Paris On a Budget 💵Budget-friendly travel recs from a solo female backpacker who's currently living in Paris. I've included my go-to food spots, hostel recommendations, some free activities to check out, the best place to get a latte, and a couple of tours that are on the more affordable side.Authorsallisonwolf
DestinationsParisItinerary

Where to eat

Bouillon République
Bouillon is a sit-down restaurant chain in Paris that serves traditional French dishes at an affordable price. Eating here is a great way to learn about French cuisine and try some foods you may have never had before. Escargot anyone? 🐌
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Chez Nicos
A budget-friendly spot for a delicious crepe! The crepes here are massive and are filled with your choice of toppings. I recommend the jambon et fromage (ham and cheese) with lettuce and tomato.
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Kuna Naan
If you love Indian food, Kuna is a must! They sell Indian street food that's filling and flavorful. My go-to order is a tikka naan wrap with a mango lassi and cardamon riz au lait. The naan is homemade and you can see it being prepared right in front of you. They also have seating here or you can take your food to go.
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Omusubi Gonbei
This small shop specializes in grab-and-go onigiri as well as other traditional, Japanese snacks like karaage and miso soup. I mainly come for the onigiri because they only cost 2.5 euros and two is usually a filling lunch for me. My favorite kind of theirs is poulet piquant (spicy chicken) but they also offer salmon, tuna, and a few vegan options.
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Where to stay

The People
Le Marais is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris. It's full of cute cafes, thrift stores, and beautiful architecture. This particular hostel is also located right next to the Seine which is perfect for walking along.
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The People Belleville
Belleville is a bit out of the center of Paris but it's well connected by metro. It's also a lovely neighborhood to spend time in as it's close to Parc des Butte-Chaumont and Canal Saint-Martin. You'll also find plenty of good cafe options here.
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St Christopher's Inn Paris - Canal
Most first-time visitors to Paris don't make it to this part of the city, but it's incredibly underrated! The canal here has a ton of restaurants and bars along the sides of it - making it perfect for anyone who wants to experience the nightlife in Paris. In the daytime, I like to walk along the canal in the direction of the city center.
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Discovering the city

Louvre Museum Private 2-h Tour on Italian Art and masterpieces
Visiting the Louvre is a must when you visit Paris! It's a massive museum though and doing it on your own can feel a bit stressful if you don't know how the ticketing system works or what exhibits you want to see. To help make this part of your trip go smoothly, I recommend booking a private tour like this one that arranges everything and tells you a bit about the history of the museum's most famous (and underrated) pieces.
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Paris Top Sights Half Day Walking Tour with a Fun Guide
Going on a walking tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with the layout of Paris. They often teach you unique and interesting facts about the city and take you to lesser visited sites that are hidden in plain sight. On this particular tour, you'll get to see Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, Jardin des Tuileries, Musee d'Orsay, and the outside of the Louvre.
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Free things to do

Museum of Romantic Life
A beautiful, free museum and hidden garden cafe in the 9th arrondissement. This is one of my favorite spots to journal or read a book in Paris. When you enter, you'll be asked to get a ticket from the office, but don't worry - the ticket is free!
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Jardin du Luxembourg
This public park is situated in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. It has colorful flowers, statues, a couple of ducks wandering around, and plenty of chairs to sit in. There's also a fountain in the middle where kids can rent toy sail boats and play with them in the water.
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Canal Saint-Martin
The first time I saw Canal Saint-Martin, I felt like I'd temporarily stepped out of Paris and into the Netherlands. This canal stretches through various neighborhoods and is lined with restaurants and quirky bars.
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Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
I like to think of this park as the 'Central Park' of Paris. It's huge and it's a perfect spot for having a picnic with friends or going for a walk. Since it's a bit out of the center, it seems like a lot of tourists don't usually make it here, however, I can't recommend it enough!
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Getting your coffee fix

The Coffee
One of my favorite spots in Paris to get a latte. It's a chain so you'll see The Coffee locations sprinkled throughout the city. This particular one is nice because it's located near Place des Vosges. A latte here currently costs 4.20 euros whereas most other specialty coffee shops in Paris charge around 5-6 euros.
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