Paris is a trendy and vibrant city perfect for a city break, romantic weekend or longer holiday, with a bohemian feel and lively nightlife which makes it popular among students, artists and backpackers.
Full of lavish, expensive eateries and designer stores, a trip can get pricey and may appear daunting on a budget. However, you don’t have to shop on the Champs Elysees and stay in the Ritz to make the most out of your trip.
There are many Paris Hostels which offer beds at affordable prices and with plenty of cheap places to eat and things to do for free; it is possible to enjoy the city on the tightest of budgets.
Many of Paris’s attractions need no introduction- Le Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and Eiffel Tower are iconic landmarks and must be seen regardless of your budget- but what about all the other sites and sounds the city has to offer? Here’s a guide to the best of Paris.
Take a stroll along the Seine
Running right through the heart of Paris, a walk along the banks of the River Seine is one of the best ways to get a proper feel of the city. Crammed with quaint little walkways and pretty bridges, the riverbank provides stunning views of many of Paris’s most famous landmarks and is a popular place for both tourists and locals. Some of the best views can be had at night when the Notre Dame is illuminated. If you’re out and about after midnight, look out for The Eiffel Tower’s very own illumination; featuring flashing lights it is something that should not be missed!
Cook your own meal with Promenades Gourmandes
Promenades Gourmandes is the ultimate cooking experience and a fantastic opportunity to unleash the hidden Gordon Ramsey in you. Offering customized classes to fit your needs, Promenades Gourmandes teaches you how to cook authentic French cuisine from scratch in hands-on cooking classes. The owner speaks fluent English and is passionate about his food and explains the techniques and ingredients in great detail.
One of the best aspects of the classes is that you get to source your own ingredients from the open air markets, which allows you to get a real feel of what it is like to live and breathe the city.
Like all good chefs you get to eat your produce after cooking it and for those that can stomach it, there is a tour of all the best food shops of the city in the afternoon.
Dine at La Coupoule
No trip to Paris would be complete without sampling some of its world famous cuisine. All chefs worth their salt have worked in the city at some point and the city features some of the finest restaurants in the world.
While not the Ritz, La Coupoule in Montparnasse is one of the best in town and has won rave reviews. Popular among the locals, it serves traditional French cuisine including French onion soup and steak tartar at prices that won’t break the bank. Particularly popular on the menu is the sole menuiere which is widely regarded as the finest around.
La Coupoule’s waiters are warm and friendly and the restaurant is rarely quiet. If you get the opportunity, go for breakfast and sit back and relax with a crepe and newspaper as Paris goes to work.
Spend a day in Montmartre
Montmartre is one of the best areas of the city and should not be rushed. Most famous for being the home of the Moulin Rouge, Montmartre offers the most breathtaking views of the city from the steps of the Basilica de Sacré-Coeur. Its compact streets and side streets have a bohemian feel and are full to the brim with bistros, cafes and brasseries.
The area has attracted and inspired many artists and writers over the years and enjoys a rich and colorful history, much of which is housed in the very interesting- and often overlooked- Montmartre museum.
Visit the Pompidou Center
Most tourists head straight to Le Louvre for their dose of art and culture when they visit Paris and overlook the Pompidou Center. Don’t! The Pompidou Center is home to the largest collection of modern art in Europe, housing some of the finest collections on Cubism and Surrealism.
The constantly changing contemporary exhibitions and avant-garde cinema installations mean that no two visits to the Center are ever the same, while the views of Paris from the fourth and fifth floors are well worth the visit on their own.