Free Attractions, Food, & Drink in Paris

Remember when you took French lessons back in high school and whined, ’so why do we have to learn French?’ Now, you’ve got an opportunity to go to Paris and the dollar is looking mighty slim compared to the fat Euro. An believe me that’s about the only thing FAT on the streets of Paris.

Here’s a good way to start brushing up on your French by studying the site - Invitations Gratuites i.e. Free invitations. It offers free deals in Paris throughout the year.
In French, ‘free’ as in ‘no charge’ is translated as ‘gratuit’.

Here are some free parts of Paris to get you started:

Churches

Most churches in Paris are free, except Sainte Chapelle which is not an operating church. The majority of churches in France are open to the public during daylight hours. Certain churches will charge admission to certain parts of the building which either have relics or allow access to the bell tower (i.e. Notre Dame Tower is accessed by the outside steps to the left of the building).

Free Concerts
Radio France and Le Musee des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris are sponsoring free Thursday afternoon concerts from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm at the Petit Palais auditorium until June 30, 2008. Artists are invited to realize their wildest dream i.e. show the connection between Brahams and fado for an example.

Petit Palais - Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris
Avenue Winston Churchill - 75008 Paris

2008 Trinite-Messiaen concerts
18 Free concerts at the Trinity Church where 20th century composer Olivier Messiaen used to play the organ every Sunday. He is considered by many to be one of the most brilliant composers of the 20th century.

Free Jazz in the Park - Paris Jazz Festival June-July
Once you’ve paid the 5 Euro admission fee for the park (Parc Florale) the jazz concerts are free to park visitors.

Free Museums
Musee Carnavalet
23 rue de Sevigne
Le Marais District
Metro: St. Paul
Closed Mondays.

If you want to learn about the history of the City of Paris, this is a great place to begin. The permanent exhibit is free.

Musee Cognacq Jay
8 rue Elzevir
Marais District
Metro: St. Paul
Closed Mondays

Ernest Cognacq was the founder of the department store La Samaritaine. This private townhouse built in th e rococo style houses paintings and furniture from the 18th century. Like the Marmottan and Musee Jacquemart Andre, unlike the vast grandeur of Chateau Versailles, these elegant private ‘hotels particuliers’ have managed to retain a sense of intimacy - as if the former owner might be hovering in an alcove.

A number of museums offer free admission on the first Sunday of each month, during the Journee du Patrimoine, or Heritage Day (usually in late September or early November) and White Night, Nuit Blanche, in early October.

Nuit des Musees or Museum Night is an annual event organized during the second or third week of May. Certain museums in Paris will open at night for one specific night - with free admission. This year’s date (2008) is Saturday, May 17th.

Free Louvre
With a little advanced planning, you can visit the Louvre Museum for free.

The Louvre offers FREE admission to all visitors on the first Sunday of each month, July 14th (Bastille Day),
and free admission is offered to art students studying in France if you have the right documentation. Check their site regarding free admission for art, art history, or applied arts teachers with right documentation.

The Louvre offers FREE admission to children and teenagers under 18 years.
Friday nights are FREE if you are under 26 years.
Free for children up to age 17.

The Louvre offers FREE admission to disabled people and their attendants.
See the Louvre for Free details on the official Louvre site.

FREE Versailles. The Versailles gardens are open to the public with the exception of Sunday afternoons during the musical fountains display. There’s an access charge for Marie Antoinette’s ‘farm’.

Free access to the Versailles for children under 18 years old. Friends of Versailles, the unemployed, professional artists, and history of art and architecture students are also allowed free access. Contact the museum for the necessary identity papers for special circumstances.

Free Musee d’Orsay
The Musee d’Orsay offers free admission the first Sunday of each month.
Thursday nights are free for ages 18-25 until June 30, 2008.
Free for children up to Age 17.

Free Musee Quai Branly
The Musee Quai Branly offers free admission the first Sunday of each month.
Saturday nights are free for ages 18-25.
Free for children up to Age 17.

More free museums:

* Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
* Maison de Balzac
* Musée Bible et Terre Sainte
* Maison Bourdelle
* Musée Cernuschi
* Musée du Compagnonnage
* Musée Curie (Institut du radium)
* Musée Jean Moulin
* Musée du Parfum-Fragonard
* Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux Arts de la Ville de Paris
* Musée de la Préfecture de Police
* Maison de Victor Hugo
* Musée de la Vie Romantique
* Musée Zadkine

Read additional information about free access to National Museums at Parisinfo.com

Free Wi-Fi
in many of Paris’s parks and libraries. (My favorite is Jardin Atlantique, just above the Montparnasse train station.).

Free access to the Centre Pompidou library.

Free summer concerts at the Luxembourg Gardens (and many other gardens).

Free Ice Skating during part of the winter (Skate Rentals cost 5 Euros, but are free for kids with small feetfoot).
Hotel de Ville 4th
Metro: Hotel de Ville

Montparnasse 14th
Metro: Montparnasse

Bibliotheque Francois Mitterand
Metro: Bibliotheque

Looking for more Free Paris information?
Check out SAS’s Free Paris Guidebook

Free Audio Tours to Paris Monuments through
ZeVisit.com

Free Paris Drink Coupon (Jan/Feb/March 2008)

Free Food (and more!)

Free Couscous

Les Fontaines, 153 rue Saint-Maur, 11e. Metro: Ménilmontant. Tél: 01.43.55.67.90. Couscous is free every Friday and Saturday starting at 8:30pm

Le Tribal Café
Free couscous on Friday and Saturday nights (for drinking customers). 3, cour des Petites Ecuries (10e) 01 47 70 57 08.

Les Fontaines
Free couscous on Friday and Saturday evenings (for drinking customers). 153, rue Saint-Maur (11e) 01 43 57 53 14

Le Taïs
Free couscous on Friday and Saturday evenings (for drinking customers). 129, boulevard de Ménilmontant (11e) 01 43 55 67 90

Le Grenier
Free couscous on Saturday evenings starting 7 pm, from September till April (for drinking customers) 152 rue Oberkampf (11e) 01 48 05 13 5

Free Paris Map
Free Walking Guide at
the Paris Office of Tourism - Main Branch
25 Rue des Pyramides
Metro: Pyramides, Tuileries, or Opera

Free Jazz Week in June
June is a great month for free music starting with the Fete de la Musique on the longest day of the summer (usually on or around June 21st) when the entire city becomes a moveable music fest. Free Jazz Festival follows (this year (2008), it runs through till June 29th, 08 at La Defense.

Free Metro Goodies
The Metro Map is an excellent free map. Not only does it give you clearly marked Metro and Bus routes, but it shows you the location of major museums, monuments and department stores. Pick up a free map when you pick up your ‘carnet’ of ten Metro tickets.

A Nous Paris is the free weekly Metro newspaper. It comes out on Mondays. Even if you don’t read French, pick up a copy of this newspaper which includes addresses for the trendiest new restaurants and boutiques (keeping in mind that Metro users also like to find good deals).

FREE bicycle rentals. If you park your car in certain VINCI park underground parking garages (such as Montparnasse), you can request the use of a VINCI PARK bicycle rental (the bikes are found right next to the Vinci reception area on Level -3)