Paris has a reputation for being expensive, and parts of it are. But some of the best experiences in the city cost nothing at all. Wandering, watching, sitting in a park with a coffee, that is Paris at its finest. Here are the free things to do in Paris that are genuinely worth your time, not just filler to pad out a list.
You could easily spend two or three days here without paying for a single ticket and still fall completely for the place.
Quick Summary
- Walking the city and its bridges is the best free thing to do in Paris.
- Relax in the parks and browse the open air markets for free.
- Enter the great churches, including the Sacré Coeur, at no cost.
- Skip the paid decks and use free viewpoints across the city.
- Time your evening to catch the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour.
Walk the city and its bridges
Paris is made for walking, and the walk itself is the attraction. Follow the Seine and cross its bridges, each with its own character. The Pont Alexandre III is the grand ornate one with gold statues, and it frames a beautiful view toward the Invalides.
Stroll through neighbourhoods like Le Marais, with its old streets and hidden courtyards, and Montmartre, the hilltop artists' quarter with village like lanes. Getting a little lost on foot is the single best free thing you can do here.
Enjoy the parks
Parisians treat their parks as outdoor living rooms, and you should too.
- The Jardin du Luxembourg is the classic. Grab one of the green metal chairs, sit by the pond, and watch the city relax around you.
- The Jardin des Tuileries runs between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, perfect for a stroll.
- The Canal Saint Martin area is where younger locals gather on warm evenings, sitting along the water with snacks and drinks.
Pack a picnic from a market or bakery and you have a perfect cheap afternoon.
Visit the great churches
Paris has some of the most stunning churches in Europe, and entering them is usually free.
- The Sacré Coeur sits at the top of Montmartre, and the climb up rewards you with one of the best free panoramas in the city. The interior is free to enter.
- Notre Dame, on its island in the Seine, is a landmark in its own right even as restoration work continues, and the surrounding area is lovely to walk.
- Smaller churches across the city, like Saint Sulpice, are quiet, grand and free to step inside.
Find the best free views
You do not have to pay to look down on Paris.
- The steps of the Sacré Coeur give you a sweeping view for free.
- The Galeries Lafayette department store has a free rooftop terrace with a view toward the Opera and beyond.
- The Parc de Belleville, less known to tourists, offers a great outlook from the east of the city.
Skip the pricey observation decks and use these instead, at least on a first trip.
| Free viewpoint | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Steps of the Sacré Coeur | Top of Montmartre |
| Galeries Lafayette rooftop terrace | Near the Opera |
| Parc de Belleville | Eastern Paris, away from the crowds |
Browse the markets
Paris markets are a feast for the senses and cost nothing to wander.
- The Marché Bastille is one of the biggest open air food markets, full of produce, cheese and flowers.
- The Marché aux Puces de Saint Ouen is a huge flea market on the northern edge, great for browsing antiques and oddities.
- Bookstalls line parts of the Seine, where the green boxes of the bouquinistes have sold old books and prints for generations.
Even if you buy nothing, the atmosphere is the point.
Museums for free
Timing your visit right means free entry to world class art.
- Many national museums, including the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, offer free entry on the first Sunday of certain months. Check the current schedule before you go.
- Some museums are always free, like the Musée Carnavalet, which tells the story of the city itself.
- Even when a museum charges, the surrounding gardens and courtyards, like those at the Louvre, are free to enjoy.
Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle
You can spend money going up the Eiffel Tower, but seeing it is free and arguably better from a distance. Head to the Trocadéro across the river for the classic head on view, or lay out a picnic on the Champ de Mars lawn in front of it.
At night, on the hour, the tower breaks into a five minute sparkle of lights. It is genuinely magical and it costs nothing. Time your evening to catch it.
Free and magical
On the hour after dark, the tower breaks into a five minute sparkle of lights. Lay out a picnic on the Champ de Mars or head to the Trocadéro for the classic view, and it costs nothing.
A few more free ideas
If you still have time, Paris keeps giving without charging.
- Wander the Père Lachaise cemetery, a peaceful, tree lined resting place of many famous figures, free to enter and strangely beautiful.
- Explore the covered passages, the elegant nineteenth century arcades dotted around the right bank, full of old shops and glass roofs.
- Sit outside Shakespeare and Company, the famous English bookshop by the river, and browse for free.
- Watch the street performers and artists around Montmartre and the Pompidou Centre, whose colourful exterior and plaza are free to enjoy.
- Take in the view from the steps of the Sacré Coeur with a takeaway snack as the sun goes down.
The theme across all of this is simple. Paris is a city best enjoyed slowly and on foot, and its finest moments, the light on the river, a quiet square, a lively market, cost nothing at all. Fill your days with these and you will not feel like you missed a thing by skipping the pricey tickets.
Making a free day work
The trick to enjoying Paris on the cheap is to slow down and treat the city itself as the attraction. Walk more than you plan to. Sit in a park. People watch from a bench. Follow a pretty street just to see where it goes.
Bring a refillable water bottle, wear good shoes, and grab your food from bakeries and markets rather than cafes on the tourist strips. Do that, and you can have a full, rich Paris trip while spending almost nothing on the sightseeing. The city gives away its best moments for free if you let it.