Five of Paris's best-known spots — Notre-Dame's exterior, Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, the Luxembourg Gardens, the Champs-Élysées, and the Seine riverbanks — cost nothing to visit, and most of the paid attractions on this list run $15–$85 per person, from a Panthéon ticket to a full day trip to Versailles. The two splurges (a Loire Valley castle day trip and a Seine dinner cruise with live music) are the exceptions worth planning around. Here's the full breakdown, from what's free to where to stay.
🥐 Free Things to Do in Paris
Paris's most iconic streets and green spaces don't cost a thing to see.
1. Notre-Dame Cathedral & Île de la Cité — FREE
Paris's most famous cathedral reopened to the public after its long restoration, and general entry is free — arrive early or book a free timed slot online to avoid the longest lines. The surrounding Île de la Cité is free to wander any time.
2. Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur — FREE
Cobblestone streets, artists' squares, and the white-domed Sacré-Cœur Basilica atop the hill — the neighborhood and the basilica's main entrance are both free (only the dome climb charges admission). Come early morning or evening for the best light and fewer crowds.
3. Luxembourg Gardens — FREE
Paris's most elegant public garden, with manicured lawns, a central pond, and views of the Luxembourg Palace — free to enter and a favorite spot for a picnic or a break between sights.
4. Champs-Élysées — FREE
The grand avenue running from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe — free to walk, lined with shops, cafés, and theaters. The Arc de Triomphe itself has a separate admission fee if you want to go up.
5. Seine Riverbanks & Pont Alexandre III — FREE
An evening walk along the Seine, past Pont Alexandre III's gilded lamps and statues, is one of the best free things to do in Paris — especially at sunset when the bridges light up.
💰 Best Budget-Friendly Activities
Beyond the free gardens and boulevards, these are Paris's best-reviewed budget-friendly attractions and tours.
6. Musée de l'Orangerie Reserved Entrance Ticket — From $15
Home to Monet's enormous Water Lilies murals, displayed in oval rooms designed specifically for them — smaller and far less crowded than the Louvre, and a favorite of art lovers.
Book Musée de l'Orangerie on GetYourGuide
7. Panthéon Admission Ticket — From $15
A domed neoclassical monument and mausoleum for some of France's most celebrated figures, including Voltaire, Marie Curie, and Victor Hugo — one of the best-value paid attractions in the city.
8. Arc de Triomphe Rooftop Tickets — From $18
Climb to the top of Napoleon's triumphal arch for one of the best panoramic views in Paris, looking straight down the Champs-Élysées — consistently one of the most-booked tickets in the city.
Book Arc de Triomphe on GetYourGuide
9. 1-Hour Seine Cruise Departing from the Eiffel Tower — From $18
A classic boat cruise along the Seine, passing Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and Musée d'Orsay — a relaxed way to see many of Paris's landmarks from the water in a single hour.
Book Seine Cruise on GetYourGuide
10. Napoleon's Tomb & Army Museum Entry — From $19
Napoleon's monumental red-stone tomb sits beneath the golden dome of Les Invalides, surrounded by one of the world's largest military history museums.
Book Napoleon's Tomb on GetYourGuide
11. Palais Garnier Self-Guided Tour — From $29
The opulent 19th-century opera house that inspired The Phantom of the Opera — self-guided entry lets you explore the grand staircase and auditorium at your own pace.
Book Palais Garnier on GetYourGuide
12. Sainte-Chapelle Reserved Entrance Ticket — From $29
A Gothic chapel on Île de la Cité famous for its floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows — smaller and quicker to visit than Notre-Dame, but just as visually stunning.
Book Sainte-Chapelle on Viator
13. Eiffel Tower Entry Ticket with Optional Summit Access — From $43
Paris's defining landmark — book ahead for a timed-entry slot, since walk-up lines can run hours long, especially in peak season.
14. Louvre Highlights & Mona Lisa Guided Tour with Reserved Access — From $52
Skip the ticket line and let a guide walk you straight to the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the museum's other must-sees — the Louvre is enormous, and a guided highlights tour is the most efficient way to see the essentials.
Book Louvre Highlights Tour on Viator
15. Versailles Palace & Gardens Tour from Paris — From $75
The palace of French kings, with the Hall of Mirrors and vast formal gardens just outside Paris — an easy day trip and one of the most popular excursions in all of France.
