For those looking to save some euros, one place to begin your research is by looking at Paris’ free museums and attractions (or those with reduced admission).

It is possible, after all, to take in a lot of the city’s culture without forking over too much cash. Here’s a quick guide to a few of our favorite free museums and tips for finding discounted admission.

Related:
• 47 ways to save on your trip to Paris
• 8 best cheap hotels in Paris for 2025

Always free museums in Paris

Some museums and many public monuments are free every day. This is great to know when you get caught in the rain and don’t want to kill time in a café.

Note that some of these have a (sometimes strongly) recommended “donation” ticket. While giving something isn’t required, it’s certainly a nice gesture.

Free museums include:

• The Musée d’Art Moderne, not far from the Eiffel Tower, is one of two modern art museums in Paris. Its special exhibitions cost 5-12 euros, but the permanent collection is completely free.
• Notre Dame Cathedral, and any church (other than Sainte Chapelle) for that matter, is fair game.
• The Musée Carnavalet in the Marais, allows you to tour the complete history of the city for free. (“Donation ticket” €5.) Temporary exhibitions can cost 10-13 euros.
• Arène de Lutèce, the city’s old Roman amphitheater, is just hanging out in the Latin Quarter waiting for visitors to drop in for a picnic while watching the local children play soccer.
• You can also walk through the courtyards and outer halls of the Hotel des Invalides and check out the canons guarding Napoleon’s tomb without paying to actually go inside.
• The Atelier Brancusi displays the sculptures of Constantin Brancusi just outside of the Centre Pompidou, including the famous sculpture l’oiseau dans l’espace. The workshop is completely free to visit.
• More museums that are free every day include: Maison de Victor Hugo, Musée de la Vie Romantique, Musée Curie, the Shoah Memorial, the Petit Palais – Musée des Beaux Arts, the Musée du Parfum-Fragonard and more. Note that many of these charge admission to special exhibits, but visiting the permanent collection is free.

Along with free fireworks over the Eiffel Tower, Bastille Day means free admission to many of the city’s museums. Photo: Yann Caradec

Sometimes free museums in Paris

If you’re planning your trip like a Cheapo, come to Paris on a weekend for the first Sunday of the month when many national museums are open for free, like the Pompidou and Musee d’Orsay.

Keep in mind that some museums will only offer the free first Sunday per month in the off-season. Look at the “practical information” section of the museum website you plan to visit and it should tell you.

To celebrate the national holiday, Bastille Day, national museums, like the Louvre, are also open for free on July 14 every year. (This could also be to distract the revolutionary-minded from storming any more prisons.)

Discounted with a Paris Museum Pass

Purchasing a Paris Museum Pass (available for 2, 4 or 6 days) will provide entrance to most national museums and monuments, including the Palace at Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe.

If you are a history and art buff, the pass will easily pay for itself. All you need to do is plan your visits in advance.

For example, a two-day museum pass costs €70. If you plan on visiting both the Conciergerie prison (where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned) and the adjacent Sainte Chapelle church, admission will cost a total of €26, if purchased independently. Throw in a ticket to the Louvre (€22), the Rodin Museum (€14), and the Centre Pompidou (€15), and in two days, you’ve saved a bit of cash.

We don’t mean to oversell the pass. However, if you are dedicated to visiting multiple museums, the pass can be a very good deal.

Free for visitors under 26 years old

• EU citizens under 26: All permanent collections of national museums and monuments are free for EU cardholders under 26 years of age.
• Other residents under 26 (with carte de sejour): Many Americans and Canadians may think this law passes them up. But wait! The thousands of study abroad students, au pairs, and English assistants who have legal residency in France or elsewhere in Europe are also covered by this law. So, if you’re under 26, head to the Musée d’Orsay or the Natural History Museum, wave your passport and carte de séjour, and you’ll get a free ticket.
• Children: Children often get into places for free. However, ages vary considerably, so be sure to ask at the ticket window.

And remember that free entry usually only applies to a museum’s permanent collections and often doesn’t cover special exhibits. However, these special exhibitions often offer discounted youth tickets.

Hotel des Invalides offers daily reduced admission rates late in the day. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

Discounts and other deals

If a museum’s entrance is not free, you can often find various discounts if you know where to look. Work up the courage to ask if the price seems steep. Youth and “under 18” visitors can usually get reductions even if you don’t have EU paperwork, so visitors can still benefit from reductions.

Also, museums often work in tandem to offer discounts. For example, if you present your ticket to Palais Garnier when you visit the Musée d’Orsay, you’ll receive a discount (if you visit within 8 days). Obviously, right? Check out the offers posted at the ticket booth.

More info

The Paris Tourism Office has a website in English that can be useful for finding up-to-date information for any museum in Paris. Search by museum name, and soon you’ll realize how much money you can save (and how many Mona Lisa mugs you’ll finally be able to buy at the Louvre gift shop!). They even have an incredibly comprehensive list of all free and reduced admission museums and times.

Looking for even more free ideas? Here’s a list of 25 free things in Paris that we love and 7 things in Paris that are always free.

The post Paris: A list of free and discounted museums appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Affordable hotels near popular sights in Paris

Head to our Paris hotel guide for reviews of dozens of our favorite hotels in Paris. However, if you already know what you’d like to be near, consider the following six hotels in our favorite areas.

Eiffel Tower: Hôtel Eiffel Rive Gauche

Doubles from €129

If you’re looking to see that tower thing, know that it’s not in the center of the city. Another thing to note? Staying by a landmark as iconic as the Eiffel Tower can cost a pretty penny. You can get the most bang for your buck at Hôtel Eiffel Rive Gauche, which sometimes offers rates under €130 in winter. Rooms are small, but some offer a great view of the tower.

