In Paris, the best things are free

Paris seduces even the budget-conscious traveler: strolling its parks, churches, and streets costs nothing, yet delivers an unrivaled cultural feast. In this Paris itinerary for first-time visitors, every corner holds beauty and history — often at no price. From grand vistas to tucked-away follies, Paris offers free things to do in Paris that are rich in art, nature, and tradition. This guide combines sweeping historical context with practical tips and timely details, showing how to enjoy budget Paris travel without missing the city’s glamour.

Iconic Landmarks and Views (at No Cost)

Paris’s greatest sights often cost nothing. Start on Île de la Cité, where Notre-Dame’s façade and the square by Saint-Étienne-du-Mont are free to explore. (The cathedral’s ongoing restoration means you can’t enter, but the historic plaza and crypt are open without charge.) A short walk takes you to the Shakespeare & Company bookstore, a literary haunt by the Seine. Cross the river to Place du Châtelet or Quai de l’Hôtel de Ville for classic views down the Seine. Nearby, the elegant Pont Neuf and the modern Pont des Arts footbridge span the river free of crowds.

On the Left Bank, climb up to Montmartre (via métro + funicular or on foot) for its bohemian charm and sweeping panoramas. From the terrace of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (the church interior is free to enter) you are 129 m above the city. Parisians and visitors alike linger on the steps and plaza at sundown, soaking in that view of the Eiffel Tower and Paris rooftops. (If you do pay, the Dome view atop Sacré-Cœur is another €6 for an even higher vantage.)

West of the river, free vistas abound. The Champs de Mars park gives a green foreground to the Eiffel Tower (though climbing it costs a ticket). Just across, the Trocadéro Gardens atop its slabs and fountains are perfect for photos of the tower (and still free). Further north, the huge Bois de Boulogne park invites exploration: sprawling lakes and wooded paths host Parisians rowing boats and walking dogs. (Its famous Jardin d’Acclimatation rides cost money, but entry to the park itself never does.)

The Petit Palais (above) is a city-run fine arts museum on the Champs-Élysées that is always free. Its beaux-arts facade itself – built for the 1900 World’s Fair – is a sight, and inside you’ll find collections of Renaissance, Baroque and Impressionist art. Many city-run museums like this offer art, architecture, and history without an entry fee.

Panoramic rooftops: For free 360° views, try department store rooftops. The Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann has a rooftop terrace open daily (9:30 am–7:30 pm) with vistas of the Opera and distant Eiffel Tower. So does the Printemps Haussmann’s 7ᵉ Ciel terrace, open free during store hours. For a more local scene, take the stairs to the top of Le Panthéon in the Latin Quarter (open April–October). The climb is 206 steps, but the reward is 360° Paris from Montparnasse tower to Sacré-Cœur. (Admission is only €3.50, but free for EU under-26s.) And don’t miss the free terrace at the Institut du Monde Arabe (near Notre-Dame): it offers a panoramic terrace with a sublime view over Paris.

Gardens and Green Spaces (the Parisian Backyard)

Paris’s gardens are world-famous – and almost all are free. The Jardin du Luxembourg (6ᵉ arrondissement) is a 23-hectare marvel created by Marie de Médicis in 1612. Manhattanites kite-flying or Parisians sailing toy boats in its grande basin, you can roam under 106 statues, the Medici Fountain, and chestnut-tree groves at no cost. Similarly, the Tuileries Garden (1ʳᵉ arrondissement) – lined by the Louvre and Place de la Concorde – was laid out by Le Nôtre in the 1660s and is absolutely free to wander. It spans 30 ha with fountains, hedges and open lawns for picnics. (In summer a small funfair – the Jardin des Tuileries Festival – adds rides and snacks.)

North of the Seine, Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes are each massive woodland parks (846 ha and 995 ha, respectively) that feel worlds away from the city streets. Both are free and open late. In Vincennes, look for the Chinese garden and open-air sports; in Boulogne, check out Lac Inférieur and even a faux-Chalet restaurant reached by boat – though the boat costs money. (This park is free and doesn’t close, but stay clear of isolated areas after dark.)

Closer in, charming urban parks include Parc Monceau (8ᵉ) with its follies and statues, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (19ᵉ) with its Temple de la Sibylle atop a rocky island, and Parc de Belleville (20ᵉ) with its terraced hilltop views. From Belleville you get a wonderful panoramic photo of Paris (including the Eiffel Tower) for free. In Buttes-Chaumont, climb to the rocky promontory – even modest-level exercise – for a temple view of Sacré-Cœur. All these parks, like Luxembourg and Tuileries, are absolutely free to enter and are crisscrossed by trails and lawns perfect for daydreaming.

