Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and can be hard on your wallet. But don’t relinquish the romance of Paris just yet — there are ways to indulge in its allure without sacrificing luxury.
Check out our Destination Spotlight on Paris to help you plan a trip to the City of Lights!
Paris to the Moon
Finding affordable tickets to Paris can seem futile, but there are fares within reach. Stick to the off-season between November and April prices when prices are lower. Use Kayak.com to find the best deals or fly into another European city and take a low-cost carrier like Ryanair (but beware of luggage requirements). And when you arrive, skip the taxicab and take the Airport Shuttle bus service – only $33 for a round-trip ticket. It’s also preferable for people who — like me — have a penchant for over-packing.
Travel en masse
Walking is the best way to explore this luminous city, but to cover more ground, head underground. The Paris Visite Pass is your best bet and provides you with unlimited travel on the bus, Métro, and RER; a five-day pass costs about $48.
Or sightsee with Vélib, a bicycle rental program: with more than 230 miles of dedicated lanes, it’s the fastest, most scenic way to get around the city.
The Chic and Cheap
Hotels.com allows you to customize your hotel package by amenities, average nightly rate, and guest ratings. Look for boutique hotels like Hôtel Verneuil that combine Old World charm with modern amenities. Or visit the 30-room New Orient Hotel: each room has its own take on Parisian elegance.
A Moveable Feast
Head to the local bakeries or markets for breakfast or a light lunch. The ubiquitous Paul chain offers a variety of pastries and other delicacies (although its protocol is reminiscent of Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi).
For bigger meals, eat at bistros, brasseries, and cafés that offer tourist (prix fixe) menus. Middle Eastern food is excellent here: head to Rue Mouffetard and Le Marais for affordable, mouthwatering dishes.
For the best steak frites, indulge in Le Relais de l’Entrecôte (left) where the secret sauce is legendary and the steak and frites unlimited. The 17th district also has a number of bistros with all-inclusive menus for $55. My favourite is Bistro Saint-Ferdinand with its convivial atmosphere and decadent, five-star food. (I’ve celebrated three birthdays there and never been disappointed.)
Culture Vultures
Museum-lovers should purchase the Paris Museum Pass – you’ll be able to skip the line at 60 museums including the Louvre. Or select more intimate museums and galleries like the Musée du Petit Palais and the Musée de la vie romantique. And if you’re in Paris in May, you can enjoy La nuit des musées (Night of the Museums) when museums and galleries are free and stay open from 7pm to 1am.
Annual Sales
For one-stop luxury brand shopping, hit up the annual sales at big department stores like Galeries Lafayette, and Printemps at the end of June and early January. For an added taste of glamour, Galeries Lafayette hosts fashion shows every Friday from March to December.
Secret Gardens
Paris’ green spaces are the city’s heart and soul – and the best places to observe Parisian life. The Jardin de Luxembourg (right) in the sixth district has an embarrassment of riches from the grandiose Medici Fountain to the stately, yellow Senate building and the copious, green chairs bowered by apple and pear orchards. (The chairs also send the message: keep off the grass.) Visit Bonjour Paris for a comprehensive list of the city’s parks and many other gems.
Or consider exploring Paris sans map — sometimes the best diversions emerge when you stumble upon them.