Fabulous Fun Free (or almost)Things to do in Paris
1. Explore a neighborhood with a local. Paris Greeters is an organization of Parisian volunteers that create custom tours of their own neighborhoods. They will lead groups of 2-6 people, in English, for a modest donation directly to the organization, as little as 10 euros. You fill out a little form online 3-4 weeks ahead of time, giving a day and several alternatives, and they get back to you with a date, time and meeting place, and the name and email address of the guide. http://www.parisiendunjour.fr/
2. Multicultural Paris. Dozens of countries, regions and ethnic groups have their own cultural centers or institutes in Paris, offering musical events, lectures, art shows, even language classes. For example: Algeria, Canada, China, Croatia, Poland, Alsace. Click here for a list with locations and calendars. One of our favorites is the Irish Culture Center.
3. Hang out in a bookstore. Shakespeare & Co. is a great, funky bookstore across from Notre Dame, with free author nights upstairs, usually on a Monday, often followed by a free wine reception. http://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/index.php
Author nights at Village Voice tend to be on Tuesdays or Thursdays http://www.villagevoicebookshop.com/
4. Attend a free lecture at the American Library of Paris – In addition to author nights (Wednesdays), the American Library often has lectures on current events, and, for kids, storytelling. Normally, you need to be a member to go there and check out books, but on the days/evenings of their free public events, you can go in and wander around – and they have some shelves where you can buy used paperback books for 1 euro, or just exchange paperback books that you’re done with. http://www.americanlibraryinparis.org/
5. Go to a Concert – There are musical events going on every day and night, of all kinds, at all price ranges. You get all the details and listings (as well as for movies, exhibits, etc.) in either, Le Pariscope (0.40 €). or Spectacle Officiel (0.35 €), published every Wednesday and available at newsstands. For classical, we like the free 8 PM Saturday concerts at the Scots Kirk - http://www.scotskirkparis.com/ For a list of jazz events: http://www.parisjazzclub.net/ We like a little place, Café Universel, on rue St. Jacques, that has no cover charge, the staff speaks English, and the music is mellow and doesn't blast your eardrums.
6. Mingle at a Sunday soiree. There are two Sunday evening dinner events that don't require membership or referral by a member. One is hosted by Jim Haynes and the other by Patricia LaPlante-Collins. They are for meeting and mingling. Patricia has a speaker, and a smaller crowd, maybe about 20 people. Jim’s can run 50+ . Dress is fairly casual. You call or email to reserve and get the door code, at least a day or two ahead, and then bring 20 € per person. http://www.jim-haynes.com/ http://www.parissoirees.com/
7. Practice French. English-French Conversation Exchanges are hosted by WICE on Tuesdays and Fridays, 4:30-6:15. They are for English speakers who want to try or practice speaking French, and French people who want to practice speaking English. It’s a very nice place to meet warm and friendly French people. It’s not even necessary to be able to speak any French, because they really like having native English speakers and sometimes don’t have enough. Here is the info: http://wiceconversation.blogspot.com/ You need to join WICE, which is about 35 or 40 euros per year; then the groups are free. If you're coming, it's important to arrive on time, but there is no commitment or expectation as to how often you attend..
8. Go to church. In addition to services (in English), there are many cultural and social activities and volunteer opportunities social at the American Cathedral of Paris and the American Church. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Paris meets once a month, usually the third Sunday of the month, from September through June.
9. Go dancing. Rue Mouffetard, where it runs into Square Saint-Medard is especially fun to visit on Sunday mornings, from 11:30-1:30, year round, where musicians pass out song sheets for anyone who wants to join in singing classic French songs and dance in the street. There are also a number of places that have daily afternoon dances, mostly for seniors. Ladies are free at the Chalet du Lac on Mondays. In the summer months, you can sit and watch (or join in) dancing along the Seine at the Quai Tino Rossi, near the Institutu du Monde Arabe. In one area are the tango dancers, about 40 steps away are the folk dancers, who often get started as early as May and continue through September and are happy to have beginners drop in, and in yet other nearby areas you can dance or watch salsa and sometimes swing. From mid July through most of August, Paris Plages, the lively artificial beach front created along the Seing is a delightful place to stroll, snack, and take free dance lessons!
