Paris and affordable are not two words that you would typically put in the same sentence. And while splurging in Paris can certainly be fun, we wanted to see how much we could achieve in 3 days on the cheap. Normally, we save money by not eating out that much on vacation, but when you’re in the world’s best eating city you reallocate the budget – less activities and more food!
Although they are not free like the Smithsonian museums, they’re relatively inexpensive and worth every euro to see the world’s masterpieces. Paris’s Arrondissements or neighborhoods are vast and encircle the heart of the city centered around the Seine River. We found a 3 star hotel in the 8th Arrondissement as part of a flight and hotel deal on Expedia. By packaging the two together we were able to get a nice savings that we could pocket or spend on food. The location of the hotel put us within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay and Musee du Louvre, Notre Dame as well as St. Germain and Latin Quarter neighborhoods.
Unfortunately, the Paris metro wasn’t running the weekend that we visited due to ongoing labor strikes – something very common in France. As it turned out we didn’t need it, as there is so much to see just walking along the Seine. We walked everywhere including out to dinner. By exploring the city this way, you uncover some fantastic spots that you might otherwise not see. For example, we had to kill a little time before dinner one evening so we stopped into a hotel bar only to find out that a famous fashion show was going on and started talking up people in that world. Who knows, I could’ve been sharing drinks with Yves St. Lauren or Estee Lauder!
Walking to our restaurants brought us by places not necessarily on our itinerary like Elysee Palace and the Ministry of Interior, adding to the allure of Paris. Eating breakfast at Eggs & Co. gave us a taste for the St. Germain area and we strolled by an outdoor exhibit that had floating umbrellas and pieces of furniture as works of art. These are things not necessarily in someone’s travel planner but are uncovered by just getting out and exploring new areas.
For a daily budget of $75 per person we were able to see the museums, eat each meal out and have a lifetime of memories. Here’s the itinerary of our trip.
Day 1
- Arrive early and metro or taxi into your hotel. Walk along the Seine and see the Musee du Louvre and maybe the Musee de l’Orangerie. Say hi to Mona Lisa and other famous works of art. See if Robert Langdon is in the house.
- Eat lunch by the Louvre and enjoy a bottle of wine. Return to hotel to sleep off jet lag. Wake around 6 to leave for dinner.
- Walk across Champ D’Elysee, see Arc de Triomphe lit up at night and find a bistro to eat dinner. We recommend Oliva if you are heading into the 1st Arrondissement.
- Enjoy an evening stroll back to hotel. Watch Eiffel Tower light show from Pont Alexandre III.
Day 2
- Walk along Seine River to Musee d’Orsay and see some of the finest Impressionist pieces of Monet, manet and Renoir.
- Head over to Eiffel Tower for the afternoon and enjoy a bottle of wine in the Champ du Mars park at the foot of the tower.
- Head back to hotel for a rest and to get ready for an evening out.
- Walk to Café Sud for an excellent dinner with jazz music and catch the Eiffel Tower light show from one of the bridges on the Seine– why not?! When are you going to see this again?
Day 3
- Wake up and head to Paris St. Germain (PSG) for a big breakfast at Eggs & Co.
- Walk around all the shops in PSG and check out Le Jardin du Luxemborg
- Head back to Seine and walk around Notre Dame. The renovations going on are impressive to learn about and the city has provided an extensive mural detailing the destruction of the 2019 fire and efforts to restore the cathedral.
- Gather luggage at hotel and fly home.
Gina and I walked nearly 10 miles a day in Paris and although our feet paid the price our wallets didn’t, and our stomachs were greatly satisfied!
France officially opened on June 9th to vaccinated American tourists with proof of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours. We recommend considering these 6 things before booking your trip to be sure you can fully experience your time in Paris!
Have questions about what to do in Paris? Ask it in the comments or e-mail us for more information on how you can plan a cheap but memorable trip to Paris.
