Although museum entry can be steep and fine dining comes at a premium in the City of love, Paris can also be a great place for those in a budget. Whether you hurt your feet from the church hopping, or explore an authentic French market, let yourself be awed by our top 20 free must-sees in Paree.
1. Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris
Marvel at the Gothic touches of Notre Dame. As one of Paris’ imposing icons, entering this grand medieval edifice is free (but it costs to climb its twin towers). Or you can go on a stroll along the neighbouring Seine for an alternate view of the cathedral’s spiky apse and naturalist sculptures.
2. Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen
Window-shopping at the St-Ouen flea market and antiques fair is fun. Marvel at bearskin rugs, antique tapestries and brass diving bells in this decadently eccentric marketplace. Hop off the metro at Porte de Clignancourt (line 4) and continue under the bridge until the souvenir stalls give way to side streets crammed with beautiful finds.
3. Parc du Champ de Mars
Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower may cost you something, but hanging out below can be equally stunning. Parc du Champ de Mars has lawns and flowerbeds manicured with military precision. Grab a blanket, and bring wine and the best brie you can find to this expanse of greenery and wait for the light show at dusk to set La Tour Eiffel a-twinkle.
4. Cimitière du Père Lachaise
It may sound a bit creepy but the most haunting spot in Paris allows you to rub shoulders with literary greats like Proust and Balzac, and modern icons like Oscar Wilde and Edith Piaf. Jim Morrison also lies in this ancient cemetery.
5. Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
If you want a surreal view of French culture, see the permanent collections of Paris’ Museum of Modern Art. From the bolshy cubism of Braque to Matisse’s dancers, there’s sure to be something to lift your spirits.
6. Marché d’Aligre
Catch the finest local produce in Paris at this fabulous covered food market on Place d’Aligre in the 12th arrondissement. Feast your eyes on the mountains of cheese, artisan butchers and a field of flower. Stop for a discreet glass of Bordeaux and get your hands floury on some crusty baguette.
7. Basilique du Sacré Coeur
This palatial white marble church makes the Montmartre district in the 18th arrondissement so lively. Its interior is filled with gold mosaics and towering stained-glass windows, and you can listen for the peal of one of the world’s heaviest bells.
8. Musée Carnavalet
Experience a tour de force through Paris’ history, from its ancient origins to the fashion-forward capital of sophistication it is today. The Musée Carnavalet’s permanent collection is free of charge.
9. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
This park has abundant birdlife, rocky reliefs and even a waterfall masterminded by landscaping genius Baron Haussmann. Find peace in the middle of France’s hectic capital city.
10. Cimitière du Montparnasse
Visit the final resting place for hundreds of glamorous and intellectual Parisians like Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Samuel Beckett.
11. Parc Monceau
March among France’s great personalities in Parc Monceau, which has statues of luminaries like Chopin and celebrated writer Guy de Maupassant. This peaceful green space was the site of a massacre in 1871, and was Monet’s favourite painting spot. Also see the wonderful collection of rarely seen Chinese statuary showcased in the Musée Cernuschi (cernuschi.paris.fr), a municipal Asian Art Museum inside an elegant mansion next to the park’s eastern entrance on av Vélasquez.
12. Canal St-Martin
Join chic Parisians at the water’s edge and catch the sunet. This lively waterside haunt, between République and Gare du Nord in the 10th arrondissement, is the perfect spot to bring a picnic, pop a cork and eavesdrop on the locals.
13. Atelier Brancusi
Get a glimpse of Brancusi’s sculpture with a free visit to his recreated studio in front of the Centre Pompidou. The Romanian-born abstract sculptor made a name for himself with famous works like The Kiss, and this Brancusi workshop is a lovingly assembled and surprisingly intimate peek into the mind of an artist.
14. Arènes de Lutèce
Discover the ruins of Paris’ Roman heritage at the Arènes de Lutèce in the Latin Quarter. Dating back to 1AD, it is considered to be the longest Roman amphitheatre ever constructed.
15. Rue Mouffetard
Go to this cobblestoned market street that is filled with artisan bakers, fromageries and gourmet sweet shops. Visit it on a Saturday when it closes off to form a huge food market.
16. Belleville
Take a stroll along the streets of Belleville, a district with a history of rebellion and multicultural flair, to expand your imagination. Belleville’s bustling Chinatown and artist residents make it a lively place to explore. Stroll through rue de Belleville to see where tragic chanteuse Edith Piaf is believed to have been born under a street lamp, then turn right onto pedestrian rue Dénoyez where you’ll find Paris’ most amazing street art.
17. La Promenade Plantée
Once a railroad track, it is now filled with flowers. This elevated walkway offers superb views and allows you to sidle through lush green archways high above the city crowds. This charming 4.5km pathway runs through most of the 12th arrondissement and you can join it from Avenue Daumesnil near the Bastille metro stop.
18. Musée de la Vie Romantique
Visit the loveliest free place in Paris. This museum dedicated to two artists active during the Romantic era: writer George Sand and painter Ary Scheffer, is perfect for a romantic agenda. The villa originally belonged to Scheffer and was the setting for popular salons of the day, attended by notable figures like Delacroix, Liszt and Chopin (Sand’s lover).
19. Le Marais
The lively Marais district is perfect for a Sunday stroll. Follow the trail of Louis XIV, hit the Jewish quarter or simply ogle the superb selection of vintage shops
20. Jardin des Tuileries
Experience nature by strolling through the historic park between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. Tread in the dainty footsteps of Marie-Antoinette and see where Napoléon built his triumphal arch.
