Paris on a budget
Paris may seem like an expensive place, but you can still make the most of the city and all it has to offer when you are on a budget. There are lots of free exhibitions and discounts available to help you discover the city without spending a lot. From eating out to a trip to a museum, we’ve got you covered! Here is a selection of things to try in Paris when you’re on a budget!
Theatre
For something cultural in the city, why don’t you try a night out at the theatre? There are lots of ways to get cheap tickets, without having to spend a fortune. The Culture Kiosque offers same day theatre tickets at half the price. It may seem a bit last minute, but for the money that you’ll save, it’s definitely worth it! They also sell other tickets for museums, boat trips and open bus tours too – perfect for tourists visiting the city!
There are three places where you can buy Culture Kiosque tickets:
For more cheap tickets, have a look at the billet reduc website. It has hundreds of discounts for the theatre, ballet, opera and family shows as well. Great for discovering Paris on a budget!
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 9th arrondissement.
Restaurants
Paris may be famous for its food, but you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy a good meal out in the city. There are lots of great places to discover French cuisine when you’re on a budget. We recommend trying Boco, a French bistro serving high quality food at a great price!
Address: 39 Rue des Marthurians, Paris 75008
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am-10:00pm / Saturday 11:00am-6:00pm
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 8th arrondissement.
Or for something different, try Fuumi and their iconic sushi-burrito! With two locations in Paris, Fuumi is a fun and inexpensive way to fix both your sushi and your burrito cravings for only 10€-13€.
Address: 28 Rue d’Aboukar, Paris 75002 OR 124 Avenue Parmentier, Paris 75011
Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30am-2:30pm and 7:00pm-10:30pm / Saturday 12:30pm-2:00pm / Sunday (only at Avenue Parmentier Location) 7:00pm-10:30pm
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 2nd arrondissement.
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 11th arrondissement.
For more restaurants on a budget, check out Les Petites Tables. They publish reviews of great restaurants in Paris, all serving food for around 10 €! Perfect for Paris on a budget! And if you happen to be in Paris in October, you should definitely try the Tous au restaurant food event. For each meal you buy, you get another one for free! As you can imagine, this is very popular, so you need to book in advance online. There are lots of restaurants taking part, all offering a variety of different cuisines to suit every budget.
Shopping
Paris is renowned for being the fashion capital of the world. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior…unfortunately all these high end brands come with hefty high end price tags! A great way to discover Paris fashion on a more affordable level is through second hand shops. We recommend trying Sissi’s Corner, which offers high end fashion at affordable prices.
Address: 20 rue des Tournelles, Paris 75004
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 12:00pm-8:00pm / Sunday 2:00pm-8:00pm
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 11th arrondissement.
Chine Machine is another vintage boutique: a great place for finding bargains if you’re on a budget! They have two boutiques in the 10th and 18th districts.
Address: 10 Rue de Petites Écuries, Paris 75010 OR 100 Rue des Martyrs 75018
Hours: Monday – Saturday 12:00pm – 8:00pm / Sunday 1:00pm – 8:00pm
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 10th arrondissement.
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 18th arrondissement.
Another great idea for fashion lovers is pop up fashion markets. Entry is usually free and you can browse a wide selection of brands, all at affordable prices. Des filles en Aiguille takes place four times a year, showcasing a selection of designer brands at the Espace Beaurepaire. Or why not try Hôtel Bohême? It has everything from fashion and accessories, childrenswear, homeware and more. And it’s all ethically sourced! Check it out at rue de la Fontaine au Roi 75011.
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 11th arrondissement.
Going out
A night out in Paris doesn’t have to be expensive! There are lots of great places to try such as Wanderlust in Paris’ 13th arrondissement. Entry is about 10 € if you book in advance.
Address: 32 Quai d’Austerlitz, 75013 Paris
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 18th arrondissement.
For another fun night out, you could try Favela Chic, in the 11th arrondissement. With a Brazilian theme and live music, this is a great place to try with friends.
Address: 18 Rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75011 Paris
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 11th arrondissement.
La Java is a historic club in Belleville, where Edith Piaf and Django Reinhardt once played! Now it’s known for its electro music and has a great selection of live acts and DJs. Entry costs between 5-10 €.
Address:105 Rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75010 Paris
Click here to see our selection of apartments located in the 10th arrondissement.
Free museums
There are lots of ways to see Paris’ museums for free! The City of Paris museums such as the Musée d’Art Moderne are free for everyone all year round. However, this only applies to the permanent collections, and you’ll have to pay for any temporary exhibitions.
Most museums such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie are free on the first Sunday of the month. But it’s worth queuing early, as they are always particularly busy on these days! If you are a student from the EU/ under 26, you can get into lots of museums for free anytime.
Discount websites
For more discounts and sales to help you make the most of living in Paris on a budget, have a look at groupon.fr. For fun going out ideas, restaurant deals, or even your next haircut or manicure, they have hundreds of deals waiting for you!
Vente privée is another good website, with up to 70% off your favourite brands for fashion, travelling and eating out. You just have to sign up first (which is free) to receive their offers. It’s a great way to make sure you don’t miss out on any deals, whatever your budget!
So believe it or not, it is possible to discover Paris when you are on a budget! You just have to know where to look and plan ahead! There are so many great free things to see and do in Paris without breaking the bank…so there’s really no excuse now!
