And it’s not just the locals who feeling the season. Visitors to Paris during these warmer spring months have a tendency to get downright giddy (weather-permitting).

To help you get your giddy on, here are 9 ways to celebrate the spring this year in Paris, nearly all of them outdoors.

1. Drink on a terrace

Find me a Parisian who doesn’t love a chilled beer or glass of rosé while sitting on a sun-soaked terrace – I dare you. This is the most typical way to usher in warmer temperatures with friends, drinks, food, and sun. Here are some of my favorite drinks to order at an outdoor cafe.

2. Picnic in a park

If the terraces are too crowded, take your bottle and baguette to the closest waterfront or park and set yourself up with a picnic. I can’t stress enough the importance of picnicking in the springtime. Sure, go ahead and visit the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower, but then, before all else, have a picnic.

Here are some favorite items to pick up at the butcher in Paris, and here are some recommended picnic spots.

(Photo: seafolke)

3. Spend the Night at the Museums

The European-wide Nuit aux Musées on May 16 offers a unique way to experience some of Paris’s most iconic galleries. Museums are open at night and cost nothing to entrer. Games, illuminations, and guided tours await those who can stay up late enough. Read more about it here.

(Photo: anhgemus-photography)

4. Bike about

Check out the “I Vélib I Can Fly” exhibit at the Hôtel de Ville, April 2 to May 16, 2015. The exhibit features work by international artists who just love biking through their cities (who can blame them?). And of course, it’s free. Maybe afterward you’ll feel inspired to take a spin on a Vélib on your way to your next destination (here’s how to use the cheapo bike share program).

(Photo: gregcullen)

5. Head to the Bois de Vincennes for a carnival

For those looking to get a breath of fresh air, spend the day in the Bois de Vincennes to the east of Paris. The annual fair, the Foire du Trône, runs from March 27 to May 25 and features family-friendly activities and food, including rides, games, and of course churros. There will be fireworks on May 1st to sweeten the deal.

(Photo: kerolic)

6. Spend rainy days with Edith, Napoléon, and Gaultier

When April showers cometh, head inside for one of the many springtime exhibits featuring some very famous Frenchies. This season’s must-see shows include an Edith Piaf show that will go up at the BNF, a Napoléon exhibit hitting the Carnavalet, and a Jean-Paul Gaultier show that has already landed at the Grand Palais.

(Photo: calips96)

7. Take a stroll

Why not celebrate springtime with a good old-fashioned stroll? Explore the old railways of the Petite Ceinture and the Coulée Verte, or simply make your way along the Seine until you can walk no more. It’s so much nicer to stroll the city without being bundled up under layers of scarves and sweaters.

(Photo: Paris.fr)

8. Ahoy! Float along the Canal St-Martin

You might want to forget walking and biking and give into your nautical side instead. You can rent a small boat along the Canal de l’Ourcq (€40 for 1 hour in a five-person boat) and enjoy the Canal St-Martin from a new perspective. It’s not the cheapest activity, but split five ways, you can spend an hour or two without breaking the bank. No license required!

(Photo: fatemeh)

Strawberry season at the Marche d’Aligre. Photo: ligelena

9. Taste the springtime

Springtime means we can ignore the cabbage and potatoes at the market and lighten up our dining habits a bit. Seasonal eating is important to the French, so in April and May we’ll feast on cherries, strawberries, apricots, asparagus, and creamy goat cheeses. The Marché d’Aligre (daily except Monday) is a local favorite to visit, but the Bastille market is an enormous bustling alternative (open Thurs and Sun).

How do you celebrate the springtime in Paris?

Have a springy activity to add to our list? Tell us how you celebrate the springtime in Paris in our comments section below.

The post 9 ways to celebrate the spring in Paris this year appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But a relaxing oasis is still within your reach, because I’d like to draw your attention to what is, in my humble opinion, the best park in Paris. Parc des Buttes Chaumont is situated in the 19th arrondissement and is one of the largest green spaces in the whole city. It is a refreshing change from the other main parks in central Paris with their perfectly manicured lawns and dusty paths (looking at you, Jardin de Luxembourg), because it is quite rustic and unrefined. Buttes Chaumont is centered around a large lake that surrounds Île de la Belvédère, a tiny island made of rocks with stairs leading up to a beautiful temple structure. Around the lake, you’ll find grassy knolls and hilly spots which give the perfect view of Paris.

