The French art of living has its website Live in France like the French

STORY

PICTO CURIEUX Created with Sketch.

Great tips for visiting Paris without spending a fortune

Every year, the French capital attracts millions of visitors who, in order to enjoy its many heritage and cultural gems without breaking the bank, can count on several great deals. Here are a few for a financially optimized but discovery-filled stay in the City of Light.

Discover free museums and free admission days

Want to admire masterpieces without breaking the bank?
It's possible in the city that has occupied a central place in art history, and in history itself, for centuries.

Paris has no fewer than 130 museums, several of which are open free of charge all year round or, at the very least, on the first Sunday of every month.
Here is a small (non-exhaustive) selection of places you can visit free of charge all year round:


  • Le Petit Palais. 
    A visit to the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts is worthwhile as much for the beauty of its architecture as for its permanent collections, which are brimming with major works from Antiquity to the 19th century. 
  • The Museum of Modern Art. 
    Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Modigliani, Giacometti... All these great names, and many others, are represented in this place dedicated to the artistic movements of the 20th century. 

  • The Carnavalet Museum. 
    It offers a range of souvenirs from the French Revolution. Discover Marcel Proust's bedroom, a jewelry store decorated by Alfons Mucha, and the former residence of the Marquise de Sévigné, which will immerse you in the rich and tumultuous history of the capital.

Other reminders of Paris' rich past include the former homes and/or workplaces of famous artists such as :
  • Victor Hugo's house
  • Honoré de Balzac's house
  • The studios of sculptors Antoine Bourdelle and Ossip Zadkine...

Free on the first Sunday of every month

Three of the ten most visited museums in the world (the Louvre, Orsay, and the Pompidou Center) offer this opportunity for Sunday discovery, as do the Orangerie and Arts-et-Métiers museums or, to continue following in the footsteps of great artists, the Rodin, Picasso, and Delacroix museums.

One last tip that is often overlooked: Paris has more than 1,000 art galleries which, in addition to being free, regularly offer exhibitions that are accessible to all. Why not take the opportunity to get a sneak preview of the next Van Gogh exhibition?

Find well-located accommodation at affordable prices

To make the most of your stay while keeping an eye on your budget, it is possible to find a cheap hotel in Paris in a good location. This will allow you to easily visit the must-see neighborhoods without breaking the bank on transportation costs. And while the capital of French luxury is known for its palaces, it also has many affordable, well-located, and comfortable places to stay. Perfect for recharging your batteries between outings. 

Get around smart with public transportation

In Paris, there's no need to take multiple taxi rides to travel between museums, theaters, and must-see monuments, as the city has an extensive transportation network accessible for just a few euros a day. 

  • Paris Visite Pass
    Specially designed for visitors, it allows unlimited travel throughout the capital and the Ile-de-France region (including airports) for the duration of your stay. Whether you take the bus, tram, RER or one of the 321 metro stations, the price remains fixed and decreases depending on how long you spend visiting Paris and its region: €29.90 for 1 day and €76.25 for 5 days (a daily cost of €15.25 to travel anywhere without the risk of fines or surcharges).

  • Self-service bike rental
    The capital has 1,500 bike stations available 7 days a week. In total, there are 20,000 bikes (40% of which are electric) available near museums and tourist areas, which can be rented for $5/day.
  • Walking
    There's no better way to truly get a feel for the City of Light. Montmartre, Le Marais, Île Saint-Louis... perhaps it was these neighborhoods that inspired Victor Hugo to write his famous line: “To wander is human, to stroll is Parisian.” Like the poet, don't hesitate to get in tune with the locals by strolling at your own pace from parks to squares and from café terraces to bookshops. 

    And perhaps at the end of your stay, you can boast of having been a true Parisian, having walked an average of 9,692 steps per day (a figure that recently earned Paris the title of the city where people walk the most).

Fond guided tours and unusual itineraries

Want to continue exploring the cultural and historical riches of the capital while staying within your budget? There's no shortage of alternative, accessible, and original visitor experiences:

  • Greeters Paris
    These local ambassadors volunteer their intimate knowledge of the city, offering visitors a unique, authentic, and friendly view of Paris. 

  • Cultural walking tour apps
    Whatizis, “the Shazam of heritage,” lets you explore Paris with a guide in your pocket: when it recognizes a site, the app gives you access to a detailed presentation (history, anecdotes, practical information, etc.) in audio and/or text form.
AudioSpot, Rewind, and Izi.Travel also offer geolocated audio tours, and for those who like to learn while having fun, the Baludik app provides access to themed treasure hunts available free of charge on mobile phones or tablets.

Finally, even without a guide or smartphone, there are many unusual routes awaiting curious visitors. Armed with a simple map, they can admire street art in the 13th arrondissement or explore the ancestors of department stores by wandering through the covered passages of the 2nd arrondissement. Finally, it is possible to discover a more bucolic side of Paris in the neighborhoods of Butte aux Cailles and Mouzaïa.

Enjoy cultural events all year round

From temporary installations to festivals open to all, Paris offers free artistic events throughout the year in its streets, gardens, and monuments. So mark your calendars to enjoy a city where culture never sleeps.

Major free events

  • La Nuit Blanche (in June)
  • La Fête de la Musique (June 21)
  • European Heritage Days (in September)
  • The FNAC Live Festival (in July on the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville)
  • The Open-Air Cinema Festival at La Villette (in July and August)
  • Paris en Seine (all summer long)

Free exhibitions and performances
  • The Centre 104 and its contemporary art installations
  • Le 59 Rivoli, an artists' studio open to the public
  • Concerts held in certain churches (Saint-Eustache, Saint-Germain-des-Prés)
  • Exhibitions accessible in the many libraries and media libraries of the City of Paris
  • ....

It is therefore possible to enjoy the capital to the full while keeping to your budget. Better still, it can even be an opportunity to discover it in a more authentic way, off the beaten track. 


Enjoy your discovery!

Valérie from Comme des Français

Continue reading with these articles