Mama Shelter puts you near the famous cemetery and hip spots in the 20th. Photo: Booking.com

Père Lachaise: Mama Shelter Paris East

Doubles from €95

If you’re looking to get away from all of the tour buses and cameras, you can try your best out in the 20th arrondissement by shaking it up at Mama Shelter, a super-chic and budget-friendly hotel. Wander the Père Lachaise cemetery in isolation, hanging out in one of the world’s most famous cemeteries with stars like Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde.

The Absolute Paris Hostel is an artsy hostel in a trendy neighborhood. Photo: Booking.com

Canal St-Martin: Absolute Paris Hostel

Doubles from €115

If you want to play a proper hipster in Paris, or if you just need a place to stay that’s not far from the Gare du Nord on your way to London or Amsterdam, check out the Absolute Paris Hostel. Close to the now-famous Canal St-Martin district, it’s one of Paris’ trendier neighborhoods where you can forego Chanel and Vuitton for a pair of beat up Chucks and any brand of skinny jeans. The hotel has shared rooms if you’re looking to meet fellow travelers, or doubles if you want privacy. No matter the room, there’s a funky, artsy vibe that matches the neighborhood’s trendiness.

The Hotel Du Cygne makes it easy to stroll to the Louvre. Photo: EuroCheapo

Louvre: Hotel du Cygne

Doubles from €148

You’re in Paris for the art? Don’t look farther than the Hotel du Cygne, a cute little two-star hotel with wood-beamed ceilings and a friendly staff. A quick walk to the Louvre and the Pompidou, it’s a great starting point for those looking to get a quick and easy dose of paintings and sculptures while not paying too much for accommodations. The galleries and museums of the Marais aren’t too far away, either. That makes this a good base for multiple days of inspiring visits.

The funky Hotel Esmeralda offers an incredible location along the Seine. Photo: EuroCheapo

Notre Dame: Hotel Esmeralda

Doubles from €121

Whether you’ve dreamed of studying at the Sorbonne or just want to be as close to Notre Dame as possible, look no farther than the Hotel Esmeralda, located along the left bank of the Seine. Rooms look out onto views of the city’s two islands and the world’s most famous Gothic cathedral. The entire Latin Quarter, featuring medieval and Roman architecture as well as the Pantheon and the main building of the Sorbonne, are a quick walk away.

Charming views from a super cheapo room at Hôtel Rivoli. Photo: Booking.com

Marais: Hôtel Rivoli

Doubles from €106

You want to be trendy, but central. You want to be touristy, yet also stay near some locals. Basically, you want it all. Well drop your luggage in the Marais at the Hôtel Rivoli, a very sweet and simple hotel right across the street from the city hall. The Marais is a great place to call home. It has free museums, an array of shopping for all budgets, and some of the best cheap eats in Paris.

More Paris affordable hotels

To see many more budget hotel picks for Paris, including more recommendations for each of these neighborhoods, see the hotel reviews in our Paris guide. If you want to save more on your accommodations, you can also check out our tips for saving on hotels in France.

The post Paris Affordable Hotels: 6 sleeps near popular sights appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

With an expansive Egyptian collection, some enormous French canvases, and one curious little Italian who gets a whole wall to herself, the Louvre can take days to appreciate fully. But who has the time or stamina to see it all?

Related: Cheap hotels near the Louvre

6 Louvre tips to save time and energy

If you’re heading to the Louvre for the first time, here are some tips to help you survive the experience and to come out still smiling, just like the museum’s most famous resident…

1. Book your tickets in advance

Here’s the thing: Even though tickets are €2 cheaper when purchased at the museum, entry is not guaranteed — and you may not be able to enter, due to overcrowding. So these days, we actually recommend booking your tickets in advance, with a timed entry, in order to guarantee admission.

Adult tickets are €17 when booked online with a timed entry. Closed Tuesday.

2.  Pack accordingly

While you aren’t exactly trekking the Andes, going through the Louvre is physically taxing. Bringing a small snack or bottle of water in a bag can help subdue any irritation that may occur while struggling to find an exit, bathroom, or place to sit for a rest. It can also get warm in the Louvre at some points, so have a layer or two ready to remove.

Related: 10 Ways to prepare for your trip to Paris

There’s always a crowd around the famous Venus de Milo. Photo: Ming

3. Make a game plan

Take a map and take a moment to sit (emphasis on sit) and plan. The Louvre is big. Very big. Wandering it aimlessly can be enjoyable if you have no agenda, but if you want to see the major sights or any specific wings, make sure you plan a rough route first.

There are maps of the Louvre online that you can use to plan out your route before you enter the museum. Or, you can get a map upon entry and take a minute to devise a plan of action so that you don’t get lost.

Otherwise, you’ll be knee-deep in the Egyptian wing before you realize you want to see the kings’ crowns, the Venus de Milo, and the statue garden with no logical way to tie them all together.

4. See the “big three” while you have energy

See the highlights first while you still have the energy to fight the crowds, especially if traveling with children. The big three are the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory statue perched atop one of the majestic staircases. With signs pointing the way, it’s not hard to find them but plan on hitting them right away and then escaping to lesser-traveled galleries already feeling accomplished.

Keep in mind that the Mona Lisa is a tiny painting that is secured behind a bulletproof case and is separated by a physical barrier. If you’re dreaming of analyzing the brush strokes up close, you’re probably better off looking at high-resolution pictures of the painting online at home.

Enter through the Carrousel du Louvre to avoid lines. Photo: Guilhem

5. Enter through a different entrance

Know your entrance options. Most people enter at the glass pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre, which is fine if there’s no line. But the safer bet is to enter into the Carrousel du Louvre, the underground shopping mall, toward an inverted glass pyramid (think Da Vinci Code) by the Apple store. At this entrance, the security line is often nonexistent.

