- Accommodation
- Transport
- Nutrition
- sights
- Purchases
Paris is a city that never fits into any framework, and does not correspond to any stereotypes. For some, Paris is the Louvre and Notre Dame, for others - the smell of roasted chestnuts on the boulevards and morning coffee with famous croissants. For some, this is a monument to the triumph of engineering - the Eiffel Tower. For some, Paris is a romantic trip to a beautiful city, slightly washed out by rain, as if descended from the paintings of the Impressionists. This city is different for everyone. To discover Paris, it is enough to visit it.
Paris is considered one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Therefore, planning your travel budget carefully is especially important. Everyone has their own concept of good rest and comfort, but still the average figure can be deduced.
Since France is part of the euro area, the question of which currency to go to Paris with is not worth it. The main thing is to determine with what amount to go there.
Accommodation
Before looking for housing, you must immediately understand that there is simply no cheap housing in Paris. It costs at least 20 euros to spend the night in a hostel on the outskirts, in a room with 12 beds. The season also affects the cost of living. The most expensive rent is in July-August and December-January.
The rest of the time, the prices for rental housing in hotel apartments are approximately as follows:
- A simple room for two at the B&B (bed and breakfast) can be rented from 37 euros per day.
- A double room (with one bed) in a guesthouse costs from 45 euros per day.
- In a hostel, a double room with breakfast will cost from 50 euros.
- Apartments with a small kitchenette are rented from 65 euros per day.
- In a 2 * hotel, prices start from 50 euros for the cheapest room.
- In a three-star hotel, a double room costs from 55 euros.
- In the "four" for a double room you will have to pay from 75 euros.
- In a five-star hotel, the price for a double room starts from 140 euros.
Many Parisians rent apartments for 40-50 euros. Housing from such owners is usually rented in advance.
The closer to the center, the higher the prices in hotels. Relatively inexpensive hotels are located in the area of Place de la Bastille and Notre Dame Cathedral. It is even cheaper to find accommodation in the areas of Montparnasse, Austerlitz and Lyons train stations. Although these areas are not considered the safest.
Transport
The public transport system is very developed: metro, buses, trams, RER commuter trains. The latter can be seen in the "subway" along with the subway trains. Outwardly, these trains are distinguished by white and red carriages with two floors. The main city is divided into five zones, on which the fare depends - the higher the zone number, the more expensive the journey.
As in many neighboring countries, Paris has a single transport ticket. For 1, 9 euros you can travel by metro, bus, tram, electric trains of the first zone and even the funicular in Montmartre. The main thing here is correct routing. For 14, 9 euros you can buy 10 tickets for the above types of transport.
There are many options for travel tickets: for a day without a limit on the number of trips, for a week, for a month. There is also a one-day Paris Visit travel card, which adds an airport shuttle, a trip to Disneyland to all routes and modes of transport, as well as a 25 percent discount on Montparnasse and the Arc de Triomphe. Full information on travel tickets can be obtained already at the airport, at the tourist point.
More about the transfer:
- There is a bus between Opera Station and the terminals at Charles de Gaulle Airport. The fare is 12 euros, the journey time is a little over an hour.
- From the Gare de l'Est and from the Place de la Nation, this airport can be reached by buses numbered 350 and 351 for 6 euros.
- Getting to the same air harbor by taxi will cost 50-55 euros.
- From Place Denfert-Rochereau in half an hour and 8 euros you can take a bus to Orly airport.
- From the metro station Porte de Choisy to Orly, the bus takes 40 minutes, the ticket price is 2 euros.
- There is a dedicated express metro line from Anthony station to Orly. Automatically controlled trains are delivered to the site in just six minutes. The cost is just over 9 euros, and travel between the airport terminals is free.
- There are special buses that help tourists from these two airports to get to Disneyland. They run every hour, the journey takes an hour and a half, the cost is 23 euros.
- A taxi ride to Orly airport will cost € 30-35.
Beauvais airport is less in demand, but if something happens - from Port Mayo square the shuttle operates with this airport. If there are no traffic jams, you can get there in an hour and a quarter, the fare is 17 euros.
Nutrition
If we consider the average prices for basic types of food, the picture is as follows:
- Breakfast at the hotel costs 10 euros.
- Dine in a cafe - for 15 euros.
- You can grab a slice of pizza and coffee at the bistro for as little as 6 euros.
- A trip to an ordinary restaurant outside the center will cost about 40 euros.
Paris is a place where the desire to save money is constantly struggling with the desire to join haute French cuisine, just to visit restaurants marked with Michelin stars.
There are several places where you can satisfy these desires without huge budget losses.
