How to spend a perfect day in Paris for $25 – includes pastries, galleries and Notre Dame views

Tourists who visit Paris tend to seek out the city’s glitz: luxury hotels, high fashion, Michelin-starred restaurants. No one can deny that these things are great, but they’re not always affordable. We’ll let you in on a secret: the best of Paris can be found on the streets where artists sell their work for $20 and along the Seine, where locals go for after-work drinks.

If you want to experience Paris but are on a tight budget, here is a sample itinerary showcasing low-cost or free things to do in the city. Paris is my second home and I have not only lived there for some time, but I also visit frequently, usually on a tight budget.

Here’s our guide to enjoying Paris in one day for just $25.

Grab your morning espresso and croissant at Boulangerie Utopie.

A morning espresso and viennoiserie are a must, so grab an espresso (2.50 euros) at Café Oblkoff and walk around the corner to my favourite bakery in the city, Boulangerie Utopia.

Boulangerie Utopie serves a wide range of breakfast pastries, from sweet to savory, but if you’re on a budget, stick to the classic croissant (€1.10) and enjoy your sweet treat in the tree-lined Place Jules Ferry as the city awakens.

Fee: 3.60 euros (about $4)

Check out the street art on Rue des Denois (and have a second pastry).

Although Paris’ Chinatown is officially in the 13th arrondissement on the Left Bank, Belleville is also considered Chinatown and is home to some of the city’s best Asian food and the lively Au Folie Brasserie. But before you venture deep into the district, be sure to wander down cobblestone Rue Desnoyers, which is covered in all sorts of street art. Along the way, stop off at Le Petit Grand, the best Chinese restaurant in the city. Roll cake (cinnamon roll).

If you feel like having a second cup of coffee, head down Rue Desnoyers to Le Barbecue, a café that invites you to sit and linger.

Fee: Approximately 3 euros (approximately 3 dollars)

Have lunch on the steps of the Sacré Coeur.

For free views of the whole city, climb the steps of the fairytale-like white-domed church, the Sacré-Coeur. The surrounding district of Montmartre, famous for having inspired and lived in creative artists such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh and Picasso, is also worth exploring.

When you’re full, Jambon Beurre Enjoy a French lunchtime classic (ham and salted butter) sandwich at a neighborhood boulangerie, like Boulangerie Raphael, perfectly located just east of the famous Sacré-Coeur steps.

Enjoy some people watching on the steps and dine with great views of the city.

Fee: about 5 euros (about $6)

Explore the hidden passageways of Paris.

In certain districts of Paris, if you stray just off the main streets, you’ll enter a hidden world of shops, galleries and eateries. These passageways date back to the 1700s and are still a big part of Parisian culture. Their glass-covered walkways are elegant and intriguing, with secret gems hidden within each one.

My personal favourites are Galerie Vivienne and Passage Jouffroy, which leads to Passage Verdeau. You might be tempted, but you won’t have to pay a cent.

Fee: free

Buy some falafel and beer and eat it along the Seine.

Before buying food, stroll through the picturesque Marais district, with its cobbled streets and plenty of fashionable boutiques. Once the city’s Jewish quarter, it’s now full of kosher restaurants and gay bars. If you can’t wait any longer, head to L’As du Fallafel, the city’s most famous falafel shop. A giant pita bread stuffed with vegetables, sauce and falafel costs €9 to take away.

From there, grab a sandwich and head down the Seine, stopping at Franprix or Carrefour for a €2 beer along the way, enjoying your meal along the Seine with views of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Fee: 11 euros (about $12)

Visit an artists’ squat-turned-collective and floating gallery.

While everyone else goes to the Louvre to see the “Mona Lisa” (22 euros), I recommend taking a look at art made by Paris’s lively people. One of the best places to see the work of local artists is 59 Rivoli, an artist’s slum-turned-collective. It’s home to the studios of 30 artists. You can wander around their workspace, watch them create, and even buy art if you’re interested. Admission is free and it’s just a few blocks from the Seine.

Afterwards, head to Fluctuart, an on-board gallery and one of Paris’ hidden gems. Entry is free, but if you’re on a budget, we recommend finishing your Paris art tour with a spritz on the rooftop (9 euros).

Fee: free