Paris, the City of Lights – a place that has inspired myriad dreams and stolen countless hearts. As part of our first Euro trip, we spent a week in this captivating city. It was an experience we’ll never forget. In this article, we’ll share our Parisian adventure, including highlights from our visit to its iconic neighborhoods and landmarks. We will also sprinkle in some of the things we did to squeeze the most fun without breaking the bank. Get ready to be inspired to plan your budget-friendly Parisian escape!
This may seem like a departure from our usual trial retirement destinations because Paris is known to be a ridiculously expensive city. It is a valid observation. Paris and Europe can wreak havoc on your vacation budgets if you’re not careful, but we also want travel to be part of our retired lives. We crave to experience different cultures and immerse ourselves in the sounds of lively towns and cities, even if we don’t commit to staying there for a month. With a bit of creativity and adventurous spirit, we were determined to make an incredible Parisian adventure on a budget possible.
Télégraphe
Our home base for our adventure is the neighborhood of Télégraphe, a residential area in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. While we didn’t have a view of the Eiffel Tower, we chose this apartment because it gave us more room and amenities without costing us a fortune. It provided a quieter, more local experience of Paris than the more central tourist areas. We came into Europe through Charles de Gaulle Airport and took Uber rides to and from Paris for about $35.00 one way.
6-night Studio Apartment: $680.00
Uber Rides: $70.00
Beautiful landmarks and neighborhoods around Paris are within 30 – 45 minutes by Metro. A small produce shop and bakery are in the same building as our apartment. We grabbed a few things on our way home, cooked some for breakfast, and packed some for lunch on a park bench. While we still tried local cafes and restaurants, we saved precious travel funds by not eating out all day. In this regard, I want to say that tipping wasn’t mandatory or expected in Paris.
Total Meals Cost: $535.00 (about $15 for each meal)
Before we headed out and explored, we bought Navigo Passes to get around the city. It allowed us to become more acquainted with Paris and save a chunk of our budget. This opens you up to Paris’ extensive public transport system. You don’t need to talk to someone for a physical card. Install the Navigo Pass App on any NFC-enabled phone, and you’ll be ready. It costs €30.75 to get the Navigo Pass Zone 1 – 5. This type includes the train ride to Versailles.
A weekly pass is valid for one calendar week, from Monday to Sunday. The most up-to-date pricing and information are on the official Île-de-France Mobilités website. How do you know which route to take? Google Maps was our reliable guide in Paris; it gave accurate connection, arrival, and departure times for all buses and trains.
In City Transportation Cost: $70.00
Le Marais
Our first foray into Paris began at the Marianne Statue at Place de la République. Marianne is a national symbol of the French Republic. She’s a female figure who represents liberty, reason, and the country’s values. Here, we started to see Paris’s cobblestone streets and stone facades for the first time. We took it all in, the marvelous architecture with serene nature, and the mix of different accents and languages filling our ears.
Towards the river, tucked away in the middle of buildings, is the Anne Frank Garden. The park has green spaces, benches, and a playground surrounded by small trees. We enjoyed grocery store sandwiches on the benches while kids played pick-up soccer on the grass when we visited. The Anne Frank Garden is a hidden oasis dedicated to the young chronicler and a touching reminder of history amidst the bustling city.
One of the busiest streets in the area is around the Centre Pompidou, a modern art museum known for its unique inside-out architecture. It was an intriguing building, with colorful pipes and scaffolding clinging to the side. We learned later that it’s closing for renovations this year and won’t reopen until 2030.
The vast open space in front of the museum is typically filled with people sitting on the steps and benches. The streets surrounding Center Pompidou, like Rue Rambuteau, are as busy and vibrant. It has many shops, cafes, and restaurants screaming with wonderful French trinkets and delights. Don’t miss the Stravinsky Fountain south of the museum.
We continued our exploration of Le Marais by admiring the Fontaine des Innocents, a beautiful Renaissance fountain that once served as a public water source. Then we continued south towards the river and stopped by the Tour Saint-Jacques, a Gothic tower that is all that remains of a 16th-century church. It’s a striking landmark that stands tall amidst an assembly of trees.
