On 21 October 2021, quarantine-free travel to and from France was made possible once again with Air France and Singapore Airlines. If you’re a fan of art, architecture and romantic idealism, stick around for a comprehensive walkthrough of how much it’ll cost to eat, sleep and play in La Ville Lumière.
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you” — Hemingway might have been right, and while I dearly wish that I was living in Paris, or part of the 1960s scene a la Midnight in Paris, not all of us can afford the luxury of throwing caution (and career) to the wind. We can, however, take a chance with YouTrip’s guide to France and pray that those moments, no matter how short-lived, will still make a mark in our memories and not our bank accounts. And that’s what we’ll be exploring in this to-do list of Paris: the cheapest best ways to eat (even Michelin meals), cool underground bars to discover (sans Cole Porter), and attractions that are actually worth the visit. If you’re interested in acquiring bites of the moveable feast that is Paris, stick around for a comprehensive cost guide for the budget, moderate, or luxury traveller.
💜 Now To 15 May 2022: Book your next getaway with Singapore Airlines using your YouTrip Mastercard and get up to S$200 worth of Cashback and Changi Gift Card! Find out more here.
💜 Stay Up To Date:
#1: Singapore Vaccinated Travel Framework Updates: What You Need to Know
#2: Ultimate Guide to VTF Travel From Singapore
#3: Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance: Policies For VTL Travel
YouTrip’s Guide To France: Entry Requirements
To Note: As of now Singapore is grouped under the ‘Orange’ range of countries. While this doesn’t change anything for vaccinated travellers, this will add an additional step for unvaccinated travellers coming in. Additionally, in order for your vaccination schedule to continue to be recognised as complete, persons aged 18 years or older are required to have a booster dose no later than nine months after receiving the last mandatory dose.
Fully Vaccinated Travellers From Singapore:
🎉 No pre-departure tests are required
✅ Proof of vaccination
✅ Download the TousAntiCovid app
Unvaccinated Travellers From Singapore:
(not applicable for children under 12)
✅ Take pre-departure test (within 72 hours) or an ART (within 48 hours)
✅ Complete sworn statement (with a compelling reason for visit)
✅ Random on-arrival testing
👉🏻 If positive, you will have to self-isolate
✅ Download the TousAntiCovid app
YouTrip’s Guide To France: What About Masks?
As of now, people are no longer required to show proof of vaccination to enter places like restaurants and bars, cinemas, theatres, fairs, or when using interregional transport.
Mask-wearing has been removed from most settings — and the unvaccinated are allowed back into restaurants, sports arenas and other venues. They, however, remain mandatory on public transportation and at hospitals and other health facilities.
YouTrip’s Guide To France: Travel Expenditure Checklist
Disclaimer: As with all our previous VTL guides, we’ll be using the dates of 2 to 9 December 2021 to gauge the average cost of post-pandemic travel via VTL France.
| Budget | Moderate | Luxury | |
| Accommodations | S$102/night | S$206/night | S$439/night |
| Dining | S$8/meal | S$23/meal | S$55/meal |
| Attractions | Free | Free | Free |
| Sim Cards | S$15.60 | S$15.60 | S$15.60 |
| Transport | S$3 | S$3 | S$3 |
YouTrip’s Guide To France: Accommodations
Psst! Get an extra 7% off your bookings when you make full use of YouTrip Perks and check out with your YouTrip card. We’ve made sure to only include options that provide free cancellations!
(A) Budget
Hotel Darcet
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 1.9km to Champs-Elysees
Price: S$126 per night
No. of Reviews: 1.5k
Score: 9.1/10
ibis Budget Paris La Villette 19eme
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 5.3km from Champs-Elysees (190m to nearest public transportation)
Price: S$102 per night
No. of Reviews: 7 (new)
Score: 8.8/10
(B) Moderate
Le Grand Hotel de Normandie
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 1.5km from Champs-Elysees
Price: S$206 per night
No. of Reviews: 1.1k
Score: 8.1/10
Hotel La Nouvelle Republique
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 5.2km from Champs-Elysees (260m to nearest public transportation)
Price: S$207 per night
No. of Reviews: 1.5k
Score: 9.0/10
(C) Luxury
Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg Hotel
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 1km from Champs-Elysees
Price: S$661 per night
No. of Reviews: 589
Score: 8.6/10
Chouchou Hotel
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 2km from Champs-Elysees
Price: S$439 per night
No. of Reviews: 331
Score: 9.3/10
YouTrip’s Guide To France: Dining
As all savvy travellers do, we sought the help of our travel bible Tripadvisor to sieve out the best food recommendations and reviews to locate the ultimate belly-fillers for every budget. For more, check out our ultimate Paris food guide for all budgets.
