I was worried, embarking for a long weekend in Paris this year, that I simply wouldn’t have the funds to appreciate the city in the way its renowned for. I discovered that that is essentially a load of hogwash. Paris is known for its museums, but less known for the sweet deals for students (especially within the EU) such as free entry to the Louvre, Musée D’Orsay, Orangerie etc. Not to mention that if you have the stamina to walk everywhere you can save big time on transportation. Paris is a great city to get lost in too - there are so many fantastic cafés, bistros and curiosity shops off the beaten path that are exclusive to travelers who are open to wandering on foot.
You can even get a taste (pun totally intended) of that French dining experience on a student budget. Café culture is designed so that you can sit in a cute window seat, order a pastry and a coffee and sit there all day people watching. Or order yourself a glass (or bottle, hey, you’re on vacation)of cheap wine. “Cheap wine” in Paris is leaps above cheap wine anywhere else in the world because it is still French wine. There are even places where you can have a full meal, enough to keep you going all day, for a reasonable price if you’re willing to look out for them and do your research ahead of time.
In short, Paris is an observer's paradise and observing is a cheapskate's dream pastime. If you're willing to do a bit of homework, find out how you can cheat the system (or cheap the system) and be active and walk, walk and after that keep walking some more while you're actually there you can have just as magical a time in Paris as any seasoned globetrotter.