Related: Our 7 favorite parks in Paris

If you’re willing to make the trek out to the 19th (which can be quite pleasant, I will add, on bicycle), here’s what Parc des Buttes Chaumont has in store for you:

Exploring grottos, waterfalls and bridges

What used to be an old gypsum and limestone quarry has been transformed into a staggering grotto on the south side of the park. Running through is a waterfall that leads back to the lake. Take a break from your picnic in the sun to explore this enchanting shady spot!

If you’d like to visit the island, you can take impressive the 63-meter suspension bridge over the lake, which was designed by Gustave Eiffel.

Enjoy an amazing array of plants

Parc des Buttes Chaumont was commissioned by Napoleon III as a place to showcase a variety of flora, and this rings true still today. Take a walk around and you’ll find almost 50 different species of trees!

It’s worth the climb for a stunning view of Sacre Coeur. Photo: Ahmad Tarek

Climb high for a spectacular view

Not only do the grassy hills of the park give a wonderful glimpse of the city, but if you climb the stone steps to the top of Île de la Belvédère, you’ll find a beautiful, unhindered and unique view of Paris. From the Temple de la Sibylle, you can see a view of Northern Paris, with the Sacre Coeur as the centerpiece. I highly recommend doing so as the sun sets, so you can see all the lights of the city begin to glimmer.

Sip a cheap pint at outdoor bar Rosa Bonheur

Nestled into the hills of Parc des Buttes Chaumont is Rosa Bonheur, a casual, hip bar and restaurant envisioned as a modern-day guinguette. Grab a €3.50 euro pint and some tapas, and take a seat under the sparkling lampion lights hanging tree to tree. The ambiance is distinctly Parisian without a hint of tackiness. You might want to try and arrive before 8 PM to avoid the crowds, though!

Take the kids for playgrounds and puppets

Parc des Buttes Chaumont is the ideal setting for a family. If your kids aren’t already impressed by the view from the temple or the grotto, they’ll love the park’s very own puppet theater, which hosts shows from the end of April through October. There is also a playground atop the hill to keep them occupied!

Parc des Buttes Chaumont
1 Rue Botzaris
19th Arrondissement
+33 1 44 52 29 19
Metro: Botzaris or Buttes Chaumont

Related: Cheap hotels in northeastern Paris

The post Parc des Buttes Chaumont: A breath of fresh (and free) air in Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

“Les Berges,” the more than three-year, 35 million ($47 million) riverside regeneration project, is part of the Paris’ ongoing effort to revitalize the city with sustainable urban planning and initiatives including the much-copied Vélib bike-sharing program.

The new 1.4 miles of riverside walkways are between the Pont Royal and the Pont Alma bridges.

The new 1.4 miles of riverside walkways between the Pont Royal and the Pont Alma bridges are an open air gathering place for young and old, with sports, leisure and cultural facilities. These include a climbing wall and converted shipping crates where adults can schedule a siesta, floating gardens, new cafés, restaurants and picnic areas, tipis you can reserve free for kids celebrating birthdays (aged 6-12), an arts and culture center by the Pont Alexandre III bridge, a “zen” space for yoga and more.

Check out the Les Berges website for excellent information in English, including directions for how to get there.

The post The Seine Gets a Makeover appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But Paris weather can be as moody and unpredictable as a French man in love. And when temperatures soar, this means that traditional urban escape strategies like movie theaters and department stores only offer mild relief, especially for travelers used to American ice box settings on the a.c. Besides, not everybody wants to seek refuge indoors when they’re trying to make the most out of a warm weather visit to Paris.

Here are a few survival techniques that will help keep you cool on days when Paris is burning hot.

Quench Your Thirst at Paris’ New Sparkling Water Fountains

Paris’ historic Wallace drinking fountains have always been a free way to quench your thirst. But what if you prefer the sparkling variety and don’t feel like shelling out €4 for a Perrier in a sidewalk cafe?

France’s first sparkling water fountain was recently inaugurated in the Jardin de Reuilly in the 12th arrondissement, and a second fountain is located at the headquarters of Eau de Paris, an organization which manages the city’s public drinking water, on 19 rue Neuve-Tolbiac in the 13th. These drinking fountains offer complimentary chilled sparkling city water made bubbly on the spot.

Mist Yourself Off at Paris Plages

Head to the banks of the Seine from July 20-August 19 and take cover under a beach umbrella at Paris Plages or enjoy one of the micro spray misters set up along the banks where you can cool off without getting drenched (unless you want to).

