France is known for its love of the cinema, literature and art and it has a thriving theatre and musical scene.
Access to this culture varies, of course, in price but there are many free events
For those looking to enjoy more of this and to make their budgets go further we have gathered some tips
Access to books and art
Join a library: gain immediate access to countless books for free by joining your local bibliotèque.
There are 15,500 libraries across France, according to the country’s culture ministry. Many also give members access to ebooks, audio books, newspapers and films.
French libraries are a portal to the country’s culture, and offer much more than just books.
There are often services to help people learn French, book clubs, access to the internet and toy and game-lending services for children.
To join, you will usually need to show recent proof of address, such as utility bill and your ID.
France also has several municipal artothèques where you can borrow works of art, just like books in a library, for your home before returning to exchange for others.
Buy secondhand books: France is home to some of the most famous secondhand booksellers in the world, from the Bouquinistes of Paris, the green second-hand book stalls lining over 3km of the river Seine in Paris, to Shakespeare and Company, one of the world’s most famous English-language bookshops.
But as of 2022, half of all second-hand books were bought online, according to the French culture ministry.
Websites such as Recyclivre sell books second hand. You can also send them your old books to give them a second life.
Read more: How to save money on train travel in France
Access to cinemas
France is a proud nation of cinephiles and going to the cinema remains a popular cultural and social activity.
After taking a hit during Covid, cinema-going has rebounded strongly, with 181 million admissions in 2024, a 19% rise on 2022 figures, according to the national cinema centre, the CNC.
Choose off-peak showings: Film screenings during the day and earlier in the week tend to be cheaper than evenings and weekends.
Look for special offers: It is worth checking cinema websites for special offers, as some reduce the price of films on certain days. For example, CGR Cinemas, France’s second-biggest cinema chain, offers reduced prices on Mondays and Thursdays for people who sign up to their Club CGR (for free). Anyone who signs up will also get a free ticket on their birthday.
Kineopolis cinemas offer 30% off screenings and one free film per month for people who sign up to its Movie Club.
Make sure you get the right ticket for your age: Under 26s and over 60s are almost always eligible for reduced-price tickets.
Go to independent cinemas: Supporting your local independent cinema often means getting much cheaper tickets than the nearest multiplex.
Sign up as a member: Many cinemas offer loyalty programmes or memberships, which can save you money if you are a regular cinema-goer.
For example, Pathé Cinemas, France’s biggest cinema chain, has the Cinépass, which, for €22.90 per month (less for young people and older people), allows users to attend as many standard screenings as they want.
The pass pays for itself in two screenings, so is a good option for those who like to go to the cinema regularly.
UGC Cinemas has the UGC Illimité pass, starting at €19.90 per month, and also offers joint passes for couples available for weekday, weekend or seven-day a week viewing.
Take advantage of the Fête du Cinéma: This annual festival, organised by the French cinema federation, takes place in early summer and is a four-day celebration of all things cinema. 2025 will be its 30th year. During the festival, tickets for participating films are just €5.
Read more: Tips to save money when hiring a car in France
Theatre deals in Paris
Look for last-minute offers: In Paris, the home of French theatre, special theatre kiosks offer half-price tickets for same-day performance.
The Kiosque Théâtre La Madeleine is located on Place de la Madeleine, and the Montparnasse is below the Montparnasse tower block.
Young/older person tickets: People under the age of 26 are eligible for 'youth seats', from around €10.
Many theatres also have offers for over-60s. The Comédie-Française gives out 85 free seats every Monday evening one hour before the start of the performance.
Catch a preview performance: Many theatres offer half-price tickets for preview performances. Check on their websites for details of upcoming shows.
Become a member/subscribe: Many theatres have membership programmes, which give members special offers on tickets. Members often early access to book tickets for popular productions.
Sign up to ticketing site newsletters: Ticket websites such as Ticketnunc have regular offers on theatre tickets. Sign up to its newsletters to be among the first to hear about new offers.
The Carrefour Spectacles newsletter also features regular special offers. Other ticket sites include FNAC Spectacles and Placeminute.
Culture Pass
Those ages 18 or younger can save money on cultural activities with France’s pass Culture. Even if you are not a French national, you are entitled to the it if you have been living in France for one year.
The pass was promised by Emmanuel Macron in the run-up to his election win in 2017 and finally introduced in 2021.
After a period of experimentation, it was extended to all young people aged between 15 and 18, with grants ranging from €20 to €300.
The pass can be used for tickets to the cinema, museum and theatre, or to buy books, art materials, dance courses and instruments or an online subscription.
To take advantage of the pass Culture, download the designated app and register your details. You will need to scan and attach ID and proof of residence
Once the registration is accepted, the account is credited with the sum of money.
Find out more here.
