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Cheap Guide to Paris - 10 cheap things to do in Paris when you're on a budget

A trip to Paris is a dream come true for many of us. But the global financial crisis and shrinking value of many currencies versus the Euro may have you second guessing or even postponing that dream trip to Paris. But if you're considering a destination that's a little bit closer to home remember that familiarity and some inside knowledge is often the key to enjoying your vacation without breaking your budget. Paris is no different, so let's take a look at the ways Parisians stretch their euros to enjoy the wonders of one of the most superlative cities the world has to offer

1. Free entry to museums and cathedrals

There are over 180 museums and monuments in Paris and many offer free entrance at specific times. All churches and cathedrals offer free admission (except for la Sainte Chapelle), but you may need to pay an extra fee to visit the crypts or climb the towers (e.g. Notre Dame Cathedral). Many major museums, including the big favorites such as the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin and Musée Picasso, offer free admission the first Sunday of every month. The same museums, plus many more, offer free admission daily to citizens of any nation of the European Union who are under 26 years old and to children and youths under 18 years old.

 

2. The Paris Museum Pass

Museum lovers who plan to visit lots of museums should buy the Paris Museum pass.  This pass allows unlimited entry to over 60 museums and monuments, including the Louvre Museum, Château de Versailles, the Musée d'Orsay, the Rodin Museum, the Picasso Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Sainte Chapelle. You can visit any number of participating museums, without waiting in line, during the pass' period of validity (2,4, or 6 days). For anybody who's planning to see a lot of museums during a short visit, time becomes an important factor. So one of the most attractive features of the Paris Museum Pass is the ability to visit museums without waiting in line to buy tickets.

3. Free concerts

Paris has a great deal to offer to music lovers. If you're fortunate enough to be flexible in the dates you plan to visit, you should be sure to consider visiting during the Summer when you can experience the Fête de la Musique (June 21) or the Free Summer Jazz concerts held every weekend in the Parc de Vincennes. If you're time is not so flexible, you can still take advantage of the free concerts that are frequently offered at the Maison de Radio France. Dates and times vary but a schedule and free tickets can be collected in the office at, 116, avenue du Président Wilson, 75016 Paris

4. Shop for designer clothes at department store sales and designer outlets

Paris is the capital of fashion and the home of myriad famous designers and labels. Although the haute couture showrooms along the avenue Matignon and luxury labels such as Hermes and Louis Vuitton may only be accessible to the few, but savvy shoppers can pick up close outs or seconds of designer outfits for huge discounts at designer outlet stores. Inside the Paris city limits the Mouton à 5 Pattes on the Boulevard Saint Germain is a favorite, as well as the many ready-to-wear shops found in the 14th "arrondissement", on the rue d'Alésia beginning around the avenue de Maine. If closeouts aren't your thing, big department stores like Bon Marché, Galleries Lafayettes and Printemps have twice yearly sales in January and July, typically discounting designer duds by up to 70%.

5. Visit the Flea Market

The world famous Paris Flea Markets are a shopper's delight and a good way to spend an afternoon whether or not you're planning to buy something. The largest of the Flea Markets is located at Porte de Clignancourt to the North of Paris. A huge selection of art, antiques, clothing and many many other items are on sale. Entry is free and the atmosphere is reminiscent of the Great Bazaars of Middle Eastern cities like Cairo and Itanbul.

6. Visit the Paris Opéra

Paris boasts two great opera houses: the Opéra Bastille and the Opéra Garnier. The most recent is the Opéra Bastille, which opened in 1989 and claims that every seat offers a clear view of the stage. The neo-Baroque Opéra Garnier is a renowned architectural masterpiece and the home of the Paris Opéra Ballet. It opened in 1875 and seats over 2000 people. Tickets for performances at either opera can go for over 100€ for the best seats, but the cheapest seats (which may not always offer a great view) often cost less than 10€

7. Visit a Paris Cabaret

Cabarets like the Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse and Lido are a well known Paris institution. While the typical show ticket featuring dinner and a bottle of champagne can cost up to 200€ or more per person, what is less well known is that you can also see the who for much cheaper by going to the second show (without dinner) or in some cabarets, just purchasing a ticket to the afternoon matinee, a ticket without drinks, or a seat at the bar. These cheaper tickets cost about 80€.

8. Eat a good meal out of the Center

Most areas that tourists are likely to visit (the Champs-Elysées, Saint Germain, Marais) can be much more expensive than less central, but still very nice neighborhoods. Paris offers many neighborhoods with concentrations of ethnic restaurants that are good, yet affordable. Authentic Indian restaurants can be found on the Rue Brady in the 10th arrondissement, as well as the area north of Gare du Nord. The area in the 13th arrondissement just south of Place d'Italie is Paris' Chinatown and many affordable Chinese restaurants can be found here, as well as along the rue des Gravilliers in the 3rd arrondissement.

9. Get a cheap Airport transfer

Getting a Paris airport transfer from the airport to the Paris city center can be expensive! Taxis typically cost 40€ – 60€, depending on your destination, time of day and traffic. But a ticket on the Metro only costs 8€50. If you have too much baggage for the Metro, consider the shared airport shuttle which can cost as little as 17€ per person.

10. Vacation rental apartment

Hotels in Paris aren't cheap, so if you're planning to stay for an extended period or if you're more than two people in your group, a short-term Paris vacation apartment rental is a good option that will also allow you to cook your own meals and get a better idea of what it's like to live like the locals do.

All things considered, with just a little bit of advance planning, some of the most desirable attractions that Paris has to offer can be available to you absolutely free of charge or for a much more reasonable price than most tourists typically have to pay.

About the Author

Joshua Green lived in Paris for nine years and writes about travel and tourism.

Paris Vacation apartment rentals
Paris Airport Transfer

Bottle of Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 1982 Red Wine

My parents bought me a bottle of Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 1982 Red Wine (my birth year) about 20 years ago and I've been legal to drink it for a few years now. I'm getting married in December and think this might be a nice time to drink it. When do wines taste the best? I wanna drink it before it goes bad how long do I have? Would it be in poor taste to open a Rothschild wine at a wedding at a different winery (Sattui)?

That's a great bottle.
I bought a few in 1994.
I also had the Laffitte.
It's worth alot these days.
All the 1st growths that year were rated betweem 98 and 100.

As long a you store it properly, it's may be the best wine you'll ever have in your life.
82 was a great year.

I think the people at the winery would love to see it( they'll probably be praying that you offer them a few precious drops).

Be sure to save the empty bottle.

Good luck.

( I sure wish I had that bottle).
We drank ours Christmas of 95.
It was still young but unreal.
I can only imagine what it would be like now.
I saw a bottle for 1K not long ago.
I was tempted to buy it( but didn't).

I forgot to mention that the labels on Mouton are collector items.
So some labels from the past are worth thousands.
( they use a different artist every year to design the label).