And if All Else Fails, Jump in a Fountain

The Parisian go-to fountain for this classic urban hot weather survival technique is found in the gardens of the Trocadéro located opposite the Seine and in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Expect it to be packed on scorching days with natives and tourists cooling their toes while taking advantage of the photo op.

The post Free Ways to Cool Down When Paris Heats Up appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Now a summer in Paris institution, this year’s Paris Plages runs from July 20 to August 18, at the original site on the right bank near the City Hall and the Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement that opened in 2007. Car traffic is banished and the beaches are open for business and pleasure from 9 a.m. to midnight daily.

In addition to nearly a kilometer of sandy Seine-side beaches, complete with palm trees, lawn chairs and parasols, activities include tai chi and dance lessons, boules and mini golf, live concerts, riverside cafes, a lending library, water-based activities at the Bassin de la Villette and more.

All activities are free and open to the public. Note that topless sunbathing and swimming in the Seine are not permitted.

Photos of Paris Plages from previous years

Walking along the Paris Plages in 2009. Photo: gelinh

The beaches erupt into music and dance. Photo: philippeleroyer

You can even construct a sand chateaux. Photo: cedriccousseau

The plages attract sunbathers and snackers. Photo: passionleica

The post Paris Goes to the Beach July 20-August 18 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Suivez-moi, Cheapos!

Jardin des Tuileries

Métro: Tuileries, Concorde, Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre, Pyramides
(Tip: I recommend Concorde because it’s located near two English bookshops!)

Size: Sixtysomething acres on the Right Bank

One of many statues in the park

Peeks and Valleys: Created by Catherine de Médici during the 17th Century (with a slight Italian flair), the gardens were given a redo by landscape architect André Le Nôtre during the Sun King’s reign. After the Big Wigs’ move to Versailles, it became one of the first public parks. Sadly, this was also where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were held prisoners during the French Revolution. At that time, due to years of neglect, the park was rampant with duckweed, prostitution, and angry mobs.

What’s in a name? The Jardin des Tuileries (literally, “the tileworks”) was built atop the clay pits of the former city tile factory. Back then, most of the buildings were roofed with tiles.

Multi-taskers: It’s a tile’s throw from the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume (former Royal tennis court), Musée Les Arts Décoratifs, the Musée de la Mode et Textile, the Musée du Louvre, and the Musée de l’Orangerie!

Lust for Life: Swanky cafés, chairs, and over one hundred statues (including many by Maillol) seductively tempt. Writer Henry Miller made no secret of his profound love of the voluptuous bronzes. “Dashing here or there like a bedbug, gathering [cigarette] butts now and then, sometimes furtively, sometimes brazenly; sitting down on a bench and squeezing my guts to stop the gnawing or walking through the Jardin des Tuileries getting [suggestive term deleted] looking at the dumb statues.” It’s Miller, after all. Ooh, la la.

Snack time at the Tuileries

Where to buy reading material: Pick up a magazine or book at W.H. Smith at 248 Rue de Rivoli, or at Galignani at 224 rue de Rivoli. (Both have plenty of books in English.) Also near Place de la Concorde, you’ll find the Jardin des Tuileries Bookshop, specializing in garden books. Browse deeply. Your plants back home will thank you.

Study the masters: Prepare for your visit by getting an eyeful of Manet’s “Music in the Tuileries.” At the Lourve, you’ll find Eugéne Lami’s “Entrée de la duchesse d’Orléans dans le jardin des Tuileries.” The Jardin des Tuileries has also played muse to photographers Atget, Brassaï, and Doisneau.

Jardin du Luxembourg

Métro: Notre-Dame des Champs, Odéon, Port-Royal, Rennes, or Vavin
(Tip: I recommend the Notre-Dame des Champs Métro station because, Cheapos, as you meander your way to the park, you’ll pass a grocery store and a string of funky boutiques.)

A regal view

Size: Sixty-something acres on the Left Bank

The hoedown: Created by Marie de Médici and garden theorist Boyeau de La Bareaudière with a Florentine twist during the 17th Century, it opened to the public in 1778. Rumor has it that Hemingway hunted for pigeons here during his lean salad days. He wrote:

“When you were skipping meals at a time when you had given up journalism and were writing nothing that anyone in America would buy, the best place to do it was the Luxembourg gardens where you saw and smelled nothing to eat all the way from the Place de L’Observatoire to the rue de Vaugirard.”

