Planning the perfect Paris holiday can at times seem overwhelming, especially as the costs of Europe’s major cities has increased drastically over recent years. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of great and thrifty ways to enjoy a weekend in Paris. Looking to plan your trip to the romance capital of the world and save some money along the way?
Here are a few Parisian travel tips to keep in mind:
1. Book in Advance
This might sound terribly cliché, but the reason why it’s such a repeated piece of travel advice is because it’s absolutely true. Booking your travel and accommodations well in advance will ensure that you get the best prices available. it will also give you peace of mind that you have secured a hotel, hostel, guesthouse or B&B for all of the days that you plan to be in the city.
2. Pick and Choose Your Paid Attractions
In any major city you can feel pressured to see everything. When you come to a place like Paris whose attractions tend to be known throughout the world that pressure mounts very quickly. To avoid this problem consider the types of activities that mean the most to you. If you’re an art fanatic then don’t waste money on traveling to the top of the Eiffel Tower (especially when there are plenty of elevated parts of the city where you can get pictures with the tower actually in them), instead save your money to visit some of the city’s famous museums. Note, that on the first weekend of every month museum admission is free.
3. Visit the Churches and Cathedrals
Some of Paris’ best-known sites include its many churches and cathedrals. The likes of Sacré-Coeur and Notre Dame are known the world over. These sites are not only beautiful pieces of architecture in themselves, they contain within them famous artworks and historical relics, and on top of all this, entry is free.
4. Book Your Stay in an Affordable District
Depending where you stay in Paris your costs will vary drastically. The centre tends to be expensive but there are some central areas that won’t empty your wallet. The Latin Quarter -primarily a student neighbourhood – is both central on the Left Bank and affordable.
5. Don’t Dine at the Michelin Star Restaurants
One of the beauties of Paris is that it is replete with delicious food and wine – if you’re on a budget there is little reason to spring for fine dining when you can easily pick-up something great for cheap. Breakfast is especially easy. A simple croissant and café is a lovely way to start the day and it will probably be better than any others you’ve had before.
Whether it’s your first time to Paris or a return trip, you’ll quickly find that this capital of Europe can be greatly enjoyed on a budget.
Images by Adriano Aurelio Araujo and Sam Foles used under Creative Commons License.
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