Your Ultimate Guide to Budgeting a Weekend in Paris 

Would you like to visit Paris for a weekend but don’t know how much it’s going to cost you?

Solo adventure, romantic trip, or family vacation: we have decided on 3 types of budgets and analyzed the relevant prices to spend an amazing weekend in the capital.

Note: the prices in this article are for a weekend, which means 2 days and 1 night.

⚡ In a hurry? Here is a summary of the average budget for a weekend in Paris:

• €105 to €200 for a solo traveler (without the transportation to come to Paris)
• €175 to €350 for a couple
• €300 to €550 for a family of 4

 

 

Three Types of Budgets for a Weekend (2 days, 1 night)

Let’s start with a comparative chart.

We have decided to compare 3 types of budgets in Paris: the solo traveler, the couple, and the family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children).

The prices indicated in this table and in this article are simply intended to give a rough estimation.

If it is possible to save on many expenses, the opposite is also true. The budget can quickly escalate in Paris.

	Solo traveler	Couple	Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children)
Accommodation	from €40 to €250	from €60 to €270	from €120 to €400
Food	from €50 to €200	from €85 to €400	from €120 to €700
Transportation	from €15 to €70	from €30 to €70	from €60 to €70
Touristic activities	from €0 to €52	from €0 to €104	from €0 to €208
TOTAL	from €105 to €572	from €175 to €844	from €300 to €1,378

 

 

Accommodation

Here is a  chart of hotel prices in Paris for a weekend (2 days, 1 night) according to different budgets:

	Solo traveler	Couple	Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children)
Limited budget	from €40 to €60	from €60 to €115	from €120 to €150
Average budget	from €80 to €100	from €90 to €100	from €175 to €200
Luxury budget	from €190 to €250	from €190 to €270	from €290 to €400

 

Limited budget

Hotels in Paris can be quite expensive, but there are ways to avoid spending a fortune, such as youth hostels (often well located) that offer beds in dormitories.

Dormitories in youth hostels recommended for solo travelers and couples:

• The People – 59 Boulevard de Belleville, 11th arr., 75011 Paris: mixed dormitory with 8 beds starting at €44 per night and per person (€88 for 2)
• Oops! Latin quarter by Hiphophostels – 50 Avenue des Gobelins, 13th arr., 75013 Paris: mixed dormitory with 4 beds starting at €51 per night and per person (€102 for 2)
• Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels – 20 rue d’Orsel, 18th arr., 75018 Paris: mixed dormitory with bunk beds starting at €57 per night and per person (€114 for 2)

Small hotels with a private room:

• Au Royal Mad – 68 rue Sedaine – 75011 Paris: simple room starting at €45, double room starting at €60
• Hotel de France 18 – 51 Boulevard Barbes – 75018 Paris: simple room starting at €49, double room starting at €59

Cheap hotels for a family of 4: 

• Résidence Internationale de Paris – 44 Rue Louis Lumière – 75020 Paris: quadruple room starting at €118 per night.
• Aparthotel Adagio Paris XV – 20, rue d’Oradour-sur-Glane – 75015 Paris: one-room apartment for 4 people starting at €126 per night.

➡️You might be interested in these articles: 

• 11 Cheap Hostels in Paris With Hotel Quality Standards
• 10 Clean and Comfortable Hotels in Paris for €50 a Night

 

Average budget

For people with an average budget, you’ll be able to book more comfortable 2 or 3-star hotels.

Regarding the location, you can find average-budget hotels everywhere in Paris.

For solo travelers and couples, we recommend the hotels: 

• Hotel Opéra Deauville Saint Lazare – 40 rue d’Amsterdam – 75009 Paris: simple room starting at €81 per night, double room starting at €91 per night
• Hotel Paris Nord – 4, rue de Dunkerque – 75010 Paris: simple room starting at €96 per night, double room starting at €99 per night

For families of 4, we recommend these hotels:

• Residhome Paris Rosa Parks – 3 rue Gaston Tessier – 75019 Paris: one-room apartment for 4 people starting at €178 per night
• Meininger Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes – 37 Boulevard Carnot – 75012 Paris: quadruple room starting at €192 per night

 

Luxury budget

Paris is the city of luxury, and there is a multitude of high-end hotel choices available to you. Depending on which hotel you choose, you will have many services such as valet parking, shuttles, a swimming pool, a hammam, and a jacuzzi..

