My "ins and outs" of Paris

I love Paris. It’s a city where at almost every corner, I felt like saying out loud, “wish you all were here to see this!”

Paris is filled with fascinating architectural works, huge collections of exquisite art and an array of culinary delights, no wonder people refer it to the capital of fashion, fine cuisine and the arts. It is a city that is for me, beyond comparison to any other I have seen.

Now, could I have a budget trip to the City of Lights? I believe I did. But first things first, finding a cheap ticket to get there.

I decided on a trip later in the year, and to my surprise, Paris looked great even in fall and late winter. In fact, things were a lot cheaper then. I did not know that there was more than one airport in Paris, so it is always good to check if one flight arrives at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Roissy, which is northeast of Paris, or at Orly, which is south of the city.

Normally, I would always take a shuttle bus or metro to the city. There is a bus operated by the Paris Transit Authority, runs between Charles de Gaulle and the Opéra. These are some of the cheaper alternatives to get to the city. I love to commute the regular way. Why rush, when one is in Paris, enjoy the sites!


Finding a budget hotel was a difficult since there due to options of locations. Though Paris can be more expensive than other European cities, there still can be bargains to be found. I suggest familiarizing oneself with the city lay-out of Paris in order to select a good district which suits your budget and feel for the area. My preferred districts or “arrondisement” would be the 5th or 6th, which is the Latin Quarters and Saint Germain.


I try to select an area which is accessible to public transportation. Do some research and find a city map that shows the Metro Station stops. Public commute is very efficient and can get you to many places in the city. Personally, I prefer taking the bus in Paris. I felt that if I rode the subway, I wouldn’t be able to admire the beauty of the streets!

There are several things to do in Paris, even for free. My favorite would be walking along small alleys and discovering small book shops and quaint stores, and there were many.


I am sure many are familiar with the tourist spots in Paris. To remind you, they are the Tour Eiffel, the river Seine on the Bateaux Mouches, and the Arc de Triomphe, just to name a few. Take a stroll down the Champs Élysées, then cross to the Place de la Concorde and make your way to the Jardin des Tuileries and finally to the Louvre.

Many say, a good tip is to see the Louvre early to avoid the crowds. It can take a whole day if you want to see a large portion of the Museum. I took a walk on boulevard de Clinchy and found the famous Moulin Rouge.


From there, it was I think around half an hour to the Montmartre, via place des Abbesses would also features the church of Sacré-Coeur, where there's a good view of the city before you.


The Musée d'Orsay has a lot of modern and Impressionist paintings, if you are a museum kind of person. If not, you can always walk to the nearby Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is beside the Latin Quarter district. In this neighborhood, both the Panthéon and Jardin du Luxembourg can be found.


There are so many things to see and do in Paris, but I can’t stress how advantageous it is to read more about it or ask a friend who knows a bit about Paris. By familiarizing yourself with the layout of Paris city, your chances of getting lost are lesser and second, it will be easier to plan what you want to see first.


To see Paris, I prefer going on foot. If not, there are métro and RER (Réseau Express Régional, or the Regional Express Network) lines crisscross Paris and the suburbs.

All métro tickets and passes are valid not only for the métro but also for all RER and bus travel within Paris, just check the Zones for each ticket. Last time I checked, Métro tickets sold in batches of ten called a carnet (10 tickets) is of better value. If you are staying long in Paris, a good deal could be the unlimited usage carte orange ticket, sold according to zone.

Try asking about the one-day (Mobilis) and the two to five day (Paris-Visite) tickets because they have unlimited travel on the the major transportation networks in Paris.


Since I prefer walking, I got to see more of the city upclose. Come to think of it, Paris isn’t that big a city after all. But still, don’t forget to bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes.

Though, I am not very much into fancy dinners, but Paris has a lot to offer. A trip to any Bistro, Café, Brasserie or Patisserie will do just fine for me. If you want to save a bit, then, a trip to a local grocery store or the supermarket is the best thing to do for buying your basics food items. Big supermarkets are not that common, so ask for a neighborhood grocery to get your basics there. If you wish to dine out and spend a bit more, try to ask for the menu of the day, “plat du jour”. You may be able to spend around 10 Euro to 15 Euros for such an offer. It really depends on where you look.


Shopping has never been a priority in any of my trips, but I do know that Paris is a great place to shop. There are several shopping options in Paris which cater to almost everyone. You can shop at chic shops and department stores, or bargain hunt in flea-markets found in small neighborhoods and second hand stores.


After reading this, I hope that you’ve readied yourself for that trip to Paris. Be also prepared for the unexpected surprises the city has in store for you. I have rarely heard of anyone NOT enjoy Paris. I do hope you’ll enjoy it as well!