PARIS PLANNING
Affordable hotels in great locations are the key to a budget-friendly dream trip to Paris
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Yes, there are inexpensive hotels in Paris; don’t let anyone tell you that a Paris trip will “break the bank”. I am always on a budget when I visit Paris, and every trip is magical.
Many of Paris’s most beautiful experiences are free—walking along the Seine, gazing at the Eiffel Tower or visiting some of the many free museums such as Musee Carnavalet. And dining in Paris can be much more affordable than in North America.
Hotel prices have increased in Paris in recent years, but there are still reasonable gems to be found. Those do tend to book up however, so my top tip is to reserve your inexpensive Paris hotel as far ahead as you can. Ideally it will be a reservation that can be cancelled, if prices drop or plans change.
What to Consider when booking Inexpensive Paris Hotels
- Air Conditioning if traveling in warm weather
- Private bathroom (most will have this)
- Room capacity (some are true singles)
- Room size (they tend to be small)
- How noisy are they (read reviews)
- Location. Walkability to some landmarks and a Metro station close by
- Is breakfast included in the rate?
Where in Paris to find Affordable Hotels
Generally, you can get more value for money further out from central Paris. But I don’t want you to spend your Paris vacation riding transit, so this list focuses on well-located hotels in the central arrondissements (neighborhoods), 1 through 12 (11th not included for now).
What's Considered Affordable in Paris?
This list does not include hostels; all of these are hotels, mostly ***, with a private bath and air conditioning. Generally hotels like this go for between $200 and $300 a night depending on the season. Rates have risen considerably in the last few years, since Covid.
The 1st and 8th arrondissements are filled with luxury hotels, so budget picks are harder to come by in those areas of Paris. If you have a favorite affordable hotel please share in comments at the end of this story.
TIP: some Paris hotel are now using dynamic pricing software. Rather than have set rates, the price will fluctuate based on demand. I suggest checking back shortly before your trip to see if the price has dropped. If so cancel and rebook at the lower price (assuming you’re within the cancellation window).
4 of my Favorite Budget-Friendly Stays
Inexpensive Paris Hotels by Neighborhood
1st arrondissement - The Pricey Heart of Paris
The 1st arr. is a beautiful and a practical choice. Many of Paris’s most famous attractions are here: The Louvre (reserve your visit ahead), The Tuileries Garden, Palais Royale, Place Vendome and more. You are also in the center of Paris.
Most hotels found here are 4 and 5 stars and pricey; budget picks are hard to find but here are two options.
$250-$300
A stylish hotel designed by Christian Lacroix with a wonderful location near Place Vendome. Note they do have rooms for single travelers as well as standard options. Great for guests who are as much about style as comfort.
TimHotel Le Louvre. ***
$250
I have heard good things about the French hotel chain, Timhotel which has operated affordable Paris hotels since 1982. They have excellent locations around Paris. I visited a couple in Spring 2025 — indeed these are more bare bones than some others on this list. But reviewers say rooms are clean and beds are comfy. And the locations can’t be beat!
Touring tip for the 1st arr: I loved my visit to Hotel de la Marine, a historic building on the Place de la Concorde. This museum/monument recently reopened and it’s incredibly informative and palatial, like a mini-Versailles. And it’s typically less crowded than better known attractions.
Inexpensive Paris Hotels in the 2nd Arrondissement
The 2nd arr. isn’t as central as the 1st, but it places you just outside the main tourist area. This is a great area for shopping enthusiasts with several department stores located nearby: Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. (Technically they’re in the 9th, but located at the border of the two).
Visit Stohrer, the oldest patisserie in Paris, founded in 1730 by King Louis XV’s pastry chef. It is one of several enjoyable stops on the charming rue Montorgueil. Have the lemon tart — my favorite!
