Savings on food in paris. How to save on food in Paris? Where to live in Paris

  • 29.09.2020

In this article, we'll look at how to save money in Paris, one of the most expensive cities in Europe.

Hotels

Here is a list of inexpensive hotels and hotels up to 5 thousand rubles per day:

  • Abricotel
  • Amarys simart
  • Angleterre
  • Annexe Hotel
  • Apartment Rue Oberkampf




Travel

The top tip is to use public transport passes. It is possible to buy several metro tickets as well as travel passes. But do not use a taxi - it is very expensive, and the metro network in the capital of France is quite extensive.



Another good way to save money is to ride a bike. You can rent a two-wheeled horse at one of 1800 Velib stations. It costs about 10 euros per week or 2 euros per day. To register, you need a card with a chip and the presence of $ 150 on it - they are blocked for insurance. There is information that when paying rent through the site, 150 dollars will not be required.



Entertainment

Even a budget vacation in Paris necessarily involves sightseeing. There are some secrets on how to do it for free or inexpensively.

From October to March, on the first Sunday of the month, you can visit the Louvre free of charge. With a minimum of queues, you can get there through the Glass Pyramid, or with a special Paris Museum Pass. In the Louvre, be sure to go down to the underground floor with ruins.






At the Musée d'Orsay after 4.30 pm ticket prices are reduced and admission is free under the same conditions as the Louvre. In general, on the first Sunday of the month in winter, you can freely go to the terrace of the Arc de Triomphe, to Versailles, or even go up to Notre Dame Cathedral.






There are also completely free attractions:

  • Balzac Museum
  • Modern Art Museum
  • Victor Hugo House Museum
  • Luxembourg garden

Quite interesting are free walking tours that are arranged by various travel companies, for example, New Europe Walking Tours. There are interesting walking tours from locals from Paris Greeters - all payment is voluntary.

In summer it is very interesting to visit festivals and various parties, usually they are absolutely free.






ParisPass Tourist Card

This plastic card is ideal for tourists. It looks like an ordinary bank card with a chip, it is valid for a certain time and allows you to visit interesting places in Paris inexpensively and without queues.

There are several types of such a card. Paris-Museum-Pass costs 48 euros for two days. Some tourists say that it makes you hurry, but for the first or second visit, when you want to see more of everything, the option is excellent.

The Paris Attractions Pass gives you additional access to fun activities like wine tastings, boat cruises and more. Costs around $ 34, saving $ 100.

The Paris Visite Pass entitles you to free travel on public transport and discounts to select museums. It costs 30 euros for two days, according to reviews it is quite profitable.

They are united by a common ParisPass card. It costs $ 122 for two days and offers significant savings. You can buy it online on the official website - it will be sent by mail. In Paris itself, they are sold at kiosks, travel companies and shops.




Food

The question "How to save money in Paris" necessarily includes savings on food. Everyone knows that restaurants in the capital of France are very expensive, but in reality, things are not so bad.

We strongly advise against eating in expensive restaurants on the main tourist streets. Head into the alleys farther from the city center, or ask a taxi driver or a cashier in a supermarket where he usually dines, and you will find places with delicious traditional cuisine and affordable prices.

Very inexpensive food in the Latin Quarter, but don't expect special national cuisine there. From specific inexpensive establishments we recommend:

  • Flunch bistro chain
  • Cafe des Deux Moulins
  • Monte carlo
  • Le Bar a Soupes
  • Chez clement
  • L "Auberge Saint-Germain






Now we will tell you a few secrets of a budget vacation in Paris, which will allow you to save money, and especially not to limit yourself:

  • In some restaurants, a la mod, that is, trendy-looking visitors, are given a complimentary dessert or cake as a compliment from the establishment
  • After 12-13, brunch starts at the cafe - an inexpensive but very plentiful brunch. It is not served everywhere. We recommend the Roses Bakery by the Picasso Museum or Cafe 404
  • Drinks in hostel bars are usually cheap and anyone has access
  • When you dine in a restaurant, be sure to ask for a jug of water - “une carafe de l`eau”. If you do not specify, you may be brought in expensive bottled water. The pitcher is free
  • Don't order wine or champagne in restaurants - it's better to find a wine cellar and buy a bottle of a really good drink for 15-25 euros
  • Don't leave a tip - it is already included in the check price
  • Do not take street food - in the capital of France, it is not cheap, and it does not bring too many calories. Better have lunch in a cafe
  • Buy bread and meat at the supermarket and have a picnic in the park - delicious, inexpensive and romantic
  • You can take food with you in the cafe - it's cheaper, in such cases it is customary to make a discount






  • It is stated that there is free Wi-Fi everywhere in Paris, but in fact it does not catch well and the speed is very slow. Better buy a local SIM card, or go online from the hotel
  • If you are ready to sacrifice comfort, choose hostels
  • It is better to take food not even in supermarkets, but in markets
  • Shopping in Paris is an expensive pleasure; it is definitely not included in a budget vacation.








