• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
the tour guy travel blog
  • Destinations
    • Amalfi Coast
    • Amsterdam
    • Athens
    • Barcelona
    • Capri
    • Florence
    • Granada
    • Iceland
    • Las Vegas
    • London
    • Madrid
    • Milan
    • New York City
    • Paris
    • Rome
    • San Francisco
    • Segovia
    • Sicily
    • Tuscany
    • Vatican City
    • Venice
  • Attractions
    • 9/11 Memorial
    • Accademia Gallery
    • Acropolis
    • Alcázar of Segovia
    • Alhambra
    • Borghese Gallery
    • Buckingham Palace
    • Colosseum
    • Doge’s Palace
    • Eiffel Tower
    • Louvre Museum
    • The Met
    • Montserrat Monastery
    • Pantheon
    • Paris Catacombs
    • Sagrada Familia
    • Sistine Chapel
    • St. Mark’s Basilica
    • St. Peter’s Basilica
    • Statue of Liberty
    • Stonehenge
    • The Last Supper
    • Tower of London
    • Uffizi Gallery
    • Vatican Museum
    • Versailles
    • Westminster Abbey
    • Windsor Castle
  • Shop Tours
  • Sign In
Home > travel-blog > France > Paris > 7 Absolutely Free Things to Do in Paris Today

7 Absolutely Free Things to Do in Paris Today

Sean Finelli Last Updated: April 24, 2025

It is no mystery that Paris can be expensive and that is why we’ve pulled together a list of free activities in Paris to keep you on budget. This post is dedicated to absolutely free things you can do in Paris in the summer, winter, or anytime!


Pro Planning Tip: Consider bookmarking this article into a “Paris” folder in your browser. This way you can circle back to it while planning. Also, check out our Paris tours and other great experiences.

Free Things To Do and Places To Go in Paris

If you are going to Paris, you already know you can get a bottle of wine and sit in front of the Eiffel Tower so our free picks will exclude incredibly obvious things to do and focus on the local secrets. It’s hard to see Paris on a budget, but there are some great free things to do and see around the city anyway.

1-3. Museums You Can Enter for Free

The Thinker (Le Penseur) 1880—1882 – bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, Paris. France

These museums normally charge an entrance fee but on the first Sunday of the month they are free to enter which makes means you’ll have to plan your trip around them if you want to save some money.

  1. Rodin Museum (Oct – March)
  2. Musée de l’Orangerie
  3. Musée d’Orsay

The Rodin Museum in Paris near the Invalides metro station is free every first Sunday of the month from October to March and at 12€ per person normally you may want to plan ahead if you’re on a budget. A great way to see The Thinker and other Aguste Rodin greats without spending any precious euros! See our list of top museums for more information.

You also have Musée de l’Orangerie and Musée d’Orsay which are both free on 1st Sundays year around and happen to be within walking distance of each other. That means you could easily pop into both on the same Sunday if lines are manageable.

The museums are free only on the first Sunday of the month which means you can’t do them “Today” but they are definitely still free and can save you some cash if you align your trip around it.

Address: 77 Rue de Varenne

Our Best Versailles and Paris Louvre Tours

SGT Louvre Blog Tour Card 388 x 200

Top-Rated Tour

Secrets of the Louvre Museum Tour with Mona Lisa

The Louvre is the largest art museum on Earth and the crowning jewel of Paris, which is why it’s on everyone’s bucket list. Don’t miss out on an incredible opportunity! Join a passionate guide for a tour of the most famous artwork at the Louvre. Skip-the-line admissions included.

See Prices

Likely to Sell Out

Ultimate Palace of Versailles Tour from Paris

Versailles isn’t that difficult to get to by train, but why stress over the logistics? Meet a local guide in central Paris who will purchase your train tickets and ensure you get off at the right stop. Then enjoy a guided tour of the palace and the unforgettable gardens. Skip-the-line admissions included to the palace and gardens.

See Prices

Best Paris Tours on sale

Not ready to book a tour? Check out Paris Guide for more resources.

4. Buren’s Columns of Palais-Royal

Les Deux Plateaux (Buren’s Columns)

Palais Royal is what it sounds like – the Royal Palace. You can walk through the courtyards freely without paying which means more money stays in your pocket. Not to mention, there is a pretty psychedelic art installation inside one of these courtyards named Buren’s Columns in English. That means you’ll be able to capture some really interesting photos.

If you are trying to put aside some euros for champagne and oysters at night than this is a great way to do something interesting without dishing out cash.

Address: 2 Rue de Montpensier

5. Stravinksy Fountain

Stravinsky Fountain Paris, France

Yes, most fountains are free so this sounds obvious but the Stravinsky Fountain is more of an outdoor art museum which is why it should be on your radar. Stravinksy was an amazing composer of Russian origin who adopted Paris as his home.

While in Paris he composed some of his greatest music. As a result, Paris dedicated this beautiful, wild, colorful, and free fountain to this late composer. All the wild colors make it a great place to bring your kids.

Address: Rue Brisemiche

Already in Paris? Book a last-minute food tour or tickets to the hottest museums.

See the best Last-minute Paris Tours

Not ready to book a tour? See if Paris tours are worth it.

6. Père-Lachaise Cemetery

Père-Lachaise Cemetery Paris, France

I think Père-Lachaise Cemetery is a must-see monument or park for two main reasons. First, it has stunning architecture and layout. The mosoleums are not only fit for kings and emperors but there are more than you could imagine. The second reason is the quantity of important artists that chose it as their final resting place. People that create beautiful things will attract beautiful things.