HOTEL PICK
Timhotel Palais Royale ***
$200
Another Timhotel with a fabulous location just outside the coveted 1st arr. I haven’t stayed here but it’s on my list to try. The location could not be better and reviews are solid with lots of compliments for helpful staff. If a central location is important to you this is it. I think the location is most important on a shorter trip— why waste precious time in Paris on the Metro
Affordable in Le Marais - 3rd & 4th arrondissements
Le Marais is one of the most popular areas to stay in in Paris. It’s centrally located with many of the city’s monuments and attractions within a reasonable walk. It’s brimming with charm and history and is filled with cute cafés, excellent shopping and museums.
Hôtel Caron de Beaumarchais Paris Marais ***
$200-$250
One of my favorites of all the inexpensive Paris hotels I’ve tried is also in one of Paris’s most vibrant neighborhoods, the 4th in Le Marais. The catch? It is small with only 19 rooms, all doubles, and it books up well ahead.
This hotel is more whimsical and romantic than modern and chic. A sort of French “art de vivre” from the 18th century.
I stayed in the cheapest option, a small rear room on the main floor and was perfectly content. It was charming with a modern bathroom. I paid 180 euros a night. Some of the front facing rooms have balconies but are more expensive.
I didn’t have breakfast but the breakfast room is like a little jewel box.
Hotel Jeanne d'Arc Le Marais ***
$200
*NO AIR CONDITIONING. Not advised for travel May through September.
An affordable gem, also in Paris’s Le Marais. I have this booked to try for an upcoming trip, at less than $200 a night! It’s around the corner from one of my favorite parks in Paris, Places des Vosges.
This hotel is a TripAdvisor Travelers Choice pick in 2024. It features small but comfortable rooms with large windows. But it doesn’t have AC, so I wouldn’t select this for a warm weather stay. I will try it out while the weather is cool.
5th arrondissement (Latin Quarter)
This area is a gem when it comes to budget-friendly hotels in Paris. It is also the historic heart of Paris— from here you can easily walk to many attractions, including Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Touring tip: the Cluny Museum is a small but fascinating museum in the Latin Quarter. And don’t miss the Luxembourg Gardens and its beautiful Medici Fountain.
Minerve Hotel ***
$200 to $250
Sean and I stayed here years ago and loved the value for money, and terrific location. It continues to be very popular — it was a TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Winner in 2024. The hotel is in a charming Haussmann-style building, and is a 10-minute walk to Notre Dame cathedral. Rooms are simple but comfy.
Hotel Diana **
$150 to $200
This 2-star hotel is a fantastic budget option in a great location. Rooms are simple but comfortable with modern bathrooms. Book well ahead.
We stayed a couple of years ago and I thought it was excellent for the price! I loved that our room had a large window; it was lovely and bright. It also had a mini fridge. Perfect for chilling my Sancerre.
6th arrondissement (Saint Germain)
Saint Germain is quintessential Paris with beautiful boulevards, charming cafés and stunning architecture. It’s also perfectly located, in central Paris on the Left Bank. The downside; it tends to be pricey. Hotel rates are generally higher than in the nearby 5th arr. But I have a couple of options to recommend.
Hotel De Sevres ***
$200-$250
I’ve booked the Hotel de Sevres to try on my April 2026 trip to Paris. I love Saint Germain and since it’s such a popular area with tourists, I wanted to have a great 3-star option in this area to recommend.
This hotel is highly rated and a Travelers Choice winner on TripAdvisor. It has air conditioning and many extras you don’t always get with 3-star accommodation in Paris such as a concierge and a bar. It’s bright, charming and the location is great—around the corner from the popular Bon Marché department store. I will follow up with a detailed review, and more photos, after my stay.
Affordable and Family-Friendly
Citadines Saint Germain ***
$300+
Citadines offers air-conditioned studios and apartments and each has a kitchenette with a microwave, a refrigerator and a toaster. We stayed at Citadines in London with our boys when they were young and it worked out great. There was space for everyone and a kitchenette gave us the ability to prepare quick meals in our unit, while the boys adjusted to the time change.
Cribs are available on request.