At the Jardin du Luxembourg

Multi-taskers: It’s conveniently near the Musée de Cluny (Museum of the Middle Ages) and the Musée du Luxembourg (currently closed).

Garden of delights: The Jardin du Luxembourg boasts a hefty collection of over 100 statues (showcasing former French queens and female saints), the Medici Fountain, the octagonal Grand Bassin surrounded by raised terraces, Bartholdi’s original State of Liberty prototype, a school for training bee keepers, and a théâtre des marionnettes! There are also pear and apple orchards, flowerbeds with gillyflowers and dahlias, orange, date, and pomegranate trees. Games include tennis, running, chess, toy boat racing, boules (lawn bowling), donkey rides, and a carrousel where kids can try to spear golden rings with little lances!

Where to buy reading material: San Francisco Books at 17 Rue Monsieur le Prince (Metro Odéon) specializes in used books in English.

Strike a pose: Luxembourg flirted with photographers Atget, Brassaï, and Doisneau. Painter Watteau paid calls too. It also had a reoccurring role in Victor Hugo’s novel “Les Misérables.”

And so Cheapos, in the words of Henry Valentine Miller, “The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware: joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware!” So keep your eyes peeled!

[Editor’s Note: Happy birthday, Theadora! We hope you celebrate like a queen!]

The post Paris: Outdoor delights at the Jardin des Tuileries and the Jardin du Luxembourg appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Well, for us it also means days that begin with a butter croissant (268 calories) and end with a creme caramel (759 calories). In between the two — well, let’s not go there. After about a week, no matter how much you’re walking, one can start feeling the pastries.

What’s a Cheapo to do? We’ve tried a number of strategies, but they usually amount to very little (read: Semi-distracted push-ups on the hotel room floor while watching CNN International). There must be a better way to stay in shape, raise your pulse, and sweat off some of those delicious sauces.

Here are five cheapo ways to stay in shape in Paris:

1) Run

It sounds obvious, but if you’re a runner, pack your running shoes when you’re visiting Paris. If your hotel is located anywhere near the Seine, a morning or evening run along the river is a must.

Every Sunday, the city’s “Paris Respire” (Paris Breathes) program closes traffic along the banks of the Seine to automobiles from 9 AM to 5 PM, offering the perfect spot for running, walking, or cycling.

2) Bike

The city-run Vélib’ public bike program allows short-term subscriptions (one-week passes: €5, one-day passes: €1). More than 10,000 cute bikes are available at 750 kiosks around town for 30-minute free rentals. Sign up, grab a cycle, and head for one of the many bike lanes. If you want a better workout, stay on the bike for an hour and you’ll only be charged €1. (more pricing info)

If you’re up for a Friday night adventure, join the “Paris Rando Vélo” group for a free group ride through the streets of Paris. The cycling group meets at the Hotel de Ville at 9:30 PM every Friday night, and on the third Sunday morning of the month at 10:30 AM.

3) Rollerblade

Every Friday night, 12,000-15,000 rollerbladers hit the streets of Paris for a 3-hour speed skate through the city, escorted by the police department. The weekly event is not intended for beginners, as the massive group rolls over all manner of road surface, including cobblestones (yikes).

A more relaxed skating tour, the “Roller Rally” leaves every Sunday afternoon from the Place de la Bastille at 2 PM. Rollerblade rentals are available at Roulez Champions, 5 rue Humblot (Arr 15), Metro: Dupleix (01 40 58 12 22).

4) Take an aerobics or yoga class

The American Church in Paris offers daily one-hour aerobics classes open to the public featuring a different focus every night. Classes are €10 each or €72 for 8 sessions. More information is available here.

Yoga classes are held all over Paris on every day of the week. Check out the extensive list of yoga classes on the AngloInfo website.

5) Go to the gym

The gym craze is just beginning to hit Paris (we’ve heard that several gyms are even getting rid of their smoking sections…). While most chains require expensive memberships that are not practical for most travelers, certain gyms do allow single admissions. Among them:

The Body Gym, 157, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine near the Bastille. (€16 single entrance).

Club Quartier Latin, 19 rue de Pontoise in the Latin Quarter (€19 single entrance).

Find more gyms, classes, and fitness ideas on the Paris Fitness website.

The post Paris Fitness: Five ways to stay in shape appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.