13 'Expensive' Cities You Can Actually Visit on a Tight Budget

5. Paris, France: Picnics, Panoramas & Free Culture Nights

Experience Parisian magic affordably. Pack a picnic with items from a local 'boulangerie' and 'fromagerie' to enjoy by the Seine, in Luxembourg Gardens, or Champ de Mars (Eiffel Tower view!). Many museums offer free admission on the first Sunday of the month or late-night openings ('nocturnes') with reduced/free entry – check schedules for the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay etc. Wander charming, free neighborhoods like Montmartre (beyond Sacré-Cœur) or Le Marais. Get stunning free city views from the rooftop terrace of Galeries Lafayette Haussmann.