Cruises from €8, guided tours from €15, speakeasies for €25... We tested 13 activities to enjoy Paris on a budget. The real no-rip-off guide.
Paris, the most expensive city in the world? Don't make me laugh. Sure, you can spend €18 on a lukewarm croque-monsieur on a terrace in Saint-Germain, or €25 for a factory-made crêpe facing the Eiffel Tower. But Parisians don't do that. Ever. We spent weeks testing dozens of activities to find the ones that are genuinely worth it, real deals, not bargain-bin experiences. The result: 13 experiences from €8 to €30 that'll show you a Paris most tourists never see.
The secret? The best Parisian activities aren't the most expensive ones. Often, it's the exact opposite.
Under €10, yes, it's possible
Think Paris under €10 means sitting on a bench staring at the Seine? Think again. We found two gems at €8 that easily rival experiences costing five times more.
Seine Cruise + Père-Lachaise Audio Guide, €8. Eight euros. You read that right. For the price of half a pint in Le Marais, you get a river cruise past the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre-Dame, PLUS a full audio guide to explore Père-Lachaise cemetery at your own pace. The app works offline with GPS, so no need to burn through your mobile data. You can visit the graves of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and Édith Piaf without getting lost in the cemetery's labyrinthine pathways. The pass is valid for a full year, so you can do the cruise one day and the cemetery another. Cruise departs from the Eiffel Tower, cemetery entrance on boulevard de Ménilmontant in the 20th.
Seine Cruise + Père-Lachaise Audio Guide
Two legendary experiences in one: cruise the Seine past iconic monuments, then explore Père-Lachaise and its legends at your own pace. The perfect combo to discover Paris from every angle.
Montmartre Audio Walk + Musée de la Vie Romantique, also €8. Same concept of total freedom: you stroll at your own pace through 18 carefully selected spots in Montmartre, from the Moulin Rouge to the Wall of Love. The audio guide tells you the stories of the cabarets and artists who made this neighbourhood legendary, far from the tourist clichés of Place du Tertre. As a bonus, you get a ticket to the temporary exhibition at the Musée de la Vie Romantique, a hidden gem tucked away in a lane that even most Parisians don't know about. Seven languages available, valid for a year. Honestly, at this price, you have zero excuse not to do it.
Montmartre: Audio Walk + Musée de la Vie Romantique
Dive into bohemian Montmartre with an audio walk revealing its hidden secrets. Complete the experience with a visit to the Musée de la Vie Romantique.
Budget tip
Between €15 and €20, the sweet spot
This is where the best deals in Paris hide. Walking tours led by genuinely passionate locals, food experiences that punch way above their weight, and adventures you won't find in any guidebook.
Latin Quarter Walk: writers, revolution and cafés, €15. If you only do one guided tour in Paris, make it this one. For 1.5 hours, a Parisian guide who truly knows his neighbourhood takes you through medieval alleyways from Notre-Dame to the Panthéon, tracing the footsteps of Hemingway, Picasso and the Sorbonne revolutionaries. You'll pass Shakespeare and Company, discover hidden courtyards and secret passages, and understand why this neighbourhood has been the intellectual heart of Paris for 2,000 years. The guide doesn't recite a textbook, he talks about his neighbourhood like a friend who lives there. 4.89/5 with 11 reviews, starting from Île de la Cité in the 4th.
Latin Quarter Walk: Writers, Revolution & Cafés
Dive into intellectual and rebellious Paris, from medieval times to today. An authentic walk with a Parisian guide who truly knows the neighborhood.
Gourmet Walk: the Parisian art of living, €15. Want to understand why Paris is the world's gastronomic capital? This 1.5-hour walk takes you to the exact spot where the world's first restaurant opened, at the Palais-Royal. You explore the stunning Galerie Vivienne, learn the wild history of Parisian cafés, and dive into the world of the old Les Halles market. The guide is a local cultural mediator who shares his best addresses, not the ones from Lonely Planet, the real ones. For more on Parisian gastronomy, check out our Paris food tour guide.
Foodie walk: the Parisian art of living
A unique walk to understand how Paris invented the restaurant and shaped the French art of living. From Palais-Royal to Les Halles, discover the secrets of Parisian gastronomy.
Treasure Hunt on the Islands of Paris, €15. A mysterious message found by the Seine sets you on the trail of a lovestruck ghost. Over 2.5 hours, you solve riddles and explore Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis like never before. Notre-Dame, secret little squares, cobblestone lanes. The host is a pro, the riddles are well-crafted, and you'll discover things about these islands you'd never find on your own. Great for couples, friends or families. 4.8/5, meeting point at 9 boulevard Henri IV in the 4th.
Treasure Hunt on Paris Islands
A romantic treasure hunt on Île de la Cité and Saint-Louis. Perfect for discovering historic Paris while having fun!
Cheese Experience, €17.60. The best value-for-money in this guide, possibly in all of Paris. A completely bonkers 350m² immersive journey where cheeses literally talk to you, through 9 themed rooms. You wander with your cheese trolley and taste 6 exceptional varieties chosen by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (France's highest artisan honour): Camembert de Normandie AOP, Comté Réserve, Roquefort, farmhouse Munster... Yes, it's kitschy. Yes, it's brilliant. For under €18, nothing in the capital compares. At 12 boulevard Montmartre in the 9th, Grands Boulevards metro.
Cheese Experience Paris - Immersive Cheese Tasting
A hilarious experience where cheeses talk to you in 9 immersive rooms. Push your cart and taste 6 exceptional cheeses selected by a master craftsman.
