Paris, the City of Love, is one of Europe’s most glamorous destinations. Famed for its elegant boulevards and chic patisseries, the city has a reputation for being an expensive place to enjoy.
However, it is possible to explore the city for under $25 a day if you plan ahead. Keep reading for some tips on how to enjoy Paris on a budget.
Travel Outside of the Summer Holidays
Rule number one is to avoid visiting the city during any school holidays. These are usually between July and August, one week in October, the Christmas period, and Easter. Outside of the summer holidays – flights, apartments and hotels can be at least half price. Before you travel, take the time to compare the cost of flights, this should enable you to plan your trip to a budget. It is also worth remembering that Paris is just as charming during the low season as it is during the high!
Buy a Metro Pass
The Metro is the most convenient way of getting around Paris, but at €1.70 per journey (approximately $2.10), it can get expensive. A more convenient option, especially if you are planning on staying in Paris for more than a couple of days, is to buy a week-long Metro Pass. A weekly pass for the centre of Paris can be purchased for around €20, which works out at $3.75 a day for unlimited travel within zones 1 and 2.
Explore the Free Museums
Paris has over fifteen museums that can be explored free of charge, which is not surprising when the city prides itself on providing accessible art to everyone. Check out the Musée d’Art Moderne (Museum of Modern Art) where over 8000 contemporary artworks can be found, or the Musée Bourdelle if sculptures are more your thing.
Alternatively, the Musée de la Vie Romantique (Museum of Romantic Life) is sure to be a popular choice if you are traveling with your loved one. A full list of free museums can be found on the About Travel website.
…and Other Free Attractions
The museums aren’t the only things that are free in Paris. From parks and gardens, to cathedrals, churches and the historical sights, there are lots of places that can be visited without you needing to spend a penny. Grab a Paris city map and explore the neighborhoods; the Latin Quarter and the Champs Elysees may be the most well known, but there are some charming, off-beat neighborhoods too.
You could also check to see if there are any festivals happening during your visit – from the Open Air Paris Cinema to the Paris Plage (Paris Beach) – numerous events are put on that you can enjoy for free.
Inexpensive Eateries
Paris may be home to some world class Michellin star restaurants, but there are plenty of great cheap eateries too. Chez Stella offers a 3-course meal for $16, whilst vegans can eat for $13 at Piccolo Teatro.
If you don’t fancy eating in, you can grab some fabulous foods from the Paris street vendors. Everything from baguettes, crepes, falafel, and even Indian food can be found on the street stalls. The street markets also offer some tempting options for a fraction of the price of the restaurants. Just make sure to avoid the tourist traps around the Latin Quarter and the Eiffel Tower as these vendors won’t be cheap!
If you plan your trips and meals in advance, pay for a Metro pass, and travel outside of the school summer holidays, it is definitely possible to explore Paris for less than $25 a day.
Is Paris on your bucket list?
42 thoughts on “How To Enjoy Paris For Under $25 A Day”
I visited Paris during low season, it was February and I have to agree with you it was so much better, it was still quite busy with visitors and tourists which is to be expected, but not as much as during high season. Shame I missed the free museums, I didn’t stay very long so I preferred just walking around the city to get a taste of the Parisian life, next time I guess ;)
That’s so amazing!
I absolutely love Paris and had an amazing time there!! We visited in September and it seemed to be the perfect time. I think one of my best food memories was having a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower – good cheap food with an amazing view.
Me too! Paris rules!
Piccolo Teatro? Isn’t that the one which Gordon Ramsay went to rescue a few years ago? I read that it had closed down for good.
Really? Never heard that story… :)
I think Paris could well be my favourite city in the world! I love everything about it. I definitely recommend making your own picnic to keep the cost down. Eating a baguette with delicious cheese and a bottle of wine (not expensive in paris) in a park is so enjoyable, and very French too!
It’s one of my favourite cities in Europe, that’s for sure!! :-)
I’ve been waiting for a post like this. Paris really is an amazing city and it would be great to see it sometime but I wasn’t sure you’d ever do a post like this! I’ll definitely bookmark this so I can get to it easier when I do go there someday. Thanks!
Awwww, thank you, Leanne!
Great tips! Paris does have a reputation for being quite expensive, but I can tell you one thing for sure, the Metro Pass is much better value for money than London’s equivalent! Still never been to the ‘city of love’, but definitely hope to make it there one day!
It can be actually really cheap!
Although a ‘tourist trap’, restaurants in the Latin Quarter are cheaper than anywhere else I’ve found in Paris! There are an abundance of restaurants serving 3 course lunch menus at prices from 10 euros. No joke. Great French food and other cuisines also available.
Thanks for sharing Chowie!
Paris is absolutely on my bucket list and thank you for the Skyscanner heads up! I will have to check that out. I also liked the info on buying a week long Metro Pass ticket. Of course seeing the Champs Elysees would be a must for me. I’m glad you always include the food portion of your posts for the foodie in me, Agness and Cez! The 3 course menus, even vegetarian, sounds absolutely delicious as does the street vendor food. Falafel, crepes and baguettes? Yes please! :)
I love French baguettes… Omomomomom!!
Hi Agness,
Awesome post which contain very useful information about Paris. Very interesting article. I liked it. And Paris is a most beautiful city in the all over world.
Thanks for sharing views. Have a great week ahead. such you are doing a great work. Please carry on.
I go to Paris a lot so will be definitely trying out the eateries! Not easy to find reasonably priced food there!
Great to hear that, Becky!!
Paris, like many places such as London, New York, Tokyo etc are always touted as being so expensive, and they are in comparison to places in Eastern Europe and South East asia where you can be a little more care free with your money, but they really aren’t as expensive as they appear if you do a bit of research(like this post!) and watch where you eat! We loved the cafes and set menus of the restaurants just a short walk from the more touristy areas!
C’mon. It’s not that expensive at all… :-)
Ohhhh Paris je t’aime! I love this city so much, and it really is so easy to do on the cheap if you know where to look! Bravo for a great post :) <3
Great tips! I’m planning to visit Paris in the spring and was worried about how much the trip was going to cost. I’m hoping we have nice weather so we can just make picnics from all the amazing street food! Though, it is Paris, so I’ll have to splurge a little, too ;-)
Thank you, sweetie :*.
Love your photos and tips. I have fond memories of Parisian street food, especially the crepes:))
Aaaaawwww, great to know!
Great to know that all of those museums are free!! And yes, I would prefer to go during low season I think :)
It’s good to know.
Great post! I was in Paris a few years back and remember it being really expensive. I’ll keep this post in mind when I go again this spring! :) I love the pic of you sitting outside the cafe! So Parisian chic :)
Great to hear that!!
Great tips, Agness! Paris is such an expensive city, but we all forget that there are ways to save on a trip there. I like the suggestion of the Musée d’Art Moderne, not as famous as the Louvre (a total disappointment, because of the crowds!), but with a great collection.
Thanks Pedro! I miss Paris a lot these days :)x
Thanks for those tips. I didn’t expect that it’s possible to live on $25 per day in Paris. I once visited it as a school trip but hope to be back one day to really get to know it. I want to get to know the neighbourhoods better, I think it’s so much fun to just get lost in Paris and wander around.
Fantastic tips – Paris is such a romantic, fascinating city but can be a little hard on the wallet…
Thank you, Emma!
I agree totally with you that you can spend less 25 usd /day in paris if you have friend that accept to host you that what i did in my first time visiting paris but if you have to pay hotel in paris, that ‘s expensive
I’m so glad to hear that <3