💰 This page covers the street-level details of spending money in Paris: which arrondissements need cash, how to pay for the Métro, where Euronet ATMs lurk, and what to know for day trips. For ATM fees, card network details, DCC explained, and tipping norms across France:
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Order EUR → CEI Currency ExchangeDo You Need Cash in Paris?
Barely. Paris is one of the most card-friendly cities in the world. You can go days without touching cash. Contactless payments work at restaurants, cafes, shops, the Métro, and museums. Budget €20–30 in small bills for the few situations where you will need euros.
Where You Will Need Cash
Flea markets (Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, Marché d'Aligre) where smaller vendors and produce stalls are cash-only. Pay toilets at train stations (€0.50–1 in coins). Street crêpe stands and chestnut vendors along the Seine. Tabacs (tobacco/newsagent shops) with a €5–10 card minimum. Buskers at the Métro or Sacré-Coeur. Older laundromats in residential neighborhoods.
Where Cards Work Fine
Restaurants, brasseries, and cafes across every arrondissement. Boulangeries and patisseries (even for a €1.20 baguette). Museums (Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Pompidou). Métro and buses via contactless tap directly at the turnstile. Taxis, Uber, and Bolt. Department stores (Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché). Paris is as cashless as London.
Paying by Card in Paris
Paris is one of the most card-friendly cities in the world. Card acceptance varies slightly by arrondissement, but you can go nearly cashless everywhere in central Paris.
Le Marais (3e & 4e)
Boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and cafés all accept contactless. The covered marché des Enfants Rouges (oldest market in Paris) is mixed: sit-down food stalls take cards, but smaller vendors selling produce or flowers are cash-only. Rue des Rosiers falafel shops take cards despite the long queues.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6e)
Upscale shops, bookstores, and classic brasseries all accept cards. Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots take contactless. The smaller galleries on Rue de Seine accept cards for purchases but some have a €10 minimum. The Rue de Buci market has decent card acceptance at food stalls.
Champs-Élysées & Opera (8e & 9e)
Department stores (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps), chain restaurants, and luxury shops all take cards. Every major brand on the Champs accepts contactless. Watch out for the "0% commission" exchange booths along the avenue and near Gare Saint-Lazare. They are tourist traps.
Montmartre (18e)
Restaurants on Rue Lepic and around Place du Tertre accept cards. Portrait artists and souvenir vendors on Place du Tertre are cash-only. The Sacré-Coeur area is a hotspot for Euronet ATMs and pickpockets. Smaller cafés on the quieter streets north of the hill sometimes have a €5–10 card minimum.
Latin Quarter (5e)
The tourist restaurants on Rue de la Huchette accept cards, but the quality is poor and prices are inflated. Better restaurants slightly off the main drag (Rue Mouffetard area) all take cards. The Marché Mouffetard street market is mostly cash for produce and cheese vendors. Shakespeare and Company bookshop takes cards.
Eiffel Tower & Invalides (7e)
Restaurants and cafés along Rue Cler and Avenue de la Motte-Picquet accept cards. The Eiffel Tower itself accepts cards for tickets (buy online in advance to skip the queue). The Rue Cler pedestrian market is mixed: boulangeries and fromageries take cards, but some small vendors prefer cash.
Île de la Cité & Île Saint-Louis (1e & 4e)
Berthillon ice cream on Île Saint-Louis takes cards. Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie accept card and contactless for tickets. The flower market on Place Louis Lépine is mostly cash for plant purchases. Restaurants facing Notre-Dame are fully card-friendly (and overpriced).
Belleville & Ménilmontant (20e)
An increasingly popular neighborhood with younger, less touristy restaurants that all accept cards. The Belleville Chinatown food shops and Vietnamese restaurants along Rue de Belleville are a mix: larger restaurants take cards, small counter-service spots are cash-only. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont has no vendors inside.
Bastille & Oberkampf (11e)
One of Paris's best nightlife and dining neighborhoods. Wine bars, craft beer spots, and restaurants on Rue Oberkampf and Rue de la Roquette all accept cards and contactless. The Marché Bastille (Thursday and Sunday) has good card acceptance at food stalls, but bring cash for the smaller produce vendors.