Moreover, you can also enter through Rue Rivoli. This entrance links into the Carrousel du Louvre, and if you exit from Metro line 1 (Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre), you’ll only have to walk about a minute to enter the Louvre from Rue Rivoli.

But wait there’s more: If you already have a ticket (see tip #1), you can also enter along the Quai Francois Mitterrand. Check out this cool interactive map of the Louvre’s entrances for the latest information.

Related: 10 Tips for riding the Paris Metro like a local

6.  Consider the audio guide

While it sounds lame, be warned: Most of the signs in the Louvre are in French. So unless your French is up to snuff, you might not know exactly what you’re looking at. And with 35,000 pieces of art and no stories to go with them, this could amount to some quick frustration for you and your travel mates. The Louvre audio guide might be a good bet. This audio guide costs €5 to rent.

7.  Save it for later

No one said you have to go to the Louvre immediately. If it’s a once in a lifetime trip that brings you to Paris, by all means, get in there. But if you’re already planning your next trip, then there’s no reason to rush inside. There’s no shortage of things to do in Paris, so either wait until you’ve experienced what you really want to get out of Paris or else wait for a drizzly day to appreciate all of the wonders this former palace contains.

Louvre Museum
Rue de Rivoli, 75001 in the 1st arrondissement
Hours: 9 am to 6 pm; closed on Tuesday
First Saturday of each month: the museum is open until 9:45 pm and admission is free starting at 6 pm
Admission: €17 (online), €15 (at the museum)

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Paris right now? Head over to our Paris guide to read our hotel reviews. Our editors have visited, inspected and reviewed affordable hotels all over town, and recommended those we think are the best value. See advice on neighborhoods and discover our favorite cheap hotels in the City of Light.

Your Louvre survival tips?

Do you have another piece of advice for visiting the Louvre without losing your sanity? Tell us about it in our comments section below.

The post Paris: 7 tips for surviving the Louvre appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The development of free museum nights has really taken off across Europe, with city after city opening their doors once or twice a year for a free evening. Paris usually holds its free night each year on the third Saturday in May.

This year, Cheapos headed to Paris should mark their calendar for May 19, 2018, when most museums will be free and museums will keep their doors open later than usual to give guests the experience of a lifetime.

Paris hotels:  Our favorite budget picks for 2018

“La Nuit des Musees”: Museum Night in Paris

While there will be more 1,600 museums participating throughout France, we’ve narrowed down a list of 10 museums in Paris that will be open. Follow this Museum Night guide to quench your thirst for adventure and art while exploring the different neighborhoods that Paris has to offer.

1. Le Musee Nissim de Camondo

63 Rue de Monceau
8th arrondissement
website

Have you ever wondered what kitchen looked like the housed the inspiration for the movie Ratatouille? The museum of Nissim de Camondo was given by Nissim’s father, Moise de Camondo, to the French government upon his death. After his son and only heir died in World War I, Moise de Camondo was heartbroken and dedicated his house to his son in order to carry on his child’s memory and legacy.

This museum will give you a history lesson of what it was like to live in the 1% in France during the early 1900s. Amenities include two elevators (one for the guests and one for the maids), a food lift (forget farm-to-table fresh, Moise de Camondo demanded kitchen-to-table fresh), color-coated tile bathrooms (green, blue, and white for dad, his sister, and Nissim), heated floors and walls, a grand staircase, and many more opulent perks that were simply unimaginable in the early 20th century.

2. Musee Gustave Moreau

14 Rue de la Rochefoucauld
9th arrondissement
website

After enjoying stunning architecture in the 8th, we’ll take a stroll into the 9th arrondissement to have a look at the house of the symbolist painter, Gustave Moreau. This three-floor museum is filled with his paintings that draw inspiration from the Italian Renaissance. Furthermore, you even get to see some of his unfinished paintings and sketches to truly experience the life of a Parisian artist of the mid- to late-1800s.

3. Musee de la Franc-Maconnerie

16 Rue Cadet
9th arrondissement
website

What’s a French vacation without a little conspiracy theory? The Museum of Freemasonry is also located in the 9th arrondissement, and it’s sure to scratch whatever itch you’ve had about the 14 US Presidents that were part of this organization. Yup, George Washington, the first president was indeed a Mason, and the Museum of Freemasonry will give you all the inside scoop on the French history of this secret society, complete with many paintings and drawings of the famous triangular Illuminati eye. You might have to unstrap your Ben Stiller Night at the Museum character for a more appropriate Nicholas Cage in National Treasure while you peruse through this museum.

Accommodations: Cheap Paris hotels in the 9th arrondissement

4. Musee des Arts et Metiers

60 Rue Reaumur
3rd arrondissement
website

Now that you have enjoyed the architecture, art, and organization of Paris, it’s only fitting that you also explore the scientific innovations that kept this city running. Located in 3rd arrondissement of Paris, this industrial museum of art and trade houses seven sections about the history of scientific instruments, materials, energy, mechanics, construction, communication, and transportation. You’ll get to explore early prototypes of carriages, printing presses, airplanes, industrial sewing machines, steam engines, satellites, locomotives, and many more technological inventions.

Visitors during Museum Night 2011 at Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature. Photo: Knowtex

5. Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature

62 Rue des Archives
3rd arrondissement
website

For this visit, we’ll need a bit of help from our Ben Stiller character from the Night at the Museum because this museum of “hunting and nature” is not so much about hunting as it is about animals and their relationships with humans. The exhibit has been heralded as one of the best-curated museum in Paris… as long as the animals don’t come back to life at night!

6. Musee Picasso

5 Rue de Thorigny
3rd arrondissement
website

Although he is a Spanish artist, Paris has a Picasso Museum that’s worth visiting. It includes over 5,000 works of art by Picasso including paper art, ceramics, sculptures in wood and metal, and paintings. The museum also houses the African art that inspired Picasso’s cubism style, as well as paintings that Picasso did when he was much older.

