How much it costs to: Visit Paris as a South African

Paris, the city of love, is a dream destination for many South Africans, and people across the world. The culture, the architecture, tourist attractions and so much more. So, how much would a trip to Paris realisitically cost for a South African.

From flights to visas, accomodation and everything else. Here is what you’re looking at…

THE EXCHANGE RATE

At current rates, €1 sits at roughly R18.60. That single number is the reason Paris feels so much more expensive than it looks on menus and ticket websites — a €15 lunch is already close to R280 before you’ve ordered a drink.

STEP ONE: FLIGHTS AND ACCOMODATION

While you may think you need to secure your Schengen visa first, you actually first need to book your flights and accomodation because you will be using this to apply and motivate for your visa.

Flights are usually the single biggest expense. Return economy flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Paris (Charles de Gaulle) typically range from R12 000 to R17 000. Occasionally flights could dip below R10 000 if booked months ahead in the cheaper travel months (February and November tend to run lowest). Peak season is of course European summer and December holidays — can push this closer to R20,000.

Realistic flight budget: R13 000–R18 000 for return flights return.

Before flights or hotels, South Africans need a Schengen visa, since SA passport holders don’t get visa-free access to the EU. Budget for:

• Visa fee: €90 (about R1,670)
• VFS service charge: around R609
• Total per person: roughly R2,280

Add to that the cost of travel insurance with a minimum €30,000 medical coverage (a Schengen visa requirement), which typically runs another R500–R1,500 depending on trip length and age.

Paris accommodation spans an enormous range:

• Hostel dorm bed: €25–€55/night (R465–R1020)
• Hostel private room / budget hotel: €60–€110/night (R1115–R2045)
• Mid-range 3-star hotel: €120–€220/night (R2230–R4090)
• Well-located boutique or 4-star: €240+/night (R4460+)

For a realistic budget trip of six nights, a hostel private room or a basic hotel outside the priciest arrondissements works out to roughly R7 000–R12 000 total for accommodation. A mid-range hotel stay would run closer to R13 000–R25 000.

STEP TWO: THE SCHENGEN VISA

Many may already know, applying for a Schengen visa can be one of the most daunting experiences. You need to remember your goal is to prove you can afford to be in the country and you will return back to your home after your vacation. Therefore, your return flight is crucial for this application.

Applying for a Schengen visa is a lenghtly and tedious process and you are not in control over how long your visa will be valid for. A Schengen visa will cost your approxmately around R3500 – R3700 depending on where you are applying from. For example, if you’re applying from Durban or Port Elizabeth, you pay slightly more than someone travelling from Johannesburg.

STEP THREE: A BUDGET FOR BASICS

Paris can be as cheap or expensive as you make it. A coffee and croissant at a neighbourhood bakery costs under €5 (R93). Realistic daily food costs:

• Budget (bakeries, supermarkets, casual bistros): €25–€35/day (R465–R650)
• Mid-range (sit-down lunches, one nicer dinner): €45–€65/day (R835–R1210)
• A proper Parisian dinner with wine: €50–€80 per person easily

Over a six-day trip, food alone lands somewhere between R2800 and R7300, depending on how many meals are eaten standing up versus seated at a table with a waiter.

STEP FIVE: GETTING AROUND

The Paris metro is one of the best-value parts of the city. A single ride costs €2.55 (about R47), but visitors typically buy a Navigo Easy pass loaded with a carnet of 10 tickets for around €19.15 (R356), or a weekly pass for unlimited travel at roughly €30 (R558) — usually the better option for a stay of five days or more. Unlimited travel card gives you much more value for money.

STEP SIX: TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND ENTRY FEES

This is where costs sneak up. Here’s what the major sights actually charge in 2026:

Worth noting: the Louvre now charges non-EU visitors more than EU residents — €32 versus €22 — a dual-pricing system introduced in 2026.

A ROUND UP

For a realistic six-day, budget-conscious trip for one South African traveller:

For a more comfortable, mid-range version of the same trip — better hotel, more restaurant meals, no corners cut on attractions — that figure climbs closer to R50 000–R65 000.

Paris isn’t a trip most South Africans can decide on a whim; the visa process alone takes weeks and requires proof of funds, accommodation bookings and a return flight before it’s even approved. But the actual on-the-ground cost is more manageable than the rand-to-euro sticker shock suggests — provided the trip is planned around off-peak flight deals, a well-located hostel or budget hotel, and a realistic attraction list rather than trying to see every landmark in the city.

The exchange rate is the real obstacle; the city itself has budget options at every turn, right down to a €5 bakery breakfast under the Eiffel Tower.

South African DJ Black Coffee recently shared a look inside his family trip to the city of love. Take a look here.

FOUR THINGS TO KNOW WHEN VISITING PARIS

• Plug adapter and voltage — France uses the Type E plug (230V), which is different from South Africa’s Type M/N. A universal adapter sorts this out, and most SA electronics handle the voltage fine, but double-check anything without dual voltage support (like hairdryers)
• Currency and cards — France uses the euro, and card payments (tap-to-pay especially) are widely accepted, more so than in SA in some cases. Notify your bank of travel dates to avoid transaction blocks, and expect a less favourable exchange rate if you convert rand at the airport — better to do it in advance or withdraw euros from an ATM once there. You will not necessarily need a lot of cash.
• A little French goes a long way — Parisians respond noticeably better to a simple “Bonjour” before switching to English than to English straight off the bat. It’s a small courtesy that changes how service staff treat you.
• Watch for pickpockets in tourist zones — Areas like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Metro (especially Line 1) are known pickpocket hotspots. Keep bags zipped and in front of you, and be wary of common distraction scams (petition signing, “found ring” tricks, etc.).