Paris on a budget (by a local) 💸

Free activities 

Free museums and monuments

Paris has an association of museums, whose permanent collections are always free for everyone. Here are some of my favorite ones ✨

Musée Carnavalet

@louisebaudouin

It is the museum of history of Paris, which is surprisingly unknown relatively to its worth, I think :) Maybe it is because I'm an historian, but I am a huge fan of the way it tells Paris's story, through art, objects and little animated films. I strongly suggest you take the time to do the whole parcours from antique Lutetia to nowadays. The building itself is an ancient private house of the XVIIth century. The garden is a must-see and, in the summer, a restaurant opens to enjoy it until night. It is free for everyone, totally kid-friendly and in the nice neighborhood of the Marais, with little streets and good places to eat

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A little more about it here on my blog !

Carnavalet, my favorite museum

lacousinegermaine.com

Petit Palais

@louisebaudouin

Don't be fooled by its name, it is only a small palace compared to the huge one on the other side of the street. This very beautiful place, with high painted ceilings and a peaceful garden in the middle, is perfect for a romantic date or catch up with a friend. It shows art from the beginning of the XXth century.

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Musée Cernuschi

@louisebaudouin

Located just next to the beautiful Parc Monceau, this old private mansion, filled with Asian arts collections, is a very fall activity to do :)

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Bourdelle Museum

@louisebaudouin

A recent discovery of mine, that I already adore! An ancient artist studio, very green and peaceful, where you can admire the huge statues outside and the more detailed work inside. I recommend highly that you pay it a visit 👀

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Musée de la Vie Romantique

@louisebaudouin

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Dance for free

Café Chéri

@louisebaudouin

My favorite place to dance in Paris 💃 Thurdays to Saturdays are for DJ sets by a genius DJ, with a free entry and a lot of people stacked together: quite a paradise indeed 💛

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Supersonic

@louisebaudouin

This rock club offers three free live concerts every day of the week, from new independent rock bands, in every styles. Then, at midnight, it become a dancing with theme nights (disco, punk, new wave) to dance until 5AM... Perfect place to discover the new sounds that make Paris dance!

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Le Mazette

@louisebaudouin

A dancing boat with up to three different vibes, good cocktails and a very diverse programmation : what more can you wish for ? It is one of my favorite places for the spring/summer nights, and most events are free if you enter before a certain hour ! 🍹

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Rosa Bonheur sur Seine

@louisebaudouin

This boat is anchored right near the bridge Alexandre III (the most beautiful one in Paris to my opinion). It is a perfect place for a long "apéro" on wine with the sunset, before a night of dance on the mainstream tunes of the last 40 years 💃

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Open gardens 🌿

Jardin des Plantes

@louisebaudouin

A great botanical garden, with a lot of hidden gardens with plants from around the world. The main alley has a perfect view, and it is great to have a bit of fresh air in the middle of the city. Try to look for the labyrinth and the roses's garden 👀

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Luxembourg Garden

@louisebaudouin

One of the most pretty garden of Paris, and a very nice example of the "French Garden", with an amazing view from the Senate Palace to the Observatory. Don't miss the Medicis Fountain and look for the small Statue of Liberty 👀 It has been created in 1612 by the queen Mary of Medicis, with the palace built in the center of it. It has inspired a lot of writers, including Victor Hugo, Charles Baudelaire and Ernest Hemingway, that all lived around it and dreamed around its fountains... For example, this is the place where Marius fell in love with Cosette, in Hugo's Miserables.

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Jardin du Palais Royal

@louisebaudouin

You enter through a gallery to arrive at this peaceful and hidden garden, in the middle of Paris, close to the Louvre. It is Paris first public garden, and still one of the most beautiful one. It is perfect for a coffee break 🥐

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Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

@louisebaudouin

a huge english style garden, where one can easily get lost 🙇‍♀️ Enjoy it at the end of the day during summer, for it stay open till late

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Nice places to just walk around

Rue Mouffetard

@louisebaudouin

A nice narrow market street, without cars, to wander around with a cheap snack

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Rue Daguerre

@louisebaudouin

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Rue des Rosiers

@louisebaudouin

this very authentic little paved street is filled with high fashion shops to admire, old facades and little restaurants. It is a very important place for the Jew community in Paris, who moved there in the beginning of the XXth century.

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Jardin Bergeyre

@louisebaudouin

You have to have good legs to discover this gem, but it is worth the hike, for it is like a village hidden in the middle of Paris 🌿🌳 Look for the one bench at the end of the hill, from which you have one of the most perfect view on Paris's right bank!

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Shopping on a budget 🛍️

Clothes and accessories 👗

Marché montreuil

@louisebaudouin

A huge thrift shop market for clothes, where you dive into piles of things to find your new favorite piece ;)

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Home decor and souvenirs 🛋️

Puces d'Aligre

@louisebaudouin

A flea market open every day, to bring back the most authentic souvenirs !

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Marche aux Puces

@louisebaudouin

Only opening on the week-end, it is my favorite flea market in Paris, for it is huge and you can just wander around and admire the decors and vintage stuff 💐

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Food 🥪

Paris is filled with high class pricy restaurants, of course, but you can also enjoy the French gastronomy without spending all your money !

Using anti-waste apps/shops

A good way to enjoy very good products, without paying the full price. 

Markets in Paris where you can buy food that would have been wasted otherwise

www.nousantigaspi.com

Too Good To Go App | Save Good Food From Going To Waste

www.toogoodtogo.com

My best tips to keep your money in your pocket

Organize your itinerary around one neighborhood, to save up on the transportation. And don't hesitate to walk around, you'll discover much by yourself, and Paris is a very walkable city. 

Avoid eating out as you go, and make some researches to find the places you really want to go, for cheaper. Many brasseries and restaurants offer a fixe price menu the week day, for lunch, 

Many places are open for free : the churches, parks, some museums, libraries, art galleries... You can do a full tour without paying anywhere, and still see art and beautiful architecture !

Thank you!

I hope you liked this little guide, and that you feel more free to enjoy Paris on a budget. If you have any questions, you can find me on Instagram, where I will happily answer to everyone !

Louise | non-conformist cultural tours

www.instagram.com

my website

lacousinegermaine.com