Paris money and costs
France uses the euro and cards are widely accepted. Allow for the lodging tax in your accommodation budget, and compare transport and museum passes against the journeys and visits you actually plan.
Currency, cards, and the lodging tax
France uses the euro, and contactless card and phone payments are accepted nearly everywhere, so you rarely need much cash. Keep a little for small bakeries, markets, and tips, and tell your bank you are traveling to avoid blocked cards.
Accommodation may charge the local taxe de sejour per person per night, with the amount depending on the lodging category. Check the amount and whether it is already included in the quoted total; it appears on the accommodation invoice. Visitors under 18 are exempt.
Transit and museum passes
Compare a transit pass with separate tickets for your planned rides, including any airport journeys. A bundle loaded onto a card is not automatically cheaper. The Paris Museum Pass can cover several museums and monuments, but it does not remove security queues or the need for required time-slot reservations.
The museum pass runs for 48, 96 or 144 consecutive hours from first use. Compare the included visits with separate admission prices and any free-entry eligibility. Arrange the relevant Louvre and Orsay time slots before fixing your itinerary, and check the official coverage and booking instructions.
Tipping and everyday costs
Service is included in restaurant prices by law, so tipping is modest and optional: rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is normal, not the percentage expected in some countries. The same applies to cafes and taxis.
Everyday costs run higher in the most touristy spots and near the big monuments; stepping a few streets back for coffee and meals usually means better value. A short walk often separates a marked-up terrace from a fair local price.
Reviewed source trail
- service-public.fr — tourist tax (taxe de sejour) — checked 2026-09-12
- Paris Museum Pass — checked 2026-09-12
- Ile-de-France Mobilites — transit passes — checked 2026-09-12
- Paris Museum Pass — time-slot reservations — checked 2026-09-12
- DGCCRF — service charges and optional tips — checked 2026-09-12