Saint-Jacques Tower is at the Chatelet stop, where the Metro and buses pass, so hordes of people cross the square at any time. On beautiful afternoons, locals would sit on the benches with a book on hand, and children would run around the pathways and lush green lawns. Two beautiful bridges crossing the Seine River to the Ile de la Cité are a few steps south of the park.
Ile de la Cité & Notre Dame de Paris
Ile de la Cité is a natural island in Paris’s geographical and historical heart. It is the city’s first settled location. We walked across this island multiple times during our stay in Paris while admiring the charming neighborhoods on the right and left banks of the Seine. Every time we crossed the bridges to Ile de la Cité, we were amazed by the architecture, the river, and the energy that Paris brings.
This island is the location of the famous Notre Dame de Paris. Even though it was still under reconstruction after the devastating fire in 2019, its presence was powerful and moving. When we were in Paris in the fall of 2024, interactive exhibitions relating to the restoration were in the open space in front.
Notre Dame de Paris was finally opened to the public in December 2024, three months after our visit. Adding to the list of reasons to go back to Paris. For more information on history and reservations, visit the official website of Notre Dame de Paris.
Shakespeare and Company Bookshop
The Shakespeare and Company Bookshop is a 5-minute walk south of the Notre Dame Cathedral. This area is quite touristy as you can find rows of souvenir stores, restaurants, cafes, and bars for blocks. When planning our visit, we read that arriving before the bookstore opens will help avoid lengthy queues, but when we stopped by on a weekday late afternoon, there were very few people. We immediately started browsing the labyrinthine shelves and soaking in the literary atmosphere.
The current shop, opened by George Whitman in 1951, carries on the original bookstore’s tradition of becoming a haven for writers and readers in Paris. Its interior is unlike that of massive public libraries, with expansive hallways and meticulously arranged books. The bookstore is small, with a few smaller rooms connected by narrow hallways between tall shelves cluttered with books. There are chairs in a few corners for light reading.
I can imagine people packed like sardines there on a busy day. So, it makes sense that they limit access when it is full. We exited the shop with a book and their blue facade tote bag to find a long queue of patrons outside for an event that evening. The Shakespeare and Company Bookshop and Café do not require tickets to enter. The shop is open from 10 am to 8 pm, while the café serves patrons from 9 am to 7 pm. For general information, visit the official website of Shakespeare and Company. https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/history
Book and Tote Bag Cost: $44.00 (Tote Bag cost $18.00)
Eiffel Tower
We wanted our first visit to the Eiffel Tower to be special, so we booked a professional photoshoot through Airbnb to take us to various spots around the iconic landmark. We thought it would be a great way to remember our first visit to the European continent without handing out our phones to potential pickpockets. We wore our best formal attire early in the day and hopped on the Metro, excited about the experience ahead.
A friendly and talented local photographer met us at one of the Metro exits near the Eiffel Tower at Trocadero. We walked past locals headed out for work or a leisurely walk up a grand esplanade. After clearing the plaza’s buildings, the Eiffel Tower emerged in the blue Parisian skies. It was even more breathtaking in person than in any photo I had ever seen. The weather was perfect, the gentle breeze refreshing, and the first morning sunlight casting gently on its wrought iron frame. The Olympic rings from the recently concluded games were still on the tower.
Our photographer took us to fantastic spots around the Eiffel Tower while expertly directing our poses. We held hands in front of the Trocadero Gardens and its marble steps, walked down the riverbank towards Pont d’Iéna, and along the river to Pont de Bir Hakem for more urban and rustic photos. It was a fun and memorable experience; we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Book a photoshoot. It’s worth every penny!
