Paris On A Budget: 3 Days For Just €100

Paris on a Budget

Especially for Americans, a trip to Paris can seem like an extreme luxury. High end shopping, fancy restaurants and pricey boutique hotels all line the streets of Paris.

But if you’re a budget traveler (hello to my recent college grads, students or literally ANYONE who doesn’t have thousands to blow on a vacation) you might write off a trip to the City of Love because you can’t afford it.

Well if you can scrap up about €100 that can get you through 3 days in Paris. Excluding of course, that pesky and much more expensive airfare. But if you can add Paris as a layover on another trip or if you’re already in Europe, there are constantly cheap flights to and from Paris (sometimes for under $50).

Otherwise, especially for Americans, this might be a time to cash in on those credit card points for a flight?

Getting to Paris is the expensive part- exploring it, doesn’t have to be.

Without further ado, here’s how to spend 3 dream days in Paris with just €100 in your pocket to budget.

Skip the taxi, take the RER B train from the airport

There is no reason to ever take a taxi from the airport into Paris. The ride alone will blow at least half (if not all!) of your 3 day budget right there.

The train is easy to find (literally just follow the signs from the airport with the image of the train on it, it’s a 5-10 minute walk through the airport if you’re at CDG) and it will cost you about €10 to get to the city center.

Pro tip: Download the app Citymapper ahead of time. It’s excellent in all major cities for planning your route with metros/buses/public transit. It’s free and by far the best one out there! Even if you lose WiFi, it will still track your route. It gives you such detailed information- down to the exact exit to take when leaving the metro station and which car is likely to be the emptiest.

Total spent getting to and from Paris from CDG airport: €20 (€10 each way)

Metro instead of Uber

Once you are in Paris, Ubering around to all the stops will eat up your budget faster than anything else. It’s a gorgeous city, why not walk it?

Otherwise the metro is easy-peasy-lemon squeezey to navigate. Even as a tourist. Just type where you want to go in Citymapper and follow the route.

If you have it in your budget to Uber, cool do it. But don’t think you can’t go to Paris if you don’t have it in your budget to Uber (*they don’t have Lyft in Paris) and taxi around for several days.

The metro is just €1.90 per ride.

Need WiFi to get your route Citymapper? If you get lost- just head towards the Eiffel Tower. They have free WiFi in that area so if you’re unsure of what metro route back and don’t have data abroad- this is an easy place to come back to for WiFi. Otherwise restaurants, cafes, bars, Starbucks and McDonald’s always have WiFi 🙂

Total spent on metro in 3 days: €11.40

Avoid airline fees, travel with just a carry on

Whenever possible, I ditch my massive rolling suitcase and travel with just my backpack. The freedom that comes along with traveling light is incredible.

No waiting at the airport for your bags, no chance of the airline losing your bags, no checked baggage fees… do yourself a favor and pack light next time!

Total spent checking a bag: €0

Skip the hotel and couch surf instead

Now I know this seems crazy to people who have never couch surfed but hear me out. There is an official couch surfing website and corresponding app that have verified users all over the world who just have it in the goodness of their heart to host travelers. It’s basically like free Airbnb.

This is the easiest way to do Paris on a budget- no money spent on accommodation at all!

I’ve couch surfed in London, Germany, Egypt, Turkey, Sweden, Texas, South Carolina and now Paris all with tremendous success. Each time has been a delight. Read my full article on it here.

Just use common sense while looking for a host- only stay with verified users who have hosted before and have been positively reviewed etc.

My host in Paris, Antoine, was a wonderful! I had my own keys to come and go as I pleased and he even joined me in some sight seeing. We had a blast!
Antoine even started a couch surfing Youtube channel where he interviews all his guests that stay with him. Check it out!

Total spent on accommodation: €0

Skip the restaurants, eat the delicious street food

A fancy restaurant may seem like a nice way to treat yourself but honestly it’s just as lovely to get a 5€ crepe from a delicious street stand and go walk around the gardens or sit in the grass under the Eiffel Tower while you eat. People watch, enjoy the sunshine and take in the views. *sigh* How lovely.

