How to Enjoy Paris for Free
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You could spend a week just admiring its many vistas, parks and noble buildings. It's also a center for fashion, food and culture. Hotels there may not be cheap, but the "City of Lights" offers dozens of free attractions, museums and fun things to do. Below are just a few.
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Stroll along the Champs Elysées. One of the most famous--and dramatic--boulevards in the world, the Champs Elysées connects the Place de la Concorde with the Arc de Triomphe. The wide thoroughfare is lined with cafes, banks, airline offices and large stores. In addition, many of the world's top fashion houses are headquartered in the streets leading off of the Champs Elysées. The boulevard loves a party; it's home to the final leg of the Tour de France as well as the city's Bastille Day parade each July.
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Enjoy free Sundays at Paris' major museums. The art museums of Paris are numerous and legendary. Fortunately for visitors, they are also free on the first Sunday of each month. Included are such popular sites as the Louvre (home to the "Mona Lisa," among thousands of other works), the Musée d'Orsay (home to an extraordinary French Impressionist collection) and the Rodin Museum (a collection of that sculptor's works housed in an elegant townhouse).
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Explore the "always free" smaller museums. In addition to free Sundays, several of Paris' smaller museums offer free admission every day. Among these are the Musée Fragonard (a study of France's perfume industry), the Victor Hugo House (the Place des Vosges townhouse where the famous 19th-century writer lived and worked) and the Musée Carnavalet (the museum of the history of Paris).
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Relive Parisian history at Père Lachaise Cemetery. Located northeast of the city's center, Père Lachaise Cemetery combines history with a park-like setting. The dramatic stone monuments mark the final resting places of such notables as Edith Piaf, Chopin, Modigliani, Oscar Wilde and rocker Jim Morrison.
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Marvel at Notre Dame Cathedral. Yes, climbing to the top of the tower will cost you a couple of euros, but exploring the grandeur of the cathedral is free. Make sure to walk all the way around the outside of the building; the best view of it is from the rear. A good way to get a feel for this Gothic church is to attend services there. There are many offered in English.
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Attend a free fashion show. Every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. from March through December, the grand Art Nouveau department store Au Printemps hosts a free fashion show in its seventh-floor salon. It's a great way to experience French design and style.
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Shop at the Clinquecourt Flea Market.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure to arrive early for free Sundays. These events are very popular, and the museums get crowded later in the day.
