A Charming Suburb In France Is A Less-Crowded, Budget-Friendly Getaway Outside Of Paris

You just snagged an amazing price for a flight to Paris — oh là là. Unfortunately, you probably haven't been as lucky when it comes to finding a hotel deal in the French capital. Travelers who are willing to broaden their search to include the nearby vibrant community of Vanves are much more likely to find affordable places to stay on the outskirts of the city.

Vanves is a suburb of Paris and covers less than one square mile. This neighborhood is located in the Grand Paris Seine Ouest region, southwest of Paris. It borders the Boulevard Périphérique, a ring road that encircles the entire city and contains the central arrondissements (neighborhoods) of the city center. At its Malakoff — Plateau de Vanves metro station, you can ride the Paris Métro Line 13 to many popular destinations. It is only five stops to Montparnasse, eight stops to Varenne, or 10 stops to the Champs-Élysées. Connections will bring you to either of Paris' airports — Orly (ORY) or Charles de Gaulle (CDG) — in about an hour. It's also an easy place from which to take day trips from Paris.

There are plenty of hotel options in Vanves. The French hotel chain Accor has Ibis (Ibis Paris Porte de Vanves Parc des Expositions and Ibis Budget Paris Porte de Vanves), Adagio (Adagio Access Paris Vanves Porte de Versailles), and Mercure (Mercure Paris Porte de Versailles Expo) properties in the neighborhood. Their rates start around $175 per night in August. Yvette Hotel Porte de Versailles is another great option, opened by Sonder. During the same time period, it has rooms available for about $115 per night. While for the same price, you can also stay at a cute bed-and-breakfast, such as Les Suites de Vanves. All of these places are within easy walking distance of the metro station.

With such reasonable hotel rates, it is not surprising that Vanves is one of Priceline's trending destinations. Between July 2023 and June 2024, the travel company saw a 407% increase (compared to the previous year) in hotel searches for this Paris suburb. The enormous increase is due to its close proximity to the center of Paris, where similar hotels are at least double the price. Your travel budget will certainly stretch a lot further with the money you can save in Vanves each night. You can also save money by checking out places in Paris you should visit that aren't overrun with tourists.

While you will surely be anxious to experience Paris like a Parisian, you shouldn't rush back into the city after checking in at your hotel. Vanves is a charming community with its own interesting places to explore. Every weekend, Les Puces des Vanves takes over two avenues. Vendors sell antiques, books, clothing, and paintings, all of which make for unique souvenirs. Since the market is only open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., plan to arrive early for the best selection.

Marché, a covered food market, is also open on Saturday (as well as Thursday) mornings. Here you will find fresh fish, flowers, meat, and produce. You can put together a picnic to bring to the nearby Parc Frédéric Pic. This large park, which has wide lawns and playgrounds, is considered the heart of Vanves. It's a great spot for people-watching, as well, a favorite French pastime and rite of passage in Paris.

Visitors should also be sure to add the Church of Saint Rémy to their list of things to do in Vanves. Construction of the holy site, just steps from the park, started in the 15th century. The Gothic-style church is known for its flying buttresses, intricate stained-glass windows, and 19th-century frescoes. It also attracts far fewer crowds than the larger cathedrals in the center of the city. Yet another reason why Vanves might be the best option for your home base during your upcoming trip to Paris.