Share the article
Last updated
Are you looking for the best things to do in Paris, France?
Paris is a notoriously expensive city, and many of the best things to do cost money… a lot of money.
Luckily, there are a number of free things to do in the city that are worth checking out.
I used to live in Paris and recently returned for a month-long stay, and I’ve always been on the lookout for the best free activities in the city.
Many lists I’ve seen online of free things to do in Paris include entries like “walk the Champs-Élysées” or “visit the Latin Quarter.” And while these are nice areas to see, I don’t consider walking down a specific street or through a neighborhood a real ‘thing to do’.
Below you will find the best museums, churches, parks and other free attractions in Paris.
Tip: Don’t make these common mistakes in Paris during your trip!
1. Museum Carnavalet
Musée Carnavalet is one of my favorite museums in Paris, and best of all, it’s always 100% free.
Housed in two interconnected townhouses in the charming Marais district, the museum is dedicated to the history of Paris, from ancient times to the present.
Tip: After visiting this free museum, walk five minutes to the elegant Place des Vosges park.
Here you can visit the Maison de Victor Hugo, where the famous French author lived for many years. This is another free museum (and it’s quite small, so you won’t need too much time here.)
2. Free museums on the first Sunday
Most museums in Paris are open to everyone for free on the first Sunday of every month. If the timing of your visit works out, this is your chance to visit famous museums like the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and more, which normally have a high entrance fee.
Please note that you must reserve a ticket in advance, because the first Sunday free tickets are filling up!
Tip: If timing this doesn’t work out on your trip, there are two great art museums that are always free and worth a visit: the Petit Palais and the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris.
3. Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur
Sacré-Cœur is one of the most iconic churches in Paris. Located on the top of a hill in the Montmartre district, you can see some of the best views of Paris from the front of the church.
But many visitors don’t realize that it is actually free to enter the church!
Unlike some other historic churches in Paris, the Sacré-Cœur does not charge an entrance fee. It’s open to everyone, but if you want to climb the nearly 300 steps to the top of the dome, you’ll need to shall must pay €7.
4. Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette is one of the most famous department stores in Paris. It is also home to an amazing free observation deck with fantastic views of the city skyline.
This is my top recommendation for where to go if you want to see free views of the Eiffel Tower.
Tip: The department store itself is also very beautiful, and you can reserve a time slot for the free ‘Glasswalk’ which allows you to walk under the store’s beautiful domed ceiling.
5. Père Lachaise Cemetery
Another one of my favorite free things to do in Paris is visit the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Located in the 20th arrondissement, it is a little off the beaten track for many tourists, but well worth a visit.
For starters, it’s a beautiful cemetery that usually looks more like a park, with large shady trees everywhere. It’s the perfect place to walk around and escape the crowds.
You’ll also find the graves of many famous people from around the world here: it’s the final resting place of Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Frédéric Chopin, Marcel Proust and more.
6. Luxembourg Garden
Many tourists go to the Tuileries, a beautiful public garden near the Louvre, but personally I prefer the less crowded and less touristy Luxembourg Garden.
This is another beautiful garden between the 5th and 6th arrondissements. On a nice day, the park is full of Parisians lounging in green chairs and enjoying the sun.
It’s the perfect place for a picnic lunch or just a nice walk, enjoying the views of the landscaped gardens and Luxembourg Palace.
Tip: Another free garden you can visit in Paris is the Jardin des Plantes. This beautiful botanical garden is located in the Latin Quarter, about a mile from the Luxembourg Garden.
7. Free walking tour
If you’re looking for free things to do in Paris, why not take a free walking tour?
This isn’t 100% free as the guides on free walking tours work for tips, but it is a pay-what-you-can price. You can create a website like GuruWalk to find free walking tours in Paris.
These are great for first-time visitors who want to get to know Paris without paying for an expensive tour.
If you’re looking for something a little less generic, you can also find unique tours that delve deeper into exploring a particular neighborhood or era in history.
8. Center Pompidou
Center Pompidou is a modern art museum in Paris, and while it’s unfortunately not free (except on the first Sunday of every month), it offers great free views of the city.
You can enter the Center Pompidou and take the glass-encased escalators to the top floor of the building.
These escalators offer fantastic views of the city and get bigger the higher you go, including views of Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
9. Covered passages
Finally, one of the best free things to do in Paris is visiting the city’s covered passages. Many tourists don’t know about these, but they are a unique hidden gem worth seeing.
There are about twenty of these passageways throughout the city, with the best concentrated in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements. Within the passages you will find hidden cafes and great little shops.
Some of the best to visit are Galerie Véro-Dodat, Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
