The 10 best affordable hotels in Paris, from trendy hostels to boutique stays
The City of Light isn’t known for being easy on your wallet, but at these Parisian hotels cutting costs doesn’t mean compromising on quality
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Budget and Paris are not synonymous. You don’t scrape together loose change from the back of the sofa and think: “Hey, why don’t we go to Paris this weekend?”. It’s the most expensive city in France by a long shot, and among the priciest in Europe. It’s possible to do just about anywhere on the cheap — think school trips to Paris, herded on and off a coach like cattle. At the youth hostel accommodation the dodgy wiring would inevitably fry someone’s hair straighteners and you were never quite sure whether the grime in the shower was years worth of dirt or mould, although is one really better than the other?
Marie-Antoinette cover your ears, at these hotels and hostels it’s possible to have your cake and eat it. All of the following have double rooms for €150 (£126) or under, but now that the secret’s out, make sure you book early.
Best budget-friendly hotels in Paris
At a glance
1. Hôtel Henriette
Possibly Paris’s best kept secret, this fashionable little boutique hotel on the Left Bank offers exceptional quality for price and picture-perfect rooms. The walled courtyard, bedecked with plants, makes for the most peaceful and un-Parisian of breakfasts before tackling the city sights. An underrated perk, but one that makes all the difference is the check-in/check-out. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out isn’t until 11.30am, meaning that you get several more hours for your money than at most hotels.
Address: 9 Rue des Gobelins, 75013 Paris
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2. Hôtel Passy Eiffel
If you’re a first-timer to Paris and you’re travelling on a shoestring, there’s no better place to stay than Hôte Passy Eiffel. The Eiffel Tower, Trocadero and the Champs Elysées are all under a 20 minute walk away, and it costs a fraction of the price of most of the grand old hotels in the area. Breakfast is included in the room rate, served in an atrium-like dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and more pot plants than a florist shop.
Address: 10 Rue de Passy, 75016 Paris
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3. Mama Shelter Paris East
Of course the colourful brand Mama Shelter was going to establish a base in Paris’s most colourful quartier, Belleville. The plant-bedecked rooftop feels like a year-round garden party and is worth stopping by for a sundowner even if not staying. This is a place designed to work hard and play hard. There are plenty of coworking facilities for digital nomads, but also table football, ping-pong, DJ sets and live music, making it the ideal spot to mingle with fellow travellers.
Address: 109 Rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris
4. The People Belleville
Proving that you don’t have to pay big bucks for the best views in Paris is The People Hostel, whose roof terrace takes in the entire Parisian skyline, including the Eiffel Tower and La Défense. Choose from dorm rooms (sleeping four to eight) or doubles, in a hostel squarely between Belleville and Couronnes metro stations. It’s a sociable place, regularly hosting everything from live concerts to art classes, and the (extremely affordable) bar is lively any night of the week.
Address: 59 Bd de Belleville, 75011 Paris
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5. Hôtel Orphée
Exceptionally well located, Hotel Orphée is just across the river from Gare de Lyon, the Jardin des Plantes (home to the Natural History Museum, and Paris’s Grand Mosque. The 44 rooms are beautifully designed, minimalistic to best utilise the space, and have extremely comfortable beds. Many come with small balconies. No-one goes hungry, the continental buffet breakfast spread is extremely generous and there’s complimentary cake in the lobby 24/7. There’s even a hammam (reserve a spot when you book).
Address: 4 Bd Saint-Marcel, 75005 Paris
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6. Urban Bivouac
Hôtel Urban Bivouac doesn’t try to market itself as anything fancy, but it offers spotlessly clean, minimalistic accommodation at rock-bottom prices. Solo travellers can opt for rooms with a single bed; tiny at just 9m2, or upgrade to a suite at a spacious 20m2. The pine, large windows and light furnishings are reminiscent of an IKEA showroom. There’s a slap-up all you can eat breakfast buffet, and giving foodies further reason to rejoice, it’s on the edge of Paris’s Chinatown.
Address: 1 Rue Sthrau, 75013 Paris
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7. Le Village Montmartre
In the heart of Montmartre, Le Village has private rooms and dorm rooms sleeping between four and 12 (including women-only dormitories). Particularly good for digital nomads and freelancers, there’s superfast Wi-Fi and computers, so you don’t even need to take your laptop away with you. The pretty little patio has hammocks, cocoon chairs and plenty of sofas to hang out after a busy day of sightseeing. Book breakfast in advance when you reserve online for as little as €6 (£5).
Address: 20 Rue d’Orsel, 75018 Paris
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8. Hôtel Joke
The rooms at Hôtel Joke, with their crocheted decor, are a little gaudy and reminiscent of a five-year-old’s bedroom (guaranteed to keep the younger members of the group happy!), but they’re clean, comfortable and full of character. In the heart of the 9th arrondissement, there are plenty of great restaurants and bars within easy walking distance. Perks include free gym and sauna use at a nearby hotel, complimentary soft drinks from the minibar which is restocked daily, and complimentary snacks.
Address: 69 Rue Blanche, 75009 Paris
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9. Hôtel Darcet
In spite of recent renovations, the rooms look a little dated (there’s a lot of lime green), but they’re spotlessly clean and nothing is too much trouble for the excellent hotel staff. It couldn’t be easier to get around Paris: Place de Clichy metro is 100m away, and Montmartre and Pigalle, with their eclectic mix of restaurants and bars, a short walk. Choose from single, double or triple rooms, making it equally convenient for solo travellers and groups of friends.
Address: 4 Rue Darcet, 75017 Paris
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10. Hôtel Joyce
Exposed stone walls, stencil drawings of bookshelves and a spiral staircase with star print wallpaper — the decor is anything but boring, even if it has struggled to settle on a theme. Families are well catered to, with interconnecting rooms, family suites and an apartment, and plenty of the rooms have bathtubs. Microwaves in the communal areas make it easy to stretch your budget a little further and avoid eating at restaurants for every meal, and the midday check-out is luxurious.
Address: 29 Rue la Bruyère, 75009 Paris
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