What to see and do in Paris for free

The things to see in Paris are potentially endless. Paris is the city of museums, Gothic churches, monuments, multi-ethnic neighbourhoods and good food. What Paris is certainly not is a cheap city.

There are many things to see for free, however, and with a bit of organisation and forethought you can make a cheap trip by visiting the museums for free (entering on Sundays) and the city's main monuments. In this guide we talk about the best things to do and see in Paris, unusual places to discover in the city and things to do for free without spending a penny.

Paris

The best way to visit Paris is to walk as much as possible. The French have a specific term(flâneur), untranslatable in other languages, that is used to talk about this pleasant wandering around the city, experiencing the emotions that the urban landscape offers. In Paris, there are streets that seem to stand still in time, colourful corners where you wouldn't expect them, sleepy neighbourhoods and vineyards in the middle of the city, which can be discovered by walking around.

Paris is very extensive and is one of the most populated cities in Europe. Under Napoleon III it was the protagonist of an unprecedented urban revolution, among the most substantial and criticised in human history. The historical heart of the city was gutted, with the aim of making Paris the most beautiful city in Europe. Indeed, it is as a result of this urban redevelopment that Paris has earned the title of the most romantic city in the world.

It is not for us to criticise or acclaim it, but we can certainly say that Paris is certainly a romantic city, as well as being one of the most visited cities in the world.

What to see in Paris

What to see in Paris for the first time

There are places and monuments in Paris that deserve to be seen at least once in a lifetime. To go to Paris and not visit them would be like missing an unmissable opportunity.

Anyone going to Paris for the first time cannot miss the city's must-sees.

You will find them below in the list of 10 must-see places in Paris:

• Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame de Paris is an imposing Gothic church, built during the 1200s on the banks of the Seine. Few people know that the creepy monsters overlooking the city from its dizzying height are historical fakes, added in the second half of the 19th century and not in the Middle Ages. They are called gargoyles and they watch over Paris and one of the city's most visited monuments.

• Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris. Its height varies due to the metal's sensitivity to changes in temperature (here are 13 other Parisian curiosities that will make you want to visit even more). On the first floor of the tower is a restaurant, the 58 Tour Eiffel. The best place to admire it is from the Trocadéro terrace, and at its foot is the famous Champs de Mars, where you can sit on the grass in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

• Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées compete with the Eiffel Tower as the symbol of the city. The Avenue des Champs Elysées is the most famous street in Paris. Already in the 18th century it was a fashionable street and Marie Antoinette and her bridesmaids strolled there. A walk from Arc de Triomphe to Place d'Etoile is a must.

• Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum and the Centre Pompidou cannot be ignored by first-time visitors to Paris. Here is the official website of the Louvre Museum where you can buy tickets online. In addition to the best-known museums in Paris, which are also among the most important in the world, visit the unusual and lesser-known museums, such as the Fragonard Perfume Museum or the Musée des Arts et Métiers, which houses Focault's famous pendulum in the spectacular Saint-Martin-des-Champs nave.

• Paris Museum of Natural Sciences

The Museum of Natural Sciences in Paris is unlike any other science museum. The Jardin des plantes inside will take your breath away and the huge exhibition, with 40 km of shelves displaying taxodermic specimens preserved over the centuries, looks like a great work of art with a hipster aesthetic.

• Catacombs of Paris

The Catacombs of Paris preserve the bones of over 6,000 people. They opened to the public in the late 1800s and have since become a tourist attraction with a macabre and curious flavour.

Over the years, the bones of the catacombs have been used to create sculptures and decorations in the underground quarries of Paris, creating a unique atmosphere. Here is the official website of the Paris Catacombs with useful info on how to get to and visit them.

• Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is located 20 km west of Paris. Louis XIV wanted to move his residence and court here, away from the characters and intrigues of French politics. The palace ended up becoming a showcase of power and luxury and all things French. All the decorations and objects in the palace were produced strictly in France. The recipe for the manufacture of mirrors was even wrested from Venice and it seems that the craftsmen who did so were executed by the Serenissima. The price to visit the Palace of Versailles is 18 euros per person. Here is the official website of the Château de Versailles and all the information you need to visit it.