New cities and countries are fraught with a great temptation: whatever amount you have, it can be easily wasted on a variety of excursions, entertainment and tasting the masterpieces of local cuisine. Don't want the last item to take over a significant portion of your budget? The ZagraNitsa portal will tell you how you can save on food while traveling

Avoid crowded places

Near famous and visited museums, monuments and other attractions, there are always cafes that invite hungry tourists for a hearty meal. But remember, in such places everything is sold at exorbitant prices - demand generates a high price. Far from tourist attractions, you can eat cheaper.


Photo: athwaystravelandtours.com 2

Have lunch at happy hours

At lunchtime, many cafes and restaurants offer significant lunch discounts. Their size can reach 30% or more. Why not take advantage of such a generous offer? To be at the right time in the right place, these points should be found before traveling using the Internet.

Avoid carbonated drinks

To prevent thirst from being caught by surprise (and it can sometimes be easily confused with hunger), always take water with you on the road or for a walk around the city. Sugary juices and sodas can only make the situation worse - it's better to skip them. But a bottle of mineral water is another matter. Moreover, it can be bought in a store only once, and then filled up in a hostel or hotel. The main thing is that the water quality is good. In Paris, strategic fluid supplies can also be replenished at free drinking fountains.


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Don't listen to concierges

Get to know local fast food

For all its availability, street food is not the healthiest food. But if it is not overused, street food stalls can save a lot of money while traveling. In addition, you won't have to look for a buffet on wheels for a long time - in Europe they are located almost at every step. All that remains is to choose a decent mobile shop, in which the sellers adhere to sanitary standards. It will never be superfluous to protect yourself from food prepared in unacceptable conditions - especially in warm countries.


Photo: shutterstock 6

Explore local supermarkets and markets

In your hometown, you know for sure in which store the products are of better quality and cheaper. You shouldn't buy food at the first grocery store you come across or while traveling. Of course, if it's not a matter of life and death. Otherwise, research the prices in several stores and choose the middle ground - a budget market with fresh produce on the shelves. For a list of stores, check the forums or online travel guides. There you can also find out about inexpensive restaurants and cafes located near the stop.

A year ago, we had one of our "Wishlist" - a trip to Paris. Even then, a collection of tips was born, some of which were published (read), and some were edited only now. And, although with the exchange rate, travel abroad has become less not only we, but perhaps this information about Paris it will still be interesting for you.

How to save money and what you need to know about Paris?

Paris is an expensive city. Not the most expensive, but far from the cheapest. The cost of our trip to Paris is here: And here we will tell you how to save money in Paris. And let's start from the beginning. From museums that is. It is for them that they come here.

What you need to know about Paris - museum entrances

It's difficult here. In Paris, they love children and those who live in the EU countries. They are given discounts. But most museums have free admission on the first Sunday of the month. We took advantage of this and wandered around the Louvre for free. Although the queues on these free days will also remain in our memory for a long time.

If you can't get to the Louvre for free, then for those who are planning trip to Paris, it will be useful to know that from 6 pm the entrance ticket costs 6 Euro.

Those under 18 will pay less at many museums (don't forget your passport!). Or even free. And, thus, they will save their parents their stay in Paris.

All queues move fast enough. The spiral line in front of Notre Dame, several hundred meters long, was covered in about ten minutes. So don't be afraid, you won't waste a lot of time. Although, before entering the Eiffel Tower, we still stood decently. But you can get to it faster if you buy an electronic ticket in advance. We did not buy a ticket in advance, because the January weather is unpredictable, like a woman's mood. And I didn't want to get upstairs and see nothing but fog. By the way, it is cheaper to get to the tower on foot than by elevator.

There are metal detectors at the entrances to all museums. This information about Paris extremely important. Because, having taken away the penknife, it may not be returned to you. Are you ready to part with your Swiss knife? If not, then leave it “at home”.

What else you need to know about Paris (more precisely, about his museums)?

