Years ago, when major news websites published articles claiming that one can enjoy Paris for less than P60,000, I took it with a grain of salt. but I’ve done it myself, and I can tell you that it is possible. It can be done.
In pop culture, Paris is heavily romanticized as one incredibly stunning city. In reality, it is exactly that. even better.
On my first day in Paris, the first thing I did was go up to the open-air observatory of tour Montparnasse to have what many regard as the best view of the city. I remember that moment after emerging from the elevator: I turned right and was right away greeted by the ever-so-captivating Eiffel Tower. It was the first of the many times the hair at the back of my neck rose for all the good reasons.
Each of my Paris trips is a realization of a life-long dream. growing up, I was a fan of French Cinema. At film school, I worshipped Francois Truffaut. I adore French food. I even learned the French language in college. It was as though life had been preparing me for my week-long affairs with this city.
WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?
UNDERSTANDING PARIS
THINGS TO PREPARE before YOUR TRIP
WHERE TO stay IN PARISTop Hostels and budget hotels in Paris
Search for more Paris Hotels!
HOW TO get TO PARIS
CHARLES DE GAULLE airport TO PARIS CITY CENTERNAVIGO WEEK PASS and how to get One
HOW TO get around PARIS
THINGS TO do in PARISEiffel Tower
Tour Montparnasse
The Louvre
Trocadero Viewpoint
Walk from the Arc de Triomphe, through Champs Elysees, to place de la Concorde to the Tuileries
Walk from Le Marais to the Notre Dame Cathedral to the Latin Quarter
Pere Lachaise Cemetery
Montmartre
DAY trips FROM PARISVersailles
Mont Saint Michel
Giverny
SAMPLE PARIS ITINERARY
BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES
PARIS SCAMS
MORE tips FOR THE poor TRAVELER
More tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:
UNDERSTANDING PARIS
Paris is the political, economic, and cultural capital of France. It has a long history as a settlement, which dates back to 250 BC when a Celtic sub-tribe inhabited the island in the middle of the River Seine called Ile de la Cite. The name of that tribe? Parisii. Or at least, that’s what the Romans called them.
The Romans, led by Titus Labienus, conquered them in 52 BC and set up a garrison town named Lutetia. When the Roman empire crumbled, it fell under the rule of Clovis I, the King of the Franks. since then, this little garrison town at the bank of the river has grown and flourished into what we call now “Paris,” an important city that has played vital role in the history and politics of Europe, has nurtured many terrific minds over centuries, and has become a champion for democracy and freedom. much of the city is inscribed as a UNESCO world Heritage Site. The Parisians’ sophisticated taste and state of mind have also made it the world’s fashion capital and a center for many forms of art.
Today, Paris is divided into 20 districts called “arrondissements.” It is important to have at least a basic understanding of it because it will help you make decisions on building your itinerary or choosing accommodations. We’ll discuss this in detail in the WHERE TO stay section.
Aside from the arrondissements, another way of slicing the Paris pie is using the metro/RER zones. central Paris is Zones 1-3 and the farther you go from the center, the higher the zone number. Versailles is in zone 4. CDG airport is in zone 5. These zones matter when purchasing metro passes. See the how TO get around section below.
THINGS TO PREPARE before YOUR TRIP
Here are some other things you might need:
Schengen Visa. If you’re holding a Philippine passport, here’s how to get one successfully.
Paris Metro Map App. You’ll see a lot of subway maps around but nothing is more efficient than an app. I personally prefer this app because it’s FREE, has a built in map, and has route recommendations. It can discover station nearest you. All you need to do is enter the name of your destination and it will suggest 2 routes: the simplest route (with the fewest train changes), and the fastest route. If you don’t know the name of the station, you can enter the name of the tourist attraction (Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, etc.) and it will display the metro station closest to it.
A well-planned itinerary. the worst thing that can happen is spending most of your time on the train because of poor planning. Make sure you check out the attractions close to each other on the same day.
A passport-size photo, if you’re going to purchase a NAVIGO Découverte card, which will allow you unlimited metro and RER train rides for a whole week. more about that below.
