Paris Free Romantic Things to Do, No Cost Attractions and Sights

Paris is full of free romantic things to do, so who said romance is dead! Just because we're in the middle of a recession doesn't mean you can't have a romantic time in Paris, the City of Lights. Whether you want to whisk your loved one away for a romantic break, or maybe even pop the question here are a few ideas that will help you save some money. The plus side to working on a budget is that you can be inventive and thoughtful to create something magical.

Parks and Gardens, Paris is filled with tranquil parks and gardens where you can stroll hand in hand and escape into a world of your own. And what is Paris without good food, it must be one of the easiest place to prepare a romantic picnic, buy your fresh bread, cheese, meats and grab a bottle of great wine that is often cheaper than water. A favourite with the Parisians is the shady Jardins du Luxembourg situated in the 6th Arrondissement on the Left Bank, scattered with classical statues, fountains and flowers. It's full of surprises such as a puppet theatre and a beekeeping school with an aviary containing around twenty hives. There are many other parks to explore including, Jardin des Tuileries the most central park and this is practically the back garden for the Le Louvre. Buttes-Chaumont is to be found of the tourist trail in the northern part of Paris in the 19th Arrondissement. There are artificial grottos, imposing waterfall, man-made lakes and the 'Petit Temple' at centre of the park with great views of Montmartre.

The Pere-Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th Arrondissement, may not seem like the obvious place for romance but you'd be surprised. It's a peaceful and pleasant place to spend an afternoon, walking amongst the trees and ancient stones and if you want to do some slightly quirky celebrity spotting this is the place for you. It's the final resting place for many cultural icons, Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf and in the theme of romance the couple associated with early romantic love, Heloise and Abelard. Plot a virtual tour at the website, www.pere-lachaise.com

The River Seine, the river that gives Paris it's heart and soul. The Seine is criss-crossed with 36 unique and individual bridges, the most famous of which is the Pont Neuf. Paris really is at its best when on foot, enjoy walking along the banks of the River Seine and enjoy a moonlight kiss atop one of the many bridges. If you want to make it just that little bit more special, learn to Tango along the banks of the river. Every evening from May to September the public gardens Tino Rossi Quai Saint-Bernard becomes a magical dance floor under the stars, where couples can dance into the early hours. Don't let your inability to dance stop you, show up at 7pm for a free dance lesson. This is all free, but donations are welcome. Finally you'll find the 'Paris Plage' i.e the Paris Beach from July to August when the banks are loaded with sand along along the road and river from Ile St. Louis to the Jardin des Tuileries.

The Eiffel Tower, of course you have to queue and pay to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but why not enjoy it from a different perspective. Take a stroll after dark and you'll see why they call Paris the City of Lights, the Tower is covered with 800 strings of stunning white lights and four search lights at the top. Arrange to be there on the hour to watch the 20,000 individual bulbs sparkle in a 10 minute display.

The spectacular views, one of the best free vantage points to see Paris in all it's beauty is in front of the Sacre Coeur Basilica in the hilly Montmartre area. The far reaching views, as far as 30 miles are guaranteed to take your breath away.

So use your imagination, take a break from all the obvious tourist and money traps and most of all just have fun.