The entrance to Notre Dame Tower is very narrow. And you will have to go down and up in the same line in which you stood. And you won't be able to walk quickly. Maybe the ascent and descent will take longer than photographing Paris from above. This also applies to the Eiffel Tower, where you can also lose enough time in the queue for the elevator.

Free days to visit in the main museums of Paris (excluding the first Sunday of every month):

  • Catacombs - free admission for children under 13;
  • Orsay Museum - free for children under 18;
  • Army Museum - free for children under 18 years old and everyone who is wearing military uniforms of any country.

How to save on groceries in Paris

Here the rule applies - in large network markets it is cheap, in small shops it is expensive. But big shops are not found in the center, where you, in fact, will walk. Trading networks are represented by Carefoure, Ashan or Casino, Inter Marche. Here everything is one and a half times cheaper.

The wines in Paris are great. If you are planning a trip to Paris for the sake of tasting local wines, then know that even cheap wine is delicious here. Not at all worse than the "elite" one.

When you enter a cafe, ask for water and be sure to specify - "free". They will bring a liter glass bottle and will not be included in the bill (it is better not to think about the fact that water could be poured from the tap ...).

Tipping in restaurants and cafes is already included in the bill, so you don't need to give anything extra.

To help you plan your trip to Paris:

How to save money on housing in Paris

You can stay overnight at the hotel with breakfast included. But breakfasts in Paris are croissant and coffee. Enough for you? We don't. Therefore, we booked an apartment with a kitchen and cooked from what we bought in stores. You can even rent an apartment, it will be even cheaper. But - the closer to the center, the more expensive.

Read also -

How to save money in Paris on souvenirs and travel guides

The lowest price for postcards in Paris is in Montmartre, at Sacre Coeur (0.25 euros versus 1.5 euros in the city center).



Free maps and travel guides of Paris are available from the main tourism office: 25 Rue des Pyramides (metro station Pyramides, Opera or Tuileries).

If you like cemeteries, then take a walk along the alleys of Père Lachaise and Montmartre. But go through the main entrance - there, from the caretaker, you can ask for a free guide. It is free and right here. Because in the stalls, these same guidebooks cost about 2 euros.

A trip to Paris - how not to get thrown

Unpleasant, but true. Tourists love to breed not only in Paris (you can read about it here :). But Paris is different. Extremely pretty girls come up to you and ask you to sign a petition to preserve some attraction. Or about supporting something. The essence is not important. Run fast and as far as possible. Because after receiving your signature, you will be asked to donate "as much as you can." You will give, for example, 5 euros. And you will immediately begin to be ashamed and shown lists, which indicate amounts ranging from 20 to 150 euros. Are you ready to give up? No? Then don't sign. A spoiled mood is guaranteed. And don't make contact with black Parisians.

We hope you find this information about Paris useful. You have to travel. Even to spite all exchange rates - even if they burst from an excess of growth.

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The topic of moving around the capital of France does not subside among tourists, and for a reason, but the main question is: how to save money on transport in Paris? Options are being discussed especially actively among those who are just planning a tour.

They listen to the opinion of experienced travelers no less than to the words of an enlightened guru of hedonism, who knows the secrets of getting maximum pleasure.

However, there is no universal way to save money, because the main role is played by an individual approach - how many people are in the company, whether there are children, how long the trip is for, what days and what you expect to see.

Save on travel tickets and buy the Paris City Pass

Cheap and cheerful with T +


Since the ticket for public transport in Paris is designed for the metro, RER, bus, tram and funicular at the same time, in this regard, you can relax.

It is better to focus on which zones you are going to drive and how much time you will spend in the Mecca of love and fashion.

If you have only a few days to visit, which corresponds to zone 1, it is enough to buy Carnet - a book of 10 t + tickets. You can, of course, purchase one ticket for 1.9 euros for each trip, but it will be more expensive.

For adults, "carnet" costs 14.9 euros, for children (4-9 years old) - 7.45 euros, which gives a total of 22.35 euros. According to experienced tourists, for a family of three with a child, this is enough for a week. But remember that one ticket is valid for a maximum of 2 hours on the metro and 1.3 hours on ground vehicles from the moment it is activated.

If you do not leave the limits of the first zone, you will rarely use transport, because a walk through the streets allows you to see much more than just the Pantheon or Sacre Coeur. In addition, the distance between metro train stops is very small, and the journey takes 1-2 minutes, which is only 5-10 minutes on foot, and museums, monuments, gardens and other beauties are located at every step.