For solo travelers and couples, we recommend the hotels:

• Relais Hotel du Vieux Paris – 9, rue Gît-le-Coeur – 75006 Paris: double room starting at €191 per night
• Mercure Paris Pigalle Sacré-Coeur – 21 Boulevard de Clichy – 75009 Paris: simple room starting at €203 per night, double room starting at €222 per night

For families of 4, we recommend the hotels:

• Relais Hotel du Vieux Paris – 9, rue Gît-le-Coeur – 75006 Paris: superior suite for 4 people starting at €290 per night
• Best Western Nouvel Orléans Montparnasse – 25 avenue du Général Leclerc – 75014 Paris: familial junior suite starting at €319 per night

➡️You might be interested in these articles:

• The 7 Best Palaces in Paris, the Most Beautiful & Luxurious Hotels
• 9 Most Expensive Hotels in Paris, From €500 to €20,000 a Night

 

 

Food

Here is a chart of food prices in Paris for a weekend (2 days, 1 night) according to different budgets:

	Solo traveler	Couple	Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children)
Limited budget	€50	€85	€120
Average budget	€90	€180	€280
Luxury budget	€200	€400	€700

 

Limited budget

You can eat on the go, in snack bars, salad bars or in small bistros that are not too expensive. You can also choose not to take the full menu that includes a drink and dessert.

Snacks and fast food: Obviously, the easiest and most affordable way to eat is always to go to the big fast food chains. On average, the price of a fast food menu, such as McDonald’s or Burger King, costs between €9 and €12.

Bistros: Many bistros are open every day, for lunch and dinner, and offer a variety of dishes. I recommend going for the daily specials, which are often the cheapest options. It should cost you between €12-15 for a dish.

Sushi: Japanese restaurants are quite affordable, usually between €9 and €14 per menu.

Crêperies: Crepes in a restaurant in Paris are usually between €7 and €11 per savory crepe.

 

Average budget

With an average budget, you will find it much easier to find restaurants in Paris. In general, for a standard restaurant, you can easily manage to find restaurants that cost €25 per dish. Sometimes, this will include a drink, starter, and a dessert.

These types of restaurants are available everywhere in Paris:

• Italian cuisine
• French cuisine
• Vegan cuisine
• Organic cuisine
• American cuisine

 

Luxury budget

If you have a bigger budget, fancy and luxurious restaurants will be your go-to during your time in Paris! I advise you to book in advance if you want to enjoy a gourmet meal.

As high-end restaurants are often quite expensive, it will cost about €50 per person or more.

 

Transportation

Metro / RER / Bus

The easiest (and often the fastest) way to get around Paris is by public transport, especially the metro and the RER.

For a weekend trip, I recommend buying a 10-ticket book, which costs €14.90.

If you decide to take individual tickets, you have to choose T+ tickets which cost €1.90.

You can also go for the Paris Visite package, which has a 2-day option and allows unlimited travel during your stay in the selected zones. For downtown Paris, the price is €22.05 for an adult and €11 for children aged 4 to 11.

My tips for saving money:

Distances in Paris are much closer than you may think. The distance between two metro stations is sometimes only a ten minute walk, especially in downtown Paris. So to save on expensive subway rides, don’t hesitate to walk! You’ll discover a lot more, especially if you’re only there for a weekend.

 

Taxis / Uber

The minimum fare is set at €7.30 for all Parisian taxis.

Taxi fares are capped at:

• €4.18 for the pick-up
• €1.21 for each kilometer covered
• €38.96 for the maximum hourly rate.

Source: Service-Public.fr (in French)

The rates of the American giant Uber work on a system of supply and demand. For short trips, the price of an Uber is often equivalent to a taxi. Longer trips are when it becomes advantageous to ride with Uber.

Example of a trip from Gare de Lyon to Grande Arche de la Défense (22km):

• by taxi: €33-39
• by Uber: €35-47

Example of a trip from Châtelet – Les Halles to Paris-CDG airport (25 km)

• by taxi: €57
• by Uber: €37-50 (in France)

➡️ Our guides on this topic:

• Complete Guide to Taxis in Paris (Rates, Apps, Precautions, etc.)
• In Paris, is it Better to Travel by Taxi or Uber?

 

Touristic activities

Here are some of the main tourist attractions you can put on your list:

• Eiffel Tower – Price: €11.30 – €28.30
• Sacré Coeur – Free access.
• Louvre Museum – Price: €17
• Palace of Versailles – Price: €19.50
• Arc de Triomphe – Price: €13

Regardless of your budget, there is one pass that will be very useful and will even save you money during your stay.

It’s called the Paris Pass Museum, which will give you unlimited access to many museums at a discounted price. It has a 2-day option that costs €52 per person, ideal for a weekend stay.

➡️ Read our study: Is a Paris Pass Worth Buying? Comparison of the Benefits

My tips for saving money:

• Many tourist visits are free in Paris, you just have to know where to look. Many museums offer reduced rates or free entry if you are under 25 years old or if you are a citizen of the European Union.

For more information, check out our article on free activities to do in Paris.

• In addition, many small neighborhoods and parks are particularly nice to discover, and are completely free!

 

Shopping / souvenirs

Here, it’s going to be hard to answer and to know what you’ll want to buy on the spot.

But here are some prices to give you an idea:

• Miniature Eiffel Tower souvenir: €2
• Ladurée macaroons: €27 for a box of 8 macaroons.
• A bottle of wine: €15 for a bottle
• Cheese: about €10 for 300 grams
• Louis Vuitton handbag: from €800 up
• Marinière: between €30 and €50

➡️ Don’t miss our article on the best gift ideas to bring back from Paris.