France on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
France on a budget is possible at about €110 per person per day sharing a room, including trains. The keys are early train tickets, cheaper bases outside central Paris, picnics and the many free sights.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €50 | €100 | €220 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €60 | €120 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €30 | €60 |
| Local transport | €15 | €35 | €70 |
| Per person, per day | €110 | €225 | €470 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our France day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Notre-Dame de Paris (free entry; book a slot to skip the line)
- Sacré-Coeur and the views over Paris from Montmartre
- The Seine banks, the Tuileries and the Luxembourg Gardens
- Lyon's Fourvière hill and the traboules of Vieux Lyon
- The Promenade des Anglais and the old town of Nice
- The Eiffel Tower sparkling on the hour after dark, seen from the Trocadéro
Cheap eats
- Baguette sandwich from a bakery: about €5–8
- Crêpe from a stand: about €4–8
- Falafel on Rue des Rosiers in the Marais: about €8–10
- Lunch formule in a bistro: about €15–20
- Socca (chickpea pancake) in Nice: about €4–5
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels or simple hotels in Paris's 10th, 11th and 19th arrondissements, or near the stations in Nice and Lyon. Budget doubles cost about €90–140 (around €50 per person sharing), and hostel dorm beds roughly €30–50 in Paris and less elsewhere.
Getting around cheaply
Book Ouigo low-cost TGVs early, or slower Intercités and regional TER trains. In Paris, a metro ticket is about €2.50; loading a Navigo Easy card or using a phone helps. From Paris airports, RER B (CDG) or Orlyval and the tram are cheaper than taxis.
A sample budget day
- Morning: croissant and coffee, Notre-Dame and the islands on foot (free)
- Lunch: bakery sandwich picnic in the Tuileries (about €8)
- Afternoon: Musée d'Orsay (about €16)
- Evening: Montmartre at sunset (free) and a cheap bistro or crêpe
- Total: about €110 including a shared budget room and transport
More ways to save
- Visit regional cities like Lyon, Avignon or Toulouse, which cost less than Paris.
- Buy wine and cheese in supermarkets for evening picnics.
- Check whether a Paris Museum Pass actually saves money for your plans.
- Travel by BlaBlaCar ride-sharing or FlixBus for cheap long-distance routes.
- Avoid café terraces on famous squares, where prices are higher.
- Travel in shoulder season: May, June or September.
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Common questions
Can you travel France on a budget?
Yes, at about €110 a day per person sharing a room, with early train tickets, picnics and free sights.
What is free in Paris?
Notre-Dame, Sacré-Coeur, the Seine banks, the big parks, and many museums on certain free days.
What is the cheapest way from Paris CDG to the city?
The RER B train, about 30–40 minutes to central Paris; buses are another cheap option.