Accommodations: Cheap Paris hotels in the 3rd and 4th arrondissement

7. Centre Pompidou

Place Georges-Pompidou
4th arrondissement
website

The Centre Pompidou is not for the faint of heart (or legs). It is a large complex that houses three important structures: The Public Information Library, the Musee National d’Art Moderne, and Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music. Most people go for the Modern Art Museum aspect because it not only holds the largest collection of European modern art, but the top floor boasts one of the best panoramic views of Paris.

8. Musee Curie

1 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie
5th arrondissement
website

As we cross into the Rive Gauche (Left Bank), we’re met by a blast from the scientific past. Formerly Marie Curie’s laboratory, the Museum of Curie is a historical institution located in the 5th arrondissement focusing on radiological research. It holds archives and documentation about the history of radiology and oncology — the same two topics that allowed Marie Curie to become the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

9. Musee des Arts Decoratifs

107 rue de Rivoli
1st arrondissement
website

A trip to Paris is incomplete without a visit to the Art Decoratifs. Not only does it house artifacts of decorative arts and design, but it also includes must-see exhibits that explore the Haute Couture fashion aspect of Paris (think Dior, Hermes, and Margiela). Furthermore, it even has part of the actual house of French designer, Jeanne Lanvin of the House of Lanvin! The Art Deco, as it goes by for short, houses jewelry, furniture, tableware, and carpets of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. It gives visitors a chance to see how the French upper class lived.

10. Musee du Louvre

Place du Carrousel
1st arrondissement
website

It’s always high on everyone’s list, so we certainly couldn’t leave the dear Louvre off of ours. Because it’s so big, it may be more beneficial to experience the Louvre when you have a full day and use Museum Night to take advantage of the smaller Parisian museums with free admission. Nonetheless, the Louvre is phenomenal and has come to represent the epitome of Paris and the resting place of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. And it is here, at the Louvre, in the center of Paris, that we end our Museum Night journey!

One caveat: We tried getting into the Louvre at midnight during previous Nuit des Musées only to find the entrance closed at 11 pm, so check the hours in advance. Our advice? Plan ahead. Fortunately, the Louvre’s terrace bar overlooks the pyramids. And, of course, there’s the adjacent Jardin des Tuileries, with its much more hospitable hours.

Hotels: And if you need a place to stay close to this world-famous museum, you can browse our list of cheap hotels near the Louvre.

The post Museum Night in Paris: Free admission and late hours during “La Nuit des Musees” appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Like most major cities, Paris can be quite pricey, especially for first-time visitors who don’t know the little “tricks of the Cheapo trade.”  Fortunately, a little bit of planning before you land can help you save some serious euros while still experiencing the best the city has to offer.

More tips for Paris:

• 50 Ways to save on your vacation in Paris
• The 15 Best cheap hotels in Paris
• 25 Free attractions and things to do in Paris

10 Budget tips for Paris first-time visitors

Here’s a quick “Top 10” list of ways to save for first-timers in Paris:

1. Restaurants: Feast away… at lunch.

Paris and food go hand in hand. While yummy baguette sandwiches and pastries are everywhere – and they’re cheap – you’ll want to sit down at a restaurant eventually. You can do some research on Yelp or ParisbyMouth.com and find a nice restaurant for lunch instead of dinner to save some euros. Fixed lunch menus are usually cheaper, and you won’t usually need a reservation for popular places, plus you’ll get to sit for a while and enjoy your meal. Here are 5 set lunch menus we like under €12.

Related: Read more topics about saving on food in Paris.

2. Affordable lodging: Think central.

Pick a central hotel to avoid constantly taking the Metro. While the Metro is inexpensive and efficient, the costs can add up, in both euros and time. Often it’s better to book a central hotel that’s €20-30 more expensive to avoid buying an extra few “carnets” of Metro tickets. You’ll also save your feet the extra miles of walking.

Check out our cheapo guide to saving on hotels in Paris, and this smaller list of budget hotels with great, central locations and 8 favorites under €80.

3. Metro: “Un carnet, s’il vous plait.”

So when you do take the Metro inside Paris (not to the airport or to Versailles), make sure you buy a “carnet” of tickets (unless you decide to get a Mobilis pass). This set of 10 tickets will save you about 20% per ticket instead of buying them individually. But use up those paper tickets soon because they will expire in 2021. The city is moving to a new system, Navigo Easy, to replace the paper tickets. Good news though, you’ll still be able to get the 10-ride discount!

Related: 10 Tips for riding the Paris Metro like a local

4. Nightlife: Plan ahead.

Do some nightlife research and take advantage of happy hour(s). While Paris may not be a party town like Berlin or New York, there are still plenty of things to do at night. The challenge is to find them. Happy hour specials abound, sometimes until 11 pm, when drinks are significantly cheaper.

But if you want to hear jazz, go dancing, or experience other nightlife, it’s best to know where you’re heading ahead of time; otherwise, you might find yourself on the Champs-Elysées paying a €30 cover charge for a tacky club.

Read more about saving on Paris’s nightlife at bars and clubs and entertainment.

5. Museums: Should you “pass”?

Plan your museum trips ahead of time if you are planning to purchase a museum pass. It’s best to know how many museums you’ll actually be able to see during the few days that your pass will be valid. Otherwise, if you are buying tickets for each museum, visit the Louvre and the Orsay during their night openings (Louvre: Wednesday and Friday, Orsay: Thursday) in order to save on cheaper tickets and deal with smaller crowds.