Smaller green spaces also delight. The green Square du Vert-Galant at Île de la Cité’s western tip offers short Seine-front rest. The Palais-Royal Garden (1ʳᵉ), with its striped Column of Buren and arcades, is free and historically a favorite of writers and aristocrats (the Comédie-Française overlooks its arcade). Don’t miss Paris Plages in summer (mid-July to end-August): the banks of the Seine and Bassin de la Villette are lined with sand, palm trees, chairs and free concerts for this city “beach.” In winter and holidays, free street decorations and store illuminations (especially on Champs-Élysées and Boulevard Haussmann) light up the city for any wanderer.

Museums and Culture on a Budget

Paris is rich in museums – and many are free or free at times. Most city-run museums (Musées municipaux) have no entrance fee. These include gems like the Musée Bourdelle (former sculptor’s studio), Musée Carnavalet (history of Paris), Musée Cognacq-Jay (18th-century art), Musée Cernuschi (Asian art), Petit Palais (fine arts), Musée d’Art Moderne at Palais de Tokyo, Maison de Balzac (Balzac’s home), Maison de Victor Hugo in the Marais, and Musée de la Libération de Paris. For example, in the airy Petit Palais you can sip coffee in the courtyard after gazing at Impressionists and Renaissance masters. And in the Musée Bourdelle’s sculpture garden, figural bronzes tower amidst manicured lawns for anyone to enjoy.

Many national museums (Monuments nationaux) are free on certain days. Most offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month (November–March). These include major sites like the Panthéon, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, and the national estates (Versailles, Fontainebleau). Under-26 European Union residents get free entry year-round to most state museums and monuments. Indeed, Paris’s grand art museums – Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée Picasso, Centre Pompidou – admit EU youth (under 26) without charge. Even the Louvre offers free admission for all on the first Friday evening of each month (except July–August).

Aside from large museums, many small museums offer free admission or tours. For instance, the Musée Curie (Curie lab) is free and preserves Marie Curie’s workspaces. The Musée de la Musique at Cité de la Musique has free entry to its “grande salle” on Thursday evenings through its Jazz Night sessions (not cited but worth checking in season). And the perfume-lover’s delight, the Fragonard Musée du Parfum, is free with a guided tour (English or French) of its perfume-making exhibits.

Cultural events also save money. The annual Nuit Européenne des Musées (Museums Night, usually in May) lets visitors into hundreds of museums for free after dark – some with special performances. The Heritage Days in mid-September open government buildings, mansions and hidden spots across France at no cost, so you can tour the Élysée Palace gardens or private mansions one weekend. And in Rendez-vous aux Jardins (a June festival) many of Paris’s gardens offer free tours and workshops. All told, an informed Paris visitor can pack a museum itinerary without spending a euro on admission.

Neighborhood Strolls and Local Secrets

Paris rewards wandering. On foot (or Vélib’) you’ll stumble on free experiences in every arrondissement.

• Montmartre & Pigalle (18ᵉ): Ascend the hill for Sacré-Cœur and the Place du Tertre artists’ square. Passez by the Bateau-Lavoir (Picasso’s former studio) on Rue Ravignan. The quiet Rue Cortot hides the Espace Dalí sculpture garden. At Abbesses look for street musician shows. The entire hill is an open-air bohemia.

• Marais (3ᵉ & 4ᵉ): Wander Place des Vosges (free), Paris’s oldest square. In the 4ᵉ, visit Maison de Victor Hugo (free), and see the Hôtel de Sens and Hôtel de Sully. The Carnavalet Museum (free) tells Paris’s history in lavish period rooms. Browse antiquarian shops and art galleries along Rue des Francs-Bourgeois. Nearby, the narrow Promenade Plantée (Coulée verte) starts at Bastille and stretches southeast on an old rail viaduct.

• Latin Quarter (5ᵗʰ & 6ᵗʰ): Amble through narrow lanes. Climb the Panthéon’s dome (fee or free for students) for another city view. Stroll by the Sorbonne and Panthéon campus. Stop at Shakespeare & Company (no cost to browse) and the historic Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole café. The tiny Jardin du Luxembourg (free) lies here, complete with puppet theatre and chess tables. Also find the ruins of the Roman Arena of Lutèce (in Rue Monge), a free archaeological site.

• Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6ᵗʰ): Window-shop chic boutiques along Boulevard St-Germain. The abbey church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (free) is one of the oldest in Paris. The artist-ruled Rue de l’Abbaye and lively Marché St-Germain (Saturdays) await. Consider a free jazz jam on a corner sidewalk or inside a club after hours (music on the street).