Want to feel really stereotypically French? Of course you do, you’re in Paris! So go on and grab a fresh, delicious baguette for €1-2 and eat that while strolling the streets of Paris. I would grab a cappuccino (€1-2) and a warm baguette for breakfast as I walked along.

Breakdown:

Breakfasts for €3 each = €9

Lunches at €5 each: €15

Dinners at €6 each: €18

Ice cream, snacks from the market: €5

Total I spent on food: €47

Carry a refillable water bottle

Europe charges a lot for water at restaurants – a large bottle in a restaurant near the Eiffel Tower will cost you €7.

Total spent on bottled water: €0

Skip the live guides, do the audio tours

Tour the Palais Garnier– the opera house where The Phantom of the Opera was based for just €10- add a great guided tour for just €5 more.

Paris Travel — Exploring the infamous opera house, the Palais Garnier!

Want to do a great free walking tour of Paris? Just download the app- Rick Steves Audio Europe for a wonderful, comprehensive guided tour through your phone-totally free!

You can also check out the Paris tours on the official website! For more info, check out the article I did on Rick Steve’s Audio Europe.

Total spent on tours: €15

If you want to go to the Louvre, book your ticket in advance! I unfortunately did not and it was sold out the entire 3 days I was there.

Louvre Pricing Breakdown

Admission is €9
After 6pm on a Wednesday or Friday, entrance is €6
Entrance is totally free for under 26’s on Friday evenings
On Bastille Day (July 14th) and the first Sunday of each month entrance is free all day for everyone

Skip the lift, climb the Eiffel Tower

It will only save you a few euros but the line for the elevator was long, crowded and more expensive.

Besides I think the view at the top is more worth while having worked for it a little 😉

Climb all 704 stairs and see if you can time it with sunset for an added treat. If you’re under 24, it’s only €5.

Total spent to climb the Eiffel Tower: €7

Skip an overpriced bar, grab a drink from a vendor and watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night

Instead of heading to a bar which will undoubtedly dig into your budget, you can buy a drink from a vendor walking around selling cheap champagne, wine and beer.

For a couple euros, you can sit at night under the stars and see the Eiffel Tower sparkle every hour on the hour after dark.

It’s a fun atmosphere with plenty of people out especially at Trocadéro Square. If you’re in a popular spot there will be street performers, vendors and plenty of people hanging out.

Total spent for a drink + Eiffel Tower light show: €3

Skip the hotel pool, swim in the fountains in front of the Eiffel Tower instead

You’ll catch tons of locals dipping in the fountains- I couldn’t believe it at first! I assumed it must not be allowed. And originally it wasn’t but now, it’s a favorite place to cool off in the summer.

Wade in the water, get sprayed by the fountains… all with the Eiffel Tower as your backdrop.

Total spent to swim in the fountains: €0

More free things to do in Paris:

Hang out with the locals down by the banks of the Seine river
Pay a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral
People watch in Trocadéro Square
Wander through Gallery Lafayette + Observation Deck
Check out the dreamy, panoramic views of Paris– La Terrace – from 9.30am -7.30pm every day

Another affordable option: Take a river cruise with Paris City Vision

This option is good if you’re on a budget because the cruises are super affordable since they fit so many people on board. The boat will most likely be very full but it does provide a nice view of Paris as you float along.

Disclaimer: Did I really only budget €100 for the entire time I was in Paris ?

Truthfully no, because I’ve always wanted to see a show at the Moulin Rouge. Dinner and a show on the most popular times (Fri-Sun @ 7PM) can cost up to €450.

But if you go to a late show on Sunday night and pass on diner, I was able to find a ticket for €97. Add a half bottle of champagne and it will cost you €117. Prices may vary depending on season.

My splurge: A ticket to the Moulin Rouge €117

Subtract my ticket to the Moulin Rouge and I’d be right in that €100 price range. Not bad for a Paris vacation!

And perhaps Paris is a dream destination for you and you’d like to splash out and spend a little (or perhaps a lot!) more money while you’re there- wonderful! That’s great too.

But traveling doesn’t have to be only for the wealthy, so whether you’re a student, family on a budget, recent graduate, a freelance worker, in-between jobs, a backpacker… Paris can still be for you as well, no matter your budget!

I hope you enjoy your time in the City of Love!