Budget Hotels near the Eiffel Tower (7th arrondissement)
The 7th arrondissement is home to Paris’s most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower. It’s also a gorgeous residential neighborhood with pretty streets lined by buildings of stunning Haussmann architecture. Besides proxinmity to the tower, it’s not the most central place to stay, but a lovely area. And as with all of Paris, there is lots within a walk. And everything is within a short Metro ride.
Touring Tip: Rue Cler is a charming market street in the 7th with cafes and shops for purchasing picnic supplies.
Hotel Muguet ***
$250 to $300
This lovely hotel is a short-walk to the Eiffel Tower and run by a nice woman who has had it in her family for years. I stayed here in 2021 on a 10-day solo trip, and it was a lovely little home away from home. If you want a budget-stay near the Eiffel Tower, this is a great choice.
I got a great price for my stay and I’ve noticed that rates for this hotel have gone up. But they tend to vary a lot. You might get lucky!
9th arrondissement
A vibrant area which offers some budget-friendly accommodation choices. This area is great for shoppers with some of Paris’s most beautiful department stores, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps located here. And it’s within a walk to one of Paris’s most charming neighborhoods, Monmartre.
Touring Tip: Don’t miss the Palais Garnier, Paris’s gorgeous opera house.
Hotel Bienvenue ****
$250
Tucked into a corner of the 9th, Hotel Bienvenue is a Paris gem with small but well appointed rooms. I liked the location which was within a walk of many cafés and restaurants. Staff was very helpful with several questions I had. For a stay in the 9th, I highly recommend Hotel Bienvenue!
Hotel D'Espagne ***
$200-$250
I visited this charming hotel on a recent trip and earmarked it for a future stay. I liked the location on a quiet side street, within a walk of lots of restaurants in the 9th. You are a short Metro ride from central Paris and all that you’ll want to explore. Staff are known for offering friendly service. I hope to try Hotel D’Espagne on a future visit.
Touring Tip: The Palais Garnier Opera House, a Belle Epoque beauty, can be explored on a self-guided or guided tour.
10th arrondissement
The 10th is a great option for affordable hotels. You are within a short Metro of Paris’s most beautiful sites, and you can visit Sain Boulangerie, among my favorite Paris bakery’s. (Read more about my favorite croissants in Paris).
Dining Tip: One of Paris’s best traditional “Bouillion” restaurants is here, Bouillon Julien. Reserve ahead.
Hôtel des Comédies Paris ***
$200-$250
My recommended affordable option in the 10th is Hotel des Comedies. I was scheduled to stay here because I had heard great things. My plans changed but its place on my curated list of affordable Paris hotels did not. It comes highly recommended!
12th arrondissement
I like the 12th because although it’s not as central in Paris, staying here means you are well-positioned to explore both the Latin Quarter and Le Marais. It’s an interesting and vibrant area, with lots of innovative dining and small businesses. It’s also close to the Gare de Lyon so ideal if you are arriving or leaving Paris via this train station. One of my favorite markets in Paris, the Bastille Marché, is held each Thursday and Sunday, 7 am to 3 pm. Boulevard Richard Lenoir.
Touring Tip: Reserve well ahead if you would like to enjoy a meal at the gorgeous Le Train Bleu Restaurant, located inside the Gare de Lyon station. If you can’t get a reservation you can have a drink in the cute lounge within the restaurant.
Holiday Inn Gare de Lyon Bastille ***
$150 to $250
While most of the hotels on this list are locally owned, I’ve included the Holiday Inn Bastille because I stayed here on my latest trip, in April 2025. First, I really like the location. Second, I had free nights with IHG that I needed to use. Third, this looks nothing like a Holiday Inn — it has a beautiful traditional exterior and charming interior with art deco character. And the rooms have been updated with lovely modern bathrooms. Old meets new!
Final Tip for Your Paris Vacation
Whichever affordable accommodation you select for your stay in Paris, I hope you have a magical trip. A final tip… build in some time to simply wander around this special city and enjoy its unique charms. I have found that it’s in those unplanned meanderings that another side of Paris reveals itself.
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