When I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, at 19, I had one goal: see as much of Europe as possible while spending as little as possible.
And I’d say I did a pretty good job.
Paris was always at the top of my travel bucket list. The only problem? It’s one of Europe’s most expensive cities, which isn’t exactly ideal when you’re a college student trying to see Paris on a budget.
And while some expenses are simply unavoidable, I quickly learned that experiencing Paris doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank.
Rather than walk you through every detail of my three-day trip, I’m sharing tips and tricks that helped me save money along the way – without missing out on the quintessential Parisian experiences.
Please note: The pricing information below reflects rates from 2023 and may differ from current 2026 prices.
Paris Budget at a Glance
Trip length: 3 days
Travel style: College backpacker / budget traveler
Where we stayed: Airbnb in Courbevoie’s Charras district
Getting around: Metro + walking
Biggest savings: Budget airline + shared accommodation + free attractions + grocery meals
Total trip cost: About $570.31 (€508.40) per person
How We Got to Paris on a Budget
You’d think getting to Paris from Florence would be a breeze. But Florence’s small airport didn’t offer many budget-friendly flights, so we had to get a little creative.
The flight options we found from Florence were over $1,000 (€892) round trip per person.
Our solution? Fly out of Bologna, Italy, with Ryanair.
Getting there required a bit of extra travel. First, we took a train from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station to Bologna Centrale, which cost $22 (€19.80) round-trip per person. The ride took about one hour. From there, we hopped on the Marconi Express, a quick seven-minute ride connecting the station to Bologna Airport. Unfortunately, that short ride came with another $22 (€19.80) roundtrip price tag.
But the extra effort paid off. By flying from Bologna into Paris Beauvais Airport instead of Charles de Gaulle, we scored roundtrip Ryanair tickets for just under $150 (€134) per person. We also skipped the carry-on and seat selection fees. We sat next to strangers and stuffed everything into our backpacks instead. Not the most glamorous situation, but worth the savings!
Of course, landing at Beauvais meant we still had to make our way into Paris. We opted for the Paris-Beauvais Airport Shuttle, which took approximately an hour and 15 minutes to reach Porte Maillot, where we could easily access the Metro. Even better, our Airbnb was less than a 10-minute walk from the stop.
At $38 (€34) roundtrip per person, the shuttle was another affordable way to keep our transportation costs down.
Getting Around Paris on a Budget
The Paris Metro can get you just about anywhere, making it one of the easiest ways to explore the city without spending a fortune.
Knowing we’d be relying on public transportation throughout our three-day stay, we purchased the Navigo Weekly Pass for $36 (€32.40) per person. With individual Metro rides costing around $3 (€2.55) each at the time, the pass was a worthwhile investment for us.
For the amount we used public transportation, the pass worked well for us. Before buying one, calculate how many rides you expect to take and compare that with the current individual ticket and pass prices.
Accommodation
Between six girls, we split an Airbnb that came out to $95 (€85) each for our two nights, an incredible price. We were in a more local area, surrounded by quaint restaurants, local grocery stores, and apartment buildings. It was the perfect spot to feel immersed in the essence of the city. Going with a bigger group helped us keep the accommodation price on the lower side!
The Louvre
A little context: We visited Paris over a long weekend, Friday through Sunday. To save money on flights, we booked a 6 AM departure on Friday morning, which meant waking up around 2 AM to get to the airport…
Essentially, we did not sleep.
The Louvre is one of the world’s most impressive museums, and luckily for us, admission was free! As study abroad students under the age of 26 with student visas, we were able to explore the museum without spending a dime.
The Louvre continues to offer free admission to eligible visitors under 26 who reside in the European Economic Area. And if you don’t qualify, there’s another opportunity to visit for free! On the first Friday of every month (except July and August), the museum offers free evening admission to all visitors from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Just be sure to reserve your spot in advance.
As luck would have it, we arrived in Paris on a Friday. The catch? We were running on practically no sleep.
And even though April Fool’s Day wasn’t until the next day, we celebrated a day early by fooling ourselves.
We had every intention of squeezing in a nap earlier that day, but the excitement of being in Paris kept us going. That is, until the second we stepped inside the Louvre.
Suddenly, the exhaustion hit.
Like zombies, we shuffled through the galleries, following a list of must-see masterpieces we’d mapped out beforehand. We were about as efficient as sleep-deprived tourists could be, but it still took us nearly three hours to see everything on our list.
Looking back, it’s pretty comical. At the moment? Not so much.
My advice? Take advantage of the Louvre’s free admission if your trip lines up with it. Just make sure you’ve gotten more than 0 hours of sleep first!