10. Explore the countryside: Marvelous free walks are conducted every Wednesday in and around the Paris countryside by an informal, volunteer led, mostly English speaking group called Ile de France Walks. Rain, snow or shine, they usually start off at between 9:30 – 10:30 AM from a train or RER station, walk about 12-18 km through forests, fields and small towns, sometimes stopping for a visit to an historical site, and head back to Paris around 3-4 PM. Everyone brings their own lunch. There are usually about 12-14 people in winter, 20-30+ in summer. About half French and half American/English/Australian. The instructions about where to meet for an upcoming Wednesday are emailed the previous Friday or Saturday. Here’s the website to sign up and get on the list: http://idfwalks.blogspot.com/
Links to other sites with free and inexpensive things to do:
City of Paris
Paris City Guide
2. Multicultural Paris. Dozens of countries, regions and ethnic groups have their own cultural centers or institutes in Paris, offering musical events, lectures, art shows, even language classes. For example: Algeria, Canada, China, Croatia, Poland, Alsace. Click here for a list with locations and calendars. One of our favorites is the Irish Culture Center.
3. Hang out in a bookstore. Shakespeare & Co. is a great, funky bookstore across from Notre Dame, with free author nights upstairs, usually on a Monday, often followed by a free wine reception. http://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/index.php
Author nights at Village Voice tend to be on Tuesdays or Thursdays http://www.villagevoicebookshop.com/
4. Attend a free lecture at the American Library of Paris – In addition to author nights (Wednesdays), the American Library often has lectures on current events, and, for kids, storytelling. Normally, you need to be a member to go there and check out books, but on the days/evenings of their free public events, you can go in and wander around – and they have some shelves where you can buy used paperback books for 1 euro, or just exchange paperback books that you’re done with. http://www.americanlibraryinparis.org/
5. Go to a Concert – There are musical events going on every day and night, of all kinds, at all price ranges. You get all the details and listings (as well as for movies, exhibits, etc.) in either, Le Pariscope (0.40 €). or Spectacle Officiel (0.35 €), published every Wednesday and available at newsstands. For classical, we like the free 8 PM Saturday concerts at the Scots Kirk - http://www.scotskirkparis.com/ For a list of jazz events: http://www.parisjazzclub.net/ We like a little place, Café Universel, on rue St. Jacques, that has no cover charge, the staff speaks English, and the music is mellow and doesn't blast your eardrums.
6. Mingle at a Sunday soiree. There are two Sunday evening dinner events that don't require membership or referral by a member. One is hosted by Jim Haynes and the other by Patricia LaPlante-Collins. They are for meeting and mingling. Patricia has a speaker, and a smaller crowd, maybe about 20 people. Jim’s can run 50+ . Dress is fairly casual. You call or email to reserve and get the door code, at least a day or two ahead, and then bring 20 € per person. http://www.jim-haynes.com/ http://www.parissoirees.com/
7. Practice French. English-French Conversation Exchanges are hosted by WICE on Tuesdays and Fridays, 4:30-6:15. They are for English speakers who want to try or practice speaking French, and French people who want to practice speaking English. It’s a very nice place to meet warm and friendly French people. It’s not even necessary to be able to speak any French, because they really like having native English speakers and sometimes don’t have enough. Here is the info: http://wiceconversation.blogspot.com/ You need to join WICE, which is about 35 or 40 euros per year; then the groups are free. If you're coming, it's important to arrive on time, but there is no commitment or expectation as to how often you attend..
8. Go to church. In addition to services (in English), there are many cultural and social activities and volunteer opportunities social at the American Cathedral of Paris and the American Church. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Paris meets once a month, usually the third Sunday of the month, from September through June.
9. Go dancing. Rue Mouffetard, where it runs into Square Saint-Medard is especially fun to visit on Sunday mornings, from 11:30-1:30, year round, where musicians pass out song sheets for anyone who wants to join in singing classic French songs and dance in the street. There are also a number of places that have daily afternoon dances, mostly for seniors. Ladies are free at the Chalet du Lac on Mondays. In the summer months, you can sit and watch (or join in) dancing along the Seine at the Quai Tino Rossi, near the Institutu du Monde Arabe. In one area are the tango dancers, about 40 steps away are the folk dancers, who often get started as early as May and continue through September and are happy to have beginners drop in, and in yet other nearby areas you can dance or watch salsa and sometimes swing. From mid July through most of August, Paris Plages, the lively artificial beach front created along the Seing is a delightful place to stroll, snack, and take free dance lessons!
10. Explore the countryside: Marvelous free walks are conducted every Wednesday in and around the Paris countryside by an informal, volunteer led, mostly English speaking group called Ile de France Walks. Rain, snow or shine, they usually start off at between 9:30 – 10:30 AM from a train or RER station, walk about 12-18 km through forests, fields and small towns, sometimes stopping for a visit to an historical site, and head back to Paris around 3-4 PM. Everyone brings their own lunch. There are usually about 12-14 people in winter, 20-30+ in summer. About half French and half American/English/Australian. The instructions about where to meet for an upcoming Wednesday are emailed the previous Friday or Saturday. Here’s the website to sign up and get on the list: http://idfwalks.blogspot.com/
Links to other sites with free and inexpensive things to do:
City of Paris
Paris City Guide
