In this article, you’ll find out all about the 10 amazing free attractions in Paris. Discover places and spend a lot of money in the City of Light.
1. Walk along the Champs-Elysées in Paris
To start this article on the 10 amazing free attractions in Paris, note that the Champs-Elysées is one of the postcards of the French capital and is located right in the heart of the city. There you’ll find stores such as Zara, Montblanc, Hugo Boss, Cartier, H&M, Lacoste, Nike, Adidas, l’Occitane, Zar, Swatch and others.
Plus, during your stroll, we recommend stopping for a coffee. It’s also worth visiting the Champs-Elysées at night, as it’s all lit up and looks very different.
Important tip: To make the most of your trip is to stay in the best region. If you want, see our article here that explains the best area, hotels and how to save a lot on accommodation.
2. Going to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
In this article on the 10 amazing free attractions in Paris, we also recommend visiting the legendary Notre Dame Cathedral. It is one of the French capital’s main attractions and one of the most famous churches in the world.
Notre Dame Cathedral dates back more than 700 years and its architecture is in the Gothic style. Unfortunately, since the fire in 2019, the church has been closed to visitors. However, it’s well worth a visit to take some beautiful photos of its exterior.
Important tip: Paris is a city that has many museums, attractions and tours. Always buy the tickets in advance. We always buy everything on this website that has the best price.
3. Visit the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
Take the same day as your visit to the Champs-Elysées to go to the Arc de Triomphe, also one of the 10 amazing free attractions in Paris. This iconic monument was inaugurated in 1836 to commemorate the victories of Napoleon, who had ordered its construction 30 years earlier. So, be sure to take lots of photos of this wonderful place.
4. Enjoying the Seine River and bridges in Paris
A delightful stroll along the banks of the Seine River is a perfect program for any tourist going to Paris. What’s great about it is that you’ll find some iconic bridges. One of the most iconic is the Pont des Arts, which is famous for housing the padlocks of couples from all over the world.
5. Going to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris
You can visit the most famous cemetery in all of France for free. Père Lachaise, for example, holds the bodies of icons from the world of art, literature, music and many other personalities. These include Allan Kardec, Eugène Delacroixc, Chopin, Georges Méliès, Oscar Wilde, Pierre Bourdieu, Edith Piaf, Claude Chabrol, Max Ernst and Jim Morrison.
6. Visit Amélie Poulain’s café in Paris
The Café des Deux Moulins became known worldwide after appearing in the film “The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain” by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. It’s a charming place with a typical Parisian atmosphere. And you can take lots of photos there for free, but if you have a few euros to spare, we recommend sitting down and ordering a coffee.
7. Visit the museums on Sundays in Paris
The City of Light is full of free museums and smaller galleries. To see them without spending anything, the tip is to visit the museums on the first Sunday of the month, as on this day the doors of some famous museums open for free.
8. Walk in the Montmartre district in Paris
Montmartre is one of the neighborhoods that is home to several charming streets, as well as captivating attractions. So, it is also our tip on the 10 amazing free attractions in Paris.
At the district, you’ll find studios that were once frequented by renowned artists such as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Van Gogh. And to get the most out of this place, set aside a day to walk around Montmartre and appreciate its specificities.
9. Visit the Sacré Coeur Basilica in Paris
The Sacré Coeur Basilica is located at the highest point of the city’s Montmartre district. This is a beautiful place to visit whether you’re religious or not, because the inside of the basilica is just as beautiful as the outside!
You can visit it both during the day and at night. And in winter, the courtyard becomes home to an incredible skating rink.
- Are you enjoying our tips on free tours in Paris? We also have a special article on how to plan a trip to Paris on a budget. Be sure to check it.
10. Free tours in Paris
To finish off these tips on the 10 amazing free attractions in Paris, we highly recommend free tours. On these, the tour guide takes you around the city while explaining everything about it in detail. And although it’s free, many people end up tipping the guide, which is quite normal.
On the website we used to buy the tours and tickets, there are six very interesting free tours:
- A free 2h45min tour in Paris that takes in the city’s main sights;
- Free tour in the Latin Quarter which lasts 2h30min and introduces you to this Latin quarter;
- Free tour in Montmartre (a 2h45 tour that passes through the streets of this cultural district in Paris, frequented by great artists in search of inspiration, such as Picasso and Van Gogh);
- Free tour in the surroundings of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe (a 2-hour tour of one of the city’s most elegant areas, home to some of its most famous landmarks);
- Free tour in the Perfume Museum (a 30-minute to 1-hour tour of this interesting museum, with the right to an exclusive gift);
- Free tour in the mysteries and legends of Paris (a 2-hour tour showing streets and squares in the French capital that were once the scene of wars, murders, plagues and other obscure situations).
To take these tours, you just have to go to this website, which is the largest tour website in the world and where you can always find the best prices. There you can also find unmissable tours that are paid for, but which are cheaper if you buy them in advance.
Save money on your trip to Paris:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Paris cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Tickets: find out where to buy your Paris tickets in the cheapest and safest way – for parks, museums and ticket combos. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Paris. You will find out the best area, the hotels that we have stayed there and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
