Close your eyes and imagine wandering through Paris’ charming, night lit neighborhoods, savoring the city's exquisite culture, and living your solo backpacking dream without maxing out your credit card. What if I told you that that dream can be your reality?

You see, in the heart of Paris, you could unlock its treasures without emptying your wallet.

That’s right, gentlemen, you don’t need to be a millionaire to stroll along Champs Élysées, visit the Eiffel Tower, or to taste delicious cuisine. All you need is a plan, some priorities, and discipline.

Intrigued? Stick around as I unveil the secret budget gems of this enchanting city.

Did any of you watch John Wick: Chapter 4? Remember that outdoor chess scene that takes place between the titular character and Marquis, with the Eiffel Tower in the background? That took place at Place Du Trocadero, another beautiful location to visit. Here, you get stunning views of the aforementioned Parisian landmark - make sure to explore this place during the day as well as at night as both scenes are gorgeous yet different; the Eiffel Tower lights up at nighttime -, as well as Trocadero’s gardens, fountains, and a really beautiful forecourt that has tons of history (and that you’ll recognize from John Wick).

My POV of Place Du Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower in the background in April, 2019.

There’s also the Palais de Chaillot, The Bir-Hakeim Bridge, and the Arc De Triomphe De L’Etoile, all of which will give you the best possible experience on a budget as they’re all stunning and free - just make sure to look after your belongings and wallet when walking around as pickpockets abound, especially in the touristy spots.

2. Artistic Montmartre: Uncover the Bohemian Spirit of Paris

Gentlemen, one of the most overlooked spots in Paris is Montmartre, a gigantic hill located in Paris’ Northern 18th arrondissement. While not as iconic (perhaps) as the aforementioned attractions, it’s just as - if not even more - beautiful. Plus you get some of the best views of the city from up here.

If you want a sweat-breaking, uphill hike with a stunning view of Paris as a reward, then this is the place to go.

Furthermore, this high ground is home to some of the best - and most affordable - attractions, including the Sacré-Cœur Basilica - a Roman catholic church where, coincidentally, the John Wick: Chapter 4 staircase fight was filmed -, the Espace Dalí - the city’s Salvador Dalí museum housing 300+ authentic artworks -, and Saint-Pierre de Montmartre - the second oldest surviving church in Paris, built in 1133.

Views outside the Dali Paris museum at Montmartre.

You also get to experience this area’s rich history, which includes its occupation by the Roman Empire as far back as the 2nd and 3rd century AD, King Louis VI’s construction of several churches from nearly a millennium ago, its survival (and destruction) at the hands of the French Revolution, and the Belle Époche - an era when lots of artists resided and worked here.

As a matter of fact, Picasso, Renoir, and Toulouse-Lautrec are just some of the famous painters that strolled the streets and sat in the cafés of this quarter (we’ll get to cafés later on in this article, and suffice it to see that Montmartre houses some of the best, most historic, and charming of them).

But the artistry of this district doesn’t stop there - you can also get your portrait drawn or painted on the spot at Place du Tertre (the hillock’s renowned plaza).

If you feel like generating some art, then you can check out - or sketch, or photograph - The Montmartre Vineyard, which has been operating since the 12th century.

You can also attend a cabaret at The Lapin Agile - which has been operating since the 1860s -, stop by Le Musée de Montmartre - another must for art enthusiasts, this museum is housed inside one of the oldest residences in the district; it was also once the home of Renoir and Utrillo -, visit the Montmartre Cemetery - where such famous names as François Truffaut, Stendhal, and Émile Zola (among others) are buried -, visit The Musée de la Vie Romantique, and - if you’re into markets - check out Le Marché Saint-Pierre.

And yeah, speaking of art (we’re talking about Paris afterall), let’s discuss…

3. Art Lovers' Paris: Visiting The Louvre And Affiliated Museums

Gentlemen, it goes without saying that The Louvre is a must-see gallery in Paris - everything from the Venus de Milo, to The Virgin of the Rocks, to Michelangelo’s The Dying Slave sculpture, and of course, the Mona Lisa are all located here.

Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci at The Louvre.

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci at The Louvre.

That said, it’s not the only museum worth visiting in Paris - if you’re into museums that is.

Paris is home to some of the best art galleries in all of Europe, including the Musée d'Orsay, The Centre Pompidou, The Palais de Tokyo, the Musée de l'Orangerie, and tons more (including the Dalí one I mentioned above, which is HIGHLY worth it).