• Sacre Coeur

The Basilica of the Sacré Coeur in Paris is a huge basilica built with a white stone that has the characteristic of not retaining dust and smog, resisting the passage of time. The church was built only recently. The first stone was laid in 1875.

• Montmartre

Montmartre and its hill, before the construction of the Sacred Heart Basilica, was nothing more than a small village on the outskirts of Paris. Traces of this vocation still remain and it is fun to go and discover them, between a bit of shopping, a street performer show and a crepe. The vineyards of Montmartre still produce a drinkable white wine that you can drink at the grape harvest festival held every year in Montmartre.

• Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter is so called because it is historically home to important schools and institutions, including the Sorbonne, where Latin was once spoken exclusively. It is home to the Pantheon, the Palais du Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Gardens.

The marvellous Pont Neuf is one of the bridges that crosses the Seine at the neighbourhood.

Lesser-known places in Paris

In the midst of the most touristy and postcard-perfect Paris you will come across unusual corners, neighbourhoods and secret streets, where there is an atmosphere of yesteryear.

Stroll down Rue Cremeieux, the most colourful street in Paris where it feels like you're in a pastel-painted village.

La Mouzaia is a 19th-century district with a labyrinth of pedestrian streets: built to house workers in low houses, cottages and terraced houses, today it is an oasis of peace, flowers and colour.

Butte aux cailles is another relaxing spot, with sleepy cats, stencillas and climbing plants (few people know about this corner of Paris, perfect for a walk off the usual routes).

Paris's merry-go-round museum is perhaps the most incredible of the city's little-known museums: it is a cabinet of curiosities with hand-painted wooden rides and toys.

11 things to see for free in Paris

Below are 11 special and free things to do in Paris, which are also some of the most beautiful things to see in the city.

• Alternative districts of Paris

Canal Saint-Martin is one of the most alternative neighbourhoods in Paris at the moment. The canal and the locks create an extremely Parisian atmosphere and the clubs in the neighbourhood are all worth discovering. One of the most interesting places is Le comptoir Gènérale, a huge space with plants inside that is also a cabinet of curiosities related to the world of the French colonies.

• Père Lachaise Cemetery

Père Lachaise Cemetery is one of the most fascinating and visited places in Paris. Here are the graves of Oscar Wild and Jim Morrison and other important people.

The cemetery is located in the 20th, between Menilmontant and Belleville, two neighbourhoods you absolutely must visit. Here is the official website of the Père Lachaise cemetery

• Street-Art Tour in Paris

Street Art in Paris has something exquisitely Parisian about it, some shade of elegance and charm. There are kisses and dancers, Fafi's sexy girls and Method Graphic's Mona Lisa in reverse-graffiti mode.

The Tour of Street Art in Paris can only start in Belleville. Rue Dènoyez, at the Belleville metro station, is a mosaic of colours in constant flux.

Several walls in Belleville and other parts of the city are officially and legally available to artists.

• Visiting secret places in Paris

There are beautiful corners of Paris, off the usual tourist routes and often unknown even to Parisians themselves. Visiting them is of course free, you just need good legs and a little curiosity. Rue Cremieux is the most colourful street in Paris, a village corner in the heart of the city. You will also get the same feeling at the Mouzaia, Butte aux Cailles and Village Saint-Paul.

• Jardin des Plants

A visit to the Jardin des Plantes is completely free. You will find yourself in a spectacular greenhouse where exotic and other plants live and where it is summer even in winter. The official website of the Jardin des Plantes can be found here. From here you can access the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle a gigantic glass and iron building in the style of the Belle Epoque with an exhibition of taxodermy that looks like a work of art. Unfortunately, the entrance ticket costs 9 euros, but it is certainly worth it.