(A) Budget
Gemüse
Where: 61 Rue Ramey, Paris
What: Traveller’s choice for 2021, probably the best kebabs you’d taste in the city
Price range: from S$10
No. of Reviews: 61
Score: 4.5/5
Find out more.
Urfa Dürüm
Where: 56 Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis, Paris
What: Quick and easy Kurdish comfort food — most rave about the grilled lamb wraps
Price range: from S$10
No. of Reviews: 286
Score: 4.5/5
Find out more.
Les Apotres de Pigalle
Where: 2 Rue Germain Pilon, Paris
What: Another Travellers’ Choice 2021 for South American tapas in the trendy Pigalle district
Price range: from S$8
No. of Reviews: 2,301
Score: 5/5
Find out more.
(B) Moderate
Perlimpinpin
Where: 121 Rue de Rome, Paris
What: Reportedly the best tartare you’d find in Paris
Price range: from S$23
No. of Reviews: 166
Score: 5/5
Find out more.
Gosier
Where: 27 Rue Rodier, Paris
What: One of those cosy tapas bistros in a trendy neighbourhood with an open kitchen
Price range: from S$28
No. of Reviews: 90
Score: 5/5
Bistrot Instinct
Where: 19 Rue de Picardie, Paris
What: Traveller’s Choice 2021 for great food and service
Price range: from S$23
No. of Reviews: 221
Score: 5/5
Find out more.
(C) Luxury
Pianovins
Where: 46 Rue Trousseau, Paris
What: Quality French food that won’t break the bank. Featured in the Michelin Guide.
Price range: from S$78
No. of Reviews: 148
Score: 5/5
Find out more.
Petit Boutary
Where: 16 Rue Jacquemont, Paris
What: Bustling ‘IT’ place, with Japanese and Korean influenced dishes. Featured in the Michelin Guide, and a Travellers’ Choice for 2021.
Price range: from S$55
No. of Reviews: 424
Score: 5/5
Find out more.
L’Arcane
Where: 52 Rue Lamarck, Paris
What: Surprise menus in an unpretentious establishment, with warm and friendly service. I Michelin Star
Price range: from S$86
No. of Reviews: 333
Score: 5/5
Find out more.
YouTrip’s Guide To France: Entertainment
(A) Day Trips
You’ve shopped Les Champs-Élysées, sighed in awe of la Tour Eiffel, climbed up the Arc de Triomphe, traversed the banks of the Seine, and read a novel (hopefully Hemingway) at Jardin des Tuileries with a cafe au lait from Cafe Kitsune. Now what?
Versailles
You’d think that after 360 years, these palace grounds would have become obsolete — but the Palace of Versailles is still as much of an ostentatious symbol of decadence as it once was back in 1661. It’s also one of the most-visited attractions in Paris (20km away from the city centre, easily accessible by RER C) because of its valuable and visible insight into the lavish lives of the rich and famous back in the day. Namely, Kings Louis XIII and XIV, and Marie Antoinette.
Admission: €27 (~S$42.20)
Find out more here.
Paris Disneyland
First of all, there are two parks here at Paris Disneyland — there’s Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. If you wish to stay the night (most people recommend this), there are seven notable hotels to choose from. If you time your trip right, there are a ton of seasonal celebrations to make your visit extra special (the biggest ones being Christmas (Early November till January) and Halloween (September till the end of October). Like Versailles, Paris Disneyland is just a 40 minutes RER train ride away (€7).
Pro-tip: Pack some warm clothes, even in summer — it can get quite chilly!
Admission: From €54 (~S$84.40)
Find out more here.
Mont Saint-Michel
You’ve probably seen this iconic island city appear on your Instagram feed once or twice before. This island (with 44 inhabitants still residing there) sits between Brittany and Normandy and lures in tourists from all over the world. While we placed this under recommended day trips, most would suggest spending a night in the neighbouring towns before exploring the city to truly make the most of it. Re: neighbouring towns, there’s Rennes (one and a half hours by train from Paris), the capital city of Brittany, and Saint-Malo, a coastal getaway that’s just an hour away from Mont Saint-Michel.
Of course, the true crux of the problem would be the channel tides. High tide, and you’ll only be able to see the island from a distance (still a beauty) or catch a ride across. With low tide, and you’ll actually be able to approach it on foot! When you’re there, be sure to try the fantastic crepes on the island.
