Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and a city that is justifiably on virtually everyone’s “must visit” list. The only problem is that Paris is an expensive city to visit, and a one week visit can easily cost a few thousand dollars. If you follow some of our tips, you can save money – in some cases, a lot of money. Not only are there ways to save on getting to Paris and staying in Paris, there are tons of great cheap and free activities that you can enjoy while still having a great time.
Explore Lodging Options: Hotels in Paris are expensive, that almost goes without saying. So be sure to check out different options. If you’re staying for a week or more, apartments might be a good option. Not only can you save money on your hotel budget, but you’ll have a full kitchen which will help you save a ton on your food budget.
Go Off Season: Visiting Paris during the off season months will help you save a large amount, too. You can get the benefits of discounted rates on airfare plus you’ll be able to book rooms at a lower cost, too. Off season also has comparatively less crowds, which will make your stay that much more enjoyable, and the weather is still good.
Explore The Neighborhood: Take a map and wander through the neighborhoods. Memorizing a few French sentences and carrying a mini translation guidebook will help you get around. Try talking to locals and visiting smaller, out of the way restaurants and shops. You’ll really get a feel for Paris.
Visit The Parks: Paris is full is parks and natural scenic beauty. You can take a walk, enjoy a picnic, or just read a book under the trees. Paris is well-known for its beautiful gardens and flowers, and nothing beats taking a stroll at the amazing the Luxembourg Gardens, Bois de Vincennes, or Tuileries Garden. Learning about the different styles of gardens in Paris and exploring their shaded pathways and picnic areas is worth the trip.
Check Out Free Museums: There are several notable museums that do not charge admission fees. Musee Carnavalet (The Museum of Paris History) has permanent collections that detail the history of Paris. Musee d’art moderne de la ville de Paris (The Paris Museum of Modern Art) contains nearly 10,000 works of modern art, and also has an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. Plus, on the first Sunday of the month most national museums and monuments have free admission, including the Louvre, Pompidou Center, and Musee D’Orsay.
Saving While Touring: If you plan on a lot of sightseeing, multiday passes to major attractions help you save costs. The Paris Museum Pass is 39 Euros for two days worth of free entrance to more than 60 attractions, which is a drastic savings if you plan on attending more than a few museums. The added bonus to the Paris Museum Pass is that you also get to avoid queues, and get preferential entrance to all attractions.
Save While Getting Around: You can save on transportation costs by using the Paris Metro. Commuting will be cheap and instead of buying tickets for individual rides you can buy a packet of ten Metro tickets called a carnet. You can save both money and time with them each time you take a ride. You can also saving by riding a bike. Paris has hundreds of bike rental stalls located throughout the city, and you can rent a bike for a few dollars at one stall and drop it off at another stall. It’s a fun way to get around!
Explore The Markets: Shopping at the local markets can be fun. You can buy food and wine at local markets and save on your food bills, and buy souvenirs and gifts from local sellers while avoiding pricey gift shops at the major attractions.
This guest post is by Randall Pinkston, founder and editor of Neotravel.com, a website specializing in travel deals, airfare sales, and Hertz car rental coupons.
I used to live in Paris when I was younger and always took advantage of their free admission days. It is a great way to see these attractions that you otherwise might not afford. The parks are vast and you can easily spend a whole day if you take a picnic with you. Free of charge and with plenty of activities for the children like exciting play equipment.
Mandy Allen