Don’t forget the litany of free museums that may not hold any Mona Lisa’s but are just as memorable. The Carnavalet, the Pavillon de l’Arsenal, and the Victor Hugo museum are all favorites in the Marais that are worth a visit. (Read more tips for sightseeing in Paris.)

Related: 7 Tips for surviving the Louvre

6. Fixed costs: No getting around ’em.

Plan fixed costs ahead of time. The Eiffel Tower and a tour of the Opera, for example, offer no shortcuts or reduced fees (aside from booking your Eiffel Tower tickets in advance to save time), so you’ll have to pay full price.

And fixed costs don’t stop with sightseeing: Train tickets to the airport on the RER B, a ticket to Versailles, and a day trip to Giverny are all non-negotiable. While none of these will break the bank, they do add up, so it’s best to know which experiences you’ll be paying full-price for.

7. Fast food: Enjoy it, French-style.

Don’t shy away from fast food – falafels and baguette sandwiches, for example – just because you might have heard that Parisians don’t eat fast food. That’s a lie. Getting a falafel (€6) on rue des Rosiers and heading to the Place des Vosges or taking a baguette sandwich (less than €5) and fruit from the market to a picnic in a garden are all perfectly acceptable and encouraged.

8. Touring: Take a freebie

Take a free tour — like these — to get introduced to the city. If you’re a first-timer, a tour will be a perfect way to break you in and familiarize yourself with the city’s layout and history. Sure, it’ll be more information than you’ll be able to retain, but you’ll meet new people and your guide, most likely a local, will have insider information to share with you — if they’re good!

If you have a few extra euros to spend, here are 11 specialty tours worth splurging on.

9. Hydrate: Drink the free stuff.

Water is one of the few truly free things in Paris – like, really free. If you go to a café and ask for a glass of water, the waiter must give you one. Never hesitate to ask for a “carafe d’eau” while at a café or restaurant, even if you just have coffee. They’re legally required to give it to you.

Also, the famous Wallace fountains keep fresh drinking water running through Paris all spring and summer long (they’re shut off in the winter to avoid freezing). If you want a bottle of Evian, head to the grocery store to browse the Mecca of water brands available for as little as 15 centimes a bottle – but be warned, cold water can cost up to €2 for a small bottle at any other bodega or snack shop.

10. Timing: What’s your style?

We’ve talked about when is the best time to visit Paris before. But we’ll stress it again: Pick your period wisely – Christmas and summer tend to be expensive, but have their own perks, so weigh your values and pros/cons. Do you want to picnic? Spend time lounging in the gardens? Fight impossible crowds at Notre Dame and the Louvre? Sounds like late spring and summer.

Or do you want to come in April or October with some warmer clothes and an umbrella and relax a bit more with fewer tourists around? If you want to cut down on hotel rates and airfare, look to the low season, just be prepared for all weather conditions.

Your first-time tips?

Have a tip for a first-timer in Paris to add to our list? Share with us in the comments section below!

The post Paris: 10 money-saving tips for Paris first-time visitors appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Welcome to European travel at its most popular—and most frustrating.  And these most popular attractions only seem to get busier with each passing year, filling up with tourists even during the slower seasons.

But before you head back to your hotel to sip a bottle of wine in misery, take a deep breath and relax. Despite millions of other tourists descending upon the same museum, church or ruin every year, there are still ways to beat the crowds and save time in Europe.

Here are 10 insider tips to let you spend more time experiencing these sights—and less time experiencing the line.

9 tips to help you save time in Europe

Beat the crowds and get this incredible view when you visit the Eiffel Tower in the evening. Photo: Miguel Mendez

1. Eiffel Tower: Book in advance, and head up around dinner time

The Eiffel Tower sure is pretty to look at from a distance. During peak summer season, save time waiting in a ticket line by booking your Tower tickets in advance through the official Eiffel Tower website. (Careful — lots of ticket agencies would like to sell you more expensive versions of the same ticket. Buy yours directly from the Eiffel Tower website.)

To avoid the biggest crowds in high season, plan on an early or late dinner and schedule your Tower visit for 8 or 9 pm. Not only will you catch the sunset, but you’ll miss most of the other Paris lovers who will be out to dinner.

Related: Our favorite budget hotels near the Eiffel Tower

2. Louvre: Stay up late on Wednesdays & Fridays

On Wednesday and Friday the Louvre is open until 9:45 pm. We know it’s tempting to visit Mona early in the day when everyone’s fresh, but coming after dark means that you’ll miss the herds of school groups, extended families and tour groups that arrive around 10 a.m.

And no matter what time you come, enter through the Carrousel du Louvre entrance. Waiting to pass through security under the main pyramid is an unnecessary time waster.

Related: Read more Louvre tips | Favorite budget hotels near the Louvre

3. Anne Frank House: Get your tickets way in advance

There’s no way around it. If you just show up on a Saturday afternoon in summer expecting to saunter right into the Anne Frank House, you’re going to be disappointed. So many tourists in Amsterdam are shocked that you have to get tickets in advance. It is the only way to see the museum now. It’s too bad if you don’t get in as this is one of Europe’s most powerful experiences.

Just plan ahead and get your tickets in advance either two months in advance or the day of (if you’re lucky!). Check out our full guide to getting Anne Frank House tickets for all of the details.

Related: 32 recommended budget hotels in Amsterdam

Tourists mingling and waiting outside of St. Mark’s Basilica. Photo: Dennis Jarvis

4. St. Mark’s Basilica: Skip ahead with online booking

There’s almost always a line to get into this stunning church—no matter what time of year you visit. Entry can easily take 45 minutes or longer during high season. And since this ancient basilica is still used for services, avoid Sunday mornings during mass and major Christian holidays, unless you’re planning to attend the service.

You can book entry tickets directly online to save time during the busier months. Total cost: only €2! This service is available from 1st of April to 2nd November and is a small price to pay for saving so much time.

