When imagining Paris, it’s easy to think of romance, wine and culture, but affordability is not always the first thing that springs to mind about the City of Lights. Like most great European cities though, if you know where to stay, how to eat and what to do, you can actually see Paris without spending a bundle. So we’ve rounded up
Hotels
Depending on the area of the city, there are plenty of cheap hotels in Paris. The best neighbourhoods for finding affordable hotels in Paris are Montmarte and the Latin Quarter. If you’ve ever seen Amelie, you’ll recognise the bohemian district of Montmarte immediately as a series of winding streets that carve their way up to the city’s best overlook at the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur. Hotels here tend to be charming, with funky rooms that boast great views, if not much space. Budget doubles in Montmarte run £50-65, for which you’ll get a clean, small room within walking distance of sweet cafes, bustling boulevards and the infamous Moulin Rouge cabaret.
Similarly, doubles in the Latin Quarter, Paris’s student-friendly district with nightlife-a-plenty, go for £45-85. Situated in the 5th arrondissement of the Left Bank, the Latin Quarter is more centrally-located than Montmarte and provides easy access on foot to the Seine and Notre Dame.
Shopping
If you want to look like a Parisian but haven’t got the budget for designer outfits, then you’ll want to head straight for Paris’s marques dégifées, consignment shops where you can dig through upmarket castoffs that run the gamut from vintage blazers to current runway trend pieces. The shabby chic atmosphere of shopping in a Parisian consignment shop is only outdone by the actual finds – you could come away with a new Marc Jacobs handbag or classic Dior summer dress to wear for a fashionable night out.
If you’re unsure where to start, try Fifty-Fifty on rue Corvetto in the 8th arrondissement, a classic consignment shop with a rotating stock of cheap designer labels.
Activities
You can easily keep to your budget by enjoying the many cheap activities in Paris. Skip the guided tour this summer and instead spend your day strolling the streets of Paris, imagining yourself in an Angès Varda film as you window shop and eat a deliciously melting ice cream. Walking is, of course, the best and cheapest way to see Paris, but if you need to get across town quickly, the Metro is a great cheap transportation option in Paris.
There are plenty of free activities in Paris, too. A number of the city’s museums are always free, including Notre Dame Cathedral, Maison de Victor Hugo, Musée Curie, Maison de Balzac and Musée Carnavalet. If you hit a good weather day, other free activities will keep you outdoors for free, such as a stroll around Versailles Gardens, a walk along the Seine or a trip up the steps of the Sacré Coeur.
Tags: Activities, France, Hotels, Low budget, Paris, Shopping, Travel tips
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