Unlike in London, the museums here aren’t free, and if you’re into them, they’re well worth the price of admission - just make sure to research which ones you want to visit and buy tickets in advance as lines are usually long and these places are super crowded.

4. Ile de la Cité Strolls: Discover Hidden Gems Beyond Notre Dame

Another great district of Paris is the Latin Quarter, across from which is the Ile de la Cité, a small island atop which stands the Notre-Dame.

Having visited Paris a couple of weeks after the 2019 Notre-Dame fire, I unfortunately missed much of the beauty of the cathedral’s roof and upper walls - which were burnt down -, as well as the iconic spire.

My views of Notre Dame a couple of weeks after the 2019 fire, hence the scaffolding and missing spire.

Nonetheless, Notre-Dame is a sight to behold - it might even be fully renovated by 2024, so you could get some awesome, fully restored views of this cathedral! It’s also located next to some classy and breathtaking neighborhoods.

If you’re into art and poetry, there’s a very famous bookstore across from Notre-Dame called Shakespeare and Company. Opened in 1951, it’s been a popular spot for English-speaking authors and readers.

Writers, artists, and musicians like Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Richard Write (for anyone who’s a Pink Floyd fan), and many others have visited here, so it’s a cool place to check out if you’re into that kind of stuff.

The Latin Quarter also houses the Place St. Michel - a square housing a wharf along the Seine River -, the Rue Mouffetard - a charming, 5th arrondissement street -, the National Museum of Natural History, the Musée Cluny - which houses medieval art -, the Panthéon, and more.

You can also stroll along the Seine River, which runs through pretty much all of Paris, and see where it takes you (more on this later).

Additional affordable retreats can be found in…

5. Artistic Hideaway: Exploring the Avant-Garde Charm of Belleville

Gentlemen, Belleville is one of Paris’ most low-cost neighborhoods, and if you’re into edgy areas, then this is the place for you.

Belleville is known for its graffiti, modern galleries, and its monthly street food market. The street art alone is worth witnessing as it's free and gives you an excuse to hike through the neighborhood.

Rue Denoyez in particular is spectacular as it’s one of the few streets deemed legal for guerilla art, so it’s swarming with graffiti (the entire area is covered in art, though, not just this road).

There’s also a really cool park here called Parc des Buttes Chaumont - it’s a great place to check out for hiking, running, cycling, yoga, meditation, photography, sketching, writing, and other types of relaxing, physical and artistic activities. It’s also great for plain old sightseeing. The best part of this public garden - aside from the fact that it’s free - is that it’s practically crowdless, so you don’t need to worry about pickpockets (at least not as much as when you’re near the Eiffel Tower or other touristy spots). The park has lots of greenery, so it’s perfect for a picnic, or for escaping the urban noise and hustle and bustle of the city - it also has a lake and waterfalls.

Other than this, you can experience the Edith Piaf House, Père Lachaise cemetery - where Edit Piaf is buried alongside dozens of other famous figures such as Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Frédéric Chopin, and WAY more -, as well as lots of cafes and restaurants, including Pizzeria Tripletta - which is said to serve some of, if not THE, best pizza in Paris (baked in wood-fired ovens, just like they do next door in Italy) -, Cafe Aux Folies, Asian Soupe, Chez Yu - Restaurant Vietnamien, and more.

Speaking of food and cafes, let’s hop over to…

6. Croissant Quest & Café Chronicles: Tracking Down the Flakiest Pastries in Town While Sipping French Elegance in Parisian Cafes

Photo by Diliara Garifullina on Unsplash

Gentlemen, it goes without saying that when you’re in Paris, you MUST try their hallmark croissants, pastries, cheeses, and baguettes. This means you ought to visit some bakeries and cafes. That said, not all bakeries and cafes are created equal.

Just like in any other part of the world, you must learn to weed out the mediocre spots and look for the best ones if you want to have an amazing culinary experience, especially if you’re only visiting the city for a short amount of time.

Pastry shops such as Ritz Paris Le Comptoir, Gilles Marchal, Stohrer, and La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac are just some of the best in town - there are probably hundreds of others.

One of these is Du Pain et des Idées, which is considered to be one of the best bakeries in all of Paris. If you like warm chocolate, flaky pastries, buttery croissants, and mouth-watering patisseries with hot, melted cheese, veggies, and other sweet or salty components, then this is one of the best places in Paris to grab some. Their sweet, warm, melted chocolate-pistachio escargot pastries alone are to die for - don’t worry, it’s not actual escargot… it’s like a croissant / donut that’s shaped and decorated to look like a snail, hence why they call it that.