• Canal Saint-Martin / Bastille (10ᵗʰ–11ᵗʰ): Meander north along the Canal. Street-art murals and canal locks (with free pedestrian bridges) create an Instagram scene. On summer nights the canal is lively with picnickers and buskers. At République Square the giant Marianne statue and fountains draw crowds.

• Belleville & Ménilmontant (19ᵗʰ & 20ᵗʰ): For an authentic Paris vibe and cityscapes, head east. Parc de Belleville (open 8:00–21:30) has one of the best panoramic views of Paris, especially at sunset. The neighborhood is studded with vibrant street art and mid-century cafes. Browse shops on rue Oberkampf and rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud.

• Le Marais East (3ᵉ–4ᵗʰ): Stroll through Place de la Bastille and along rue des Archives. Visit Place de la République with its giant Marianne statue. The Canal Ourcq (nearby) offers free-spirited walks to the northeast.

• Île Saint-Louis (4ᵗʰ): Cross to this residential island for cobbled charm. Its church, Saint-Louis-en-l’Île, is free and a fine example of 17ᵗʰ-century style (enter for a silent moment). The only crime? Eating at the pricey Berthillon ice cream parlour!

Throughout these wanderings, Paris reveals literary and historical layers. Think of Hemingway and Fitzgerald at nearby cafés, or Camus on Luxembourg chairs. You pass sites like the Moulin Rouge (photo-op only) and the former Death of Marat house (now Musée Grévin). No guide needed, just a willingness to say bonjour to every new quarter (see etiquette below).

Festivals, Concerts, and City Celebrations (Free and Fun)

Paris loves to celebrate, and many events cost nothing to enjoy.

• Fête de la Musique (June 21): The entire city becomes a free concert hall on Summer Solstice. Streets, parks, cafés, churches and metro stations host hundreds of amateur and professional groups, from rock and jazz to electro and French chanson. At dusk you’ll find jam sessions on every boulevard and classical orchestras in gardens. Simply wander until you hear music, and drop in.

• Nuit Blanche (First Saturday of October): One night a year, Paris turns nocturnal art-lover’s paradise. Contemporary artists light up museums, churches, quays, and even the backs of metros with free installations and pop-up concerts. Hours are late (often 7 pm–7 am), and public transit stays open all night. It’s a dazzling way to see the city in a different light.

• Bastille Day (14 July): France’s national day ends with a free fireworks spectacular launched from the Trocadéro fountains. Crowds gather in front of the Eiffel Tower at 11 pm; get there early to claim a patch of grass or a bench. Earlier in the day, free parades march past the Élysée and Concorde.

• European Heritage Days (mid-September): Over one weekend, hundreds of normally closed sites – ministries, mansions, and gardens – swing open to the public for free. Wander into a grand hôtel particulier on Place Vendôme, or tour the Arc de Triomphe steps (instead of crowds), or even walk around the Élysée Garden. These two days are gold for history buffs.

• Paris Plages (mid-July–August): Not a performance, but no cost to join. The banks of the Seine become free “beaches,” complete with sand, sun chairs, palm trees and games. The Bassin de la Villette gets a similar makeover, plus open-air concerts and sports. Cool off in the fountains, enjoy free fitness classes or puppet shows on the grass – summer leisure on the Seine is gratis.

• Open-Air Cinema & Festivals: In July and August, Cinéma en Plein Air screens classic films on giant screens in Paris Plages (Parc de la Villette). There’s no entry fee – just bring a picnic blanket. All over Paris, street fairs like Le Printemps des Rues (May) and Salon Paris Plage offer free circus acts and dance in neighborhood squares. Jazz fans can picnic at the Parc Floral for the free days of the Jazz à la Villette festival (though some headline concerts in the greenhouse cost).

• Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre (October): The grape harvest festival in Montmartre includes free parades and concerts in village squares. Family-friendly and lively, it has an autumn carnival feel – all set at free-entry Montmartre.

• Museums By Night: Once a year in May, many Paris museums stay open late for Nuit des Musées. You can wander the Louvre or Orsay after dark, with free access to special events and exhibitions.

Every season has a fête. Spring brings jazz in the parks; summer, free rock and folk in old churches; winter has holiday lights and Christmas markets (open-air strolling is free fun). Check local listings for any weekend’s free happenings.

Hidden Gems and Offbeat Adventures

Beyond the obvious, Paris’s hidden corners offer surprises – all free.

• Promenade Plantée (Coulée Verte René-Dumont): This is Paris’s answer to New York’s High Line. A “magical, green walk” 10 m above the streets, it runs 3 miles from Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes. Established in 1993, it winds over old rail viaducts and through gardens (passing the artisan ateliers of the Viaduc des Arts below). Entry is free, and it’s popular with locals jogging, biking or strolling. In spring the wisteria and roses bloom overhead; in summer it’s a shaded sanctuary.