- Bouillon Pigalle is a place where interior design, serving and traditional cuisine are combined with quite reasonable prices. The famous onion soup here costs only 3 euros 80 cents (6 euros cheaper than the average in the city). Snails in a classic sauce - 6, 4 euros, the most expensive dish, foie gras, - 8, 8 euros, a glass of red wine - 3, 3 euros.
- Restaurant Prokop (Le Procope) is one of the most famous and oldest in the city. You can also feel the atmosphere of the place where Napoleon himself liked to dine very inexpensively - on weekdays from noon to 19 o'clock. A set lunch consisting of an appetizer, main course and dessert costs 29.9 euros.
- Visiting Maison Blanche is more expensive. This is the price to pay for the stunning view from the rooftop of the Champs Elysees Theater. Foie gras with melon costs 37 euros, lobster with sweet onions and kohlrabi with spicy sauce - 76 euros.
Fast food helps out in the French capital too. In addition to traditional McDonald's and KFC, there are many restaurants serving Asian, Greek and Italian cuisine. A burger with fries and a drink will cost 7-10 euros. For street food, try crepes - yeast-free pancakes with fillings ranging from fish and ham to cheese and jam. They are sold both in kiosks and from carts, as well as in small pancakes, they cost around 5 euros. The second most popular food on the street is sandwich baguettes. Various fillings have been added to the cut baguettes. Very satisfying, tasty and cheap - from 3 euros.
When renting an apartment from local residents, you can cook on your own, if not a pity for this time. Prices in Parisian shops:
- A kilogram of beef meat - over 18 euros.
- The same weight of chicken breasts will cost 12-13 euros.
- You will have to pay 16 euros for a kilo of shrimp.
- And for a kilogram of French cheese - from 18 euros.
- A pack of 12 eggs costs 3-4 euros.
- A liter of milk is just over one euro.
- Water, 0.5 liters - 30 cents.
Fruits and vegetables, as elsewhere, are best bought in the markets. Tomatoes cost around 3 euros, apples and oranges are the same.
sights
The number and variety of attractions in Paris can be maddening. Therefore, it is worth compiling a list of top-priority places to see for yourself. And also navigate the cost of excursions.
- An entrance ticket to Versailles costs about 20 euros (plus the cost of a round trip).
- The entrance to the Eiffel Tower Observation Deck costs 25-26 euros.
- Ascent to the same platform of the Arc de Triomphe - 8 euros.
- Climbing the Montparnasse Tower, from where a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower, costs 15 euros.
- A ticket to enter the Louvre will cost 17 euros.
- River cruise on the Seine - from 15 euros.
- A ticket to visit Disneyland costs from 48 euros.
Visiting the famous Parisian attractions turns out to be expensive not only in money, but also in time. Usually in all places there are long queues, which will take an hour or two. The Paris museum pass helps.
Purchasing a Paris Museum Card entitles you to free admission to about 60 sights and museums in the city. And last but not least, skip the line!
There are different types of cards: for two days (cost 53 euros), for three days (67 euros) and for six days (79 euros). The list of places that are included in the map can be found on the Internet, where you can order a map. You can also buy it at the airport, at tourist information kiosks.
Purchases
Shopping in the world capital of fashion is fun but challenging. It's easy to get lost in the sea of outlets, shopping malls and famous boutiques.
For example, you need to know that the famous French cosmetics are sold in pharmacies. The further the pharmacy is from the tourist areas, the lower the price. The difference reaches 40 percent. And, on the contrary, it is better to buy perfume in branded boutiques in order to avoid fakes.
All fashion brands in Paris are cheaper. Still quite expensive. But to save money, as in all European countries, there are sales. They are held twice a year. The winter season begins immediately after the New Year, and the summer season begins at the end of June, before the start of the holiday season. Discounts go up to 70-80 percent by the end of the sale.
When buying souvenirs, it should be borne in mind that one hundred percent of the Eiffel Towers figurines are made in China.
You still can't do without souvenirs, but in order not to overpay, buy them not in frankly tourist places. The same thing in a quieter area costs several times cheaper.
Delicacies are usually brought from Paris as a gift - cheeses, alcohol, handmade chocolates and other delicacies, Provencal herbs for seasonings, interesting sauces. It is also better to buy all this in ordinary chain supermarkets so as not to overpay.
Let's try to summarize the above. Of course, you can live in a hostel, walk, eat away from the tourist paths, and enjoy the free attractions. A good trip, without exaggeration, both in the direction of saving and in the direction of squandering, will cost over three to four thousand euros - for two, for ten days, excluding shopping, but with the purchase of souvenirs.
