PARIS PLANNING
Affordable hotels in great locations are the key to a budget-friendly dream trip to Paris
There may be affiliate links within this post which provide me with a small commission, at no cost to you. More information at: Privacy & Disclosure.
Yes, there are affordable hotels in Paris; I am always on a budget when I visit, and every trip is wonderful.
Many of Paris’s most beautiful experiences are free—walking along the Seine, gazing at the Eiffel Tower or visiting the many free museums such as Musee Carnavalet. Plus dining in Paris can be much more affordable than in North America. Most notably the wine!
Not so for hotels, and prices have increased in Paris in recent years. Unfortunately I’ve really seen a jump in 2026 (specifically for North Americans due to a weaker dollar to euro).
But there are still affordable gems to be found and that’s what I am sharing here.
My top tip for securing a budget-friendly hotel in Paris is to look early — as far ahead as you can. Affordable options tend to be popular, or are small with limited rooms. So some book up well in advance.
FALL 2026 UPDATE – I have noticed prices can vary a lot this fall. Due to dynamic pricing, rates can vary by 100 euros or more for the same hotel within a single month. I suggest you compare several different hotels to find the best rate. Being flexible on dates can also help.
What to Consider when booking Inexpensive Paris Hotels
- Air Conditioning if traveling in warm weather
- Private bathroom (most will have this)
- Room capacity (some are true singles)
- Room size (they tend to be small)
- How noisy are they (read reviews)
- Location. Walkability to some landmarks and a Metro station close by
- Is breakfast included in the rate?
Where in Paris to find Affordable Hotels
Generally, you can get more value for money further out from central Paris. But I don’t want you to spend your Paris vacation riding transit, so this list focuses on well-located hotels in the central arrondissements (neighborhoods), 1 through 12 (no options in the 2nd and 11th included for now).
What's Considered Affordable in Paris?
All of the hotels listed are at least 3-star and rooms have a private bath. This list does not include hostels.
Generally these hotels will cost between $250 and $350 a night depending on the season, and exchange rate with the euro. Some creep up as high as $400 at popular times, especially if they use dynamic pricing. As mentioned, rates have risen considerably in the last few years, since Covid, and American travelers pay more due to a weaker $US relative to the euro.
If you want to save money consider a slower season — you can find much better rates in November than September and October, for example.
The 1st and 8th arrondissements are filled with luxury hotels, so budget picks are harder to come by in those areas of Paris.
Google Map with all my Recommended Paris Hotels
Three of my Favorite Budget-Friendly Stays
Inexpensive Paris Hotels by Neighborhood
1st arrondissement - The Pricey Heart of Paris
The 1st arr. is a practical choice. Many of Paris’s most famous attractions are here: The Louvre and l’Orangerie museums (reserve your visits ahead), the Tuileries Garden, Palais Royale, Place Vendome and more. And, you are in the heart of Paris and its attractions, so tourists will be plentiful. This is a great choice for a shorter trip where you want to see as much as possible by walking.
Most hotels found here are 4 and 5 stars and very pricey; budget picks are hard to find. Here is one great budget option I recently stayed at:
$200-$300 (lower end is for singles)
An affordable centrally located hotel, with a delightful interior courtesy of designer Christian Lacroix. It’s in the heart of the 1st — a block from the Tuileries Garden, and boasts 5-star neighbors like Le Meurice.
I stayed here on my most recent trip in April 2026 and was pleased with it. If a central location is your priority, this is a great option. It’s modern and charming and the staff were helpful.
For solo travelers — they do have single rooms that are less pricey. I stayed in one and it is VERY small. While only 10 square meters, it has a great layout. I loved that it had a mini fridge, clothes storage, a full-length mirror etc. It was fine for a short stay.
Affordable in Le Marais - 3rd & 4th arrondissements
Le Marais is one of the most popular areas to stay in in Paris. It’s centrally located with many of the city’s monuments and attractions within a reasonable walk. It’s brimming with charm and history and is filled with cute cafés, excellent shopping and museums.