Related: More tips for visiting Venice’s attractions. | Our 23 best budget hotels in Venice

5. Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s basilica: Visit Tuesdays through Fridays

St. Peter’s basilica has been a destination for pilgrims for centuries, and Pope Francis’ new-found popularity is bringing in even bigger crowds. With so many attractions to see in one place, from the stunning basilica to the fascinating museums that draws up to 25,000 people a day, visiting the Vatican area can be a little overwhelming.

You can book museum tickets online, but the key here is coming mid-week. The weekends (especially Sundays of course!) and Mondays are the busiest, so try to plan your schedule around them. Then go first thing in the morning or after lunch around 3 pm. Late morning usually sees the biggest number of visitors.

Check out 9 other tips on beating the crowds at the Vatican (including our tip for the secret entry between the Vatican museum and St. Peter’s).

Related: More ways to save in Rome | 37 recommended budget hotels in Rome

Tour buses, lines and oh so many tourists are a common site at the Colosseum. Photo: Dzhingarova

6. Colosseum: Get up very early

The Colosseum can only hold 3,000 people at a time, so you can imagine the backups that can ensue on the busiest days. If you can actually pull yourself out of bed and be in line by 8:15 a.m., you will be in good shape to be one of the first to get through the doors when they open at 8:30 a.m. You can also book online, if you prefer to sleep in

Bonus Tip: Another way to save a couple of euros (and some time, too) is to avoid all of the costumed Roman soldiers and gladiators looking to separate you from a few of your euros for a cheesy photo op. (Unless, of course, you want an epic holiday card to send to Uncle Jack this year.)

7. British Museum: Research and come prepared

The Elgin Marbles, Rosetta Stone, Lewis Chessmen, Parthenon Sculptures… it’s like Humanity’s Greatest Hits, and it’s free to visit! Just know that it’s on every other tourist’s list, too. While you can choose to zip through the biggies in under 60 minutes (there really is a guide for that!), we prefer to take our time and soak it all in.

However, do a little prep work or you’ll be wandering around all day. To get a head start, spend some time in the museum’s online collection or listen to a great series of BBC podcasts “A History of the World in 100 Objects.” Figure out what sounds good, and make a plan. Research has never been so fun!

Related: Read all of our tips for the British Museum | Best budget hotels in London

8. Buckingham Palace: Book ahead in summer, guard yourself otherwise

There are royal palaces. And then there’s Buckingham Palace, which boasts 775 rooms that stretch over a football (that’s American football) field long. Not to mention the posh royal ceremonies or the official Throne Room. This is the real deal.

Buckingham Palace opens its doors to tourists every summer from late July through the end of September. You should book those tickets online well in advance.

Visiting around the holidays? Travelers can splurge for one of the palace’s exclusive private tours, available to small groups from December 11, 2015 – January 31, 2016. Ticket prices are a hefty £75 per person.

Looking for a touch of the Prince but the price of a pauper? Swing by to experience the changing of the Guard for free. It takes place at 11:30 a.m. — daily during the summer and alternating days off-season. (Check out this schedule for more info.)

Prepare to be awestruck at La Sagrada Familia. If you get up early and beat the crowds. Photo: Antonio Tajuelo

9. La Sagrada Familia: Arrive early or go to mass

Barcelona is a feast for fans of architecture and Gaudí, with Park Güell, several residences like Casa Batlló and La Sagrada Familia, all easily accessible within the city’s boundaries. But if you only have time to see one of his master creations, La Sagrad Familia is probably the best bet—as long as you hit the sack early the night before.

The church opens at 9 a.m. every day of the year (including Christmas and New Year’s), so early arrivals can get a jump on the crowds no matter what season they come. Admission will cost you more than a handful of euros, but even on our cheapo budget, we think it’s well worth it. You should also consider attending mass at the Sagrada Familia — it’s not just free, it’s a moving experience.

Related: Read all of our tips for La Sagrada Familia | Recommended budget hotels in Barcelona

Your tips

Have some additional ways to save time and money at any of these tops attractions? Did we overlook something big? Share with us in the comments section below!

The post Secrets to saving time at Europe’s top attractions appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Walking or biking around Paris, however, can become a drag when the sky opens up and even the most prepared tourist may be caught off guard. Fear not, there are plenty of things to do in Paris when it rains–if not, do you think so many of us would still live here?

Here are five activities perfect for Paris “when it drizzles”:

1. Museums — but be careful!

Museums seem like an obvious choice, but choose wisely. If you decide to visit the Louvre on a rainy day, you very well may be lined up outside of that big glass pyramid waiting under your umbrella like everyone else who had the same idea.

Instead, try the Carnavalet museum in the Marais which features highlights of Parisian history, and it’s free. Or for €9.50 you could easily spend an entire day in the Hotel des Invalides visiting Napoleon’s tomb and the museum’s collection of war artifacts from medieval times until World War II. The perk? The museum is in French and English.

2. Pompidou Center Library

Everyone heads to the Pompidou Center for their modern art galleries, but if you just need a break from the rain, head to their library which is free of charge. The entrance is along rue de Rénard and any line that may form is rain-free.

Head upstairs to browse the collections or just bring your own book and grab a seat by the large windows overlooking the city and watch the rain fall. There is even a little café, bathrooms, and a covered balcony for smokers.

Related: How to spend three days in Paris

3. Park it at a café

Everyone always wants to play Parisian by passing a few hours sitting at a sidewalk café, and a rain storm provides the perfect excuse. Head to any café and order coffee for €1-3 and kick back.

Going solo is entirely acceptable, just bring a book or a notepad to make yourself look busy while you enjoy the pitter patter of the rain on the sidewalk.

