How to get around Paris without breaking the bank (metro, bike, on foot, etc.)

Have you just arrived in Paris and want to get around easily without breaking your budget? Good news: Paris is a compact, well-connected city, and above all, full of great tips for getting around smart. Here are all the budget-friendly options for exploring the capital like a true Parisian.

🚇 1. The Metro: Fast, Reliable, and Cheap

The Paris Metro has 16 lines, operates from 5:30 a.m. to 1:15 a.m. (2 a.m. on weekends), and serves every corner of the city.

• 💸 Prices (2025):
• Single ticket: €2.15
• Book of 10 electronic tickets (via Navigo Easy): €17.35
• Navigo Day Pass (zones 1-2): €8.65
• Navigo Week (if you’re staying for several days): around €30

📲 Top tip: download the Bonjour RATP app to plan your trips.

🚲 2. Cycling with Vélib’: eco-friendly, practical, and almost free

Vélib’ is the self-service bike service in Paris. There are stations everywhere! 💸 Rates (2025):

• First half hour free (mechanical bikes with pass)
• 24-hour pass: €5 for unlimited use (30 min max per trip) 3-day pass: €10, very cost-effective for backpackers

📲 Downloadable app: Vélib’ Métropole 🚲 Bonus: Bike path along the Seine = perfect for discovering Paris in a different way.

🚶‍♀️ 3. On foot: the most beautiful… and free way

Paris is a compact city: from the Louvre to Bastille = 30 min on foot. And it’s by walking that you discover the real Paris: the cafés, the facades, the small parks… and unexpected encounters. 👟 From AIJ Paris, you’re:

• 10 min from Bastille
• 20 min from the Marais
• 30 min from République, the Canal Saint-Martin, or Nation

🛴 4. Electric scooters: nice but not the most economical

Shared scooters (Dott, Tier) can be fun… but watch your budget! 💸 Average price:

• €1 to unlock
• €0.25/minute → a 15-minute ride = around €5

📉 Tip: Use as a last resort or with two people if sharing the device.

🚌 5. Bus and tram: to enjoy the scenery

Same ticket as the metro, but above-ground travel = great for seeing Paris while you’re on the move. 💡 Ideal for getting around the city stress-free (line 69 is very touristy, for example)

🌙 6. Noctilien: getting around at night after the parties

When the metro is closed, Noctilien night buses take over from 12:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Main lines run every 10-15 minutes, even from Bastille, République, or Châtelet. 💸 Use your standard metro ticket.

🧭 7. Paris at a low price from the AIJ: everything is accessible

The International Youth Hostel is located in the 11th arrondissement, an ultra-central and well-connected neighborhood. You can easily go:

• On foot to the Coulée Verte, Bastille, the Marais…
• By metro to the major museums, Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower
• By bike to the Seine or Belleville

🎒 In short, you can see all of Paris with a transportation budget of €5 to €10 per day max.