How to Plan an Affordable Trip to Paris, According to Locals

The Eiffel Tower is still my favorite sight in France, even though I’ve lived here for more than a decade. Calling Paris romantic is an understatement—the city has inspired poets and artists, who still pilgrimage here today in search of inspiration that can be found in nearly every turn, in every arrondissement.

Paris is a popular destination, but it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money on opulent hotels or haute cuisine in order to enjoy the city. Fresh baguettes and a beautiful bottle of red wine by the Seine are just as memorable as Michelin-starred meals. With the right planning, you can have the trip of a lifetime in Paris without breaking the bank—here’s everything you need to know.

Planning Your Trip

Paris is always a great idea, but some seasons are busier. These include the summer, Christmas, and New Years. While hotels and airfare may be lower in the winter, Paris can be wet and cold—not ideal for strolling and sightseeing, but great for museums and cozying up in warm cafes. Mark Bonte is the co-founder and CEO at French Side Travel. “By booking your trip at least 6 months in advance, you can get not only the best guides and hotels available but also lower prices.”

It seems like my social calendar is consistently packed with friends visiting the city from May through July—and this is actually the time of year I skip town to avoid the crowds. The shoulder seasons of October, November and February are the best times to visit.

When to book and where to eat in Paris are frequently asked questions by me as a travel journalist who plans trips centered around food. Even in low season, Paris has become busy enough that nearly every sought-after restaurant requires a reservation—especially classics like Le Bistrot Paul BertOnly accepts phone reservations.

This isn’t New York. You can’t go overboard unless you plan to eat at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. PlénitudeReservations can be made three to four weeks in advance. While most restaurants close their doors in August to celebrate the summer holidays, more are keeping their doors open and hosting pop-ups or guest chefs. I’m actually one of the very few people who live in Paris. wants to be in town this time of year, enjoying long, balmy summer days sipping rosé on rooftop terraces or sprawled on a blanket sunbathing in my neighborhood park, Buttes Chaumont.

Savings on flights

Melanie Fish, travel expert at Expedia, suggests booking flights on Sundays. This can result in savings of up to 17% compared with bookings made on Fridays. Also, departing on Thursdays rather than Sundays will save you around 17%. Fish also says that last-minute deals are possible if you’re flexible. The sweet spot for last year was 60 days before departure, but this year the best deals (about 10 percent) are between 18 and 28 days. “If you think this is too soon, consider using Price Drop Protection She recommends using the Expedia App. Add it to your flight reservation and you will receive an automatic refund in the event that your flight price drops on Expedia.

Business-class-only La Compagnie offers daily flights between New York and Paris, with round-trip prices starting at $2,500—a fraction of the cost of other business-class fares. Budget-friendly options include low-cost carrier French Bee is offering one-way fares starting at $118 from New York Orly. Air France offers its Le Rendez-Vous promotions twice a year in the fall and winter.

Christian Vernet CEO of La CompagnieBooking two to three month in advance is recommended, as well as being flexible about your travel dates. Our best offers to Paris are usually available in January, in February and in the fall.

You can use tools such as the Expedia app to track prices or set up a price alert. Google Flights alertsCompare prices and grab the best offer when it appears. Expedia’s Flight Deals With this tool, you can, for instance, search for flights departing your home airport to anywhere in the globe and see which places offer cheaper flights. Currently, round-trip flight to Paris is $438 from New York JFK (40 percent off the normal price) and round-trip flight from Los Angeles is $681.

Searching for Affordable Accommodation

“The beauty of Paris is that it isn’t a weather-dependent destination—no matter the time of year, there is something to do and reason to find yourself in the City of Light,” says Bonte. “Travelers are often faced with inflated prices because they don’t know where to look and go to what they have heard of or what pops up on a quick search—and these properties will often be more expensive due to their brand recognition.”

Bonte recommends that you look for boutique hotels to maximize your investment. Hôtel La Fantaisie, Hôtel Hana. Château des Fleurs. If you plan to visit in the off-season, or during low season (such as January or February), or outside of major events such as Fashion Week, you can also expect lower rates at hotels. This is especially true for five-star or Palace properties.

Magalie Muillo, the general manager at SO/ ParisHotel rates are also lower at this time. “Paris reveals a more intimate face when most Parisians are gone. This is the perfect time to wander through the quiet streets in the Marais or enjoy riverside walks on the Seine. Or admire Notre Dame, without the crowds.”

Airbnbs can offer a more affordable alternative to hotels for large groups and families. Look outside the popular arrondissements, like hotels. Le MaraisYou can find better deals in areas like Belleville or Bastille, which are still centrally located.

Transport in Paris

You’ll get the same answer from any local when you ask them how to travel around Paris. le métro. A single ticket costs €2.50 and is valid for two hours (as long as you’re connecting and not leaving the network) on the metro, bus, funicular, express tram, and RER (suburban railway system). Download the Bonjour RATP appTickets can be purchased at a discount and you’ll receive updates on service changes, strikes or other disruptions. If you’re planning a full day of sightseeing, opt for a one-day Navigo unlimited travel pass, which costs €12 a day and offers access across the Paris region.

The app allows you to purchase tickets for airports such as Charles de Gaulle and Orly in Paris. Tickets cost €13 and include access on the RER B from Châtelet in central Paris, as well as Metro Line 14, which runs to Orly Airport and connects to major metro stations like Gare de Lyon, Châtelet, and Pyramides (near the Louvre and Tuileries Garden).

