arc de triomphe 1
It's no secret that Paris isn't cheap. Even hostels can be in the three digits for a mediocre place to stay. Eating out at restaurants could be a splurge too if you eat out often. As a 22-year-old with limited funds, I had to make a few sacrifices in terms of budget during my weekend in Paris. I'll have to go back again later in life to experience some different/expensive things, but if you're looking to save a few euros during your stay, here a few tips I found helpful:
arc de triomphe view
1. Going up the Eiffel Tower: take the stairs instead of the elevators
This is both a time-saving and money-saving tip. If you take the elevators, the line is much longer than the one for the stairs. Most people say the stairs are fine for an average person, and you'll still need to take an elevator from the second floor up to the top. You have time to stop and go to the shops or restaurants on the first and second levels if you'd like. The stair route is cheaper than the elevator route.
2. Choose which viewpoints you want to see Paris from
Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Sacre Coeur are just a few places to see fantastic aerial views of Paris. However, they all cost money to climb to the top, so choose one or two as your main viewing places. I loved the top of the Arc de Triomphe because there are viewpoints of all the tree-lined streets going out of the main circle, views of the Eiffel Tower, etc. Of course they all have great views, but you could say that the view is similar all around (just from a different angle).
3. Walk or take public transportation instead of taxis
My motto while in Paris was: why pay to get somewhere when I have my own two feet? It was warm and sunny the whole time (sometimes a rarity in rainy Paris), and I enjoyed seeing the city by foot. I also found more cute little gems along the way and saw a lot more than if I had just taken the metro or taxis the whole time.