How much does a trip to Paris cost? See Paris on a budget with ibis
While Paris is often labelled too expensive for budget-conscious British travellers, you can escape to the romantic French capital on a budget if you plan ahead.
Paris, the City of Light, is also the city of croissants, café terraces and more romantic backdrops than a Hollywood movie. It’s a place many British travellers dream of but, despite its “very expensive” tag, a trip to Paris costs less than you think.
Planning ahead, making smart accommodation choices, and embracing the joys of travelling light can allow you to enjoy an unforgettable weekend in Paris – or even a whole week – without crippling your bank balance. In fact, you might be surprised at how far your pounds stretch if you approach your trip with the mindset of making things more affordable.
Let’s take a closer look at the cost of a trip to Paris by air, rail and ferry, staying in budget-friendly ibis hotels, eating well without overspending, travelling around the city affordably, and enjoying free things to do in Paris. Before you even think about sipping a café au lait on the Left Bank, you’ve got to get there. The good news? A trip to Paris costs less than you might think from the UK.
How much does a trip to Paris cost?
First up, you need to choose how to travel. If your dates are flexible and you don’t mind an early start, you can snap up flights to Paris from London, Manchester, Birmingham or Edinburgh for as little as £40 return with a budget airline like Ryanair. Do remember that low-cost carriers often charge extra for seat selection and cabin baggage, so you should factor in an extra £20 to £40 if you want to travel with more than just a small backpack. If you land at Charles de Gaulle or Orly airports, taking the RER train into central Paris costs around €13 (£11) and takes around half an hour. If you fly into Beauvais, which is often used by the budget airlines, the shuttle bus into the city costs about €17 (£14.50) and takes just over an hour.
Taking the train to Paris from London is comfortable, convenient, eco-friendly and affordable. The Eurostar departs from London St Pancras and delivers you to the Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris in just over two and a half hours. Given that there's no airport-style check-in or long wait for your luggage at the other end, along with the fact that Gare du Nord is right in the heart of Paris, the overall journey time is often quicker than flying. And if you book several months in advance, trains from London to Paris can cost from as little as £78 return. The typical fare is around £120, but last-minute fares can be more than £200, so it pays to plan ahead.
If you feel like combining modes of transport, you could catch the ferry from Dover to Calais and then take the TGV to Paris. Return prices for foot passengers start from around £45 per person, while the TGV from Calais to Paris costs around €32 (£27) if booked in advance. You could even take your car on the ferry and then drive to Paris, although this takes longer, and you would also have to pay for fuel and tolls. However, it's clear that a trip to Paris in France doesn't have to cost the earth.
A short break, long weekend or seven-day family escape?
If you're travelling to France on a budget, you still need to look at the overall cost of transport from the UK, accommodation in Paris, wining and dining in the City of Light, getting around the French capital, and a little sightseeing while you're there. Assuming you travel light by air or rail, and you stay in the convenient ibis Paris Gare du Nord Château-Landon, you could enjoy a three-night stay in Paris for around £400 as a solo traveller. This assumes you shop at supermarkets like Carrefour rather than eating out, and that you get around the city using the Métro or on foot.
If you're travelling to Paris as a couple, you could spend less than £700 for a weekend. This could break down as follows: return Eurostar tickets booked in advance (£200), two nights at a mid-range ibis hotel like the colourful and quirky ibis Styles Paris Montmartre Batignolles (£200), food and drink (£150), getting around the city (£30), and enjoying a few activities and attractions (£50). The hotel is ideal if you want easy access to the Sacré-Cœur, off-the-beaten-track cafés and narrow lanes packed with characterful architecture. For couples on a romantic weekend, this area has a cosy neighbourhood feel without being packed with tourists.
For a family of four, spending four days in the French capital might only cost around £1,200 if you avoid the big-ticket costs like visiting Disneyland Paris, although you might have to get a bit more creative with your budget if you plan to stay in Paris for seven days. For example, if you're travelling with your children, you could stay at the ibis Paris 17 Clichy-Batignolles or the ibis Budget Villemomble. Being slightly outside the centre of Paris, nightly rates are much lower, but you can still access the city's attractions using the Métro.
The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay allow visitors free entry on the first Sunday of each month; Jardin du Luxembourg, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and the Tuileries Gardens all offer free access, and you can always wander the markets of Marché Bastille or Marché d’Aligre for a feast of sights and smells. These markets are also great spots for people-watching and finding affordable bites like crusty bread, aromatic cheese and charcuterie: a Parisian picnic without the price tag. While you might be able to spend only around £1,000 as a couple for seven days in Paris, taking the family for a week could cost double that.
The best free attractions in Paris
It's possible to keep the cost of a trip to Paris low because many of the city’s attractions are free. Wandering the streets, sitting in parks and marvelling at the city's iconic architecture cost nothing, and it's these memories that tend to stick in the mind. A sunset stroll along the Seine allows you to admire the bridges – especially the beguiling Pont Neuf – and watch the river traffic. You could even find a hidden gem at the bouquinistes (second-hand-book stalls) on the banks.
