Visiting Paris and wondering where to change your money without getting a bad rate? This guide explains how to avoid the traps at airports and train stations, and enjoy commission-free currency exchange right in the heart of the capital, just steps from Notre-Dame.
Why where you change your money makes all the difference
On arrival, the instinct is often to change your currency as soon as possible: at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, at Orly or in a station like Gare du Nord. For your wallet, this is almost always a bad idea. The counters located in transit zones apply significant margins on the rate and sometimes add fixed fees. On a few hundred euros, the difference compared with a city-centre exchange office can amount to a sum you would rather have spent on sightseeing or at a restaurant.
The logic is simple: a counter set up in a high-traffic area, where the traveller has neither the time nor the means to compare, has no reason to offer an attractive rate. Conversely, a neighbourhood office lives off its reputation and local competition. This is one of the reasons why the Latin Quarter, around Saint-Michel, remains a go-to spot for changing cash in Paris.
The traveller's smart habits for changing currency
- Look at the displayed rate, not just the "no commission" label. An office that is "commission-free" but offers a poor rate can end up costing more than another. At Paris Change, currency exchange is commission-free and at the counter rate displayed each day.
- Only change what you actually need. In Paris, bank cards are accepted almost everywhere. Keep your cash for markets, small cafés, tips and independent shops.
- Check the office's accreditation. Entrust your currency to a registered and regulated establishment. Paris Change is a currency exchange office approved by the ACPR (Banque de France), a guarantee of a legal and secure framework.
- Plan ahead for less common currencies. If you are heading off to a distant destination, some currencies are not immediately available everywhere. It is better to arrange things in advance.
Avoiding airports and train stations: what to do in practice
On arrival, only change a small amount if you are truly short of cash, just enough to reach the centre. The Paris transport network is dense: the Saint-Michel metro (line 4) and RER B and C (Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame station) serve the centre directly from the city's main entry points. Once there, you change the rest of your budget in far better conditions, in the heart of the Latin Quarter.
Paris Change, at Saint-Michel: a landmark for visitors
Our office is located at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris, facing Place Saint-Michel and a few minutes' walk from Notre-Dame, the Sorbonne and the Luxembourg Gardens. It is an ideal location for a tourist: you change your money, then you set off to explore on foot. We offer the purchase and sale of more than 53 currencies, from the US dollar to the Japanese yen, including the pound sterling, the Swiss franc, the Moroccan dirham and the Thai baht.
A rare asset in Paris: we are open 7 days a week, Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm. Many offices close at the weekend, precisely when visitors need cash the most. You can plan your visit and view our offer to buy and sell more than 53 currencies directly online.
Book online, pick up in store
To save time and organise your visit, you can reserve your currency online and then collect it in store. This is particularly useful for large amounts or less common currencies, which sometimes need to be set aside. Booking saves you the wait and guarantees that the currency you want will indeed be available when you arrive at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel.
How much cash to carry: the rule to know
Exchange rates are indicative and vary each day; we therefore recommend checking the day's rate before travelling. On the regulatory side, keep in mind one real and useful rule: above €10,000 (or the equivalent in foreign currency) in cash carried into or out of the European Union, a customs declaration is mandatory. Below this threshold, no particular formality is required. Bear this in mind if you plan to leave with a substantial sum.
Frequently asked questions
Should you change your money at the airport when arriving in Paris?
The best approach is to change only a small amount at the airport or station, then complete your exchange at a city-centre office such as Paris Change, at Saint-Michel, where the exchange is commission-free and the rate more favourable.
Is the exchange really commission-free?
Yes. At Paris Change, you pay only at the counter rate displayed on the day of your transaction, with no added commission. As rates vary, remember to check them before you come.
Can I come on a Sunday?
Yes. We are open 7 days a week, including Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm, which remains rare in Paris and very handy for weekend visitors.
Prepare for your stay with peace of mind: check the day's rates, book your currency online and come and collect it at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel, in the very heart of Paris.