2026 update: The Louvre still offers free admission on the first Friday of each month after 6 PM, except in July and August. Advance reservations are required, and the museum is open until 9 PM on Fridays.
The official Louvre information is here: Louvre hours and admission.
Free Things to Do in Paris: Gardens + Eiffel Tower Views
In Paris, gardens are essential. They’re a part of the culture. Think locals enjoying their morning strolls, birds chirping, and flowers beginning to bloom.
The Luxembourg Gardens and Tuileries Garden are two of my favorite spots to slow down. There are tourists, but it feels minimal. You can feel immersed with the locals. The best part about enjoying these gardens is that they’re free. You can still feel a part of the culture without dropping money on every attraction.
Not quite the same vibe, but we spent plenty of time around the Champ de Mars to capture photos of the Eiffel Tower. It’s a more touristy feel, but a great way to enjoy incredible views of the Eiffel Tower all day and night.
Pro tip: After nightfall, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes at the beginning of each hour. Grab a bottle of wine from a local grocery store, find a good view, and enjoy the show!
Cheap Eats in Paris on a Budget
Throughout our trip, we frequently popped into local supermarket chains like G20 and Carrefour Express, stocking up on grab-and-go sandwiches, chips, baguettes, bottles of wine, and, of course, candies to satisfy the sweet tooth. Over the three days, I spent about $90 (€80) on groceries, street food, and fast food.
Not only did this save us money, but it also meant less time sitting down for meals and more time exploring the city. Plus, wandering the aisles of French grocery stores, discovering unfamiliar snacks, and picking out picnic essentials was a fun way to experience a little slice of everyday life.
We also chose not to prioritize eating all the French specialties. We found crêpe carts on the streets, baguettes at the grocery stores, and croissants while walking around – but we didn’t feel the need to sit down often.
We ended up having two sit-down meals, which were delicious, but dining out wasn’t the priority of this trip. I do wish I’d tried escargots and a few more French specialties, but at the time, there were other experiences I’d rather put my money toward.
Admiring from the Outside
Sometimes, the most impressive part of a museum, church, or historic landmark is its exterior. And in a city as beautiful as Paris, not every attraction requires a ticket to be appreciated.
With countless museums and sites to explore, Paris offers a Museum Pass that grants admission to some of the city’s most famous attractions, including the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Palace of Versailles.
The pass comes in three options: 48 hours (2 days), 96 hours (4 days), or 144 hours (6 days).
But here’s the thing: With so much to see in Paris, it’s nearly impossible to squeeze everything into one trip. And just because a pass offers access to dozens of attractions doesn’t simply mean you’ll get your money’s worth.
Make a list of your must-see attractions before deciding if the pass is worth purchasing.
We ultimately skipped it. We had free admission to the Louvre, prioritized the Eiffel Tower over the Arc de Triomphe, and admired many of these sites from the outside.
- Notre-Dame (which was under construction at the time)
- The Panthéon
- Sacré-Cœur
- The Arc de Triomphe
- Sainte-Chapelle (although I’ll admit, we regret not going inside this one!)
Skipping the guided tours and museums gave us more time to wander. We were able to simply enjoy the architecture and overall essence of Paris.
Read our updated Paris Museum Pass guide for current prices, included attractions, and whether the pass is worth it.
Learn More For Your Trip
What My 3-Day Budget Trip to Paris Actually Cost
| Expense | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| Accommodation – Airbnb for two nights, split between six people in Courbevoie’s Charras district | $95 (€85) |
| Flights + airport transportation | $232 (€207) |
| Paris Metro pass | $36 (€32.40) |
| Seine River Cruise | $18 (€16) |
| Palace of Versailles | $39.31 (€35) |
| Street food, fast food + grocery store restocks | $90 (€80) |
| L’Arc Café Brasserie Restaurant + Gambino | $60 (€53) |
| Total per person | $570.31 (€508.40) |
A note on prices: These costs reflect what I paid during my trip and are meant to give you an idea of what my three-day Paris budget looked like. Prices for flights, accommodations, transportation, attractions, and food have changed since then, so always check current rates when planning your own trip.
Would I Consider This Trip a Success?
Absolutely.
Paris is a city you could spend weeks exploring and still discover something new around every corner. But for us, all we had was a limited budget, a few days, and a dream of exploring one of Europe’s most beloved destinations.
And we made it happen.
If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that you don’t have to do everything to experience a city. You just have to prioritize what matters most to you.
And looking back, I wouldn’t have explored Paris any other way.
If you’re planning a shorter visit, our 24-hour Paris layover itinerary shows what you can realistically see in one day.
–Sarah Klepack