ATMs in Paris
A real bank branch is never more than a block or two away in central Paris. Stick to BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale, Crédit Mutuel, or La Banque Postale. These charge no operator fee and give you the real exchange rate. Walk past the bright blue Euronet machines near tourist landmarks.
🏦 Need specific ATM locations, step-by-step withdrawal instructions, airport ATMs, or safety tips? See the Paris ATM Guide for the full deep-dive. For ATM fees and card networks across France, see the France Money Guide.
Paying for the Métro, Buses & Taxis
Métro, RER & Buses
Contactless bank cards work directly on turnstiles. Hold your Visa, Mastercard, or phone (Apple Pay/Google Pay) to the reader and wait for the green light. You are charged per trip, capped at the daily Navigo price so you will not overpay even if you ride all day. This works on the Métro, RER within Paris (zones 1–2), buses, and trams.
You can also buy a Navigo Easy card (€2) at any Métro station and load it with t+ tickets (€2.15 each) or a day pass. Paper tickets have been fully phased out. The Navigo Easy replaces the old carnet of 10 tickets. Ticket machines accept contactless cards and coins.
Taxis & Ride-Hailing
Official Paris taxis (look for the rooftop light) all accept credit cards. No minimum fare for card payments. Flat-rate airport pricing: CDG to the Right Bank is €56, CDG to the Left Bank is €65, Orly to central Paris is €36–41. Uber works well in Paris and charges your card through the app. Bolt and FREE NOW are popular local alternatives. All three are often cheaper than street taxis for trips within the city.
Airport Transfers
From CDG: the RER B train to central Paris (Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel) costs about €11.50 and takes 35–50 minutes. Buy tickets at the station with a contactless card. The Roissybus to Opéra (€16.60) also accepts cards. From Orly: the Orlyval shuttle connects to the RER B at Antony (€12.40 total to central Paris). Taxis use the flat-rate pricing above. Avoid unofficial drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall.
Tipping in Paris
The France guide covers the basics (service is included by law). Here is what catches visitors off guard in Paris specifically.
Situations Unique to Paris
Classic brasseries (Le Bouillon Chartier, Bouillon Pigalle): service is included. The bustling, no-nonsense waiters are not being rude, that is the style. No tip expected. Wine bars in the 11e: if you have a long tasting and the sommelier has been attentive, €2–5 in coins on the bar is a nice gesture. Hotel concierges who score you hard-to-get restaurant reservations: €5–10 in cash is appreciated.
Uber and Bolt: tipping is not expected but you can add one through the app. Tour guides at the Louvre, Versailles, or catacombs: €5–10 per person for a private guide, €2–5 for group tours. Hairdressers: rounding up by €2–5 is common in Parisian salons.
Prices in Paris
Paris is expensive by European standards, but not as bad as London or Zurich. Here is what to budget for common spending in 2026 prices.
| Item | Price (EUR) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Baguette | €1.10–1.50 | $1.20–1.65 |
| Croissant | €1.20–1.80 | $1.30–2 |
| Espresso (at the counter) | €1.50–2.50 | $1.65–2.75 |
| Coffee on a terrace | €3–5 | $3.30–5.50 |
| Glass of house wine | €4–7 | $4.40–7.70 |
| Bouillon restaurant (per person) | €12–18 | $13–20 |
| Plat du jour (bistro lunch) | €14–20 | $15–22 |
| Three-course dinner (mid-range) | €35–55 | $38–60 |
| Métro / bus single ride | €2.15 | $2.35 |
| Daily contactless cap (zones 1–2) | €8.10 | $8.90 |
| RER B (CDG to central Paris) | €11.50 | $12.65 |
| Uber across central Paris | €8–15 | $8.80–16.50 |
| Louvre | €22 | $24 |
| Musée d'Orsay | €16 | $17.60 |
| Centre Pompidou | €15 | $16.50 |
USD estimates based on approximately €1 = $1.10. Rates fluctuate. Many museums are free on the first Sunday of each month. Under-26 EU residents get free entry at most national museums.