4. Movies!

Movie time was always the perfect rainy day solution when I was a child. In Paris, the cinema is still a great option. Many theaters have special daytime or student prices, just make sure you see the “VO” version, the version original, or else you’ll be getting the version dubbed in French.

Head to the UGC at Bercy, for example, where shows before noon are only €6.70. Rainy mornings are just as bad as rainy evenings, right?

5. Brave it outdoors

If rain doesn’t faze you, then bite the bullet, put on some rain boots, grab an umbrella and take advantage of the fact that the rain scares most tourists away from the city’s most popular sights. A promenade in the rain through the Tuileries or Luxembourg gardens can be spectacular when no one else is around.

As long as you’re feet are fine and you leave your electronics in the hotel or hostel, you can really enjoy Paris during a summer afternoon shower.

Accessories

No matter what you do, plan accordingly. Proper shoes and umbrellas are a must for all seasons in Paris. If you are carrying any documents or important papers, keep them in a waterproof bag or leave them in the hotel safe–nothing is worse than a soggy passport at customs.

Your rainy-day activities

Paris proves, again and again, rain or shine, it’s always one of the most beautiful cities in the world. What are your favorite rainy-day activities? Share with us in the comments section.

Note: This article was updated on July 4, 2014 to reflect price changes.

The post Paris in the Rain: 5 activities for Paris when it drizzles appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Parisians are rude to tourists.

This is a big city, like New York or London, and you get your grumps alongside some of the sweetest people in the world, so be prepared. But did you say “bonjour”? Did you smile? Or did you just expect the red carpet to be rolled out?

Service is different in Paris, where waiters don’t work for tips and hotels don’t have to worry about filling beds, so they’re not always going to go that extra mile. But the average Parisian on the street won’t blow you off with a huff and puff of their cheeks—at least not always.

Nobody is forcing you to go. Photo: David McKelvey

2. You have to go to the Louvre.

You don’t have to go anywhere in Paris. Is the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame or any monument worth a visit? Yes, of course. But you can’t sink your whole trip to Paris by not doing something that others deem essential. I’m by no means discouraging visiting the top tourist attractions, but if art isn’t your thing, then do you really want to spend hours in a museum? Just sayin…

The charming Hotel Eldorado has doubles from €68 a night.

3. Paris is expensive.

Wine for €3 a bottle, entire baguette sandwiches for €4, hotel rooms for under €100, metro rides for less than €2, museums for free… need I go on?

If you want to live the high life, Paris makes it easy, but if you’re on a budget, Paris makes it even easier if you know where to look. You don’t have to compromise an amazing experience, either, just because you’re pinching pennies.

A visit to the Carnavalet museum (free!) will be just as rewarding as a dip into the Musée de l’Orangerie (€9). A falafel sandwich from L’As (€5.50) is a very different, but just as memorable experience as a meal at Le Meurice (€200). Well, maybe…

Do some research and ask around to find a good meal. Photo: EuroCheapo

4. You can’t get a bad meal in Paris.

Rubbery steak, frozen fries and stale pastries are just as much a part of the Parisian landscape as all of that food porn you’ve seen by bloggers and magazines. Blogger Lindsey Traumuta says to do your research before choosing a restaurant, if quality food is important for you. “That the cuisine is French, or prepared in France, doesn’t equate to perfection,” she says.

Some restaurants put more effort into translating their menus into ten languages than in actually preparing good food, so don’t be fooled. If your meal doesn’t taste good, it’s OK, you’re not the first to have eaten there. Or the last.

Seriously, it’s not (usually) like this. Photo: Luc Dib

5. All Parisians are chic dressers.

Fashion week, shmashion week—Parisians aren’t as elegant as you think. Sure the ladies and gents on the runway look fabulous, but the daily Parisian varies from the Chucks and skinny jeans with a faded tee shirt worn by hipsters along the Canal to a tailored suit and cropped haircut for the business associates. Ladies often mix and match boots with leggings and sweaters that even Picasso would find odd, while oversized sweatpants are seen in the Marais.

There’s no one look—Parisians dare them all. The only difference is no matter how ludicrous their outfit is, they wear it with confidence. But it can still look terrible.

Paris’ police force is everywhere—even on bikes. Photo: crash

6. Paris is dangerous.

Unless dog droppings are your kryptonite, Paris isn’t really that much of a crime den. In fact, pickpocketing decreased 22.4% last summer compared to 2012.

Violent crimes are extremely rare, and there are a few scams such as people asking for signatures on fake petitions while pickpocketing you, but it rarely escalates. Common sense, like in any city, should be exercised in crowded areas and the Metro, but otherwise there’s nothing to fear.

Alone in Paris? You’ll fit right in. Photo: Damien Roué

7. Paris is for lovers.

Paris is actually for singles, since around 51% of the city is without a partner, much higher than the national average. Once together, many young French couples flee the city. So come to the city, find a mate, and then hightail it out. When doe-eyed tourists in love visit the city, you can be sure that the many bachelors and maidens will be judging. And harshly, at that.

Go ahead and ask. He understands (and probably has a really cute accent). Photo: Julie Kertesz

8. Parisians don’t speak English.

How often have we heard, “Uh, my Eenglish iz not zogewd,” when speaking with a waiter? A rigid education system that dabbles in public shaming has left many French people afraid to carry on a discussion in a foreign language, but most English-speakers are all too ready to praise their efforts, which usually reveal pretty decent mastery.

“Many of them speak it, and more of them understand it, even if they’re afraid to speak because of pronunciation,” says tour guide and writer Heather Stimmler-Hall. Secretly, they probably just love the flow of compliments that you’ll inevitably shower on them.

