France Attractions

There’s no denying that a visit to Paris is often going to be an expensive affair – especially when the euro remains such a strong currency. But do you think that keeps budget travelers away from this famously costly city?

Au contraire.

Budget-conscious travelers know that just about any place can be budget-friendly if you’re being clever, and that includes Paris. In addition to saving money by staying in hostels in Paris and eating on the cheap in Paris, there are also ways to save money on many of the city’s attractions. Yes, some of the “must-do” things in Paris will cost you money, but if you play your cards right by taking advantage of the many free attractions in Paris for most of your trip, then fitting a few higher-priced tickets into your itinerary won’t feel like such an economic burden.

In this article, you’ll find information on the Paris sights that are always free, some that are free at certain times or days of the week, and some that we think are pretty darn cheap all the time (and so might fit into even the tightest travel budget).

>> And for a more in-depth look at attractions in Paris, check out this article on things to do in Paris.

Always-Free Paris

These activities are always considered “free things to do in Paris” – there’s never an admission fee, no matter what time of day or day or the year.

• Notre Dame Cathedral – That’s right, the famous cathedral (one of Paris’ top sights) is always free to enter. You’ll pay a fee to climb the tower (usually) or visit the treasury, but not to enter the church itself.
• Eiffel Tower Views – Sure, taking the elevator (or climbing the stairs) to the top costs a pretty penny, but there’s no charge for enjoying a view of one of the world’s most iconic structures. Bonus points if you’re picnicking in the public green spaces around the tower – cheap eats and a great view? Priceless.
• Paris Greeters Tours – The Paris Greeters are residents who you can contact (via the website) for short tours of certain parts of the city, and it’s entirely free.
• Seine River – There’s no charge for a stroll along Paris’ famous river, or for perusing the legendary bookseller carts that line up along the riverside on the Left Bank.
• Steps of Sacre Coeur – Many would argue that the steps in front of the Sacre Coeur church atop Montmartre offer some of the best views in the city, and it’s a view you’ll enjoy for free.
• Paris Flea Markets – Sure, doing any shopping will set you back a few euro, but walking through Paris’ many outdoor markets and enjoying the people-watching they offer won’t cost a thing.
• Fragonard Perfume Museum – Not only is this great perfume museum free to visit, the guided tour is free, too.
• Versailles Gardens – A visit to the Versailles palace will cost you, but the fabulous and extensive gardens are free of charge (except on Sundays, when the musical fountains are going).
• Galeries Lafayette Fashion Shows – Each Friday from March-December the popular Paris department store has a free fashion show on the 7th floor.
• Hôtel de Ville – Despite the name, you can’t book a room at the Hôtel de Ville – it’s Paris’ City Hall. It’s beautiful to look at from the outside, and there are public areas inside with art exhibits that change regularly and that you can visit for free.
• Maison de Victor Hugo – Fans of the author will enjoy a visit to his apartment, which includes exhibits of first editions.
• Musée Curie – This museum is housed in the one-time lab of Marie Curie, and displays include the Nobel prizes she won.
• Maison de Balzac – Even if you’ve never read a single thing Balzac wrote, a visit to his former apartment is worth it for the view of the Eiffel Tower from the attached garden.
• Musée Carnavalet – This excellent Paris history museum is always free, and a bonus is that it’s housed in old Parisian mansions.
• Parks and Gardens in Paris – There are too many to list here, but Paris is full of parks, gardens, squares, and public green spaces that are free to enjoy. Some of them have extras depending on the season, too, including free summer movies at the Parc de la Villette and free puppet shows at the Jardin du Luxembourg.
• Cemeteries in Paris – Not only do the old Paris cemeteries like Pere Lachaise and the Montparnasse Cemetery let you get some quasi-celebrity sightings with all the famous people buried in them, they’re just creepy-cool places to wander.
• Paris Plage – When the city turns the banks of the Seine into a beach every summer, it’s available to the public free of charge.
• Ice Skating Rinks – And when, in the winter, temporary ice skating rinks pop up in a few places around the city, they’re free, too. (Renting the skates will cost a nominal fee.)
• Free Concerts in Paris – Many of the churches in Paris regularly host free concerts, whether it’s an organ recital at Notre Dame or Saint-Eustache, classical or blues concerts at the American Church in Paris, or choir rehearsal at Sacre-Coeur. The days of the week vary, but if you’re interested ask at the tourist information office to see what’s going on while you’re in town.
• Musee de Prefecture de Police – Yes, it’s a bit out of the ordinary for a trip to Paris, but if you’ve got antsy kids who might want to see something a little different or you just really like police history, then Paris’ police museum might be ideal.
• Observation Deck at La Samaritaine – Before this one-time department store closed for renovations in 2005, the grand view from the top-floor observation deck was free. We’ll see if they keep it that way upon re-opening.

