Paris has a reputation for being expensive, with its luxury hotels, couture boutiques, and Michelin-starred restaurants. But the city is also a giant open-air museum, and many of its greatest experiences cost nothing at all. Here are the best free things to do in Paris, from world-famous landmarks and free museums to street art, markets, and sunset views.
1. Make Your Own Free Walking Tour of the Landmarks
You don't need a ticket to admire most of Paris's famous sights. Grab a coffee and a croissant and plan a long walk:
- Admire Notre-Dame's restored facade, gargoyles, and flying buttresses (entry is free too).
- Cross the ornate Pont Alexandre III and gaze along the Seine.
- Stroll the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, where the flame on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is rekindled each evening.
- Photograph the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro Gardens, especially at golden hour.
- Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle for a few minutes on the hour after dark.
Tip: Download a self-guided walking tour app for free commentary as you go.
2. Climb to the Sacré-Coeur and Explore Montmartre
Climb the steps of Montmartre to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, which is free to enter, for one of the best views over the city. Watch painters at work in Place du Tertre, wander the cobbled lanes, and find the Wall of Love (Le Mur des Je t'aime) in a small square near Abbesses, covered with "I love you" written in hundreds of languages.
3. Visit Free Museums
The permanent collections of the City of Paris museums are free year-round, including:
- Musée Carnavalet: The history of Paris, in two beautiful Marais mansions.
- Petit Palais: Fine art, sculpture, and a lovely garden café in a stunning Belle Époque building.
- Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris: Works by Matisse, Picasso, Braque, Bonnard, and more.
- Maison de Victor Hugo: The writer's apartment on the Place des Vosges.
- Musée Cognacq-Jay: 18th-century art and decorative objects in the Marais.
Some national museums also offer free entry on certain days or to certain visitors, such as young EU residents. These policies change, so check the Paris tourist office website before you go.
4. Browse the Bouquinistes Along the Seine
The green boxes of the bouquinistes, the riverside booksellers, line the Seine near Notre-Dame and the Latin Quarter. Browsing their vintage books, prints, and postcards is a Paris tradition that goes back centuries. Then explore the Île de la Cité and the quieter Île Saint-Louis, with its elegant streets and river views.
5. Picnic in the Jardin du Luxembourg
Pack bread, cheese, and fruit and claim one of the famous green chairs. Watch children sail toy boats on the pond, admire the Medici Fountain, and look out for free concerts at the bandstand in summer and photo exhibitions on the garden railings.
6. Stroll the Tuileries and the Palais-Royal
The Jardin des Tuileries, between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, is full of statues and fountains. Nearby, the Palais-Royal gardens hide the striped columns of the Colonnes de Buren, one of the city's most photographed spots.
7. Wander Père Lachaise Cemetery
Paris's most famous cemetery is a peaceful, atmospheric place to explore, with the graves of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Chopin, Édith Piaf, and Max Ernst among grand tombs and leafy paths.
8. Discover Street Art in Belleville and the 13th Arrondissement
Belleville's Rue Dénoyez and surrounding streets are covered in colorful murals and graffiti, and the Parc de Belleville has a great free view of the city. In the 13th arrondissement, giant commissioned murals cover the sides of apartment buildings, especially along Boulevard Vincent Auriol.
9. See Artists at Work at 59 Rivoli
This former artists' squat on Rue de Rivoli is now a legal collective of studios and galleries, with walls covered in murals and installations. Entry is free, and you can watch artists at work and chat with them about their art.
10. Explore Le Marais
Wander the medieval lanes of the Marais, browse its boutiques and galleries, sit in the arcades of the Place des Vosges, and window-shop on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois.
11. Enjoy the View From Galeries Lafayette
Admire the Art Nouveau glass dome of the Galeries Lafayette department store on Boulevard Haussmann, then head up to the rooftop terrace for a free view across the Opéra Garnier and toward the Eiffel Tower.
12. Walk Along the Canal Saint-Martin and the Promenade Plantée
Join locals along the Canal Saint-Martin's tree-lined banks, then walk the Coulée Verte René-Dumont (Promenade Plantée), an elevated park built on an old railway line, which inspired New York's High Line.
13. Hunt for Old Newspapers at La Galcante
This quirky shop near the Louvre is stuffed with old newspapers, magazines, posters, and postcards. Browsing is free, and you might even find a paper from the day you were born.
14. Join the Free Festivals
Paris hosts plenty of free events, such as the Fête de la Musique on 21 June, Bastille Day fireworks on 14 July, Paris Plages on the riverbanks in summer, and the all-night Nuit Blanche arts festival in early October. See the best time to visit Paris for more events.
Tips for Seeing Paris on a Budget
- Walk as much as possible, and use the Metro for longer distances.
- Refill your water bottle at the city's free public fountains, including the green Wallace fountains.
- Eat like a local with bakery lunches, market picnics, and set lunch menus (formules).
- Avoid roaming fees. You will use maps and apps all day. An egoViet France eSIM gets you online at a fixed price, with no surprise bills.
Ready for more? See the best things to do in Paris and our 3-day Paris itinerary.
FAQs: Free Things to Do in Paris
Is Notre-Dame free to visit?
Yes. Entry to Notre-Dame Cathedral is free, though you may need to queue or reserve a time slot at busy periods.
Which museums in Paris are free?
The permanent collections of City of Paris museums are free, including the Musée Carnavalet, the Petit Palais, the Musée d'Art Moderne, and Victor Hugo's house.
Is the Sacré-Coeur free?
Yes, the basilica is free to enter. There is a fee to climb the dome.
Where can I get a free view of Paris?
Try the steps of Sacré-Coeur, the rooftop of Galeries Lafayette, the Parc de Belleville, and the Trocadéro Gardens.