Professional Photographer: $110.00 (choice of 30 edited digital images)
Of course, the Eiffel Tower is also magical and romantic under the canopy of the Parisian night. Right after sunset, the tower will light up and sparkle for 5 minutes at the top every hour until midnight. It was a nice treat, especially for first-time visitors like us. We had a picnic beneath the tower but did not climb up. Visit the Eiffel Tower’s official website for tickets, schedules, and general information. https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument/lights
Champs-Élysées & the Arc de Triomphe
The Champs-Élysées is one of the most celebrated avenues in the world. Running for about a mile from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, its wide sidewalks are filled with luxury shops, theaters, restaurants, and cafes on both sides. It’s a bustling hub of activity, drawing tourists from all over the world. We dared to enter the flagship stores of a few luxury brands, marveling at their beautiful interiors and insane product prices. Fortunately, after a few hours in and out of shops, our Euro trip budget remained intact.
We indulged in delicious French macarons from the tea shop of Ladurée. The interior was designed to the nines, returning to a time of old-world elegance. You can enjoy a fancy meal beside grand pianos and waves of roses or try one of the delicious macarons from their colorful bakery downstairs.
Box of 12 Macarons: $44.00
Our relaxed wandering led us to the majestic Arc de Triomphe, standing proudly at the western end of the avenue. We snapped a few selfies on the narrow island in front of the arc, being watchful of oncoming traffic. You’ll need to use the underground passage at the end of Champs-Élysées to get to the base of the Arc. Don’t try to dodge traffic at the roundabout!
The underground passage houses tours and ticketing services to climb the Arc de Triomphe. For a few Euros, street performers would serenade people passing by. Once we surfaced beneath the arc, we admired the surrounding sculptures depicting different figures and events important to Paris and France.
There is an entrance fee to climb the Arc de Triomphe. We did not go up, but reviews say the panoramic views of Paris from the top are worth it. To guarantee entry and check for current pricing, it is best to check the official Arc de Triomphe website. https://tickets.monuments-nationaux.fr/en-GB/session-products
Montmartre
We spent a day exploring Montmartre as part of our week in Paris. This short article provides an in-depth exploration of Montmartre’s bohemian streets and the magnificent Basilique du Sacré-Cœur.
Local Art Cost: $62.00
The Louvre Museum
The Louvre, originally a royal palace, opened as a museum in 1793, making its vast collection accessible to the public. Today, it houses some of the most famous artworks in history, one of which is the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile. While we did not venture to admire the masterpieces within its walls, we spent a good hour astonished by its elaborate exterior.
The museum itself is an architectural marvel, its classical beauty juxtaposed with the striking modern glass pyramid in the middle. Of course, we couldn’t resist making silly poses around this infamous glass pyramid with the rest of the tourists. As expected, the line to enter was already winding around the complex at mid-morning, a mental note to arrive early if we want to see the Mona Lisa next time. Visit the Louvre’s official website for ticket information, opening times, and activities.
The Covered Passages
These are glass-roofed arcades scattered along the streets of Paris where you can find bookstores, antique shops, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. The passages’ beautiful glass domes allow light to filter in naturally, and the architectural design of the store facades and tiled floors creates a pleasant atmosphere for relaxed window shopping. Here are some of the galleries we visited and their specific locations:
We browsed a variety of bookshops and antique and souvenir stores. It wasn’t too crowded during our late morning visit. We wandered through stretches of corridors, admiring the glass roof that protected us from the autumn chill, and inspected shiny trinkets on display.
The covered passage also has bars and restaurants, with tiny tables and chairs scattered along narrow hallways. They offer a variety of dishes, from your everyday French cuisine and freshly baked pizza to Indian food and even wine tasting. The covered passages provide a precious glimpse into old-world Parisian charm, their elaborate design and hushed atmosphere starkly contrasting with the bustling metropolis outside.
Château de Versailles
We traveled by train on one of our day trips to the Palace of Versailles. We encourage you to read our article as we immerse ourselves in the grandeur and excess that could have brought down the Louis XIV dynasty to its knees.
Two Passport Tickets to Versailles: $72.00
Palais Royal
After our delightful discovery of the city’s covered passages, we emerged into the open air, ready for a moment of respite, and the Palais Royal Gardens proved to be the perfect place.
