Sightseeing in Paris: Budget Travel Guide

Paris is so saturated with museums, monuments and historical landmarks that it’s difficult to know where to begin planning. But once you’ve booked your airfare and secured a good price on a Paris hotel, it’s time to start thinking about the fun stuff. For those looking to save some euros, one place to begin your » Read more

An old train station built for the 1900s World Fair, the Musée d’Orsay became the city’s premier museum for Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art when it opened in 1986. It’s the place to see all of the French art that you know so well: Monet, Seurat, Cezanne, etc. Far from a secret spot, everyone loves flocking » Read more

While arguably the most recognized monument in the world, the Eiffel Tower hardly survived the 1889 World’s Fair. Few tourists today realize that, as the tower was constructed for the event, the city planned to tear down the tower in the days following the fair. Good thing that they never got around to it, because » Read more

The most visited museum in the world boasts more than a few masterpieces. With over 35,000 pieces of art on display and a crush of visitors six days a week, the Louvre is anything but quaint and calming. It can easily be one of the most exhausting experiences possible in Paris — even if it is » Read more

There’s a nip in the air, but with Christmas right around the corner, Paris always seems to shine a bit brighter during the holiday season. But all those extra bobbles and balls do not mean you can’t still find some affordable cheer around town. It’s not too late to book one of the best cheap » Read more

This year is packed with great reasons to visit Paris, including world-class art retrospectives, free outdoor festivals, and grand “salons” that celebrate everything from chocolates to vintage clothing. Best of all for budget travelers, many of these events are absolutely free! While you never really need any reason to visit, we thought we’d put together » Read more

Looking for something off the beaten path to add to your Paris itinerary? Easily accessible via public transportation from the city center, the surrounding region of Ile de France offers some interesting nooks and crannies relatively untouched by tourist crowds. With many appealing places only 20 to 40 minutes away from the center of Paris, » Read more

Visiting Paris on a budget is sort of our thing, and if we haven’t made it clear, it’s fairly easy to do. The city is trying to make it even easier with the new Paris Passlib’, an expanded visitor card that promises a lot – but does it really deliver? Let’s break down the pass, » Read more

Whether you are tracing the steps of artists like Van Gogh and Picasso, reliving iconic scenes from the film Amélie, or searching for an unbeatable view of Paris from the Sacre Coeur basilica, Montmartre is a must for any visit. Incorporated into the city of Paris in the late 19th century, Montmartre was a district » Read more

If you’re thinking of paying for a private walking tour in Paris, the choices can be overwhelming. Websites like TripAdvisor can be helpful, but they can also feel like a mess of one food/photo/history tour after another. How can you even tell where to begin? We’re here to help, with a round-up of private tours » Read more

Good news for fans of European vacations and French museums. Some of the biggest attractions in and around Paris have just announced that they will be extending their opening hours to seven days a week for a two-year trial. Starting in 2015 and running through 2017, The Louvre, the Palace of Versailles and Musée d’Orsay will » Read more

Paris has 20 arrondissements, and there is at least one reason to visit each. Well, sometimes there’s only one… But the 12th, to the east of the city and on the Right Bank (north of the river), is one of the lesser-visited districts that still has plenty of reasons to spend a day. You don’t » Read more

Disneyland Paris—the words that strike fear in so many, and joy in so many others. I’ve been there. And I’d go again. But is it really worth leaving Paris to visit? Before you start rolling your eyes, know that in 2013, nearly 15 million visitors thought it was worth it to make the trip. So » Read more

Travelers are spoiled when there is constant sunshine in Paris, but when the weather turns to rain complete with lightning strikes, it gives a new meaning to the name “City of Light.” Walking or biking around Paris, however, can become a drag when the sky opens up and even the most prepared tourist may be » Read more

While the Right Bank has the Tuilieries Gardens, the Left Bank has two major green areas: The Jardin des Plantes and the Jardin du Luxembourg. The latter is the most visited and a must-see for those looking to get a taste for the pruning prowess of the French. Marie de Medici’s home in Paris, the » Read more

While you’re on the beaten path in Paris, it’s best to know when you can hit it while it’s the least crowded. Maximize your sightseeing time with a few easy tips on when to visit the city’s most popular landmarks. Louvre Visit late on Wednesdays or Fridays If you must, go on Wednesday or Friday » Read more

Editor’s Note: Notre Dame is closed due to the 2019 fire. Read our article about finding hope amid the damage. For an 850-year old church, this Paris must-see attraction still looks pretty good. So good in fact, the crowds keep on coming to Notre Dame. It’s amazing that daily religious masses still happen here with » Read more

When I lived in Paris a few years back, I always planned to check out the Roland Garros tennis complex. Unfortunately, studying for finals ended up getting in the way and I never made it out. So when I finally visited last week, I was happy to address this unfinished business. You might wonder why » Read more

As a Cheapo expert on hostels and study abroad – and being in the concerned age bracket myself – I was ecstatic to receive an invitation from Atout France USA to participate in a trip promoting youth travel in France. I was also a bit overwhelmed — I found out about the trip (to Paris » Read more

We’ve already given you some ideas on how to stay cool outdoors when Paris heats up. But when Paris on fire and you need a break from the stifling weather, sometimes it’s hard to know where to seek refuge in a town where the temperatures are usually mild enough to make air conditioning optional. Here » Read more

For those who have been to Paris and feel like they’ve seen it all, head to the city’s 20th arrondissement for a change of pace. While not necessarily an “it” place to go, it’s just this lack of luster that makes it appeal to locals as a place to live and hang out. To see: » Read more

This film-loving city in the land where cinema was invented is home to a handful of state-subsidized cultural institutions dedicated to preserving the history of French film and document the city’s past and present. Open to the public, these collections offer an inexpensive, entertaining way to revisit classic films and get some perspective on Paris » Read more

Every year since 2006, the sprawling plaza in front of Paris’ city hall has been transformed into an ephemeral garden, offering a shock of verdant relief in the heart of this eternally gray city. The Paris municipal crew responsible for maintaining the city’s 480 gardens, 20 cemeteries and the 100,000 trees lining its avenues and » Read more

With its world class museums, Paris is a veritable feast for art lovers. If you’re planning on spending some of your time in the French capital soaking up all that glorious artwork on display, then it’s worth planning on how to get the most out of it. The majority of the city’s museums charge an » Read more

There is a certain, almost voyeuristic charm to taking the buses in Paris. While plenty of tourist buses pack visitors in and offer them headsets to learn about the history of the major monuments, why not opt for a more local soundtrack? If nothing else, at €1.80 a ticket, riding the public buses is definitely » Read more