• Covered Passages (Passages Couverts): Near the Grands Boulevards you’ll find 19ᵗʰ-century glass-roofed arcades frozen in time. Galleries Vivienne and Colbert (adjacent to the Palais-Royal) are especially elegant, with mosaic floors and antiques shops. These arcades were once shopping malls of their day – now strolling them is free, and it feels like stepping into a Jane Austen novel.

• Quirky Corners: Seek the Rue Crémieux in the 12ᵗʰ for a block of pastel-painted houses (an Instagram hit). See the Square René Viviani near Notre-Dame – small but home to Paris’s oldest tree and bits of medieval wall. In the Latin Quarter, visit the Musée de Cluny’s free medieval garden (entrance to museum costs, but the back garden is open). In Belleville, peek at the last Soviet statue standing.

• Art in the Streets: Le Marais’ Rue Vieille du Temple and Belleville’s walls host rotating street art. Ménilmontant has impromptu free concerts on steps. No tickets needed: just wander and listen.

• Panorama Belvédères Offbeat: Outside Paris but worth mentioning for ambitious first-timers: the Mont Valérien (Suresnes) terrace has free, 360° views of Parisian landmarks. Closer in, the Parc de Belleville (20ᵗʰ) as noted gives you a free 180° sweep of the skyline.

These gems reward curiosity. They’re safe to explore and perfect for first-time visitors eager to see “true Paris” beyond guidebooks. Keep an eye out: often a street corner or a little park bench can turn into a memorable discovery.

Parisian Etiquette and Savvy Tips (Spending Less, Fitting In)

Even on a shoestring, manners and local habits are free – and essential to enjoying Paris. Locals note that the first thing a visitor should master is greetings. Always say “Bonjour, Madame/Monsieur” when entering a shop, café or metro station; omitting it is seen as rude. Parisians will often reciprocate with “Bonsoir” in the evening. Also say “Au revoir” on the way out. These simple courtesies open doors and smiles.

• No tipping panic: Service is included by law in restaurants, cafés and taxis, so you’re not expected to tip more than rounding up a few euros. A small “Merci” and leaving your coin is fine.

• Queues and escalators: Stand to the right on escalators (left is passing). The Metro etiquette is orderly: let passengers off before boarding.

• Walking: Paris is very pedestrian – cross only on green lights (drivers won’t stop) and watch out for bicycles in bike lanes. Don’t linger on narrow sidewalks.

• Photography: It’s free to take pictures on the street and in most public places, but be discreet in museums or churches (flash is usually disallowed).

• Dress and demeanour: You don’t have to dress couture, but Parisians appreciate a neat look. A scarf or blouse goes a long way. Be respectful in churches and monuments (cover shoulders in Sainte-Chapelle or chapels).

• “Bonjour” is priceless: If unsure whether to do something, a polite “Excusez-moi” or “S’il vous plaît” helps. A smile goes a long way.

For budget travel specifically, note that Paris has free public water fountains (“fontaine Wallace”) – refill your bottle instead of buying expensive water. Many parks have free-to-use chairs (Luxembourg has green metal ones you can borrow) or picnic tables. Public restrooms sometimes have a small fee, but metro stations usually have free WC. And always carry a map or offline app: getting lost on foot is free, but missing the Metro stop can cost an extra ticket or ride.

Paris Through Time and Story

Walking Paris for free is also a journey through history and literature. Think of the riverbanks and cobbled streets where Victor Hugo wrote Les Misérables or George Sand promenaded near her Luxembourg pond. In Tuileries, remember Napoleon or Marie Antoinette strolling these gardens. At Sacré-Cœur, recall countless Impressionist painters in Montmartre’s bohemian heyday. Even free monuments have stories: the Wall of the Prisoners in Montmartre’s park honors those shot there in 1794 (just behind the funicular).

For bibliophiles, the free wander includes Shakespeare and Company (original site is now an English-language library), Haussmann boulevards that Camus and Beckett roamed, and the Left Bank literary cafés (though “free” coffee is a myth). Père Lachaise Cemetery (free entry) invites you to pay homage at Oscar Wilde’s simple tomb or Jim Morrison’s well-worn shrine. This old city also gifted Paris the Panthéon (free to EU under 26), where Marie Curie lies amongst France’s greats – fitting as her small free Musée Curie preserves her lab.

In sum, every arrondissement has a tale and often a free entry. Follow the threads of writers and revolutionaries on foot: each budget Paris travel day can include a park, a chapel, a square, a statue – all with history swirling, all costing nothing. The only currency you’ll spend is time; but Paris offers moments too priceless to measure.