Visiting France on a budget: tips and tricks
How to travel in France without breaking the bank? Cheap accommodation, smart transport, free museums and affordable restaurants.
Updated on 8 April 2026
Visiting France doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a few tricks, it’s perfectly possible to enjoy France’s most beautiful destinations without breaking the bank.
Budget accommodation
Youth hostels
Hostels are available in every major city. A dorm bed costs between €15 and €35 depending on the city. The FUAJ network offers quality establishments, often with bilingual reception.
Camping
France is Europe’s leading camping destination. Expect to pay €10–25 per night for a tent pitch. Many campsites are located by the sea, in the mountains or out in nature.
Couchsurfing and house swapping
The Couchsurfing community is very active in France. It’s free and a great way to meet locals and pick up invaluable travel tips.
Gîtes and rentals outside peak season
Outside July–August, rural gîtes and holiday rentals offer excellent value. Some platforms offer last-minute deals from €30–50 per night for an entire apartment.
Budget-friendly transport
Carpooling
BlaBlaCar is widely used in France. Paris–Lyon costs around €15–20 by carpool versus €50–80 by standard TGV.
Long-distance bus
Flixbus and Blablabus serve major cities at very competitive prices (€5–20). Comfort is reasonable for long journeys.
TGV booked in advance
SNCF offers TGV tickets from €20–35 when booked 90 days ahead (Ouigo or Prem’s fares). Perfect for connecting Paris to major cities.
Paris: Navigo Découverte pass
If you’re spending more than a week in Paris, the weekly Navigo pass (€29.70) covers all public transport in the Île-de-France region.
Free museums and culture
Many French museums are free:
- All national museums are free on the first Sunday of each month
- Permanent collections of municipal museums in major cities (Lyon, Strasbourg, Bordeaux…)
- Free entry for under-18s in all national museums
- European Heritage Days (3rd weekend of September): normally closed monuments open free of charge
Eating on a budget
The lunch set menu
Most restaurants offer a lunch formula (starter + main or main + dessert) for between €12 and €18. It’s the best value for money in France.
Markets and bakeries
- A meal of baguette + cheese + market fruit costs less than €5
- Bakeries sell sandwiches and quiche from €3–4
Supermarkets
Supermarkets offer decent ready meals from €2–3. Lidl and Aldi have surprisingly good deli counters.
Indicative daily budget
| Travel style | Budget/day |
|---|---|
| Tight budget | €40–60 |
| Mid-range | €80–120 |
| Comfortable | €150–250 |
Useful apps
- SNCF Connect — train tickets
- BlaBlaCar — carpooling
- Too Good To Go — discounted restaurant leftovers
- Google Maps — free public transport directions everywhere in France