Pairs: Named “The City of Love” by the greatest poets, writers, actors, & musicians who all found inspiration in the beauty of this mesmerizing city.
The flowers that hang at the sides of cobbled streets and the smell of freshly baked croissants drifting through the air are sure to make you fall in love, just like the millions that have visited this city before you.
From its stunning monuments and history-rich streets to its exceptional cuisine and museum culture, Paris is a destination unlike any other.
Whether you are a fan of history or the trendiest cafe, there will be something for you on this list. Let’s get into it.
(Stick around till the end for a full list of tips for visiting Paris without breaking the bank!)
What to Expect in Paris
Language: While some people may speak English or other European languages, French is by far the most commonly spoken language in the city.
Currency: Euro, the European currency. ATMs are easy to come by and many establishments will accept credit cards, though it is wise to carry cash as small retailers may not take cards.
Climate: In the Winter (November-February), daytime temperatures rarely get above 50 degree Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), but seeing Paris in the snow can add a whole new dimension to this lovely city. July-August are usually the hottest months of the year in Paris, averaging in the 70s (20-25 degrees Celsius).
Getting Around
Use the Metro Instead of Taking Taxis
The metro system in Paris is fast, efficient, inexpensive, and easy to follow. Instead of taking taxis and getting stuck in traffic, take the metro to save some time and money.
You can buy a weekly pass that goes from Monday to Sunday, or you can buy a 10-pack of tickets, which costs 30% less than buying them individually. All of the metro stations have automated machines in English to purchase tickets.
Consider a “Paris Visite” Travel Card
If you plan to spend a lot of time getting around via the Paris Metro, consider purchasing a “Paris Visite” Travel Card, which offers unlimited travel on the Metro and bus system.
Electric Scooters
Shared electric scooters have proliferated in Paris during the past few years. They’re everywhere now, with up to 40,000 on the streets of Paris. They’re a sensible addition to the city’s ecologically-sensitive transportation system, allowing people to travel around the city quickly and efficiently without using cars.
Numerous companies including Bird, dott, Lime-S, and more offer shared electric scooters via smartphone apps.
However, there has been a widespread misuse of them, traffic accidents, and even deaths, so the City of Paris has enacted safety regulations for their use.
Places to Visit in Paris
Paris is like an open-air museum. You can simply walk the streets and experience 2,200 years of history for free. Some of my favorite spots that I visited while in Paris include…
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe pays tribute to those who fought and died for France during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victors and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Between the two columns of the Arc de Triomphe is the tomb of the unknown soldier from WWI.
General admission is around 13 euros, but you only have to pay if you want to actually visit the inside of the museum and its terrace.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Notre-Dame Cathedral is the most famous of the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages and is distinguished for its size, antiquity, and architectural interest.
There is no entrance fee for this building, even if you want to climb to the top of the cathedral.
The Eiffel Tower
One of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. The tower was designed as the centerpiece of 1889 World’s Fair in Paris and was meant to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution and show off France’s modern mechanical process on a world stage.
Entrance fees may vary depending upon your age, the time of year that you are visiting, and the type of ticket you want. Eiffel tower ticket prices can be found here. Otherwise, you can meander around the parks and gardens surrounding the tower for free.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre is home to the Mona Lisa and many other of the world’s most famous pieces of artwork. The Louvre was originally a royal palace and since then has been converted into a public museum. Today, the Louvre’s collection is one of the richest in the world, with artwork and artifacts representative of 11,000 years of human civilization and culture.
Tickets purchased online cost 17 euros. Individuals under the age of 18 are free, as well as residents of the EEA who are under the age of 26.
Tuileries Garden
This is a public garden located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. The garden was originally one of the direct witnesses of the history or France: during the uprising of 1789, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette took refuge in the palace after the revolutionaries had taken them back to palace of Versailles.
The garden is open all day through the year and admission is free.
Tips for Visiting Paris Without Breaking the Bank
- Food/meals will be one of your biggest expenses when you’re in Paris
- You’ll find that cafes and shops are more expensive the closer they are to the main attractions such as the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triumph. Walk a few blocks from the main areas to find more authentic and less expensive establishments!
- Have your coffee at the counter (Typically, a coffee at the counter will cost 2.50 euros, and if you have it at a table, it will be 3.50 to 4 euros)
- Eat at cafes
- Have lunch as your main meal
- Drink wine instead of soft drinks (No seriously, when I ordered a wine for 5 euros and my husband ordered a Diet Coke for 6.50 euros, I was blown away)
- Don’t buy a museum pass (Most major museums in Paris have free admission the first Sunday of the month)
- Book museum or main-site tickets on their own websites
- Tipping in restaurants
- In France, your check will always include a ‘service charge,’ which translates to the tip. Restaurant workers in France are paid a full salary plus benefits, and do not have to rely on tips to make a living.
- Stay in an Airbnb instead of a hotel
- Avoid traveling in July or August as people from all over the world flock to Paris during these months, thus driving up the cost of everything from hotels to taxi fares.
A walk in Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life.
Thomas Jefferson
Paris is more than a place, it is a feeling. I get chills just thinking about it.
People told me Paris would be dirty. Where? People told me that the French were rude. Who? Looking back, I can’t tell you whether Paris was hot or cold. I can’t tell you if it rained. All I know is that I loved it.
I learned so much about this city’s history and culture during my short stay here, and this is definitely a place that I would love to visit again in the future.
Oh by the way, don’t forget to stop and get some macaroons!
Enlightened Escape 