Stepping into the Jardin du Palais Royal is like entering a different world. The formal layout, with its meticulously trimmed hedges and symmetrical flowerbeds, evokes a sense of classical beauty. On this day, the gardens were alive with the vibrant energy of Parisians and tourists alike, all seeking a few minutes of sunshine and peace—a truly touching and captivating place.
The central fountain, a modest centerpiece, provided a soothing soundtrack to the scene. We were fortunate enough to find a couple of the coveted chairs scattered around the fountain and beneath the shade of the trees. As we enjoyed our Chinese take-out, surrounded by the beauty of the gardens, we were treated to a spectacle of color. The flowers bloomed, a riot of vibrant hues dancing in the sunlight. The chestnut trees offered a welcome canopy, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze.
After our satisfying lunch in the garden, we headed to the Palais Royal. The Palais Royal itself is a former royal citadel with a fascinating past. Originally built for Cardinal Richelieu in the 17th century, it has been a royal residence that witnessed key moments in French history.
The palace often hosts cultural events and exhibitions, like the Colonnes de Burren, which are black-and-white striped columns of different sizes jutting from the ground in the courtyard. This is another spot to take creative Instagram-worthy shots. Access is free, though a security checkpoint ensures the safety of visitors and the preservation of this historical site.
Panthéon
The Panthéon is a monument to France’s reverence for its intellectual and cultural giants. This area is steeped in academic history, as it’s home to the prestigious Sorbonne University, one of the oldest universities in Europe.
Originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, the Panthéon’s purpose was transformed after the French Revolution. It became a secular mausoleum, a place to honor the nation’s most distinguished citizens, such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie.
The building demonstrates a neoclassical design reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome. As you approach, you’ll be struck by its imposing facade, grand columns, and dome. We came around the area right after closing time, so we did not have the chance to enter. There are various entry options, but the basic access ticket costs 13 Euros. You can browse the Paris Pantheon’s official website for more information.
Seine River
There is no better way to experience the City of Lights than cruising down the main artery that gave it life. The Seine River is a 700-kilometer-long waterway that has shaped Paris’ development and identity. From its origins to its passage through the heart of Paris, the Seine has been a source of life, trade, inspiration, and romance. Its banks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are lined with historic landmarks and spanned by massive bridges, making it a vital part of any Parisian experience.
There are a few companies that offer river cruises, some of which are fancier than others, with dinners and drinks on board. We decided to hop on the river on Saturday, so Paris was packed to the brim. We chose the next available time slot for the boat closest to us, the Bateaux-Mouches. A regular open-air cruise costs 18 Euros.
Seine River Cruise Cost: $40.00
The riverbank sparkled under the Parisian night sky, but nothing compares to the glimmering Eiffel Tower, which seemed to wink at everyone who could see it. In about an hour and a half, the boat will pass beautiful bridges and landmarks in the city. The cruise has a recorded audio guide as we pass each landmark. Before it returns to port, it will pass under Pont d’Iéna, giving everyone the best view of the glowing Eiffel Tower. It is highly recommended to have a Seine River experience when in Paris.
Our overall cost for the 6-night Paris stay is about $2000. Does this seem excessive or right on the dot? You can let us know! The breakdown is as follows:
- Studio Apartment: $680.00
- Grocery and Eat Out: $535.00
- Transportation: $150.00
- Shopping: $300.00
- Tours and Activities: $300.00
The trip was truly a magical week for us. The fall atmosphere when we visited was a perfect mix of cool breezes and sunny skies. As with any tour, we logged tens of thousands of steps daily, but it was worth it to experience Paris in the streets. We spoke with random locals or fellow tourists, picked up a few trinkets displayed in the shops, and felt immersed in one of the most loved cities in the world. We will definitely come back. Au revoir!
Trial Retirements are periods we dedicate to travel to beautiful countries to know if they are perfect for us when we eventually retire. The time spent outside work will preview our habits and behaviors when we reach Financial Independence and, of course, our way to recharge after months of hard work.
Anything we missed? Questions? Violent reactions? Let us know in the comments below!
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