Paris on a Budget: 10 Thrifty Tips
You don’t have to spend a fortune to explore everything Paris has to offer, and immerse yourself into Parisian life for a week!
The accompanying video can be found by clicking here!
1. Hotels
Hotels are easily your biggest expense in Paris. Rentals on Airbnb.com or VRBO.com can be a more affordable option, depending on how many people are in your group, and which neighborhood you want to stay in.
A word of warning: the cheapest hotels that come up as options on package deals are often at the airport, and Charles de Gaulle is quite an hour away by train, or 50-70Euros by taxi.
Consider searching for smaller, boutique hotels, which can be found for under 200 Euros a night.
The Maison Mere is a prime example of a beautiful hotel, in a great neighborhood, for an affordable price. In fact, July and August rates are in the 150 Euro range.
Some of the larger rooms on the upper floors have pretty views of Parisian rooftops, and expansive bathrooms.
The decor was contemporary and tasteful, and the staff was very friendly. The Maison Mere also functions as a social-working space in rooms off the main lobby.
I’d definitely recommend their delicious breakfast!
2. Boulangeries
Paris’ famous bakeries, easily identified by the word “BOULANGERIE” outside, offer amazing options at different times of the day.
I usually get a quiche for breakfast, along with a pain au chocolate or other freshly-baked bread.
At lunchtime, they have large, fresh sandwiches for about 5 Euros. They’re easy to grab-and-go.
3. Louvre Garden Picnics
It’s always relaxing and entertaining to bring sandwiches, bread (and wine!) to the large gardens outside the Louvre. They’re known as Jardin des Tuileries (pronounced twee-ler-ee).
They have benches and tables, and some of the best people-watching in Paris. Some of the benches overlook the Place de la Concorde, at the start of the world-famous shopping avenue called the Champs Elysees.
4. Wine
You’ll see two of my favorite grocery stores in Paris: the Monoprix and the Carrefour. These supermarkets can be found across Europe, and they always provide great deals… especially when it comes to wine. They feature lengthy aisles of French wine, sold in the 5-to-7 Euro range. Of course, they have the fancy stuff, too… but in France, the “cheap” stuff is great quality.
5. Strolling the Seine
Many things you’ll want to see in Paris are completely free. The views along the Seine are beautiful. I’d start down near the Bastille, or in the neighborhood known as Le Marais. We usually spend a day following the sidewalks, and sitting down at cafes along the way for a coffee or glass of wine.
6. Cathedrals
It’s been interesting to check the progress of construction at Notre Dame. They setup large displays outside, explaining the fire, the damage, and the plans to rebuild.
The Sacre Coeur (mentioned above) sits on a hilltop above the city, and is also free to visit. Out front, the plaza offers a great view of the city (but not the Eiffel Tower).
The cobblestone streets around the side of the cathedral are full of tourist-trap-type stores, but also a few nice art shops and restaurants. There’s a bit of a hill to climb, so wear comfortable shoes!
7. The Best View to Pay For…
… is not from the Eiffel Tower itself. A better, thriftier option is the Arc de Triomphe! It’s 13 Euros to climb the winding staircase to the top. It features 360-degree views of the city, and best of all: the Eiffel Tower is nearby, and a perfect distance away to be in the background of your photos.
The rooftop is never very crowded, and I’ve never had to wait in line to get up there.
8. The Best View For Free…
… is from the Trocadero. Sunrise, sunset, and even after dark, large plazas provide plenty of space to take in the view (and take photos) of the Eiffel Tower. This is perhaps the best vantage point for the Tower’s dazzling light show, which happens every hour, on the hour, after sunset.
9. Markets
Paris is full of open-air markets in different plazas around the city. From farmers’ markets to antique markets, they’re always fun to walk around.
10. The Metro
Depending on how many days you’ll be in Paris, get a multi-day Metro Card. The subway system is easy to use, especially if you plug your destination into your phone’s mapping app.
The one challenge is: the ticket vending machines can be tricky to figure out.
Make sure to find the “English” button on the touch screen, which should help a bit. Have some patience and don’t give up: the Metro is clean, safe, and really efficient!