Day Trips from Paris
Versailles
Reachable by RER C (use your contactless card or Navigo). The Palace of Versailles accepts cards for tickets (buy online to skip the line). Restaurants and cafés around the estate accept cards. The marché (market) in Versailles town on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday is partially cash-only at smaller stalls.
Disneyland Paris
Everything inside the parks accepts cards and contactless. The Disney Village shops and restaurants outside the gates also accept cards. The RER A from central Paris to Marne-la-Vallée works with a contactless bank card. No need to bring cash unless you want to tip character dining servers (€2–5 per table is appreciated but not required).
Giverny (Monet's Garden)
The Foundation Claude Monet accepts cards for tickets and at the gift shop. The village of Giverny has a few small cafés and restaurants that accept cards. Getting there requires a train to Vernon (SNCF, book with a card on the app) plus a shuttle bus (check if cash is needed for the bus, as it varies by season).
Champagne Region (Reims & Épernay)
Major champagne houses (Moët, Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger) accept cards for tours and tastings. Smaller grower-producers in Épernay and the surrounding villages sometimes prefer cash for cellar door tastings (€15–25). The TGV from Gare de l'Est to Reims (45 minutes) is booked and paid by card on the SNCF app.
Paris Quick Reference
| Destination | Cards? | Cash Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Marais dinner | ✅ Yes | Not really | Even falafel shops take cards |
| Montmartre sightseeing | ✅ Restaurants yes | For artists and vendors | Watch for Euronet ATMs and pickpockets |
| Clignancourt flea market | ✅ Covered alleys | For open-air stalls | Haggling is easier with cash |
| Marché d'Aligre / Bastille | ❌ Small vendors | €20–40 in small bills | Produce and cheese are cash-heavy |
| Versailles day trip | ✅ Palace and restaurants | Some for town market | Buy palace tickets online |
| Disneyland Paris | ✅ Everywhere | Not needed | Fully cashless inside the parks |
| Champagne tastings | ✅ Major houses | €15–25 for small growers | Cash for cellar door visits |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tap my credit card on the Paris Métro?
Yes. Contactless Visa and Mastercard work directly on Métro and RER turnstiles. You can also buy a Navigo Easy card (€2) at any station and load it with t+ tickets. Contactless bank cards are capped at the daily Navigo price, so you will not overpay even if you ride all day.
Where are Euronet ATMs in Paris and how do I avoid them?
They are the bright blue machines near major landmarks. Walk past them and use any BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, or Société Générale branch instead. The Paris ATM Guide has a full list of Euronet hotspots and safe bank ATMs by area.
Are Paris flea markets and farmers' markets cash only?
Mostly. The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen (Clignancourt) has a mix: established dealers in the covered alleys accept cards, but open-air stalls are cash-only. Paris farmers' markets like Marché d'Aligre and Marché Bastille are predominantly cash for produce and cheese, though some vendors now have SumUp mobile readers.
Do Paris restaurants add a service charge or do I need to tip?
Service is included by law (service compris) on every restaurant bill. No additional tip is expected. Leaving €1–2 in coins on the table for good service is a nice gesture, especially at neighborhood bistros, but never required. Do not feel pressured to tip 15–20% as you would in the US.
Can I use Apple Pay on the Paris Métro?
Yes. Apple Pay and Google Pay work on Métro and RER turnstiles just like a physical contactless card. Hold your phone or watch to the reader and wait for the green light. This also works on buses and trams within the Île-de-France network.
How do I pay for a taxi from CDG airport to Paris?
Official taxis from CDG use flat-rate pricing: €56 to the Right Bank, €65 to the Left Bank. All official taxis accept credit cards. The RER B train to central Paris costs about €11.50. Buy tickets at the station with a contactless card. Avoid unofficial drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall.
Is the Champs-Élysées a good place to exchange money?
No. The "0% commission" exchange bureaus hide margins in the exchange rate, costing 5–15% more than a bank ATM. Multiple bank branches sit on the side streets just off the avenue. See the Paris ATM Guide for details on the exchange booth scam and where to find real bank ATMs nearby.
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Country-specific deep dives for Paris: which card to bring, where the no-fee ATMs are at the airport, and how to dodge the local DCC traps.