A Guide to Finding the Best Budget Places to Stay in Paris

Vibrant, creative, cosmopolitan and packed with world-class attractions, Paris attracts millions of visitors each year. The City of Light has no problem filling its hotel rooms, yet between the outlandishly expensive and the definitely downmarket, there are still plenty of affordable gems. Fortunately, with a bit of foresight you can find these good-value stays, but you’ll need to know where and how to dig them out. Here’s our guide to the best budget places to stay in Paris.

There’s no point sacrificing the quality of your sleep to save money. Before booking your room at the best budget places to stay in Paris, make sure your hotel offers:

• A 24-hour reception service handy for early morning or late-night arrivals.
• A warm welcome and insider tips on exploring Paris.
• A buffet breakfast and affordable dining options available 24/7.
• Inviting areas within the hotel for getting together with friends and keeping your kids entertained, or workspace for meeting with business colleagues.
• Services expected by 21st-century travellers, including free Wi-Fi and quality bedding like Sweet Bed™ by ibis.

As it’s close to some of Paris’s chicest districts, finding budget accommodation near the Eiffel Tower is no easy feat. However, its proximity to the largely residential 15th arrondissement opens up a few possibilities.

• Best bet near the Eiffel Tower: ibis Paris Tour Eiffel Cambronne 15th has Eiffel Tower views from some of its rooms, while the décor throughout ibis Styles Paris Eiffel Cambronne makes clever reference to the tower’s design. Both hotels are within a 15-minute stroll of the Iron Lady.
• Public transport nearby: Métro lines 6, 8 and 10.

Handy for Eurostar travellers from the UK and Northern Europe arriving at the Gare du Nord – the largest railway station in Europe – the 10th arrondissement is one of Paris’s favourite neighbourhoods for the best budget places to stay in Paris. It has a lively, diverse street life and cultural scene, and you can easily reach Place de la République or the Canal Saint-Martin on foot for an evening out with family or friends. If you’re sightseeing, Montmartre is only 15 minutes away by the Métro, with the Louvre about the same distance.

• Best budget hotel in the 10th arrondissement: ibis Paris Gare du Nord La Fayette 10th, a family-friendly hotel with a private garden and a cool bar close to the Grands Boulevards.
• Public transport nearby: RER B and D; Métro lines 2, 4, 5 and 7. 

With famous Paris landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre accessible in less than half an hour on public transport, the neighbourhood around the Gare de Lyon railway station in the 12th arrondissement is family-friendly and convenient – one of the best budget places to stay in Paris. If you’re looking to keep up your fitness regime, you’re just a few minutes’ walk from the René-Dumont greenway and the Jardin des Plantes for cycling and running sessions. After a quick bite to eat? The dining hub at Ground Control has lots of affordable street-food options, often accompanied by live music. Got tickets for a concert at Accor Arena? You can walk there in 10 minutes.

• Best cheap hotel in the 12th arrondissement: ibis Paris Gare de Lyon Diderot 12th, with family rooms, workspace and food and drink available 24 hours a day.
• Public transport nearby: RER A; Métro lines 1 and 14.

One neighbourhood, two ambiences. On one side, the flower-filled streets of village-like Butte-aux-Cailles, suspended in time – and on the other, the sacred temples of street art by heavyweights like Obey and Monsieur Chat. Nearby, you can eat for reasonable prices in Paris’s Chinatown or countless local restaurants serving global cuisines. You can also catch free cultural events in the soaring glass towers of the François Mitterrand Library – part of the National Library of France – close to the River Seine.

• Best affordable hotel in the 13th arrondissement: with pets allowed, ibis Paris Place d’Italie 13th is about a 10-minute walk from Italie 2 shopping centre and about 20 minutes from picturesque Rue Mouffetard.
• Public transport nearby: Métro lines 5, 6 and 7.

To the west of Paris, the leafy 17th arrondissement is renowned for its laid-back atmosphere, the peaceful water gardens in Square des Batignolles and the Rue Poncelet food market. It’s a district you’ll be keen to stroll in the morning before enjoying a typically Parisian breakfast of coffee and croissants. Paris’s monuments are close at hand too; from Avenue des Ternes, you can walk to the iconic Arc de Triomphe in around 15 minutes. By the Métro, you’re about 15 minutes from Montmartre, the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower.

• Best budget hotel in the 17th arrondissement: ibis Styles Paris Batignolles has an attractive floral design, a plant-filled patio and spacious guest rooms sleeping up to three guests.
• Public transport nearby: Métro lines 13 and 14.

Alive with cultural hubs like the Philharmonie de Paris and Grande Halle de la Villette – once an abattoir – the 19th arrondissement draws in young Parisians in search of affordable accommodation. Their influx has contributed greatly to the life of the neighbourhood, which is full of fantastic places to eat or drink without thrashing your wallet. If you’re looking for budget-friendly activities in Paris, stroll along the Canal de l’Ourcq, picnic around the Bassin de la Villette, check out the free events at Centquatre-Paris or have a poke around the steep, cobbled lanes of the charming Mouzaïa district. From the 19th, you can also be at Notre-Dame or the Eiffel Tower in just 30 minutes on the Métro.

• Best budget hotel in the 19th arrondissement: with its contemporary décor and connecting rooms for parents and kids, ibis Styles Paris Buttes-Chaumont is 10 minutes’ stroll from the family-friendly Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie and the Zénith Paris indoor arena.
• Public transport nearby: Métro lines 2, 5 and 7bis.

Arty, cosmopolitan and with an inspiring energy, the 20th arrondissement to the east of the city centre is served by the Métro, which transports you to the Louvre in 25 minutes and the Eiffel Tower in half an hour. The district is also home to several iconic Parisian sights of its own, including Père-Lachaise Cemetery – burial place of Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison – and Rue Dénoyez in funky Belleville, famous for its ever-changing street art.

• Best affordable hotel in the 20th arrondissement: family-friendly ibis budget Paris Porte de Vincennes has rooms with double and bunk beds for up to three guests, a leafy central courtyard and easy access along the A4 motorway to Disneyland Paris.
• Public transport nearby: Métro lines 1 and 9.

With the extension of the Métro and RER lines outwards, the Parisian suburbs have become far more accessible, with room prices reflecting their out-of-town location. Popular places to rest your head include fast-gentrifying Montreuil with its trendy dining scene, the tranquil vibe and Art Deco architecture of Montrouge or the creativity of Pantin. These suburbs or ‘banlieues’ are where you’ll find some of the best hotel deals in Paris – as long as you don’t mind a few extra minutes on public transport.

• Top picks in the suburbs: ibis budget Paris Porte de Pantin or ibis budget Paris Porte d’Italie Ouest.
• Public transport nearby: most suburban towns are connected to Paris by fast and modern Métro or RER lines.

1. Avoid the city centre; it’s more expensive than the outlying arrondissements.
2. Find hotels in the suburbs; public transport works well in most parts of Paris.
3. Research travel time by public transport; actual geographical distance means little if there are Métro lines taking you straight into central Paris.
4. Focus on visiting Paris in low season; many hotels reduce their room rates between November and March.
5. Check for major events; concerts, trade shows, sporting events and festivals often see increases in hotel room prices. 
6. Filter your online hotel search; try searching by price or rating.
7. Check recent reviews; it’s the easiest way to avoid unpleasant surprises like ending up in an unsavoury neighbourhood or finding a lack of soundproofing in guest rooms. 
8. Book directly on ibis.accor.com; prices are cheaper than on any other platform.

Save money on your hotel room, and you have more cash in hand to spend on having a seriously good time on your Paris visit. We’ve also got some useful tips on the best cheap places to visit in France.