( http://www.parislogue.com)

Being a student of history I have always wished to visit France on a historical trip. Unlike Britain, continental Europe is seemingly more in touch with its history and France in particular carries an air of splendor not present in many other European countries. If you are planning to undertake a similar trip my advice is to fly and drive. Car hire in France is readily available, and flying always starts the holiday with a bit of flare.

I would be taking the girlfriend and with my deal breaking skills I had managed to secure a week of touring for two days in Paris. Flying into Charles de Gaulle we would stay in Paris and do the romance thing before we acquired a hire car. This was my penance for dragging her round the battlefields and cemeteries of the First World War and the glorious buildings and sites of the medieval period.

After a few days of romance in the capital we contacted the car hire firm, they would deliver the car to our hotel and we could deposit it at a different destination later in the holiday. On leaving the bustling metropolis of Paris on a scorching summer's day I was glad this hire car had air conditioning, it truly made all the difference.

First on my list of places to go was Rouen, this city had always captured my imagination as the place where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. As we followed the Seine from Paris the car swallowed the road in front of us, luckily the car hire company had given us something a little racy. Rouen had been one of the finest and most prosperous cities in medieval Europe, with some fabulous examples of Gothic architecture it as at the top of the list for places to see.

The outstanding Notre Dame Cathedral dominates the city despite its almost complete destruction during the D-day offensive. As we arrived I insisted that we should park the hire car and walk into this fantastic city, with its half timbered buildings and gothic architecture at every turn it takes you back to a different age, an age where Britain still had continental possessions. The feeling of the city has remained, despite modernity creeping in; it retains its medieval essence.

After spending a night soaking in the culture of this magnificent city we headed to the next stage of the journey, I would advise any fan of history to visit the sites of the Great War, as a constant reminder of the brutality of war they offer a poignant reminder of nastier side of humanity. Next on the itinerary would be Arras, as a town near the Western Front it contained many cemeteries and would give a representation of the horror of the war to end all wars.

This is where the hire car came in very useful, as up country from the town laid the striking Vimy Memorial, representing the Battle of Vimy Ridge, an offensive launched as part of the wider Battle of Arras, its eerie serenity belied the slaughter that had occurred here ninety years earlier. Added to this the town itself had some beautiful Gothic architecture most notably the guildhall, not to mention a huge array of fine restaurants and cafes.

Close by to this town is the field of Agincourt, literally a field now, without a hire car it would be impossible to view this site. The scene of Henry V's most recognized battle it offered those with a semblance of nationalism the delight of seeing one of the greatest English victories in history.

As our trip came to a close we headed to Calais, here we would deposit the hire car and board the Eurostar for the trip under the channel back to England. Despite the girlfriend's protestations of having to endure a week of historical touring, she had ultimately enjoyed it. I would advise this kind of trip to anyone, whether a history lover or not, using a car hire service and touring the French countryside gaining knowledge about our nation's past conflicts is too worthwhile an opportunity to pass up.