• La Villette

The Parc de la Villette is a large green area that grew up where the only slaughterhouse in Paris used to be. Here you will find the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, the largest science museum in Europe, Géode, the hemispherical projection room, the Cité de la musique and the Jardin du Dragon, a special place to let children play.

• Saint-Ouen flea market

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen Flea markets are an institution in Paris. The biggest (it's huge) is the Saint-Ouen Flea Market.

It is located in Saint-Ouen, a suburb of Paris. It is held every day at different times, on Saturdays and Sundays all day (until 6pm). You can find the official website of the Saint-Ouen Flea Market here.

• 59 Riv oli and an alternative art tour in Paris

59 Rivoli is an occupied building in Paris where you can find all kinds of ateliers with free admission. It is also a great cultural centre and an interesting place to visit. You can find the official website of 59 Rue de Rivoli here.

• The vineyards of Montmartre

Few people know of the existence of the ancient vineyards of Paris. There are still many vineyards and every year the Montmartre grape harvest festival is celebrated. Here you will find some information on the official website of the grape harvest in Montmartre. Climb the Steps of Sacre Coeur; facing the Sacre Coeur Church at the top of Montmartre, there is a fabulous view of the city and one of the most beautiful vantage points in Paris.

• Free museums in Paris

Every first Sunday of the month admission to museums in Paris is free. The Louvre Museum and the Centre Pompidou are among the most important along with the Musée d'Orsay.

There are also little-known museums in Paris, little visited by the general public and free of charge. One of these, in the city that is a symbol of perfume production, is the Fragonard Perfume Museum, where you can learn about perfumery objects from various historical periods. Both the visit and the audio guide are completely free of charge. The visit to the Maison Balzac is free of charge.

• Free monuments in Paris

Notre-Dame, Victor Hugo's Gothic cathedral, can be visited for free. Admission is charged only for the Towers, the Crypt and the Treasury.

Visiting the immense gardens of Versailles is also free, except on Sundays when the musical fountains are in operation. There is a charge to visit the Eiffel Tower but a walk around the tower is a must and free of charge.

What to see nearby

Within an hour of Paris by public transport you can reach castles and special gardens. One such place to visit around Paris is Giverny where Calude Monet lived and painted. It is also a delightful village with the Impressionist painter's house-museum (find the official website of the Fondation Monet here).

10 things not to do in Paris

• Don't book flights that land at Beauvais airport

• Don't stop at the view from the Eiffel Tower

• Don't drive into the centre of Paris

• Don't just visit the Louvre museum

• Don't pay in cash

• Don't go out at night in trainers if you want to go dancing

• Don't venture into the banlieues

• Don't speak loudly

• Don't forget your manners

• Don't be shocked by a 38 euro pizza

What to do in Paris?

Below we have selected things to do in Paris in 2, 3, 4 and 7 days to help you prepare a useful itinerary for visiting the city.

• What to do in Paris in two days

Those visiting Paris in two days can make a selection of the most important museums to visit. If and when you get tired of long lines and huge museums, you can visit Victor Hugo's House Museum and relax in its country atmosphere.

To the must-see monuments in the city (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame de Paris and Champs Elisées) you can add a visit to the Montmartre district (here is all the info on the unmissable Maison Rose in Paris) and its landmark, the Church of the Sacré Coeur.

A walk in the Latin Quarter can't be separated from a stop at the most beautiful historical bookshop in Paris: Shakespeare and Co. Also in the Latin Quarter is another unmissable bookshop: it's called Abbey Bookshop.

• What to do in Paris in three days

If you visit Paris in three days, you can see other fascinating neighbourhoods such as the Marais and the multi-ethnic Belleville and Menilmontant with a visit to the Père Lachaise cemetery where the graves of Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde and Maria Callas are located.

• What to do in Paris in 4 days

Four days are ideal for visiting Paris. In addition to the main monuments and free things to see in Paris, you can visit the Parisian catacombs and underground Paris, which is an experience not to be missed. With a little organisation and selection of things to do, you'll have plenty of time to visit Village Saint Paul, a corner of the Middle Ages and the countryside in the heart of the city.

