Paris Travel Money Guide

Paris is a card-first city that still has pockets where a few euros in coins save the day. Restaurants, shops and museums are happy with a tap, but the neighbourhood boulangerie, the weekend food market and the crêpe stand by the metro sometimes prefer cash. Transport has its own quirks too, with one important rule about paying directly with a bank card.

How much cash to bring to Paris

A rough daily budget for a comfortable mid-range trip:

• Food — €45–90/day (a bakery breakfast and a bistro lunch go a long way; dinner is where it adds up)
• Local transport — €8–15/day on the metro and buses
• Attractions — €15–45/day (major museums and towers charge entry; many churches and gardens are free)

Paying your way around Paris

• Buy a Navigo Easy card — it is a reusable card with a small one-off cost, and you load it with metro tickets or day passes. It is cheaper per trip than paying for tickets with a bank card.
• Tapping a bank card on the metro is only just starting — Paris began rolling out direct contactless payment on public transport in 2026, but most metro lines won't get it until 2027 or 2028. Where it is available, the ticket costs more than the standard fare, so a Navigo Easy remains the better choice.
• Keep your ticket until you exit — inspectors check on the metro and RER, and fines for not having a valid ticket are steep.
• Cards work almost everywhere — restaurants, shops, hotels and taxis take Visa and Mastercard; some small cafés ask for a minimum spend on cards.
• Pay in euros — when a terminal offers to bill you in ringgit, decline and choose EUR.

Neighbourhood cash notes

• Le Marais — shops and restaurants take cards; falafel stalls and small bakeries may prefer cash.
• Montmartre — cafés take cards, but artists and street vendors around Place du Tertre generally want cash.
• Marché d'Aligre and other street markets — small stalls, cheese sellers and fruit vendors often take cash only, so bring coins and small notes.
• Champs-Élysées and big department stores — card territory; you will rarely need cash here.

A couple of Paris habits

• Say bonjour first — greeting the shopkeeper before you order or ask for help changes the whole interaction.
• Service is included — restaurant bills in France include service by law, so tipping is optional. A few coins for good service is plenty.