So is it worth spending money on a couple of stops if walking on foot will bring a lot of impressions, making the pleasure much fuller?

By the way, make sure that the tickets do not lie next to your mobile phone, otherwise their magnetic tape will quickly demagnetize, making further use impossible. If, nevertheless, this happened, the spoiled coupons can be exchanged at the cash desk. Cashiers have long been familiar with these difficulties with newcomers, and make an exchange without question, but it is better to prevent the problem than to solve it.

Youth benefits

As they say, young people are dear to us everywhere, especially with Youth Ticket Weekend. If you are not yet 26 years old, feel free to buy this ticket, and you will be able to ride any underground and surface city transport all weekends and holidays for mere pennies.

The only thing is to choose the zones you want to travel through. The highest price is provided for a ticket for all five zones - 8.95 euros.

Ticket Mobilis?


If the beauty of the capital is not enough for you or you plan to visit, or maybe you will have to leave the cozy and hospitable zone 1. In this case, you will either have to activate 5 t + tickets at once, which will cost 7.45 euros for adults (if you take them from the clarinet book) and 3 , 72 euros for kids, but this is only one way.

Or you can purchase Ticket Mobilis - and other types of transport, valid throughout the day. At the same time, unlike the previous version, the vehicle can be changed many times with just one Mobilis ticket.

This travel card seems to be more practical if you actively drive in zones 1 and 2, then its cost does not exceed 7.5 euros. If you include zone 3, which corresponds to the modern La Defense district, the price jumps to 10 euros.

A visit to Versailles (zone 4) - 12.4 euros, and together with Fontainebleau and Disney Park - 17.8 euros. However, it is much more profitable to buy a separate Tickets for MLV Cressy Disney ticket at the subway machine before Disneyland, paying 7.6 euros.

Which ticket is better to buy Paris Visite or Navigo?


For tourists, a public transport ticket has been specially developed - Paris Visite, valid from 1 to 5 days, as well as for a different number of zones. It has an unlimited number of connections for all types of urban transportation within a specified time frame, and also gives the right to receive significant discounts when visiting some.

For the first 3 zones, the price for 1 day for adults is 12 euros, and for 5 days - 38.35 euros. Children are 50% cheaper.

For the local population, there are Navigo Week or Month, calculated for a week or a month, but visitors are also entitled to use them.

If the tourist Visite can be activated on any day of the week by entering the date of operation and your name in it, then Navigo is valid on strictly allotted days: weekly from Friday to Thursday, and monthly - from 20th to 19th of each month.

The cost of a weekly voucher for all zones is 22.8 euros. Considering that it is valid for 2 days longer than a five-day tourist one, and at the same time it costs less, many prefer it, although they lose the right to museum discounts. But since not all establishments provide entry incentives, consider how important this is to you.

However, to use the Navigo version, you need to buy two cards for 5 euros, one of which is a travel document, and the other with your photo is an identity card. After the purchase, the ticket will have to be replenished for the amount corresponding to the week or month of use, and after the expiration of the period, the required amount will be replenished.

So it will last 10 years, and if you plan to visit the capital frequently, this is a very good choice. In addition, on the official website of the Paris transport company, you can control the Navigo pass, planning your maneuvers by zone.

Compare the alternatives

Let's see what happens if we set relatively the same conditions for the Paris travel card for each type.

Let's say that you plan to visit museum galleries and architectural monuments without leaving the city boundaries.



Analysis makes it clear how best to proceed when planning. If you are waiting for a romantic weekend walk for two, it is enough to buy a T + for short and not very distant trips, enjoying a walk through the famous and simply picturesque corners of the majestic city.

For a long stay in the capital with a rich program, you should think about a more convenient means of transportation without unnecessary expenses. Each moment has its own attractive sides and not so much, therefore everything is individual.

Summary

Paris is one of the most visited metropolitan areas, and it demands its tribute for the right to get in touch with its amazing history. You definitely cannot call it cheap, and therefore the desire to save money is quite natural and understandable.

Even a ticket for public transport can make a significant gap in the budget, but after spending some time studying the payment system, it is easy to find the best and acceptable option.

Paris transport map


Paris beckons tourists like the light of moths. Still would! In the most romantic and beautiful city, the capital of fashion and style, a huge number of attractions are concentrated, and the special atmosphere is remembered for a long time. But the capital of France is also known for its high prices. How can you save money in Paris and leave with a full baggage of pleasant impressions, and not with an empty wallet?