An acceptance that you can’t see and do it all. Paris has a lot to offer. A LOT. You can’t possibly see it all in a week or two. Don’t overload your itinerary and end up seeing so little of everything. Relax, take your time, and enjoy.
WHERE TO stay IN PARIS
Today, Paris is divided into 20 districts called “arrondissements.” know that the center of Paris is called the 1st Arrondissement, and the other districts surrounding it are numbered in a clockwise spiral. This means that 1st arrondissement is surrounded by the 2nd to the 8th, which are surrounded by the 9th to 20th. here are the arrondissements that you should be familiar with.
The 1st to 9th Arrondissements are where most tourist attractions are located. Upscale hotels can also be found here.
The 10th to 20th Arrondissements are where you’ll find most major train terminals and cheaper accommodations. There are also some places of interest here that are worth a visit.
Artwork by Jpatokal (WikiTravel). creative Commons
Don’t get too overwhelmed. You don’t need to memorize this. but this will help you choose where to stay or plan where to go. The truth is, Paris isn’t that big of a city. You can cross arrondissements on foot in a matter of minutes. You can even walk across the city in just a few hours.
As with many other cities around the world, the closer you are to the Paris city center the more expensive accommodations get. even the properties listed on AirBnB can be pricey, depending on the location.
In Paris, there’s a high concentration of budget hotels and hostels in the areas near Montmartre (18th and 12th arrondissements), place d’Italie (13th Arrondissement), and Voltaire area (11th Arrondissement). I have tried staying in place d’Italie and Voltaire area, and I liked the latter because it is much closer to the city center and has a terrific vibe. For most of our stay in Paris, we stayed at Au Royale Mad, a pretty basic budget hotel in Voltaire but it’s in good location.
Top Hostels and budget hotels in Paris
Here are some of the top-rated hostels, guesthouses/apartments, and budget hotels in Paris, as reviewed by Agoda customers.
Hotel Paris Voltaire. check rates & Availability! ✅
Hotel de L’Esperance. check rates & Availability! ✅
Residence Hoche. check rates & Availability! ✅
Le village Montmartre by Hiphophostels. check rates & Availability! ✅
The loft boutique Hostel & Hotel. check rates & Availability! ✅
Audran Hotel. check rates & Availability! ✅
B&B hotel PARIS GENNEVILLIERS ASNIERES. check rates & Availability! ✅
Search for more Paris Hotels!
HOW TO get TO PARIS
As always, use flight aggregator sites like SkyScanner to check for the lowest fare. should there be any connecting flights, make sure that the incoming and outgoing flights are using the same airport.
If you’re coming from the Manila, I have found that EVA Air, China Eastern, and China southern offer the cheapest year-round fares with only one stop. just a bit above P30,000 only. Others offer less but take too many plane changes. You can also find cheaper fares during SEAT SALES.
When I was planning my trip, I saw fares for P29,000, but it was gone by the time I was issued a visa. Haha. but it proves that finding fares for less than P30,000 is completely possible. You just need to be patient and book in advance.
CHARLES DE GAULLE airport TO PARIS CITY CENTER
Know that Paris is served by 3 airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly (ORY), and Beauvais (BVA). but you’re most likely to be flying in via CDG.
CDG has three terminals, with terminal 3 situated between 1 and 2. (Confusing, I know.) terminal 2 is divided further into 7 sub-terminals: 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, and 2G. only Terminals 2 and 3 have train stations.
The cheapest and fastest way to get to the city center from the airport is the RER B (blue) train line that makes a stop at both terminal 2 (between 2F and 2E) and terminal 3. After going through the immigration counters, baggage carousel, and customs, just follow the signs that lead to TRAINS TO THE CITY. also look for the RER sign.
If your flight is landing at terminal 1, here’s how to do it:
Take the free CDGVAL airport shuttle train to terminal 3. After going through Immigration, look for the CDGVAL signs, which are all around terminal 1. Board the shuttle to terminal 3.
At terminal 3, you will be greeted by a large hall. walk straight and you will see on your left white-and-fuchsia vending machines. You can buy one-way ticket to the city center for EUR 10. The machine accepts only Euro coins or chip-enabled credit cards.