You’ll find incredible mausoleums one after another lining beautiful cobblestone paths. Père-Lachaise Cemetery is located in a more elevated area of Paris which creates a cool effect on the landscape. Lots of staircases and layers.

You can visit a few famous graves while walking through including Jim Morrison, Chopin, Oscar Wilde, and Édith Piaf which draw some serious crowds. Due to the fame of people like Morrison you may see some pretty “festive” decorations added by cult followers.

For example, often you’ll see speakers playing music in Chopin’s grave and lipstick marks all over Oscar Wilde’s final resting place. This makes walking through the cemetery a pretty cool experience if you are looking for something unusual to do in Paris.

Address: 16 Rue du Repos

Hours:

8am – 6pm M-F

8:30 – 6pm Sat

9am – 6pm Sun

Our Best Guided Tours of Paris

Likely to Sell out

Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour from Paris

Navigating transportation, dealing with tickets, and waiting in long lines can ruin your day at Versailles. Our half-day small group tour eliminates the hassle entirely. With roundtrip transport from Paris, skip-the-line access, and a friendly guide, you’ll effortlessly explore the palace, discover its highlights, and enjoy free time in the gardens. After your guided experience ends, you’re free to stay in the gardens, visit Trianon and take the train back to Paris at your convenience.

See Prices

Top Selling

Le Marais Paris Food Tour with Authentic Sit-Down Dinner

With local spots tucked away and confusing menus, most visitors end up overpaying at tourist-trap cafés instead of finding the authentic spots. Our local, friendly guide leads you through Le Marais to five real local businesses for eight tastings and four French drinks, including oysters, Boeuf Bourguignon, falafel, and sweet crêpes. Walk historic streets, hear food stories, and savor Paris like an insider.

See Prices

Best Paris Tours on sale

Not ready to book a tour? Check out Paris Guide for more resources.

7. Memorial to the Martyrs of the Deportation

The Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation is a small memorial and that makes it all the more moving. It is dedicated to the 200,000 people who were deported to Nazi concentration camps from Vichy France during WWII.

The memorial is located behind Notre Dame on Île de la cité which means it is centrally located and something you can easily fit into your itinerary.

Address: Square de l’Île-de-France

Paris Overview

Paris is the capital of France and home to over 2 million people in the 35 sq mile city (87 sq km). That means it is a large sprawling metropolitan city that is best seen after some planning.

The Seine river splits the city into two sections which are referred to as the Right Bank and the Left Bank. There are also two islands, île Saint -Louis & Île de la Cité which really make Paris that much more captivating. It is a relatively flat city so it is pretty easy to walk or navigate with scooters.

Two neighborhoods are more elevated areas, Montmartre and Belleville which are home to fabulous views!

Find the best places to stay

Where To Stay in Paris

With a city as magnificent as Paris, it can be hard to find the perfect hotel at the perfect price. Explore the best hotels and places to stay in these incredible neighborhoods in Paris.

Best Places to Stay in Paris
  • grand canyon desert watchtower at sunset
    Top 13 Things You Must See At the Grand Canyon’s South Rim
  • Exterior of Alcazar of Segovia Castle.
    Top 10 Things To See at the Alcázar of Segovia
  • Exterior of the louvre and courtyard.
    Top 10 Things to See at the Louvre Video Guide – 11 min
  • Florence Panorama
    Top Things to Do in Florence Video Guide – 18 min
  • Where to stay in sicily
    Top Things to See in Sicily Video Guide – 11 min
  • Shutterstock_793081246 (1)
    Top Things to See in Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples

About Sean Finelli

Sean is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He studied finance and statistics, but that is his "Dr. Jekyll" side! His "Mr. Hyde" is in love with travel, art, history, and culture. Sean has read libraries of historical text and believes that all internet content should come from books. A practice he follows!

Reader Interactions

Comments (2)

  1. Cassandra

    January 21, 2021

    I love this site, it will help on my trip next summer.

    Reply
    • Sean Finelli

      February 5, 2021

      We have been adding new content to it daily since covid hit. Make sure you check back and if you have any ideas let us know!

      Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Paris Guide

  • Paris tours
  • Top things to do in Paris
  • Where to stay in Paris
  • Best restaurants in Paris
  • Best foods to try in Paris
  • The Louvre
    • Tours & things to do
    • How to visit
    • Top things to see
    • Best restaurants nearby
    • Is a tour worth it?
    • Best tours + why
  • Versailles
    • Tours & things to do
    • How to visit
    • Top things to see
    • Best restaurants nearby
    • Is a tour worth It?
    • Best tours + why
  • The Eiffel Tower
    • Tours & things to do
    • How to visit
    • Top things to see
    • Best restaurants nearby
    • Is a tour worth It?
    • Best tours + why
  • Catacombs
    • Tours & things to do
    • How to visit
    • Top things to see
    • Best restaurants nearby
    • Is a tour worth it?
    • Best tours + why
  • Musee d’Orsay
    • Tours & things to do
    • How to visit
    • Top things to see
    • Best restaurants nearby
    • Is a tour worth It?
  • Guidebook Sitemap
  • French People Arr. Rude Podcast

How to see Paris in a day

Video Player
https://youtu.be/dAEwIsY7q9o?si=dXike3lthJL3VQC3
00:00
00:00
19:56
Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Footer

COMPANY

  • About Us
  • Travel Blog
  • In The Press
  • Guidebook Sitemap

POLICY & TERMS

  • Cancellation Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

FIND US ON

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

WE ACCEPT

we accept payments

Copyright © 2025 The Tour Guy. All rights reserved.