PARIS ON A BUDGET: A TRAVEL GUIDE
When I started planning for my 5 weeks traveling through Europe, Paris wasn’t top of mind. I thought it was a little overrated, and probably overpriced. But when Paris just so happened to be the cheapest city to fly into, I quickly realized my initial judgement was WAY OFF and once I explored Paris on a budget, it quickly became one of my favourite cities in all of my travels.
Now when I think Paris, I think romance, florals, champagne, and sunshine – ALL good things. I will admit though, visiting Paris is traditionally not for a backpacker’s budget… So when I took the leap of faith to spend 5 weeks of my summer traveling instead of working, I have to admit I was a little nervous as to how much money it would cost me… flights, accommodations, FOOD, SIGHTS, SHOPPING… ah, the list went on…
At the same time, I wanted to enjoy my travels and I knew I didn’t want to cheap out on things and put a damper on any of my experiences. So I had to get creative with a few ways to enjoy Paris & all its luxuries on a bit of a tighter budget!
With this, I am sharing the 5 ways to do Paris on a budget – without compromising the quality of your vacay!
1. Airbnb is your friend.
When comparing Airbnb rentals with hotels and hostels, often times they ended up being the cheapest option when split between 2 people! Not to mention how awesome it is to really live locally by being immersed right in a community instead of a tourist area full of hotels, or a hostel which is often off the beaten path (andddd often times full full of interesting or loud visitors..). I also loved the amenities of having a kitchen for making coffee or late night snacks, a larger bathroom to get ready in, and sometimes a washing machine for those backpackers like myself who only packed so much! If you’ve yet to sign up for Airbnb, sign up here https://abnb.me/e/Kogx01LC3O to get $45 off your first rental!
SAVINGS = anywhere from 30 euros per day+
2. Make use of the metro.
At first they may seem overwhelming, but once you get the hang of navigating the metro system, you can get ANYWHERE, so fast! Ideal for visiting areas of the city far from where you’re staying, or for the late afternoons when you’ve hit your 20,000 steps and are ready to get off your feet. We purchased 1 week passes for 22 euros, which we more than got our use out of since a single ride ticket is $2.20. The metro pass works for buses too, so you’re basically covered for any mode of transportation necessary to get you where you need to go!
SAVINGS = varies based on how much you use it and how long you’re there
3. Enjoy small breakfasts.
Get over the Canadian or American big-breakfast mindset and adopt the Parisian (and European) way of having just a croissant and espresso for breakfast! On just about every street corner you’ll find a quaint little cafe or restaurant offering the duo for anywhere from 1.5-3 euros – such a steal! Then use what you would have spent on breakfast on your lunch or dinner.
SAVINGS = 8-10 euros per day
4. Sightsee from a distance.
Every sight or attraction you visit will offer some sort of tour allowing you to get up close and/or hear about the history. While this is great, you can often get the same experience without spending that extra money for the tour, which is often way overpriced or just a money grab. In Paris, we didn’t go up the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe, which some might call insane, but it saved us money and most importantly, saved us time waiting in lines, allowing us to better spend out time seeing more of the city. INSTAGRAM TIP: photos of most big monuments look better from a far anyways, so scour the surrounding areas for a good spot and you’ll be happy you didn’t pay to get up close and take awkward angled photos to see both you and the monument!
SAVINGS = 7-20 euros per sight
5. Skip the fancy dinners.
Swap expensive restaurants for a first class seat right in the city – beneath the Eiffel Tower or along the Seine River! Just grab some wine or champagne, French cheese, crackers or baguette, and fruit from one of many markets (don’t forget the plastic glasses, available at almost any convenience store) and set out for a magical evening watching the sunset or the stars come out while taking advantage of the beautiful views.
SAVINGS = 15-20 euros per dinner
There ya have it! 5 simple ways to let your money get you further on your trip to Paris. Crème de la crème, mi amours!
Did you enjoy this post? Check out my travel guide to Israel, to discover more travel inspiration!