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Uncorking a bottle of French wine on a sunny day, spreading brie on a baguette, gazing out on the Paris<\/a> skyline in front of the Sacr\u00e9-Coeur in Montmartre. To me, that\u2019s the perfect day in Paris. <\/p>\n Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world<\/a> thanks to its cobblestone streets, historic architecture, incredible music, savory delicious food, and smartly dressed locals. Paris is a city I just melt into. I love it so much I moved there to live out my cliched “writer in Paris” fantasy. (It was everything I wanted it to be.)<\/p>\n But Paris is a city that melts wallets as much as it does hearts.<\/p>\n Paris’ plentiful restaurants, bars, and attractions can quickly lighten you of euros if you aren’t careful. However, it doesn’t have<\/em> to be expensive. Yes, it’s pricey but it doesn’t need to bust your wallet. Compared to other places in the world, residents don’t take home a high percentage of their salary. As such, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Paris without breaking the bank. <\/p>\n Once you get out of the city center and away from the restaurants designed for tourists, the city isn’t that expensive. I found living here to be quite affordable<\/a>.<\/p>\n Below are 24 ways to save big money on your next visit to the City of Lights based on my years of traveling and living in Paris:<\/p>\n Admission to the famous Louvre Museum is free after 6pm on the first Friday of each month (except July and August). It’s also free for anyone under 18, and 18-25-year-old residents of the European Economic Area. <\/p>\n Moreover, to avoid the massive ticket lines, enter via the Carrousel du Louvre entrance and you\u2019ll get right to the ticket counter. You can skip the lines if you have a Paris Museum Pass<\/a>, which I recommend getting (see below).<\/p>\n Just keep in mind that there are more people visiting during the free days so you’ll want to arrive as early as you can.<\/p>\n Entry is free the first Sunday of the month (reservations required). It’s also free for anyone under 18, and 18-25-year-old residents of the European Economic Area. On Thursdays, tickets to the museum are only 10 EUR after 6pm. Regular ticket prices are 14 EUR<\/a>.<\/p>\n I\u2019m a huge fan of tourist cards, and Paris is one of the best places to get one. There are so many museums and attractions worth seeing that ticket prices can really add up quickly. The Paris Museum Pass<\/a> will help you save money as it offers free and discounted admission to 60 museums and monuments around the city \u2014 and it lets you skip the ticket lines! Post-COVID, the lines in Paris have gotten really long and you won’t want to spend time waiting in them. I always get this pass when I’m museum hopping in the city. It saves so much money and time. I can’t recommend it enough.<\/p>\n It comes in 2-, 4-, and 6-day versions costing 70, 90, and 110 EUR respectively. It pays for itself after three museums so if you plan on seeing the main sights, get this pass<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you happen to find yourself in Paris on the first Sunday of the month between October and March, most of the city\u2019s major museums offer free admission. During the other months, admission is free for those under 26 and from the EU. The Louvre is free on Friday nights for everyone. The downside is that they will all be super crowded as this is no secret! <\/p>\n Here\u2019s a list of museums that participate:<\/p>\n There are also other museums that offer free admission on the first Sunday but only at certain times of the year. Check the Paris tourism website<\/a> for an exhaustive list.<\/p>\n Save money right when you land by taking public transportation into the city. Once you get into the city, you can transfer to the metro to reach your final destination.<\/p>\n For CDG, you have a few options:<\/p>\n For ORY, here are your options:<\/p>\n I prefer the RER, but depending on where you\u2019re going, the express bus might be more direct, as you may not have to transfer to a local metro.<\/p>\n You can find more details on getting to and from the city’s airports here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Taxis are convenient but they add up fast. Prices start at 4-7 EUR and go up by almost 2 EUR per kilometer. A taxi to the airport is a flat rate 56-65 EUR for CDG and 36-44 EUR for Orly. Uber is cheaper, but it adds up fast too, so skip the private rides unless you don’t have an option. <\/p>\n Bus and metro tickets cost 2.15 EUR each. They’re way cheaper than taxis or Uber and can get you pretty much anywhere you need to go. They run late too, usually until after 1am, so as long as you plan ahead you can likely save a good chunk of money. <\/p>\n Paris\u2019 bike-share program boasts over 20,000 bikes at 1,800 stations throughout the city. It’s 3 EUR for a 45-minute one-way trip, 5 EUR for a one-day pass (10 EUR for an e-bike) or 20 EUR for a three-day pass. You’ll need a pin-and-chip card to use the machines. If you don’t have that type of credit card, you can buy a ticket online and use your access code at the stations.<\/p>\n Hostels offer great accommodations for those on a budget, especially since most hotels in Paris are beyond expensive. Dorm rooms in Paris are around 20-30 EUR in the low season and 40-80 EUR in the high season. Private rooms in hostels begin around 50 EUR in the low season and 100-150 EUR in the high season. <\/p>\n One of my favorite hostels to stay at is St. Christopher’s Canal<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more suggestions, here is a complete list of my favorite hostels in the city<\/a>. If you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of Paris<\/a>!<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n1. Visit the Louvre for free<\/h3>\n
2. Save at the Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay<\/h3>\n
3. Buy a Paris Museum Pass<\/h3>\n
4. First Sunday of the month? Free museums!<\/h3>\n
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5. Take public transport from the airport<\/h3>\n
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6. Skip taxis<\/h3>\n
7. Stick to public transportation<\/h3>\n
8. Use the V\u00e9lib\u2019<\/h3>\n
9. Stay in hostels<\/h3>\n