The cheapest way to get the cheapest if you are comfortable with two wheels is by using the Vélib’ city bike stations scattered all around the city with options for a single ride (€3 for a classic bike or e-bike for up to 45 minutes), 24-hour pass (€5 for a classic bike or €10 for an e-bike), or three-day pass for €20.

Uber and Bolt have the most rideshare options in Paris. Prices can rise during Fashion Week, or when it is raining heavily, but you can get great deals (especially with Bolt) that can make them more affordable than a G7 Taxi. I have found the Citymapper app to be the most accurate when it comes to navigating Paris, since it pulls in the time and price for each mode of transport—and helps you map out the quickest route on the metro or bus.

Eat on a Budget

If you are willing to pay a little more, the best way to enjoy the fine dining in Paris without the high price tag is by taking advantage of the weekly prix-fixe menu,” says Emily MonacoA journalist based in Paris, she runs culinary tours for tourists and creates bespoke itineraries.Chantoiseau’s €29 lunch deal is a total steal given the quality and precision—not to mention the address in the heart of Montmartre.”

La formuleSome of the most popular bistros in the city, such as natural wine favorites, offer a two- or three-course menu with a fixed price. Café les deux Gares, Paloma Belleville. Le Maquis—and typically costs around €18 for a starter, main, and dessert. To enjoy a Michelin starred restaurant at a reasonable price, book for lunch. If you’re looking for a one-starred restaurant, there are many options. Substance in the 16th arrondissement, for example, a three-course lunch is €68.

You can find many affordable restaurants in Paris. Brasserie des Prés, a charming néo-brasserie located down a picturesque cobbled street just off Boulevard Saint-Germain,” says Monaco, adding that the poireaux vinaigrette Her favorite dish in Paris is the (leeks vinaigrette with toasted hazelnuts). The dining room was built around a piece of Paris’ medieval fortifying walls, and the ice cream is made in-house. The Lebanese Sandwiches are also delicious! Le Cèdre Just off Place de la Contrescarpe and the delicious Thai cuisine at Funky Ba—you can easily eat well for under €15 at either spot.”

What began in the 19th Century for the working classes to affordably eat, the bouillon Art Nouveau has been revived by the city in recent years, thanks to places like Bouillon Julien You can also find out more about the following: Bouillon PigalleThe retro red leather banquettes, and the mirrored walls are a great combination. The philosophy is the same. French classics are still served, such as Burgundian escargots and steak-frites covered in parsley and garlic. Prices start as low as €2.50 for eggs mayonnaise and €13 for duck confit with fries, with a pitcher of wine equivalent to the size of a bottle for around €12.

Monaco says that she loves to put together a picnic with top-notch products to enjoy in a beautiful place. The Canal Saint-Martin, for example, is a favorite spot, especially during the summer, when picnic tables are placed. “I get my cheese from Fromagerie FerninThe cheeses are perfect for the summer. They are perfect with a bottle natural wine. Les Caves Saint-MartinLocal grocery store offers fresh berries satiōOrganic sourdough bread from a bakery SainYou’ll end up with a Michelin-rated picnic.”

Enjoy Free and Low Cost Activities

Paris is known as a city of love. flâneurs—its leafy boulevards and sprawling parks are designed for strolling. Bonte says that a gourmet tour through one of Paris’s most iconic neighborhoods is something we recommend to our clients. You can combine a walking tour with a lunch in Le Marais. Saint-Germain-des-Prés. or even Paris’s covered passages.”

If you plan to visit several museums, it’s a good idea to make a list. Paris Museum Pass offers access to some of the most famous in the city, including the Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and even the Château de Versailles (a two-day pass costs €70). Museums in Paris Tickets for the most popular events are usually more affordable, but some require that you book in advance. Tickets for the Fondation Louis Vuitton are €16, but popular exhibits like David Hockney 25 Reservations are required a couple of days in advance as slots tend to fill up fast. My parents and I skipped the Louvre to visit smaller museums. Musée Gustave Moreau, meaning fewer crowds and time waiting in line—plus, tickets are nearly half the price.

Instead of booking an expensive dinner cruise, I often take my friends to the city on one of the famous Bateaux Mouches, a €17, 70-minute boat ride along the Seine that passes landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. A new option debuted in the summer: swimming in the SeineThe new sites are dedicated to the Summer Olympics in Paris 2024.

Savings Tips for More Money

Paris is known as a fashion destination, and many people travel there to shop at the city’s gilded Grand magasins department stores like Le Bon Marché and Galeries Lafayette, as well as haute flagships like Hermès and Louis Vuitton. While the tax refund on items from the same brand purchased over a maximum of three days and totaling €100+ is one way to save on bigger-ticket items, the best time to snag deals is during the twice-annual sale season. Early January and late in June are the two times of year when you can find sales. les soldes This is the French version of Black Friday. Prices are reduced in four stages, reaching up to an 80 percent discount.

If you can spare the time, consider a day-trip. The Bicester Collection’s La Vallée Village is a destination in itself, with more than 110 outlets from designers like Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Chloé, and Prada offering deals up to 70 percent off. It is about 40 minutes by direct train from the city centre. Shopping Express shuttle from Bercy in East Paris (€25 round-trip) or take the RER A to the Val d’Europe station. Enjoy some of Paris’ finest eats as you shop, including Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse gourmet chocolat shop and the Val d’Europe station. Menu PalaisLe Cinq is a three-starred restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel George V. It serves classic French dishes reimagined by Christian Le Squer. Five minutes away from The Village, you’ll find the Four Seasons Hotel George V. Disneyland ParisIf you are planning to combine shopping with a day in the theme park.