Paris is known as being a very expensive city; however there are plenty of ways that you can save money while visiting. You can stay in AirBnb apartments instead of posh hotels and you can make the most of the cities metro and buses, rather than travel in taxis. But when it comes to things to do – what is there on offer? If you’re planning on a getaway to Paris and you happen to be working on a budget then you’re in luck. Here are some of our favourite free attractions and things to do in the ‘City of Light’.
1 – Eiffel Tower
This iconic tower is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world with 7 million visitors every year. The Eiffel tower tours cost money and you may pay anywhere from a few euros to access the elevators to the second floor to around 15 euros for third-floor admission and more for access to the summit with its 360-degree views and champagne bar. You can enjoy the tower without actually going inside though and there are great views to be enjoyed from afar in the nearby Parc du Champ de Mars. Find a nice spot in the gardens with a blanket and some wine and enjoy the light show which plays every hour for free.
2 – Musee d’Orsay
There are plenty of free entry museums around Paris. However some of the more popular museums do charge for entry most of the year, with an exception of the first Sunday of every month when many museums offer free entry to the public. One such museum is Musee d’Orsay. Located on the left bank of the Siene, it is housed in a former railway station built at the end of the 1800’s. The museum boasts collections of French art including work by Monet, Manet, Gauguin and Van Gogh.
3– Musee Du Louvre
If you are aged 25 or below and live in the EU then you can get into many of the museums around Paris for free. However on the first Sunday of the month many museums have their free entry days – including the Louvre, so if you’re older than 25 be sure to plan your visit around the first weekend of the month. The iconic Louvre Museum is one of the finest art galleries in the world housing world renowned art like the Mona Lisa and around 380,000 objects from pre-history to the 21st century including Egyptian antiquities, Greek pottery, Roman sculptures and much more.
4 – Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame which means ‘Our Lady’ is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world. With frightening gargoyles and spectacular rose windows, Notre Dame is not one to be missed and can be visited for free, or you can pay a nominal fee for tours of its spectacular towers.
5 – Pere Lachaise cemetery
Paris is renowned for gothic cemeteries. Pere Lachaise is home to famous graves of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison of The Doors, Frederic Chopin and many more and is said to be the most widely visited graveyard in the world. The cemetery is free to visit and there are signs and maps to help you make your way around the most famous of tombs and graves found there.
6 – Shakespeare and Company
A bookshop once frequented by literary greats like Ernest Hemmingway, this bookshop is a treasure trove for avid bookworms. The bookshop itself is labyrinth of delightful small rooms crammed from floor to ceiling with books but also seats so that you can have a quick read before purchasing, if you wish.
7 – Canal St-Martin
A must for Parisian hipsters, the St-Martin canal is dotted with lively cafes and bars and is a perfect place to sit down with a bottle of wine and a picnic during the day, or people watch during the night.
8 – Free Walking Tours
Walking tours are a great way to learn about the history of Paris and also to find your bearings. Look online and join one of the many free tours that depart from the Mont Marte’s artist quarter area with its cafes, bookshops and street performers and the Latin Quarter.
9 – Food Markets
Paris is famous around the world for its culinary delights. The market place of Place D’Aligre is a great insight into the food of France with towers of cheeses, artisan breads and flowers to see and smell. However, you may find it hard not to part with a few euros to sample some of the food on offer.
10 – Basilique du Sacre Coeur
The white marble church of Basilique du Sacre Coeur boasts wonderful views over the city. You can visit the basilica for free, however there are charges for visiting the dome or the spooky crypt below.
11 – Galeries Lafayette
Paris is well known for its dominance of world fashion. If you’re interested in catching a glimpse of the latest catwalk fashions then visit the Galeries Lafayette on a Monday or Friday at 3PM for a free weekly fashion show.
Have you visited Paris recently? Do you have any special travel tips of your own? Tweet us at @TimeForYouGroup and let us know.