A bag with a pastry I got from Du Pain Et Des Idées Bakery.

The irony is that a lot of the best bakeries and cafes are tucked away in lesser known parts of Paris, not so much the touristy spots (although there are some exceptions, like Le Moulin de la Vierge), so you really need to do your research if you want to find them. You can also ask locals where they’d recommend you visit, if you feel up to it.

Pastries from Du Pain Et Des Idées Bakery.

While I haven’t experienced these two pastry shops first hand, I hear great things about both of them: Pâtisserie Carl Marletti and Tapisserie - Charonne. The latter is both a bakery and a cafe.

Speaking of cafes, some of the best ones to visit in Paris include Ten Belles - there are three separate locations in the city, and all of them are supposedly great -, Loustic, Hollybelly - considered to be one of the best breakfast & brunch restaurants -, and Fringe - amongst an estimated 15 000 thousand others.

As you can imagine, gentlemen, there’s no shortage of cafes and bakeries in a city that’s known for them. And the best part? None of them are expensive! Okay maybe Le Comptoir at the Ritz is a bit pricier, so skip that one unless you REALLY want to treat yourself. Other than that, you’re fine. These venues are a great way to experience French fare without breaking your wallet, meaning that - as long as you plan accordingly and allocate money towards these experiences - they’re perfect for budget backpackers.

As a matter of fact, one of the best ways to enjoy food, baguettes, cheeses, pastries, coffees, espressos, and desserts from one of these bakeries or cafes while taking in the beautiful views of Paris - for free - is to have a picnic, either at a park, atop a roof, or next to the Seine.

7. Banks of the Seine: Scenic Walks and Picnics Along the River

Gentlemen, the Seine is one of THE iconic landmarks of Paris, and you’ll see it pretty much everywhere you go (okay, maybe not everywhere, and throughout your walks you’ll either stroll alongside it or pass by it at some point on pretty much every trip you make). It’s an important stream because it flows through Paris, all the way to the North of France and into the English Channel (at Le Havre). Over half of the river is navigable by large boats, though this is mostly on the Eastern side of France, South-East of Paris.

Speaking of boats, you can take an excursion boat along the river if you’re interested in doing some sightseeing from it. You can also walk alongside the river, and see where it takes you. As I was mentioning, lots of people like to eat al fresco beside the river to explore its glorious sites.

Some people even pack a bottle of wine or champagne with them - along with some stemware - for their outdoor meals, which may or may not be illegal, so maybe don’t try it - although I hear there’s no law in France forbidding outdoor alcohol consumption (don’t quote me on this though, I could very well be wrong). If you do it discreetly without getting drunk or acting like a maniac, it’s tolerated (I speak from experience), and I would suggest opting for sparkling grape juice instead if you really want the experience of having bubbly on your picnic.

And yes, it’s not uncommon to see locals and tourists alike sitting by the river - i.e. on the Pont Neuf -, sipping sparkling juice from a wine glass, while eating a large baguette (perhaps with cheese). And it really only costs a few Euros.

Me nibbling on some cheese will sitting across from the Seine and Notre Dame in Paris… my version of a picnic.

Whether you wind up having a picnic or not, the river is beautiful to look at on a clear day at sunset, especially if you’re viewing nightfall atop a bridge, such as the aforementioned Pont Neuf, or Pont Alexandre III (which is also beautiful to view, photograph, or even sketch as its gilded and highly ornamented facade make it attractive).

Anyways, gentlemen, that about covers it for this blog post - I hope you got some tips from us from it that’ll help you plan your next backpacking trip to Paris. I also hope that this budget-friendly travel advice is aiding you in your quest to become a more resilient human being; one who can handle all the challenges and winding roads that come with solo backpacking on a budget.

I also hope you understand that this is obviously just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to budget-friendly places to visit or attractions to partake in in Paris, France. I’ll be coming out with some more articles on this topic, so stay tuned, and don’t forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter-X if you find value in what we post - we always want to hear your stories about resilience in travel as well as in life.

Until next time, stay safe on your adventures, and best wishes to you wherever you’re at on your journey, be it in traverse, or in life.

Paris for Pennies: Solo Backpacker's Budget Bliss

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