allow you to fully experience Paris and glimpse beautiful corners of the city that you would miss if taking private or public transport.

If you are not keen on walking much, opt for public transportation to move around. Bus and Metro are cheaper than taxis or Uber and can take you anywhere in the city.

If you often use the Metro, check out the best Paris metro tickets for tourists.

9. Drink Tap Water

Something you might have yet to consider is the cost of water bottles. To save euros on water, bring a refillable water bottle. You can easily fill it for free everywhere. Tap water in Paris is safe to drink, and there are over 800 fountains where you can fill your bottle (some of them also offer sparkling water!). To know where the fountains are located, you can check out this article.

You may also not be aware that you can order tap water at restaurants, cafés, and bars. Rather than ordering bottled water, ask for “une carafe d’eau,” simply a jug of tap water.

By drinking tap or fountain water, you won’t only save money but also reduce your reliance on single-use plastic, adopting a green traveling style.

10. Get a set lunch menu for your mid-day meal

A must during any Paris vacation is trying its delicious cuisine. You will likely eat out every day, especially at lunchtime.

For a filling but budget-friendly meal break, take advantage of the “menu du jour,” which is a two- or three-course set menu proposed by many restaurants.

The prices of these menus range between 15 and 20 euros, making them a way better deal than the regular dinner menu.

Drinks are usually not included in these menus, so remember that to save extra money, you can order a “carafe d’eau” instead of paying for bottled water and “a pichet de vin” (a quarter, half, or full liter jug) of house wine. Bread is usually included in these meals.

11. Enjoy picnics in Paris

A fantastic money-saving trick when in Paris during the good season is to have picnics. Parisians love heading out with friends and family and enjoy picnics when the sun shines.

Having picnics is a great idea since you can shop for local produce like cheese, charcuterie, wine, and baguette at markets, saving many euros.

Once your picnic basket is ready, you only need to pick the location for your budget-friendly meal. You can see a list of lovely picnic locations in this post about picnics in Paris.

12. Eat Cheap Eats for Lunch

Luckily, Paris is populated with cheap eating options. From modest bistros to bakeries to food trucks, you have many opportunities to enjoy delicious cheap eats in Paris.

Crêpes (and salty galettes) are another very French dish that you can enjoy for a few euros. Here’s a list of some favorite crêperies in Paris. You will also find stalls offering sweet crêpes on the go.

13. Order coffee at the bar’s counter

This might come as a surprise, but in the Parisian cafés, there is a difference in the price of coffee depending on where you drink it.

If you sit at a table and order your coffee from the waiter, you will spend more money than if you order and drink it at the bar’s counter. In fact, in the first scenario, you will pay for the table service. But if you order a coffee directly from the barista and drink it “on the spot,” you won’t be charged for any extra service.

So, unless you would like to sit for a while and people-watch while enjoying your cup of coffee, go straight to the bar counter to order your coffee to save some money.

If you need some guidance, here’s how to order coffee in France.

14. Skip Hotel’s Breakfast

Breakfast is the day’s most important meal, so you might want not to skip it. However, having breakfast at your hotel can cost quite a lot in Paris.

When booking your hotel room, make sure that breakfast is included in the price. If this is not the case, consider having it outside your hotel. In fact, paying for breakfast on top of your hotel’s room can increase the cost by up to 30+ euros per day.

Instead, head out, stop in a boulangerie or café, and order a takeaway coffee and croissant. You will have a cheaper but still very French breakfast, spending about 5 – 7 euros.

15. Drink during the Happy Hour

When vacationing, you may want to enjoy an apéritif before dinner (spoiler: there are many interesting French drinks). Paris is a city with many trendy bars where you can drink with your travel companions.

Whether you prefer beer, wine, a cocktail, or a non-alcoholic beverage, make sure to have it during Happy Hour, when some drink prices are cut in half (drinks with a happy hour discount are specified in the menu). You can enjoy a glass of wine or beer for a lower price while snacking on some food.

Many bars throughout Paris offer Happy Hour daily, with some even offering ‘all night long’ happy hours so that you can enjoy your drinks even after dinner.

And there you have it; how to visit Paris on a budget. Do you know other tips for a budget trip to Paris?

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