A Romantic Weekend in Paris - Budget Itinerary for Frugal Couples

Whether you’ve watched Midnight in Paris, read literature by Hemingway, or simply browsed through thousands of pretty photos on Instagram, you’ve probably been swooned by the City of Love already. So if you’re already planning a trip to the UK or Europe, Paris is a must on your list of stops - even if it’s just for a weekend with your partner. Here’s how you can taste what a real-life romance novel set in Paris would feel like - but even better because it’s on a budget! Here’s a list of practical budget tips that cover all aspects of a lovely weekend trip to Paris.

 

When to visit

 Photo by freedify from Instagram

Since a romantic weekend in Paris without breaking the bank is your goal, plan your trip around the cheapest months: December to February. These are the winter months in Europe and perfect for sharing warm cuddles and mugs of hot chocolate. If not, visiting towards the warmer months of Spring is just as delightful and not too expensive yet. Spring is when various festivals start popping up around the city, so that gives you and your partner something to look forward to - including the Spring bloom of course!

 

Getting around for less

 

Walking is the cheapest way to get around of course, but there are other interesting modes of transport that give you a different experience altogether. If you’re arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport, the cheapest and fastest way to get into the city is by the RER B (regional train). It costs €10.30 and makes a few stops along the way to the Metro interchange, taking about 20-25 minutes in total. Try to avoid taking taxis as much as possible in Paris - the starting fare already costs €7! 

 Photo by bobwarrenphoto from Instagram

Paris has an impressive interconnected underground subway system known as the Metro. It uses the same tickets as the public bus. Here’s a tip: Always buy your tickets at the white metro ticket kiosks around the city instead of on the bus. It helps you save a little (€0.10 to be exact) and you can also get a pack of 10 tickets called a ‘carnet’ for €4.10 cheaper than if you were to buy them individually at €1.90 each. Or you could just spare yourself the math and buy a ‘Paris Visite’ travel card for €12.30 a day (€19.50 for two days) which gives you unlimited access to the Metro and bus. It also includes a couple of valuable museum discounts too! If museums aren’t your thing, go for a Mobilis ticket instead at €7.50 for unlimited Metro and bus travel per day. 

 Photo by valeriiaarnaud from Instagram

We say the best way to get the most out of Paris is by cycling. This gives you the opportunity to explore hidden lanes and vast parks in the city without getting tired. Nothing more romantic than going on a cycling date with your partner in Paris! Velib' city bike rentals are fantastic - they’re accessible around the clock because it’s just a matter of getting to a station with bikes. Like many other city bike rentals, you need to book your bike on the website and pay a deposit. Follow the instructions to find the nearest bike station and self-pickup your bike. You can return it to any Velib' bike station around the city once you’re done. Just remember to keep your receipt for proof of payment and your deposit will be credited back to your card after. 

 

Budget-friendly accommodation

 Photo by timhotel_berthier_paris from Instagram

Budget-friendly accommodation impossible to find in Paris but you may need to decide if you’d be willing to spend a little more for accommodation that is more central to popular attractions (so that you’ll save on transport costs) or if you prefer to stay further out to spend less on accommodation. If you search hard enough, it's possible to get a pretty cosy deal at a hostel or B&B for as low as €28 per night. For a little more privacy, book a room at any Timhotel in Central Paris as low as €50 - 80 a night. Their rooms are clean, filled with natural light and pleasant tones, and they are located within walking distance of many highlights such as the Museum of Romance, the Luxembourg Palace, and Canal Saint Martin, and more. 

 

 Photo by daryabivol from Instagram

For that quintessential Instagram photo looking out the window over the rooftops of Paris and the streets below, the rooms at Hotel Luxia offer that view at reasonable prices for its location. Hotel F1 also has a few hotels spread out around the outskirts of the city and you can usually find a comfortable private room for less than €50 per night. 

 

Culinary experiences without the splurge

 

While the temptations of the city’s most lavish cafes and restaurants might leave you feeling a little left out, you don’t have to sacrifice taste to keep to a reasonable dining budget in Paris. A general rule of thumb for lunch is to look for restaurants with standard lunch sets for around €10 for a two or three-course meal. Another idea is to eat light during the day so you can make dinner a little more special. Le Coquelicot in Montmartre is a lovely bakery with quiches and sandwiches that cost €5 and up. Another local favourite for sandwiches is Le Petit Vendôme. At €6 - €9 for one of the best sandwiches in the city, it’s no wonder long queues often form outside its doors. 

 Photo by hyeonjoon_yeo from Instagram

For dinner, treat yourselves to an authentic French dining experience without the pompous frills at the cosy La Petite Rose Des Sables. It’s said to be the warmest and most welcoming restaurant in Paris run by an old French couple. You’ll get home-made classic French dishes like Beef bourguignon (beef stew) for only €12 which come with sides and dessert! The restaurant fits 8-10 people so make a reservation. 

 Photo by _lapetitebistro_ from Instagram

 

You can’t say you’ve tasted Paris unless you’ve had one of its signature crepes. A popular place for this tasty and light dessert is found in the backstreets of the Latin Quarter. Buckwheat crepes at La Petite Bretonne start at only €5!  

 

Affordable and free date ideas

 Photo by alexandregrognuz from Instagram

Finally the fun part - getting creative with your date plans in Paris! Thankfully, charm is for everyone and it costs nothing to stroll through some of the most picturesque places around the city. Picnic with a view at one of Paris’ biggest gardens, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Being a former quarry the landscape is pretty interesting, with its high viewpoint, random caves, a suspended bridge, and waterfalls. Here you can sip store-bought wine and enjoy your freshly-packed bread, cheese and fruit picnic as you watch the golden sunset over Paris.  

 Photo by giannone.luca.architecte from Instagram

Catch a French classic or indie film at Studio 28, one of Paris’ oldest cinemas. This is a highlight for many couples visiting Paris for the first time because it is the world’s first avant-garde art theater, rising to fame when Salvador Dali and Luis Buñuel premiered L’Age d’Or (The Golden Age) here. Feel the excitement of a first-love adventure as you hold hands to pass under its neon-front signage, reverie in the cinema’s simple but quaint interior, nestle in its plush red seats, and have tea in the garden after your film. Remember to buy a ticket for the ones with English subtitles if you don’t speak French! Tickets are €7.50 per person. 

Finally, no trip to Paris is complete without an Eiffel Tower high! Yes, we know this is quite a typical tourist thing to do, but you can do it differently. Start by taking a slow walk hand-in-hand along the Seine towards the tower so you’ll get plenty of photo opportunities along the way. To go up the tower, ticket prices start at €10.40 onwards depending on which floor you’d like to go to and whether it is by elevator or stairs. We recommend purchasing your tickets online at least 60 days in advance to avoid long ticket office queues. After all, you’d want your date out to go smoothly!

Paris became famous for being the city of love because of the people who live in it and wrote stories about it. They were passionately in love with art, nature, people, and life. As you book your flight to Paris with Mayflower, know that you’re also bound to have a truly romantic weekend because traveling with the one you love always makes the experience memorable.