Hôtel Caron de Beaumarchais Paris Marais ***
$200-$350
One of my favorites of all the inexpensive Paris hotels I’ve tried is in the 4th arr. (Le Marais). The catch? It is small with only 19 rooms, all doubles, and it books up well ahead. The cheapest stays are in winter months, from 165 euros.
This hotel is more whimsical and romantic than modern and chic. A sort of French “art de vivre” from the 18th century.
I stayed in the cheapest option, a small rear room on the main floor and was perfectly content. It was charming with a modern bathroom. I paid 180 euros a night in September. Some of the front facing rooms have balconies but are more expensive.
I didn’t have breakfast but the breakfast room is like a little jewel box.
Hotel Jeanne d'Arc Le Marais ***
$200 to $300
*NO AIR CONDITIONING. Not advised for travel May through September.
An affordable gem, also in Paris’s Le Marais. Hoping to try it on an upcoming trip. It’s around the corner from one of my favorite parks in Paris, Places des Vosges.
This hotel is a TripAdvisor Travelers Choice pick. It features small but comfortable rooms with large windows. But it doesn’t have AC, so I wouldn’t select this for a warm weather stay. I will try it out while the weather is cool.
5th arrondissement (Latin Quarter)
This area is a gem when it comes to budget-friendly hotels in Paris. It is also the historic heart of Paris— from here you can easily walk to many attractions, including Notre-Dame Cathedral. It’s a great location for a first trip.
Touring tip: the Cluny Museum is a small but fascinating museum in the Latin Quarter. And don’t miss the Luxembourg Gardens and its beautiful Medici Fountain.
Minerve Hotel ***
$200 to $300
Sean and I stayed here years ago in a room with a balcony and liked the value for price, and terrific location. It continues to be very popular — it was a TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Winner in 2024. The hotel is in a charming Haussmann-style building, and is a 10-minute walk to Notre Dame Cathedral. The interior and rooms are simple but comfy. Prices vary widely.
Hotel Korner Sorbonne ***
$200 to $250+
This 3-star hotel can be budget-friendly (prices vary widely due to dynamic pricing) and is in a great location.
This is the former Hotel Diana which offered great value. However, the owner retired and the Korner Hotel Group have acquired it and upgraded rooms and common spaces. Rooms were already comfortable with modern bathrooms, so upgrades make this even better — but prices went up as well. (I paid 155 euros a night in 2023 when it was Hotel Diana).
Korner positions itself as offering cosy three-star urban hotels. There are now 10 Paris locations including one near the Louvre.
As with many Paris hotels, they seem to have switched to dynamic pricing (prices vary based on demand). For example, I looked at the October 2026 calendar and prices ranged between $210 and $534 a night. I find this trend really annoying.
If the price is right I loved that rooms have large windows; it was lovely and bright.
What Dynamic Pricing Looks Like
Some Paris hotel are now using dynamic pricing software. Rather than have set rates, the price will fluctuate based on demand. I suggest checking back shortly before your trip to see if the price has dropped. If so, cancel and rebook at the lower price (assuming you’re within the cancellation window).
6th arrondissement (including Saint Germain)
The Saint-Germain-des-Pres area is found here and it’s quintessential Paris — beautiful boulevards, charming cafés and stunning architecture. It’s also perfectly located, in central Paris on the Left Bank. The downside; it tends to be pricey. Hotel rates are generally higher than in the nearby 5th arr. But I have a solid option in the 6th, near Saint Germain.
Hotel De Sevres ***
$200-$250
I just stayed at the Hotel de Sevres for a full week while co-hosting a group trip in Paris and I was very comfortable. Although simple in some ways, it was great value for the money and I LOVE this location. You are in the beautiful 6th arr., but just far enough from the busy heart of Saint Germain that you feel you are among Parisians. And it’s very close to Le Bon Marché department store.
Older rooms have been updated with cheerful wallpaper and nice lighting. The only thing I wished it had was a mini-fridge.
Staff were helpful and I appreciated the afternoon and evening coffee and tea station. Breakfast was fine for 16 euros. But there are lots of cute cafés around so I suggest not including breakfast in your booking. Just up the street is Ten Belles with excellent coffee and breakfast options like pastries and granola. You can always add breakfast on at the hotel any morning you wish to.