If you head to Montmartre, you can soak up the bohemian atmosphere at Place du Tertre and the steps in front of the Sacré-Cœur. Expect spectacular views of Paris from this beautiful landmark. Stays at the ibis Paris Montmartre Sacré-Coeur are affordable, and the hotel is only a short walk from the Catholic basilica itself. There are plenty of great-value bistros serving delicious light bites and main courses for around €15 per meal, so eating out in Montmartre doesn't have to be expensive
Entry to the big museums in Paris can be pricey but, if you plan your trip carefully, you could enjoy free entry on certain days, and it's also worth visiting attractions like the recently renovated cathedral at Notre-Dame for its façade and square, as well as the Arc de Triomphe and the Tuileries Gardens. Many churches (like Saint-Sulpice) and dozens of historic squares are free to explore.
The city's parks, especially in the warmer summer months, are perfect for visitors looking to control the cost of a trip to Paris. Pack a picnic from a local supermarket and spend an afternoon in Parc Monceau or Parc Montsouris. You can also find plenty of tip-based walking tours conducted in English. As you only pay what you can afford, this is a great way to see the city without breaking the bank. If you're comfortable splashing out on something a bit special, plenty of operators offer cheap boat trips on the Seine. This is a great way to see landmarks like the Eiffel Tower without having to pay too much. When the tower is illuminated at night and you're enjoying a snack and a glass of something cold on the boat, you really feel like you're having an indulgent break at very little cost.
Are there any extra costs for a trip to Paris?
The tourist tax for visiting Paris depends on where you're staying. If you're booked into a budget ibis hotel, it's likely to be nearer the lower end of the scale at €1 to €2 per night. Three-star hotels charge around €5 per night, while a short-term rental like an Airbnb could cost more than €15 per person per night. The hotel fee may seem like a small price to pay but, if you're travelling as a family of four, this simple tax could cost €140 for a week. For two adults and two children staying in rental accommodation for seven nights, the tourist tax could come to more than €400 in total. It's advisable to cover this charge, and indeed any other costs like dining out and visiting attractions, using your bank card and paying in euros because this usually works out cheaper than letting the museum, store or restaurant convert the bill into sterling.
You'll want to avoid getting around the city by taxi because they're very expensive. Instead, consider walking between attractions; Paris is surprisingly compact. If you do have to make a slightly longer journey, buses are a good option because you can admire the sights. The Métro is equally cheap, with a single trip costing around €2.50 (£2) or 10 trips – bought in a pack known as a carnet – costing around €18 (£15). If you're planning on using public transport frequently, a Paris Visite pass grants you unlimited travel on the Métro, bus and tram for around €30 per day. Using the Métro is therefore one of the better ways of keeping the cost of a trip to Paris more manageable.
Which other French cities are worth considering?
If the cost of a trip to Paris is prohibitive and you’re open to exploring further afield, you could consider cities like Toulouse, Lyon, Marseille or Bordeaux. While they may not have the iconic landmarks you'll find in Paris, they deliver a mix of atmosphere, food, coastline and culture at a more reasonable cost.
Toulouse — “La Ville Rose” (the Pink City) is a relaxing outpost with terracotta buildings and a strong student scene, which helps keep the prices at cafés and bars affordable. Accommodation and dining out are much cheaper than in Paris, and the compact centre is easy to explore on foot. Toulouse also has great weather, a lively market culture and bargain bistros where you can eat well for less.
Lyon — Known as France's centre of gastronomy, Lyon is cheaper than Paris, and the food is perhaps even more varied. Explore the delightful streets in Vieux Lyon and the Presqu'île, and you’ll find many reasonably priced bouchons (traditional Lyonnaise eateries) where you can taste local delicacies like quenelles (pike dumplings) and Coussin de Lyon (a marzipan sweet with chocolate) without paying through the nose. You can easily fly to Lyon from airports in the UK, and the train is also convenient. It's a city that you can navigate with little trouble, and the museums and parks are ideal for those on a budget.
Marseille — Overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean, Marseille is a city steeped in history and bursting with character. Explore its seafood markets and then enjoy a stunning coastal walk in the Calanques National Park. Hotels and restaurants in Marseille are cheaper than in Paris, and the city has a more relaxed feel that attracts visitors looking to explore the South of France.
Bordeaux — Wine lovers will adore Bordeaux and the wider region. Quieter and cheaper than Paris, the elegant city centre bustles with a strong food scene, especially during the harvest season. Day trips to the region's world-famous vineyards are surprisingly affordable if you plan ahead and use local trains.
All these cities have good transport links, and you can easily catch the train to Paris, so you could combine a stay somewhere else with a short break in the capital. For families, couples or solo travellers looking to keep the cost of a trip to Paris within a certain budget, visiting regional France still gives you insight into the traditional ways of life.
With the right planning, you can find cheap travel from the UK to Paris, an excellent choice of accommodation at an ibis budget or mid-range hotel, cheap supermarket food, and easy ways to explore the French capital. If you draw up a list of free things to do in Paris, the cost of a short break or even a week with the family in Paris could be less than you think. Indeed, the City of Light can shine just as brightly on a budget.
If the cost of a trip to Paris is prohibitive and you’re open to exploring further afield, you could consider cities like Toulouse, Lyon, Marseille or Bordeaux. While they may not have the iconic landmarks you'll find in Paris, they deliver a mix of atmosphere, food, coastline and culture at a more reasonable cost.