Paris Pub Crawl, €18. The perfect plan if you want to experience Parisian nightlife without emptying your wallet. Over 4 hours, you hit 3-4 bars across Paris's liveliest neighbourhoods with an international group of fellow revellers. Free shot at every bar (after your first drink), discounted drinks all night, and VIP skip-the-line entry to a nightclub to end the evening. The guides are locals who know the best spots. 4.88/5 with 357 reviews, the most reviewed activity in this entire guide, and that's no coincidence. Meet at 54 rue Saint-Denis in the 1st, Châtelet metro.
Editor's pickParis Pub Crawl: 4 bars + nightclub with free shots
The best way to discover Parisian nightlife! Visit 4 bars with free shots and VIP club entry to end the night in style.
The best for €25-30
Step up in budget, and the quality explodes. In-depth neighbourhood tours, evenings in secret bars, life-size game shows and pro photo shoots, all for the price of a Parisian brunch.
The Secret 16th Arrondissement, €20. The 16th is the Paris of embassies, private mansions and wide avenues where you'll spot more Bentleys than Vélib' bikes. This 2-hour walk reveals a district that even Parisians barely know: Trocadéro with its breathtaking Eiffel Tower view, the Art Nouveau architecture of Auteuil, the Ranelagh gardens and even a detour into the Bois de Boulogne. The guide is passionate and shares stories you won't find in any book. 5/5 with 12 reviews, perfection. Starting from Place du Paraguay in the 16th. For more off-the-beaten-path visits, explore our unusual Paris guide.
Secret 16th District: Walk Through Bourgeois Paris
Discover the chic and discreet Paris of the 16th district with its private mansions, Auteuil village and hidden gardens. A walk through the Paris tourists never see.
Paris Under Occupation: a 1939-45 Historical Walk, €24. A 2-hour dive into wartime Paris from 1940 to 1944 that never falls into sentimentality. The certified guide walks you through how the city actually functioned under occupation: the Nazi offices at Concorde, the requisitioned Hôtel Meurice, Place Vendôme, the Opéra... She pulls rare archive photos from her bag and you literally watch Paris transform before your eyes. Factual, documented, gripping. 4.9/5 with 40 reviews, one of the highest ratings in this guide. Small group format for real conversation. Starting from Place de la Concorde in the 8th.
Paris Under Occupation: WWII Historical Walk
A deep dive into 1940-1944 Paris, from Nazi power centers to testimonies of Parisians' daily life. Rare archival photos and captivating explanations guaranteed.
Hidden Bars of Paris: the Speakeasy Tour, €24.65. Think you know Parisian nightlife? Paris hides dozens of secret bars behind unmarked doors, in forgotten cellars or behind fake shopfronts. Over 2 hours, your guide takes you to 3 authentic speakeasies, sharing the secret codes, underground stories and creative cocktails in jaw-dropping settings. You leave with a list of insider addresses to continue the night on your own. 4.86/5 with 185 reviews, the second most reviewed activity in this guide. The vibe is fantastic and you'll easily meet fellow nocturnal explorers. Starting from Place de la République in the 11th. Perfect for a date night that's anything but ordinary.
Editor's pickHidden Paris Bars: Secret Speakeasy Tour
Discover Paris's most secret underground bars. A nighttime adventure to uncover the hidden side of the capital!
Quiz Room: your own TV game show, €26. Looking for something truly different? Quiz Room recreates the atmosphere of a real TV set with light-up buzzers, screens and all the trimmings. Two quiz rounds of 30-35 minutes each, general knowledge questions adapted to every level, and a competitive energy between teams that gets everyone hooked. Perfect for groups of 4 to 18, birthdays, hen parties, team building or just a fun evening with friends. 5/5, at 38 rue d'Hauteville in the 10th, République metro.
Quiz Room: Your Own TV Game Show in Paris
Transform into a TV game show contestant in a real quiz room! Authentic TV set atmosphere guaranteed with buzzers and questions for all levels.
Romantic Couple Photo Shoot, €29. Thirty minutes with a Parisian photographer who knows all the secret spots for photos that truly pop. No forced poses, the atmosphere is 100% natural, the photographer guides you gently and captures your genuine moments together. The route adapts to the time of day and the light. The best part? Your retouched photos are delivered within 2 hours. For €29, it's frankly unbeatable. Meet at Passerelle Debilly in the 7th, a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower. 5/5 with 19 reviews.
Romantic couple photo shoot with Parisian photographer
Capture your love in Paris with a local photographer who knows all the best spots. A relaxed photo walk to capture your intimate moments.
Treasure Hunt on Île de la Cité and Saint-Louis, €30. The premium version of the treasure hunt. Here, a guide gives you a real map, a booklet of riddles and clues, and you set off in the footsteps of King Saint-Louis for 1.5 hours. Views of Notre-Dame, crossings between the two islands, secret squares, the playful format delights kids and adults alike. 5/5 with 14 reviews, a perfect score. Meet at 2 boulevard Henri IV in the 4th. If you enjoy interactive activities, browse our budget activities catalogue.
Treasure Hunt on Île de la Cité and Saint-Louis
A fun treasure hunt to explore Paris's two legendary islands. Puzzles, map and clue book to discover the secrets of King Saint-Louis!
Our tips for smart spending in Paris
After testing all these activities, here are our tricks to make every euro count:
- Book on weekdays. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are cheaper and you get your pick of time slots. On weekends, the best activities sell out fast.
- Combine the €8 audio guides. Seine cruise in the morning + Montmartre in the afternoon = a full day for €16. You won't find better.
- Take advantage of free cancellation. Most activities here offer free cancellation 24-48 hours before. Book now, you can always change your mind.
- Small-group guided tours are worth it. At €15-24, you're paying for a real passionate guide, not an automated audio recording. The difference in experience is massive.
- Ultimate budget night out for €42. Pub Crawl (€18) followed by the hidden bars tour (€24.65) on another evening, you'll have explored the entire Parisian nightlife for under €45.
Budget tip