Looking for free activities to do in Paris ? We can all totally relate to that… Visiting the City of Light can quickly leave a hole in the budget. That’s why we’ve selected for you some free monuments and museums to visit along with a few totally free things to do in the French capital. Read our selection of free things to do in Paris.
Free Monuments – Free museums – Free activities
Free monuments to see in Paris
You can enjoy many monuments and landmarks for free in Paris. Churches and religious places can be good options too as they (usually) don’t have entrance fees.
- Free Paris municipality’s museums
Many museums managed by Paris municipality are free such as Carnavalet museum (Paris history, one the best museums in Paris), Art Modern Museum of Paris at Petit Palais, Romantism Museum, Cernuschi museum… For further infos, read Museums in Paris.
- Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris
The entrance to the most visited Monument in Paris is fees free. In order to enjoy some peacefulness, we would recommend you to visit it early in the morning.
Every Saturday at 8pm you can enjoy a free organ recital.
NB: You can visit the cathedral for free but you will have to pay if you want an access to the towers !
- Sacré-Coeur Basilica
The Sacré-Coeur Basilica, as many religious buildings in Paris, can be visited for free. Built during the XIX century, it is a symbol of Montmartre .
You can climb-up the dome and enjoy a wonderful view on Paris.
- Paris Great Mosque
This religious building was erected in the 20’s in order to thank the myriad of young muslims who fought with the allies during WWI.
It’s very appreciated for its hispano-mauresque architecture and its peacefully atmosphere.
- Père Lachaise Cemetery
It’s a Must Do in Paris . The Père Lachaise Cemetery looks like an open-air museum.
It’s a great and peaceful green area in Paris with a particularity: many great painters, writers and singers are buried in this cemetery. You can see the grave of Molière, Appolinaire, Morisson, Balzac, Modigliani or Proust …
While in the area, you can also visit the Montmartre cemetery and many other picturesque churches.
Free Museums to visit in Paris
- Visit museums the first Sunday of the month
Most museums (Orsay museum, Orangerie, Rodin Museum…) are free to visit the first Sunday of the month at the condition that you are a EU citizen under the age of 26. For further infos, read free museums the first Sunday of the month.
- Musée Carnavalet
This museum dedicated of the History of Paris certainly worths the trip while visiting the city of lights.
- Musée d’Art Moderne de la ville de Paris
It’s the second museum of Modern Art in Paris (after centre Georges Pompidou) and it has a impressive collection (Delaunay, Picasso, Cartier-Bresson, Man Ray…).
- Any Museum of the City of Paris
All museums owned by the city of Paris are free: Petit Palais (modern art), Musée Cernuschi ( Asian Art), Musée de la Vie Romantique, Musée Bourdelle , Shoah Memorial, etc… to name but a few!
Other free activities in Paris
- Sports
Many parks and stadiums will allow you to jog and play ball games for free. You can also practice sports on the Seine River bank (jogging, boxing or fitness for instance) with, if needed, the help of a coach (free of charges).
- Visit Parisian parks
Parks are open on Sunday… Our advice would be to grab some food, few games and to enjoy a nice family/couple/friend reunion in one of the many parks of Paris. You can choose: Buttes Chaumont, Monceaux Park, Luxembourg Garden, Monsouris Park, Vincennes hood… More info here.
- Dance lessons in the Seine Banks
From June 1st until august 31st: dancers seize the Saint Bernard Docks in the Latin quarter near Austerlitz train station. There, you can learn Salsa, Tango, Rock, Foro… from 7.00 pm to 11.30 pm during weekdays and from 3pm to 11.30pm on weekends.
- Have a walk in charming Paris neighborhood
Paris offers you plenty of wonderful and unforgettable walking experiences through its neighborhoods or on the seine banks: Montmartre, Latin quarter, Champs Elysées …
For further infos : Paris neighborhoods, tips, walks, restaurants
- Have a free biking tour
An association called Paris Rando-vélo organizes free biking tours in Paris each Friday evening and each third Sunday of the month.
Friday : meeting at 9.30 pm, Hotel de Ville place (City Hall)
Sunday : meeting at 10.30 am, Hotel de Ville (City Hall)
The only thing you have to do is to rent a bike through velib’ or through another bike rental service.
- Eat a free Couscous in some Parisian restaurants
Some Parisian restaurants offer a free couscous once a week like le Grenier (Mo Menilmontant), le Tribal Café (Mo Chateau d’eau) or la Cordonnerie (Mo Etienne Marcel). Enjoy !!!
- Visit Parisian XIXth century arcades
Those picturesque arcades are located in 2nd and 10th arrondissement of Paris. They now hosts some art galleries, antics and gourmet restaurants.
Read also : Must Do’s in Paris
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2 comments
Hey,
I am visiting Paris next month.
Is the Louvre museum free? What arty activities do you recommend us in a budget?
You have to pay to enter in the Louvre unless some 1st Sunday of the month, or if you from U2 under 26.
If you like art, visit Modern Art museum of Paris or the MEP (Photo) on Wednesday after 5pm