Book Versailles Tour on Viator
16. Giverny Small-Group Half-Day Tour with Monet's Gardens — From $85
A half-day trip to Claude Monet's house and gardens in Giverny, the inspiration for his water lily paintings — a peaceful escape from the city, especially in spring and summer bloom.
Book Giverny Half-Day Trip on GetYourGuide
👑 Splurge Picks — Worth Every Penny
These two cost more than everything else on this list — and they're still worth the money.
17. Loire Valley Castles Day Trip from Paris with Complimentary Wine — From $127
A full-day trip from Paris to the Loire Valley's storybook châteaux, with wine included along the way — one of the best-reviewed day trips out of the city for anyone who wants to see beyond Paris itself.
Book Loire Valley Castles Day Trip
18. 3-Course Dinner Cruise on the Seine with Live Music — From $131
A leisurely dinner cruise along the Seine with a full 3-course meal and live music on board — a step up from the standard sightseeing cruise, and a memorable way to see the city's lit-up landmarks at night.
Book Seine Dinner Cruise on GetYourGuide
🥖 Where to Eat in Paris (Budget-Friendly & Iconic)
Paris's food scene runs from quick bakery counters to century-old cafés.
⭐ Budget-Friendly Eats
- Du Pain et des Idées — an acclaimed bakery near Canal Saint-Martin, famous for its escargot pastries and pain des amis loaf.
- L'As du Fallafel — a Marais institution for falafel, often with a line out the door that moves fast.
- Breizh Café — Breton-style crêpes and galettes, a step up from tourist-trap crêpe stands at a similar price.
- Berthillon — one of Paris's most famous ice cream makers, on Île Saint-Louis.
☕ Paris Favorites
- Café de Flore — a historic Left Bank café once frequented by Sartre and Hemingway — pricier, but a genuine Paris institution worth the splurge for a coffee.
- Les Deux Magots — Café de Flore's equally famous neighbor, with the same literary history and sidewalk people-watching.
- Pierre Hermé — widely considered Paris's best macarons, worth seeking out over the more touristy options.
🏨 Where to Stay in Paris (Budget-Friendly)
Staying a short metro ride from the center, rather than directly beside the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, can cut your lodging cost significantly without adding much travel time.
Best Budget Areas
- Latin Quarter (5th Arrondissement) — Best for: a central, walkable base near Notre-Dame and the Panthéon, with plenty of budget-friendly bistros.
- Montmartre (18th Arrondissement) — Best for: charm and lower rates than central Paris, a short metro ride from the main sights.
- Bastille / Oberkampf (11th Arrondissement) — Best for: a trendy, local feel with good nightlife, still well-connected by metro.
- Batignolles (17th Arrondissement) — Best for: a quieter residential neighborhood with some of the lowest rates well-connected to the center.
📅 5-Day Paris Itinerary
- Day 1: Eiffel Tower, Seine cruise, Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe in the evening
- Day 2: Louvre highlights tour, Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité
- Day 3: Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur, Palais Garnier, Musée de l'Orangerie
- Day 4 — Choose one full day trip: Versailles Palace & Gardens, the Giverny half-day trip to Monet's gardens, or the Loire Valley Castles day trip
- Day 5: Luxembourg Gardens, Seine dinner cruise with live music that evening, depart
🚇 Getting Around Paris
- Paris's metro is extensive and easy to use — most sights in this guide are within a short walk of a metro station.
- Central Paris is very walkable, and many of the best sights (Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Louvre) are within a comfortable walk of each other.
- The RER regional train connects Paris to day trips like Versailles; Giverny requires a train plus a short bus or taxi connection.
- A multi-day transit pass is worth it if you're using the metro several times a day rather than buying single tickets.
- Both Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY) airports connect to the city center by train, which is faster and cheaper than a taxi.
💡 Final Tips for Visiting Paris on a Budget
- Book the Eiffel Tower and Louvre online well in advance — both are among the most-visited sites in the world and sell out same-day.
- Many national museums are free on the first Sunday of the month — check current schedules before you go.
- Visit major sights early morning or near closing time to avoid the worst of the midday crowds.
- April–June and September–October offer milder weather and lower prices than the peak summer months.
- Many of Paris's best experiences — Montmartre, the Seine riverbanks, and the Luxembourg Gardens — are completely free.
- Buy metro tickets in a carnet (pack of 10) for a lower per-ride cost than single tickets.