I am not alone in my praise. This hotel is highly rated and a Travelers Choice winner on TripAdvisor. It has air conditioning and some extras you don’t always get with 3-star accommodation in Paris, such as a gym. It’s bright, charming and the location is great—around the corner from the popular Bon Marché department store.
Budget Hotels near the Eiffel Tower (7th arrondissement)
The 7th arrondissement is home to Paris’s most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower. It’s also a gorgeous residential neighborhood with pretty streets lined by buildings of stunning Haussmann architecture. Besides proxinmity to the tower, it’s not the most central place to stay, but a lovely area. And as with all of Paris, there is lots within a walk. And everything is within a short Metro ride.
Touring Tip: Rue Cler is a charming market street in the 7th with cafes and shops for purchasing picnic supplies. I also love the Rodin Museum which is located here.
Hotel Muguet ***
$250 to $330
This lovely hotel is a short-walk to the Eiffel Tower and run by a nice woman who has had it in her family for years. I stayed here on a 10-day solo trip, and it was a lovely little home away from home. If you want to stay near the Eiffel Tower, this is a great choice.
I got a great price for my stay a few years ago but rates for this hotel have gone up. They tend to vary a lot. You might get lucky!
9th arrondissement
A vibrant area which offers some budget-friendly accommodation choices. This area is great for shoppers with some of Paris’s most beautiful department stores, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps located here. And it’s within a walk to one of Paris’s most charming neighborhoods, Monmartre.
Touring Tip: Don’t miss the Palais Garnier, Paris’s gorgeous opera house.
Hotel Bienvenue ****
$300
Tucked into a corner of the 9th, Hotel Bienvenue is a Paris gem with small but well appointed rooms. I liked the location which was within a walk of many cafés and restaurants. (But note this is less central; not ideal for a short visit.) Staff was very helpful with several questions I had. For a stay in the 9th, I highly recommend Hotel Bienvenue!
10th arrondissement
The 10th is a great option for affordable hotels. You are within a walk of Le Marais and a short Metro to Paris’s most beautiful sites.
Dining Tip: One of Paris’s best traditional “Bouillion” restaurants is located here, Bouillon Julien. Reserve ahead.
Local 101 Beaurepaire *** $200-$250
My recommended affordable hotel in the 10th (and my next hotel stay in Paris) is the Local 101 Beaurepaire. It has just reopened after being renovated by a husband and wife team who reimagine tired hotels and breathe new life into them. Their focus is reimagining 3-star hotels and prices here are fantastic landing (mostly) between $200 and $250 for fall 2026. They also have a charming bistro on site. How chic are these photos?
12th arrondissement
I like the 12th because although it’s not as central in Paris, staying here means you are well-positioned to explore both the Latin Quarter and Le Marais. It’s an interesting and vibrant area, with lots of innovative dining and small businesses. It’s also close to the Gare de Lyon; ideal if you are arriving or leaving Paris via this train station. One of my favorite markets in Paris, the Bastille Marché, is held each Thursday and Sunday, 7 am to 3 pm. Boulevard Richard Lenoir.
Touring Tip: Reserve well ahead if you would like to enjoy a meal at the gorgeous Le Train Bleu Restaurant, located inside the Gare de Lyon station. If you can’t get a reservation you can have a drink in the cute lounge within the restaurant.
Holiday Inn Gare de Lyon Bastille ***
$150 to $250
While most of the hotels on this list are locally owned, I’ve included the Holiday Inn Bastille because I stayed here in April 2025. First, I really like the location. Second, I had free nights with IHG that I needed to use. Third, this looks nothing like a Holiday Inn — it has beautiful architecture and a charming interior with art deco character. And the rooms have been updated with lovely modern bathrooms. Old meets new!
Final Tip for Your Paris Vacation
Whichever affordable accommodation you select for your stay in Paris, I hope you have a magical trip. A final tip… build in some time to simply wander around this special city and enjoy its unique charms. I have found that it’s in those unplanned meanderings that another side of Paris reveals itself.
Subscribe
More Paris!
