by Paris is not recognized as a budget travel destination and yet the city is full of sights, activities and experiences that don’t cost a fortune. sou (former French coin). From riverside beaches and picnics at Canal Saint-Martin, to watching footballers do ‘holding uppies’ while you sunset with a bottle of wine at the Sacré-Cœur – you just need to know where to go look.
Below our expert shares her guide to the best free things to do in Paris, and for more inspiration, check out our guides dedicated to the best hotels, restaurants, bars, nightlife in the capital of France, things to do and shop, and how to spend a weekend. in Paris.
Sunbathe on Paris Paris
If you’re visiting the city during the summer months head to Paris Plages, the popular ‘beaches’ (with deck chairs and ice cream vendors) that line the banks of the Seine and Basin de la Villette from mid-July to August . The attraction, now more than twenty years old, offers more every year – recently overheated city dwellers had the opportunity to swim for the first time in the Bassin de la Villette. Without spending a penny you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of lazy pétanque games and cool off under the huge cold air showers.
Contact: parisinfo.com
Nearest Metro: Hôtel de Ville (lines 1 and 11); Riquet (line 7)
Take a walk on the disused railway tracks
One of the best hidden curiosities in Paris – even for Paris. La Petite Ceinture or ‘little belt’ is an abandoned railway line that once surrounded Paris within Napoleon’s Boulevards des Maréchaux. In use since 1934, the first part has been reopened to the public and can now be explored in four of the arrondissements outside the city. It is an unlikely pocket of biodiversity, with an abundance of wild flowers, contrasting pleasantly with the industrial bareness of the old tracks. There is also an amazing number of plant and animal species, from foxes to bumble bees.
Contact: parisinfo.com
Hang out with local artists in squat for a while
This former squat, now a protected non-profit space, is located on Rue de Rivoli between the Louvre and the Châtelet. There are 30 artist studios on six levels and the public is invited to join the workshops six days a week. There are several permanent studios and rotating spaces, so you will see a wide range of art – from sculpture, to colorful collages, photography or more traditional portraiture. This is a great opportunity to get a glimpse of the art scene in Paris, but you should also be respectful: say ‘bonjour’ and ask before taking pictures of the artists’ work.
Contact: 59rivoli.org
Nearest Metro: Châtelet (lines 1, 4, 7, 11, 14)
Browse the riverside book stalls
The distinctive green metal boxes of the riverside ‘bouquinistes’, or book sellers, are truly Parisian icons (recognized as a Unesco World Heritage site). The state decided the placement of the stands in the 19th century and today there are only 240 designated vendors. Check out the quirky selection of yellow-page novels, retro fashion magazines and back issues of Tintin, accompanied by tourist trinkets and postcards over the years. Wandering along these stalls is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon, a picturesque route that leads to Notre-Dame.
Contact: parisinfo.com
Have a picnic by the canal
Mix in with young, trendy types and drink in the beautiful view with a picnic on the Canal Saint-Martin. As soon as the sun arrives in Spring, you will see the locals lining the sides of the canal by bridges (immortalized in Amélie), sipping beer and eating picnic food bought in one of the nearby supermarkets. This is a great way to start a balmy spring-summer evening and you always have the option of moving on to the lively bars of the area afterwards. The canal is car free on Sundays, so this is a great time to go.
Nearest Metro: République (lines 3, 5, 8, 9, 11) Goncourt (line 11), Jacques Bonsergent (line 5)
Get a taste of noble Paris
One can walk in front of the grand doors of the Hôtel de Sully on Rue Saint-Antoine and have no idea of the magnificent courtyards within. This exquisite Louis XIII-style hotel, formerly owned by the Sully family, dates from the 17th century, when the Marais was the place to be for the French aristocracy. Look out for the ornate carvings on the facade, including allegorical figures depicting the seasons and the elements. Stop to listen to the birdsong in the tranquil gardens before heading to the stunning Place des Vosges (another great spot for a picnic).
Contact: hotel-de-sully.fr
Nearest Metro: Saint Paul (line 1)
Soak in the atmosphere on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur
On a summer evening, splurge on a €6 (£5) bottle of wine from the supermarket (which will buy you a decent bottle) and head to the steps of the Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre hill. There’s always some kind of street entertainment going on here, from fire fighters, buskers strumming guitar covers and footballers making amazing condoms. If you go here in the evening, the atmosphere is lively but generally friendly, but as with any densely packed city spot, you should be careful to keep your belongings and valuables close.
Contact: holy-coeur-montmartre.com
Nearest Metro: Anvers (Line 2), then take the funicular or take the stairs; Abbesses (line 12)
Explore a hidden ‘country village’ in Paris
La Campagne à Paris (The Countryside in Paris) may be one of the best kept secrets in the French capital. The small village, located on top of a small hill in the untouristy 20th arrondissement, consists of 92 very quaint houses. The area, which is only a few minutes from the ring road of Paris ‘Périphérique’, is a bucolic enclave of window boxes, wisteria and pastel colours. The village was founded as a cooperative aimed at working families – today the houses are more expensive. Finish your trip with a trip to the nearby cultural spots La Bellevilloise or La Maroquinerie.
Nearest Metro: Porte de Bagnolet (line 3)
Discover the most underrated church in the city
The massive Gothic church of Saint-Eustache that towers above the Les Halles-Montorgueil district on the Right Bank is the second largest church in Paris after Notre-Dame but receives only a fraction of the footfall. It is enough to visit its magnificent Gothic and vaulted nave with its Renaissance architectural details, but there is a stained glass dedicated to charcuterie and a tryptic by the New York artist Keith Haring. The churches also feature regular modern art installations and a sculpture depicting the last food market at nearby Les Halles, before it moved out to the suburbs.
Contact: saint-eustache.org
Nearest Metro: Les Halles (4,1,7,11,14)
Enjoy one of the city’s free fine art collections
Built in 1900 for the World’s Fair, along with its larger sister across the street and Pont Alexandre III, the Petit Palais is one of the few free permanent collections in Paris. The fine art museum includes ancient, medieval, French and Italian Renaissance and Flemish and Dutch paintings. The French collection includes Monet, Renoir, Delacroix Toulouse-Lautrec and many more. The Belle Époque building itself is worth a stay, with its huge galleries, large arched windows and painted domes. Take a moment to pause in the charming parsley courtyard garden.
Contact: petitpalais.paris.fr
Nearest Metro: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau (lines 1 and 13)
