10 Free (or Affordable) Things to Do in Paris
You can see a lot of Paris without spending much. Many museums have free entry, public parks stay open late in summer, and even famous views can be enjoyed without buying a ticket. Knowing when and where to go makes all the difference.
1. Climb the Rooftop at Galeries Lafayette
On Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement, the Galeries Lafayette department store is famous for its stained-glass dome. But the rooftop is the real gem for budget travelers.
Take the escalators or lifts up to the terrace for a 360° view of Paris – the Opéra Garnier’s beautiful roof sits right below you, the Eiffel Tower peeks through in the distance, and Sacré-Cœur is visible on the hill to the north.
The terrace is open most of the year and completely free, so it’s an easy stop between other sights in the area.
2. Watch the Sunset at Place du Trocadéro
For many, this is the ultimate Eiffel Tower viewing point. The square sits across the Seine from the tower, giving you a full, unobstructed view.
Late afternoon is best. Find a spot on the steps or the edge of the esplanade and stay as the sky goes from gold to deep blue. On the hour after sunset, the tower sparkles for five minutes, and from Trocadéro you can see the whole thing.
There’s no cost, but it does get busy, so arriving 30-40 minutes before sunset is a good idea if you want to secure a good spot.
3. Visit the Musée Carnavalet
In Le Marais district, the Musée Carnavalet is dedicated entirely to the history of Paris.
Housed in two adjoining Renaissance mansions, its collection covers Roman-era artifacts, medieval shop signs, Revolutionary relics, and 19th-century street scenes. Rooms are arranged chronologically, so you can walk through the city’s past in order.
Highlights include the gilded Art Nouveau shopfront from Fouquet’s jewelry store and items from Marcel Proust’s bedroom.
Entry is free, though temporary exhibitions may have a small fee.
4. Picnic by the Canal Saint-Martin
The Canal Saint-Martin stretches for almost five kilometers through the 10th and 11th arrondissements, with tree-lined paths, iron footbridges, and curved locks.
Locals come to picnic, play music, and linger into the evening, especially on warm weekends. A low-cost way to enjoy it is to grab bread from a neighborhood boulangerie, cheese from a fromagerie, and maybe a bottle of wine.
The stretch between Rue des Récollets and Rue de Lancry has wide quays that make ideal picnic spots.
5. Walk the Petite Ceinture
The Petite Ceinture (“Little Belt”) is a 19th-century railway line that once circled Paris. Abandoned for decades, parts of it have been converted into public greenways.
Several sections are open, each with a different feel: the stretch near Porte de Clignancourt has wild grasses and graffiti-covered bridges, while the one in the 15th arrondissement feels more like a shaded garden path.
It’s a peaceful escape from traffic, with the bonus of being completely free. Entry points are often marked but can be tucked away – see this post for more.
6. Book Market at Parc Georges-Brassens
Every Saturday and Sunday, the covered pavilion in Parc Georges-Brassens in the 15th arrondissement fills with booksellers.
The selection is huge, old hardcovers, vintage magazines, children’s books, and art monographs are stacked on tables and in crates.
Many stalls have €1 or €2 bins making it a fun place to pick up a souvenir without spending much.
Even if you don’t read French, browsing is a pleasure, and the surrounding park is a calm spot for a stroll afterward.
7. Visit the Hôtel de Ville Exhibitions
Paris’s City Hall is an attraction in its own right, with a richly decorated façade and a grand interior lined with chandeliers and painted ceilings.
Throughout the year, it hosts free public exhibitions, often photography shows, historical retrospectives, or design showcases.
You’ll need to pass through a security check at the entrance on Rue de Lobau, but entry to the exhibits doesn’t require a ticket. More in this post.
8. Explore the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen
This flea market on the northern edge of the city is enormous, more than a dozen markets connected by narrow lanes.
Marché Vernaison is best for antiques, Marché Dauphine has vintage posters and collectibles, and Marché Malik is lined with streetwear stalls.
Even if you’re not buying, it’s like a living museum of styles and decades past. Weekends are the busiest and most atmospheric.
The nearest metro stop is Porte de Clignancourt on Line 4. See this post for more.
9. Stroll Through the Jardin des Plantes
In the 5th arrondissement, the Jardin des Plantes has been Paris’s botanical garden since the 1600s. The main paths are lined with seasonal flower beds, and the rose garden peaks in late spring.
The grounds are free to enter and include sections dedicated to plants from around the world, along with collections of rare and threatened species cared for as part of conservation programs.
Statues, historic buildings, and shaded avenues make it an easy place to spend an unhurried afternoon away from the city’s noise.