• What to do in Paris in 7 days

A week in Paris is always a good idea. You get to get into the spirit of the city, soak up its atmosphere and get a feel for what it's like to live in Paris. You can rent a bike and pedal along the Promenade Plantée, which is a sort of highline in Parisian sauce.

How to visit Paris

How to visit Paris? Where to sleep? Where to eat without spending a fortune? Below you'll find all the info you need for visiting Paris.

• Where to stay in Paris

Sleeping in a hotel in Paris can be expensive. Luckily, Airbnb comes to our rescue and offers cheap and interesting accommodation in beautiful districts of the city. At Where to Sleep in Paris on Airbnb you'll find a solution for all budgets of flats worth sleeping in.

• Where to eat in Paris

Petrelle is a quintessentially Parisian restaurant. You'll eat among crystal chandeliers, antique prints, silk wallpaper surrounded by curiosities collected over the years by the eccentric owners.

But what to eat in Paris? Paris is a mecca for good wine, pastries and especially chocolate. Here are 10 pastry shops not to be missed in Paris and here is a selection of the best gourmet food trucks in Paris.

• Shopping in Paris

On Rue de Charonne , the fashion names share the promenade with small independent shops that can be a good alternative for buying something original and exquisitely Parisian.

Canal Saint-Martin is the perfect place to visit the younger ateliers.

The Marais is home to the big brand shops. But if you go a little further up, in the Haute Marais you will discover small shops, little-known brands and an endless variety of alternatives.

Paris Museums

Paris has a museum for everything, even sewers, perfume and wine. Everything is elevated to a work of art in the city that is already an open-air museum in itself. The artistic and cultural offer of Paris, therefore, manages to intrigue everyone. Which museums should not be missed on a trip to Paris? Here's the list

• Louvre

• Musée d'Orsay

• Centre Pompidou

• Musée de l'Orangerie

• Musée Rodin

• Grand Palais

• Palais de Tokyo

• Musée Picasso

Paris with children

Paris is a beautiful city to explore with children. Apart from the more touristy places, the city gets around well, the transport is functional and the whole city is well served. You can choose to stay in neighbourhoods away from the crowds and among a wide variety of museums and attractions perfect for children.

The City of Science and Industry, at the Parc de la Villette, offers an unusual and fun approach to science and also houses the Cité des enfants, with exhibitions, shows and animations on the links between science, society and our daily lives.

The Musée en herbe is an interactive space where children can become familiar with graphic and visual arts.

At theAcadémie de la Magie one can watch fascinating magic exhibitions and discover extraordinary illusion games.

The Musée du Chocolat Gourmet Chocolate Museum could also be a stop on the agenda, fun even for grown-ups(Musée gourmand du Chocolat - Choco-Story 28 bd Bonne Nouvelle, Paris 10ème).

Districts of Paris

Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, but which are the most interesting neighbourhoods where you can take a trip off the beaten track? Here's a list

• Marais

• Montmartre

• Pigalle

• St Germain de Pres

• Bastille

• Jourdain

• Odeon

• Belleville

• Latin Quarter

Questions and Answers

What to do for free in Paris?

Père Lachaise Cemetery, Street Art in Belleville, Jardin des plantes, Rue Cremieux, Maison Balzac, Champs-Élysées. Sacré Coeur Church

How big is Paris?

Paris measures 105.4 km²

Which neighbourhoods to avoid in Paris?

Banlieue, North of Paris, Le Halles, Chatelet

What is there to do in Paris?

Louvre Museum, Montmartre, Champs Elysées, Centre Pompidou, Musée d'Orsay, Latin Quarter, Canal Saint-Martin, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Saint-Ouen Flea Market, Notre Dame

What is the closest airport to the centre of Paris?

The closest airport to the centre of Paris is Paris Orly Airport, which is 14 km south of Paris

How is the city of Paris divided?

Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, arranged in a spiral from the centre of the city and running clockwise