Where in paris should I stay, if I'm a student with a limited wallet? And what should I visit?

Question

I will only be there for 5 days

Answer 1

Looks like you have the answer on a cheap place to stay (or at least relatively cheap).  

Now you are looking for cheap stuff to do.  Luckily Paris is a place where there are many things you can do without spending a penny.  It is a place for people who like to walk.

You can walk to the Eiffel Tower, and if you do not go up the elevator you haven't spent a penny.  You can walk down the Champs Elysees to the Arc at one end, and Concord at the other. You can rest in the Tuileries Gardens and eat your lunch after your hike down the Champs Elysees, all for the price of the lunch.



You can go to a museum and pay big bucks and see great art, or you can just stop in to several of the multitude of churches in Paris and see great art.  You could go to "La Train Bleu" in the train station Gare de Lyon and see decore that is on par with what you will see if you go to the Louvre, or the Palais at Versailles. (See pics at the link below.

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

The old opera is another location where you can see great art for free.  You can even enter the building and see a portion of it without paying the entrance fee, not to mention what is outside.

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

While they are not free, Paris is full of grocery stores and present the cheapest way to eat in Paris (although you do need to experience French Pastries at a Bolangerie.  Prices are very reasonable at most.)

One of the cool things about Paris is that around just about every corner there is something new and amazing.

Some of my favorite locations:

Luxembourg Gardens: Make sure you see the Medicis Fountain. The fountain's centerpiece is a Cyclops from Greek Mythology, the scene depicts "Polyphemus Surprising Acis and Galatea." The Girl in this link is his love interest. (First time I saw it I thought the big guy was the girls father. Same fate either way I guess...) http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

http://www.arnaudfrichphoto.com/english-...

When leaving Luxembourg Garden make sure you travel south. The 1/2 mile strip contains a fair number of the thousands of interesting things that make up Paris including one huge fountain.

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

Close to that fountain you will be near some of Hemmingway's haunts when he was in Paris. He like to drink at the Dome and La Rotunde. (They are across the street from one another.)

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

Some people would ask, "Why see a bridge?" But the Pont Alexander III is no ordinary bridge. It is certainly one of the most ornate bridges in the world. Here's a view of one of the street lights on the bridge.

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

Versailles isn't in Paris itself, but it is just outside Paris and easy to get to by underground train. If you go on the weekends when they run the fountains if will cost you a modest entrance fee.  The gardens are free during the rest of the week!  Some people think the gardens are the best part of Versailles!  The fountains are great even when they are not running.  The Palace is spectacular but it cost you to enter.  You could spend the whole day just in the gardens.  Especially if you make the trek to Marie Antionette's "Play Place."  Here are a couple of pics of the fountains running. They are incredible.

Apollo: http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

Apollo's Mom Lotone: http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

The Bath of Apollo: http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

The Giant Buried Beneith Mt Etna by Zeus:

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/eur...

In case you want to see one Museum, my favorite Museum is Musee d'Orsay. It contains the work of the Impressionists, but so much more. The building is a converted train depot. It will cost a bunch of money to get in.

http://www.vanbeusekom.us/kachelmyer/htm...

Anyway there are a few ideas that go beyond the traditional ones and are cheap.

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 2

A hostel is certainly the way to go if every penny counts.

However, the going rate for the cheapest hostel room in a place that isn't an utter pit is more like 20€-25€ a night which is US$30-$34 and not $15 as one of the above responses indicated.

Check out the hostels listed on this website http://www.cheaphostel.com/ as they are clean and reliable.

Paris is a compact city and its easy to see almost all the major tourist sights in 5 days if all you want to do is walk past them. Any decent guidebook will give you a list that is as good as anything I (or anyone else here) could give you.

Of course if you want more than just a superficial look at any of the museums that's a different matter. A place like the Louvre would take several weeks to fully view.

Answer 3

Look up hostels to stay at;;;;;you may be sharing a bath,,but they are designed for inexpensive lodging...and may just be perfect for your budget.  And you'll probably meet some other English speaking students.   How fantastic you have this opportunity,,,,I know you will have the time of your life  

       Au revoir !

Answer 4

Stay in a hostel. They are all over the city. You can get a bed and bathroom for about 15 US dollars a night. The only down side to this is you're in a room with 4-5 others, and there is usually a community bathroom. But it's cheap and it does the job.

You should visit the usuals, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, the Avenue de Champs-Elysees, and the Notre Dame. But also leave 1-2 days with no set destination-- visit quiet cafes and streets, this will help you absorb the culture more.