With Christmas just around the corner, the thought of visiting Paris this winter is becoming more and more appealing for those looking for a romantic getaway. But since the French capital is renowned for being on of the most expensive cities in the world, we had to find a few “hacks” to make your break worthwhile without breaking the bank, so here are the things to do and see in Paris, that won’t cost you a dime.

1. Located on the Champ de Mars, the Eiffel Tower is probably the most iconic and sought-after structure of the French capital. While getting on top costs you dearly, it’s enough to stand beneath the 19th iron lattice tower or look at it from just about any spot in Paris.

2. The Notre Dame Cathedral is the city’s religious center. Amongst the world’s finest examples of French Gothic architecture, the building is a free treasure for tourists with its amazing sculptures and the stained glass. There are the towers and the museum that you can pay to visit but walking around it won’t cost you anything except time.

3. Seine and the lights! You don’t need to afford a boat ride or an expensive dinner on the shore, for a kiss in the evening on one of the many Seine bridges, should be just as romantic. A walk on the Seine’s banks is just as amazing as the river is known to cut a perfect path into the heart of the City of Light. You’ll love the way the city’s main attractions are illuminated with a charming yellow light or the dazzling white.

4. With all that history behind it, Paris has some of the world’s most exciting museums. What you may not know is that many of them are free. That includes the Louvre which is free on the first Sunday of each month (for adults, or free to those under 18 every day), the Versailles gardens which are open every day except for Sunday afternoons during the musical fountain displays, the Musee d’Orsay which is free the first Sunday of each month (or for those under 17, every day)

Then there’s also Le Musee du Parum, or the Fragonard Perfume Museum, which exhibits the secrets and knowledge of fine art perfume making in a 19th Century townhouse on rue Scribe. Located close to the Opéra Garnier and the Paris Story audiovisual show, you’ll be getting guided tours on how perfume has been made throughout the ages and what tools they used.

A full list of free museums in Paris include, the 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 or the Musée Zadkine.

5. Dancing at night could cost you a small fortune if you’re headed for the Moulin Rouge, but those looking for some budget movements should check out the plein air dance floor (every evening, May to September, if the weather is good) on Quai Saint-Bernard where you could learn to can-can, tango or your first gavotte.

We’re pretty sure these are only a few things to do in Paris without spending a fortune, but if you have more we’d like to hear it in the comments below.

Images courtesy of trodel, michalo, geoftheref, rinzewind, decadence, ainet, ranopamas, thomas_mcgowan, roblisameehan, fragonard & wiki.

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