If you don’t have either, find the manned ticket booths to your right. You can buy a ticket here. OR, you can buy a NAVIGO PASS, which I will explain below.
NAVIGO WEEK PASS and how to get One
If you’re arriving in Paris on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday by plane, it would be good to purchase a NAVIGO Découverte, a card that will allow you unlimited rides to the metro, RER trains, trams, and buses for a week. It’s a good buy because, as I said earlier, the fare from the airport to the city center alone is EUR 10. round trip is EU 20. but a NAVIGO Découverte costs only EU 22.15 plus another EUR 5 for the actual card. total of EUR 27.15. It already covers all 5 tourism zones of Paris.
Another case that proves Navigo Découverte as a wise choice is when you’re traveling to Versailles. The trip to Versailles alone costs EUR 7.10. but Versailles is in zone 4, and is covered by Navigo. You won’t have to purchase another ticket to get there. same applies to Disneyland Paris, which is in zone 5.
But there’s a catch. Timing is everything when it comes to Navigo. Each card is valid only from Monday 00:00 (12 mn) to Sunday 23:59 (11:59 pm). It doesn’t take into consideration what day you first use it. So for example, you purchase it on a Wednesday, that gives you only 4 days to use the card. You will have to reload it on Monday if you still want to continue using it.
That’s the reason why they stop selling Navigo Découverte passes for the week on Thursday 23:59. If you buy on a Friday, that pass will be valid for the coming Monday, not that same week.
To purchase a Navigo Découverte card, here’s what you need to do:
Approach a ticket window at any Metro or RER train station.
Tell the staff that you’re buying a NAVIGO Découverte card for ALL 5 ZONES. They will ask you for a photo (300mm x 250mm). sometimes they accept passport-size photo. If you don’t have a photo, there are Photomaton booths at almost every station in Paris.
The staff will then assemble the card for you and explain how it works.
Pay for it. EUR 5 for the card, and EUR 22.15 for the load.
That’s it. You can use it right away. just hover the card above the scanner when entering any station.
A NAVIGO Monthly Pass is also available for EUR 73.
HOW TO get around PARIS
The best way to see Paris: ON FOOT. Paris is a very walkable city because it isn’t that big and there’s a lot of interesting things to see. Roadside cafes lace almost every corner, historic monuments adorn its roundabouts, and the smell of freshly baked bread coming from local boulangeries fill the air. walking is really the way to go.
The Louvre
Many tourist attractions can be visited in a day just by walking. For example, the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, place de la Concorde, Jardin de Tuileries, and the Louvre are situated next to each other. You can spend one full day checking all these out. (Actually, you can spend one full day inside the Louvre and it still won’t be enough.)
However, if you’re too exhausted to walk, the best alternative is the subway or the METRO. One thing I totally love about Paris is its expansive 300-station train system that connects much of the city. It’s low-cost and efficient, and it’s seldom crowded because there’s always a train every five minutes or so.
THINGS TO do in PARIS
Too many to mention. Haha. Kidding.
But seriously, there’s so much to experience in the City of Light. but below are some things that I think one shouldn’t miss when they’re in Paris, grouped according to proximity to one another so you can easily see them on foot.
However, if for whatever reason, you’re not interested in walking, you have other options below.
Paris City tour and Seine River Cruise. Reserve a Slot Here
Paris Hop-on Hop Bus Tour. get Your Tickets Here
Eiffel Tower
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Eiffel Tower is incredibly popular. If you wish to access and climb the tower, you will have to make a reservation in advance. The queue here can get crazy long, but it can be skipped if you book it early. There are two types of tickets: one for just the first 2 floors; and the other for all 3 levels. Of course, the latter is more expensive.
✅ RESERVE A SLOT HERE!
Tour Montparnasse
Get the best view of Paris at tour Montparnasse. A tower that offers what many consider the best view of Paris. I’ve tried it twice and it’s really breathtaking. best to check out just before dusk so you could see the sun set just behind the Eiffel Tower and see the city slowly come alive.
Nearest Metro Station: Montparnasse-Bienvenue.
Rates: EUR 15.
✅ get YOUR TICKETS HERE!
The Louvre
The Mona Lisa
Expl