Free things to do in Paris

Free things to do in Paris

1. See5th arrondissement

   Arènes de Lutèce

   An ancient Roman theater, the only surviving above-ground ruins of the Gallo-Roman era in Paris (ancient Lutetia, French Lutèce) apart from the nearby Thermes de Cluny. The theatre could hold approximately 15,000 spectators and measures some 132 m x 100 m. Built sometime in the 2nd century CE, the location of the actor's dressing room, the platform of the stage, and lapidary remains can still be seen. The remains were rediscovered in 1869, when new streets were being built. An excavation was subsequently ordered in 1883. The theatre has been preserved as a quiet archaeological park removed from the bustle of Parisian streets.

   08ː00-17ː30 (winter), 08ː00-22ː00 (summer)·Free

2. Do6th arrondissement

   Cafe Philo in English

   Cafe Philo in English meets on the first Wednesday of each month upstairs at the famous Café de Flore. Everyone is invited. You don't have to be knowledgeable about philosophy. Meetings begin with a two round voting process to determine a topic. The topic is discussed for two hours.

   Free

3. See6th arrondissement

   Eglise de Saint Sulpice

   a Roman Catholic church on the east side of the Place Saint-Sulpice within the rue Bonaparte, in the Luxembourg Quarter of the VIe arrondissement. At 113 metres long, 58 metres in width and 34 metres tall, it is only slightly smaller than Notre-Dame and thus the second largest church in the city. It is dedicated to Sulpitius the Pious. During the 18th century, an elaborate gnomon, the Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice, was constructed in the church. In front of the church itself is the magnificent Place Saint-Sulpice which contains the 'Fountain of the Four Bishops'. The church has a long-standing tradition of talented organists that dates back to the eighteenth century. In 1862, Aristide Cavaillé-Coll reconstructed and improved the existing organ built by François-Henri Clicquot. Though using many materials from Clicquot's French Classical organ, it is considered to be Cavaillé-Coll's magnum opus, featuring 102 speaking stops, and is perhaps the most impressive instrument of the romantic French symphonic-organ era. Its organists have also been renowned, starting with Nicolas Séjan in the 18th century, and continuing with Charles-Marie Widor (organist 1870-1933) and Marcel Dupré (organist 1934-1971), both great organists and composers of organ music. The current organists are 'titulaire' Daniel Roth (since 1985) and 'assistant titulaire' Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin. In Saint-Sulpice Sunday organ recitals are held on a regular basis (Auditions du Dimanche, following the High Mass, usually from 11:30am till 12:05pm, during the subsequent mass, a visit of the organ loft is possible).

   Closed · opens 7 am tomorrow·free

4. See5th arrondissement

   Jardin des Plantes

   The Paris Botanical Garden, founded as the royal medicinal garden in 1626 by King Louis XIII's doctor, contains over 10,000 species. The grounds also include a small zoo known as La Ménagerie, and the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, which includes the Grande Galerie de l'Evolution (where you can see thousands of naturalized animals from all over the world) and the Galerie de paléontologie et d'anatomie comparée (same thing, but with skeletons).

   daily summer 07:30 - 20:00, winter 8:00 - 17:30·free

5. Do

   Maison Européene de la Photographie

   La MEP

   Important center for contemporary photography with a large exposition area having three or four major expositions per year dedicated to contemporary photography. Housed in an updated hôtel particulier built in 1706. There is a large library, auditorium and café. Their archive houses over twenty thousand works of art. Admission is free every Wednesday from 17:00 to 20:00.

   Wed-Sun 11:00-20:00·Admission €9

6. See4th arrondissement

   Maison de Victor Hugo

   The house in which the famous French novelist Victor Hugo once lived.

   Tue–Sun 10:00-18:00·Free

7. See3rd arrondissement

   Musée Carnavalet

   Contained within two historic houses (hotels), the museum explores the history of Paris through objects in over 140 separate rooms.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December·Free entry to the permanent collection

8. See5th arrondissement

   Musée Curie

   This charming scientific museum preserves the offices and laboratories of Pierre and Marie Curie, pioneers in the discovery of radioactivity. Their instruments, equipment, and furniture is arranged as it was during their critically important research. Guided tours in English available.

   Mon-Fri 13ː30-17ː00 except bank holidays and during Aug·free

9. See8th arrondissement

   Musée du Petit Palais

   The Petit Palais was built as a complement to the Grand Palais for the 1900 universal exhibition, and afterwards became the prime exhibition venue for the City of Paris' vast collection of artworks spanning centuries from ancient history to around 1914. Later material is at the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris in the 16th. There is a permanent exhibition of selected artworks of artifacts, complemented by temporary exhibitions of historic artworks. The Petit Palais also features an on-site cafe/restaurant, as well as a book and gift shop.

   Open daily except except Mondays and public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00. Thursdays until 20:00 for temporary exhibitions only. Ticket office closes at 17:00·Free admission to the permanent collections. Admission charge for temporary exhibitions (EUR 5-11)

10. See

    Mémorial de la Shoah

    Paris's Holocaust Memorial Museum, in the heart of the Marais on rue Geoffroy l'Asnier. Free Entry, weekly guided tours. Second Sunday of the month there is a free tour in English.

11. See4th arrondissement

    Mémorial de la Shoah

    The Holocaust Memorial

    Opened in January 2005, the Holocaust Memorial comprises a major documentation centre and a wall bearing 76,000 names of Jews deported from France to the Nazi camps between 1942-1944. Includes an archive of a million artefacts, including 55,000 photographs. Excursions are run from the memorial to French internment camp sites such as Drancy.

    Sun-Wed,Fri 10:00-18:00; Thu 10:00-22:00·Admission free

12. See4th arrondissement

    Notre-Dame de Paris

    Notre Dame Cathedral

    The early Gothic Cathédrale de Notre Dame (Our Lady) has a 12th century design but wasn't completed until the 14th. Still it is a good example of the development of the style, though the west or main portal is a bit unusual in its rigidity. An April 2019 fire caused severe damage, but after extensive renovation the cathedral was reopened to the public in December 2024. See item below for separate process to visit towers.

    7:45 — 18:45·free but booking is recommended as queues can be long.

13. See6th arrondissement

    Palais du Luxembourg

    Visitable only by reservation and then only one Saturday every month. A richly decorated palace built for Marie de Medici in the early 17th century, which is now the French Senate. For those interested in seeing a Parisian monument normally unavailable to the public, or for those interested in the inner workings of the French Government. The large Luxembourg Garden is open to the public year-round. The garden is home to the Medici fountain, a children's playground, and vintage toy boats for hire that children push around in the Grand Bassin duck pond (a 90-year tradition).

    Closed · opens 10:03 am tomorrow·free

14. See14th arrondissement

    The Liberation of Paris, General Leclerc Museum, Jean Moulin Museum

    Le Musée de la Liberation de Paris - Musée du Général Leclerc - Musée Jean Moulin

    Museum documenting Paris at war.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 (last entrance 17:30)·Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Paris (CC BY-SA 4.0).