Last Spring, Dan and I spent nearly three weeks in Paris, France. Typically our trip itineraries are much more compact and efficient — rarely do we spend more than a few days in any given city — so having this much time to explore was somewhat unfamiliar.
Paris is also a fairly expensive place to visit as a tourist, so we tried to space out our biggest expenses (museums, fancy dinners, and of course Disneyland Paris). This left us with a lot of in-between time to fill with free or low-cost activities. So I put together a list based on friends’ advice and other blog posts and set out crossing them off one by one.
In this post I’ll share with you 10 of my favorite things we did in Paris that didn’t cost us a cent!
1. Window shop at Passage des Panoramas
Paris is of course well-known for it’s shopping, but if you’re not looking to spend too much money and are more interested in window shopping, the many covered passageways scattered throughout the city are a fun alternative. Our favorite was the Passage des Panoramas in the 2nd arrondissement. Built in 1799, it’s considered to be the oldest passage in Paris and one of the first in all of Europe.
The shopping corridor is a nice mix of restaurants, artisan shops, and antique stores selling everything from vintage stamps and postcards to collectible coins and other memorabilia. It’s a great way to spend an hour or two and is an especially good rainy day activity.
Recommendation: Stop for lunch at restaurant Canard & Champagne, which has a pared down menu of duck entrees and champagne pairings. Their food is delicious, and their semi-outdoor seating in the Passage des Panoramas makes for a fun dining experience.
2. Admire the Art Nouveau interior of the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Paris is the birthplace of the modern-day department store. One of its oldest and most famous is the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. The store was built opened in 1912 toward the end of the Art Nouveau era, and its interior still boasts many of its original details, most notably the spectacular stained glass cupola in the store’s central atrium.
As an added bonus, there’s also a great view from the department store’s roof! Head to La Terrasse on the 7th Floor for an excellent view of the nearby Garnier Opera House as well as an unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower. While technically free to visit and not explicitly patrons-only, there is an expectation that you’ll purchase something from the restaurant or bar before occupying the terrace.
Recommendation: Since you’re near the Opera House, you’re also within striking distance of one of the best cookies in Paris. Head to the metro stop in front of the Opera, walk downstairs, and just inside the station is a rather unassuming shop called Millie’s Cookies. Definitely go for the raspberry white chocolate — trust me, they are delicious!
3. Picnic at Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
If the weather is warm and the sun is out, do as the French do: pack a picnic and head to the park! Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a beautiful, hilly and sprawling park in the north-east part of the city in the 19th arrondissement. There is a surprising gain in elevation within the park, which makes for some nice views of the city, especially Montmartre and Sacre Coeur.
Aside from the views at the higher elevations, you’ll also find waterfalls, streams, caves and a lake in this 61-acre park. The lower portion of the park has a number of rides and attractions for children as well as concession stands selling ice cream cones and other treats. There are also three restaurants in the park: Pavillon du Lac, Pavillon Puebla, and Rosa Bonheur. There is plenty to keep you occupied here for the better part of a day if you have the time.
4. Stroll along the Coulée verte René-Dumont
You may have heard of the High Line Park in New York City, a park built atop abandoned elevated railway lines in the middle of the city. Well, Paris has it’s own version, called the Coulée verte René-Dumont. In fact, this elevated green space has been a favorite park of Paris’ 12th arrondissement since its inauguration in 1993, which precedes NY’s High Line by 11 years.
The Coulée verte René-Dumont is around 4.7 km (2.9 mi) in length and takes around an hour to walk from one end to the other. The linear park is beautifully landscaped with a number of framed views down some lovely residential streets.
Recommendation: Take a break at one of the many benches along the pathway or at the peaceful reflecting pool. If it’s a nice day, bring along a blanket to sunbathe on the lawn at the eastern end of the park.
5. Pay your respects to famous artists at Montmartre Cemetery
It may seem like an odd addition to the list, but I personally enjoy the occasional stroll through an old cemetery when traveling in a foreign country, especially one as serene and historic as the Montmartre Cemetery.
As its name implies, the cemetery is located at the base of Montmartre Hill, so many of the neighborhood’s famous artist residents are buried here, including Degas, Heinrich Heine, Berlioz, Alexander Dumas, and Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone. The cemetery opened in 1825 and is now filled with gravesites and mausoleums, many of which have fallen into disrepair with time.