The post Paris: 8 travel myths debunked appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Louvre

Visit late on Wednesdays or Fridays

If you must, go on Wednesday or Friday night, preferably from 6-9:45 PM. We sound like a broken record saying it, but it’s the truth. And on Friday nights, anyone under 26—anyone—can get in for free. It’s the best time to meander the halls, free from school children, families and tour groups that clog the galleries during the day. Afterwards, there’s still time for a drink or dinner just north around rue Montorgueil. Don’t try to beat the crowds and get there early. Resign yourself to the nocturne. (closed Tuesday)

The Eiffel Tower

Go up the elevators around dinner time

Oh, you wanted to go up this thing? OK, let’s do it, but prepare for crowds no matter what. As long as the elevators are working, the wait shouldn’t be horrible, but why waste even one hour waiting in a line with so few precious days in Paris? Aim for dinner time, again, or even later in the summer when the sun stays out until 9, 10, even 11 PM. From June to September, the last lift to the top is at 11 PM (10:30 the rest of the year), so plan accordingly. Again, groups of children and feuding families will probably be at dinner around 8 or 9, so this is your time to strike. The advantage is that in the summer, heading up around 8 or 9 PM means you’ll get to see Paris as the sun sets, and by the time you reach the top, night should fall and the lights will be twinkling. (open daily)

Montmartre & Sacre Coeur

Aim to get there before midday

This lively area can feel a little overwhelming on the weekends when tourists and locals alike walk the streets that zigzag the old artists’ district. To visit the neighborhood and basilica, just try and get there before noon in order to sneak into the church before a huge line forms, especially during the peak tourist seasons. Once the afternoon hits, especially on the weekends, families and groups find their way up the hill, and by evening, the church is closed for visits. Though hardly ever will you find a line to walk up the 300 steps to the basilica’s dome—maybe climbing up the hill is enough for most people. (open until 8 PM May-September, 5:30 PM October-April)

Notre Dame Church & Bell Tower

Be in line by 10 AM during the high season

There are two components to Notre Dame—the church (free) and the bell towers (€8.50). If you want to go up the towers, you’ll have to get up early (be there around 8:30 for a 10 AM opening in the high season). If you’re traveling with someone, one person can hold the line while the other walks to nearby Huré (1 rue d’Arcrole) for some pastry to eat in line.

If you want to visit the church (free) getting there before 10 AM is usually your best bet, as groups don’t typically enter until a bit later. The church sponsors visits at 2 PM in several languages, which means stay away if possible! But the line to get in, even if it wraps around the square in front of the church, usually advances quickly, since there are no tickets to purchase. (open daily)

The Catacombs

Don’t go too late because final entry time is 4 PM

Same advice as for the towers of Notre Dame—early is key. Although the several million Parisians housed in the old mine shafts don’t really care what time you arrive. The later you get there, the more you risk not making the final cut when the last visitors are allowed in at 4 PM. Get there at 8:30 AM if you can, and you’ll hopefully be among the first group of 200 to descend. (€8, closed Mondays)

The post Paris: A guide to beating the crowds at the top tourist attractions appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Fortunately, there are ways for Cheapos to get their art fix without breaking the bank. Here are five of my favorite ways to experience Paris’ best art for next to nothing.

Also read: A list of free and discounted museums in Paris

1. Don’t pass on the Paris Museum Pass.

Museum passes are not always worthwhile, especially if you don’t plan on spending much of your time strolling through marble corridors hung with paintings. However, consider purchasing the Paris Museum Pass if you’re thinking of spreading out your visit to the larger collections, like those of the Louvre or the Centre Pompidou, over several days.

A four-day Paris Museum Pass, for example, will set you back €54, but it gives you entrance to most of the city’s major museums and monuments and allows you to return as many times as you like over those four consecutive days. Bonus: You get to skip the lines!

2. First Sunday of the month is free.

On the first Sunday of every month many of the capital’s museums are free, so you can ogle Degas’ “Dancers” at the Musée d’Orsay or wander through Rodin’s statue-studded garden while saving your coin for an ice cream or a glass of wine afterward.

Crowd control tip: If you do choose to take advantage of this freebie, either steel yourself for the crowds of choose a lesser-known museum, such as the Musée National Jean-Jacques Henner or the Musée National Eugène Delacroix.

Bonus: Not in Paris on the first Sunday of the month? No problem! The Louvre offers reduced-price admission on all other Sundays.

3. Take advantage of afternoon and evening discounts.

Keep in mind that the Louvre’s entrance fee goes down to €5 after 3 p.m. (Regular admission is €11)

If you happen to be under the age of 26, the Louvre is free to you on Friday evenings, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Also check out La Maison Européenne de la Photographie, a beautiful museum in the Marais dedicated to the “8th Art.” It’s free on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

4. Senior or student? Get your discount!

If you’re over 60 years old, you’re eligible for discounted admissions to most museums and monuments in Paris, so don’t be shy—flash that I.D. and sashay on through.

Youth has its perks, too: If you’re under 18, the Louvre is your oyster, all for free. (And it’s even better for residents of the European Union: The Louvre is free for everyone under 25!)

5. Be part of the gallery scene.

Art openings are a fun, refreshing way to see some art that may otherwise pass under your radar. Plus, they’re free!

Dozens of galleries dot the Marais neighborhood, particularly in the 3rd arrondissment, like Galerie Vanessa Quang, Galerie Jean-François Cazeau and Galerie Thessa Herold. These small, white-washed spaces frequently have openings, held in the evenings. Called “vernissages,” these previews usually offer a few nibbles, some wine, and plenty of art world drama.

Wandering through the narrow streets of the Marais on a summer evening, popping in and out of galleries as the sky turns first pink then lavender, and quaffing a couple of glasses of free Champagne is a favorite Paris Cheapo’s cultural night out. So go on an adventure and see what you find in this most arty of Paris neighborhoods.

The post Paris Art Museums and Galleries: 5 ways to save on art appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.