Admission: Free (but you have to pay for entry into the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel)
Find out more here.
(B) Museums
There are a ton of museums in Paris —130 of them to be exact, so do not be limited by this list! However, if you happen to be below 26 years old, here are some entry perks for you (remember to bring your NRIC or passport):
👉🏻 Musée du Louvre: On Friday nights, anyone under the age of 26 (regardless of nationality) gets free entrance!
👉🏻 Musée D’Orsay: Free entry for non-EU 18 to 25 year-olds with a French visa for more than a three-month period, as well as university and state school art students under the age of 30
👉🏻 The Centre Pompidou: Free admission for all art students with the presentation of a student ID, as well as everyone under the age of 26 (not including special exhibitions)
👉🏻 Musée Rodin: Discounted tickets (9€) for people 18-25 from outside the EU
Musée de l’Orangerie
Photo credits: Tripadvisor
If you’re looking for a relaxed introduction into the world of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, this museum’s for you. Situated right in the middle of Jardin Des Tuilleries, Musée de l’Orangerie started out as a greenhouse for orange trees (thus the name) but ended up housing some of Claude Monet‘s masterpieces instead. While the majority of Monet’s work resides at Musée Marmottan Monet, somehow, the famous Water Lilies have taken residence here.
Admission: From €12.50 (~S$19.60)
Get your tickets here.
Musée du Louvre
It’s been in the backdrops of movies, music videos and photoshoots. Still, the Louvre has been waived off as overrated time and time again, despite the iconic collection of art hanging in its hallowed halls — one of which is the Mona Lisa. Fun fact: the Louvre’s glass pyramid was only added in 1989, designed by the Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. While once considered controversial, it is now one of Paris’s top photo spots for photographers. Plus, it’s gorgeous at night!
Admission: €17 (~S$26.60)
Get your tickets here.
Musée Rodin
Photo credits: Tripadvisor
Yes yes, framed art is great — but what about sculptures? Well, Musée Rodin is home to the work of one of the greatest modern sculptors: Auguste Rodin. Here, you’ll find the Thinker and the Gates of Hell, amidst the flora and fauna of a lush garden, speckled about with a bunch of other notable works by his lover-slash-student Camille Claudel.
Price: Free if you’re here on the first Sunday of each month from October through March, or if you are under the age of 18, disabled, or unemployed. Otherwise, it’s €14 (~S$21.90)
Get your tickets here.
YouTrip’s Guide To France: Travel SIM cards
| 14 Days Plan | |
| Orange | €15 (~S$23.50) |
| TravelWifi | €40 (~S$62.60) |
| SFR | €10 (~S$15.60) |
| LeFrenchMobile | €25 (~S$39.10) |
| Bouygues Telecom | €39.90 (~S$62.40) |
YouTrip’s Guide To France: Transport
(A) Paris Metro
Photo credits: Subway maps
Despite some complaints about the stench during summer, or the risk of getting pickpocketed during peak hours, with gorgeous art deco station entrances and numerous lines (hop onto lines 2 and 6 for scenic views of Paris above ground), the Paris metro is still renown around the world as a convenient and cheap way of getting around the city. The trains usually run from five in the morning till past midnight every day. Separately, the RER is a metro-train hybrid that runs from the various suburbs into the city centre.
Prices: from €1.90 (~S$3), for longer trips get the 10 single-use tickets at €16.90 (S$26.40) or the Paris Visite pass at €38.40 (~S$60)
Find a comprehensive guide here.
(B) Rideshare Apps
For days when you’re in a bit of a hurry, treat yourself to any one of these private hire cars!
| Estimated Fare to Champs-Elysees from CDG | |
| Uber | €48.20 (~S$75.40) |
| Blacklane | €105.40 (~S$164.80) |
| Talixo | €54 (~S$84.40) |
| Bolt | €53 (~S$82.90) |
La Vie En Rose
No matter how many times I’ve been to France, for some reason, I always dream of going back. And after close to two years of Pinterest boards and wishful thinking — those dreams can finally become a reality. As always, whenever you start planning your Parisien getaway or spending overseas, be sure to use your YouTrip card to skip out on those pesky bank fees!
If you don’t have a YouTrip card yet, use <BLOG5> during your sign-up to enjoy a free S$5 in your account!
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Stay safe, and happy travels!
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*All currency conversion rates are accurate to the nearest 10 cents on 26 Oct 2021 SGT 5:30 PM. Bank card prices are calculated based on 3.25% foreign currency transaction fee.