Recommendation: Keep an eye out for the gang of feral cats that roam the cemetery, keeping watch over its inhabitants.
6. Explore Saint-Louis Island
Often overlooked by tourists due to its more famous neighbor (Île de la Cité), Île Saint-Louis is a delightful little island in the Seine River that’s fun to explore. This small island is a bite-size version of Parisian life and is considered one of the most authentic 17th- and 18th-century neighborhoods left in Paris. Its narrow streets and slower pace provide a peaceful oasis from the hustle and bustle of surrounding the city center.
The island is perhaps most well-known for its famous ice cream shop, Berthillon Glacier, but there’s more to do than eat ice cream (although it does come highly recommended). If you’re into Mucha-style Art Nouveau prints, there’s a great shop along the main street called Ile aux Images. Also be sure to step inside the Île Saint-Louis Catholic Church — its unassuming from the street but beautiful inside, and you’re likely to have the place to yourself.
Recommendation: Pack a picnic and bottle of wine and head for Quai de la Tournelle, which is just across the Pont de la Tournelle bridge. Grab a spot along the Seine and enjoy one of the best views of Notre Dame!
7. Stop and smell the roses at the Jardin des Plantes
On the left bank in the 5th arrondissement is the Jardin des Plantes, the royal botanical gardens of Paris. While entry into the museum, zoo, and greenhouses require visitors to purchase a ticket, much of the grounds is open to the public. The free portion of the Jardin des Plantes includes a rose garden, alpine garden, a labyrinth, and a grand path lined with trees planted in 1734.
Recommendation: If you’re interested in visiting one of the natural history museums that lines the garden, we enjoyed our visit to the Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy. Even though all of the information is in French, a visit to this museum is more about the experience. It feels as though everything is just as it was when the museum first opened in 1898.
If you’re traveling with kids, the Ménagerie zoo may be worth a visit — it dates back to 1794 and is one of the oldest in the world.
8. Take in the view from the steps of Sacre Coeur
The Sacre Coeur Basilica sits atop the steep Montmartre Hill and is visible from nearly every point in Paris. Locals and tourists alike flock to the stairs in front of the Basilica for the view, both day and night. It’s a lively scene complete with a variety of street performers and an excellent place to people watch. Buy a Heineken from one of the street vendors (technically not free, but it only costs a couple of Euro), or if Heineken isn’t your thing, bring along a bottle of wine and enjoy one of the best views in Paris!
Sacre Coeur is located in Montmartre, which is the really cool, albeit touristy, neighborhood atop Montmartre Hill. You can avoid the steep hike up to the basilica by taking the tram, but be sure to take your time walking back down, meandering through the narrow alleyways of Montmartre while trying to spot some of the former homes of the neighborhood’s many famous artist residents.
Recommendation: If you’re looking for a cocktail with an even more spectacular view, head to Hôtel Particulier.
9. Squeeze through the narrow stacks at Shakespeare and Company
Shakespeare and Company is a Parisian institution. The original store by the same name was a gathering place for then-aspiring writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and James Joyce. The shop was closed in 1941 during the German occupation of Paris, but another shop by the same name was eventually opened again in 1951. At the new shop, aspiring writers are given a place to stay in exchange for working at the store; it’s said that nearly 30,000 people have slept between the bookshelves since 1951.
The stacks are quite narrow, so there’s a one-in-one-out policy to keep things moving. There are also no photographs allowed inside, which is for the best I think since you really need to experience the chaos (or I suppose, ordered chaos) first hand.
Recommendation: If you end up purchasing a book, be sure to have it inscribed with the official Shakespeare and Company stamp. They’ll also give your book a spritz of perfume for free.
10. Browse the morning plant market at Ensign Blanc
Every morning the square near Notre Dame, called Ensign Blanc, transforms into an outdoor plant market. You can easily spend an hour or two simply wandering from stall to stall, which sell mostly plants and flowers but also gardening tools and supplies, and various other household decorations and souvenirs.
Recommendation: The plant market is near Notre Dame, so it’s a great activity to occupy your time as you wait for your time entry into the cathedral, which is also free to visit.
Lexie
January 8, 2019 at 9:33 pmI am going to Paris in March! Definitely adding a few of these to our itinerary!
Alison Macbeth
January 10, 2019 at 1:49 pmNice! I bet the flowers are already blooming in March (I know they are here in Holland). Let me know if you need any other recs 🙂 Hope you have a blast!