Paris on a Budget: Free Museums and Cheap Eats

Free Museums

Many museums in Paris are free on the first Sunday of the month. The Petit Palais and Musée Carnavalet (History of Paris) are free year-round for their permanent collections.

Eat Like a Local

Avoid restaurants right next to major tourist sites. Walk a few blocks away. Look for "Formule Midi" (lunch set menus) which offer a starter, main, and sometimes dessert for 15-20 Euros.

Picnic by the Seine

Instead of a fancy dinner, grab a baguette, some cheese, and a bottle of wine from a supermarket and have a picnic along the Seine or the Canal Saint-Martin. It's a quintessential Parisian experience.

Walk or Velib'

Paris is a very walkable city. For longer distances, use the Velib' bike-sharing system. It's cheap and a great way to see the city.