1. Use hostels

It should be said right away that hotels in Paris are expensive, both in the center and farther away. Therefore, be guided by hostels. Moreover, it is better to find an option with a kitchen. In any case, food prepared by yourself will cost less than ordered in a hostel or cafe. But you can drink at the place of residence. As a rule, the bars at such establishments are much cheaper than the rest of the Parisian drinking establishments.

If you still decide to stay at a hotel, then choose options further from the center, but you should not get out of the city either. The most expensive are hotels in districts from the third to the seventh, the prices for housing near the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower are also overpriced, but affordable options can be found near Montmartre. Just keep in mind that this is a rather noisy area.

3. Buy discount cards

As in any major European city in Paris, there are all kinds of discount cards and they should not be ignored. For example, the Paris City Passport provides unlimited access to public transport within Area 1-3, boat rides on the Seine, save on purchases and get discounts on certain attractions (Versailles, Louvre, Tomb of Napoleon I, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Towers -Dame, etc.).

And the Paris Museum Pass allows you to visit about sixty attractions or museums in Paris for free or with a very pleasant discount, and it is important that you do not have to stand in lines.

4. Visit free museums

But in Paris, you can visit many famous places for free. Many museums provide free admission on the first Sunday of every month. For example, you can get to the famous Louvre for free on such a day, but only from October to March. And by the way, one more piece of advice about the Louvre is that to avoid queues at the main entrance, it is better to enter through the glass pyramid Carrousel du Louvre.

Also every first Sunday of the month there is free admission to the Orsay Museum, and after 4.30 pm tickets are cheaper every day.

And here are some museums with a free permanent collection:

Carnavale Museum (Museum of the History of Paris). Address: 16 rue des Francs-Bourgeois;
-Museum of romantic life. Address: 16 rue Chaptal.
- Small Palace (Museum of Fine Arts in Paris). Address: Avenue Winston Churchill;
-House Museum of Victor Hugo. Address: 6 place des Vosges;
-Museum of the Union of Apprentices. Address: 10 rue Mabillon;
-Museum Marie Curie. Address: 1 rue Pierre et Marie Curie

5. Use a bike rental

Parisians often prefer a bicycle to another form of transport. Follow the example of the indigenous people and contact the Vélib rental centers - there are about 1800 of them around the city. This service will cost 2 euros per day or ten euros per week of use. Long-term rentals have discounts. The only thing is that to register in the bike rental system, you need a card with an EMV chip (almost all European cards have it), and you will also need to leave a deposit of 150 euros.

6. Take the subway

It is believed that the Paris metro is one of the most confusing in the world. But a person, even with basic knowledge of French or English, will find it easy to navigate according to the signs, so there is nothing wrong with the "subway" of Paris. But metro stations are located literally at every step and you can quickly and conveniently get to anywhere in the city.

To save money, it is better to buy at once the required number of tickets according to your time of stay - it is cheaper in bulk, but every time you buy with a ticket, you pay a lot. It is profitable to buy blocks of 10 or more tickets.

7. Find free tours

There are many organizations and travel companies in Paris that offer free excursions for city guests. For example, there is New Europe Walking Tours - this walking tour is conducted by amateur guides. It runs along the banks of the Seine, through the royal gardens and squares and ends at the Louvre. Also in Paris there is a Paris Greeters program. It involves local residents who volunteer for free tours of their city. By the way, we strongly advise you to tip the guides, because they spend their time with you for free and they will be pleased with the gratitude.

8. Festivals and open-air performances

Free cultural events can be found in open-air parks or on the metro. But if in the metro you can stumble upon the performance of talented musicians only by chance, then the schedules of festivals and concerts in parks are hung up on the site of posters. For example, in the summer you can visit the Paris Jazz Festival - these outdoor parties take place almost every evening. You can also go to the open-air cinema Cinémaen Plein Air to watch a movie. And remember the word Gratuit - it's free in French. Remember the main rule of shopping in Paris: in large supermarkets it is always cheaper (but they are far away), and in small private shops it is close, but expensive. There is little space in the center of the French capital, so huge supermarkets simply cannot fit there, and they will spoil the city's appearance. So they all moved to the outskirts. In the center, you can search for shops of the Inter Marche, Carefoure, Ashan or Casino chains. By the way, supermarkets are closed on weekends, and most of them close on weekdays at 20.00.