by Becky Robbins

Created on: February 20, 2011   Last Updated: February 22, 2011

The magnificent city lights of Paris have grown around the Seine. This living postcard began as a small city, but has developed into 105 km2 (41 square miles) of adventure. The culture, arts, shopping, nightlife, gardens, and museums offer so much to see and do that you risk breaking your budget. With a little planning, you can travel around Paris on any budget.

For those looking to travel the most economically, walking is the best way to see the city. It will not cost you an extra penny to put your left foot in front of your right. The most important thing to keep in mind when you choose this as your method of transportation is footwear. Choose a comfortable pair of shoes. Although sneakers are comfortable, you will stand out as a tourist. Although it may not matter to you if your footwear causes you to stand out as a foreigner, it may signal an easy target for pickpockets. Another item you want to have handy when walking is an umbrella. The weather may not always be sunny, but you don’t want a little rain to keep you inside. A small travel umbrella does not take up much space and may prove to be one of your best friends.

If walking is not your desired method of transportation, bicycles are a classical way to see the sites of Paris. There are hundreds of kilometers of bicycle lanes and you can pick up a map to show you the routes. Renting a bicycle for your stay is one option. If you prefer to venture on your own, this way is a great way to do so. Some places will rent bicycles by the half hour, hour, day, or even week. Fat Tire Bike Tours, http://fattirebiketours.com/paris, and Paris à Vélo c’est Sympa, http://www.parisvelosympa.com/, are just two examples of businesses that offering exciting bike tours or bike rentals.

Public transportation, such as the Metro, RER, and bus, is the quickest way to make your way through Paris. The Paris Visite is a travel pass that allows you unlimited travel on metro, tram buses, RER trains, and Transilien SNCF trains. You can choose a pass to cover zones 1-3 or a pass to cover zones 1-6. These passes can be valid for 1, 2, 3, or 5 days of travel. These are great options since you can begin them at any day of the week. If you plan on extensive traveling during your stay, having the 1-6 zone pass will allow you travel to the airport, Versailles and to Disneyland Paris. The Paris Visite pass also provides discounts to many tourist locations, including shopping, museums, and even discounts with Bateaux

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