Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand Paris Budget Guide

Emergency Numbers: Police: 17 (EU: 112) | Medical / Fire: 15 | Local Currency: EUR (1 USD ≈ 0.92EUR)

Map of Budget Spots

Cheap Beds & Emergency Accommodation

No budget hostels or emergency shelters found inside this district.

Cheap Groceries & Free Meals

Supermarket Discount Hours: 19:00 - 20:30 at Monoprix and Franprix along Avenue de France for 30-50% off yellow-stickered fresh items expiring same day.
Best Cheap Eats: CROUS Resto U’ Grands Moulins (€3.30 standard meal, €1.00 for eligible students); Asian bakeries near Porte de Choisy offer cheap Banh Mi sandwiches.

Discount Supermarkets

Supermarket	Best Budget Buys	Address (Google Maps)
Lidl	Store-brand oats, canned legumes, discount dairy, staples	122 Avenue de France, 75013 Paris, France
Aldi	Pasta, rice, canned tomatoes, store-brand rye bread	13-15 Rue Cantagrel, 75013 Paris, France

Free Meals & Food Banks

Location	Address (Google Maps)	Opening Hours & Requirements
Restos du Cœur Paris 13	18 Rue Nicole-Reine Lepaute, 75013 Paris, France	Food parcel distribution center for registered individuals and low-income students. Check center schedule for intake.
Linkee Student Food Distribution - Université Paris Cité	5 Rue Thomas Mann, 75013 Paris, France	Free organic food basket distributions for enrolled university students. Pre-registration via Linkee app required.

Free Water & Public Restrooms

Free Drinking Water Points

Location	Address (Google Maps)	Where to Find It
BnF François-Mitterrand Public Water Fountains	Quai François Mauriac, 75013 Paris, France	Located near rest areas and restrooms inside main hall (Haut-de-Jardin). Open during library operating hours.
Eau de Paris Drinking Fountain - Promenade Claude Lévi-Strauss	Promenade Claude Lévi-Strauss, 75013 Paris, France	Outdoor drinking fountain along pedestrian promenade, available 24/7.

Free Public Toilets

Location	Address (Google Maps)	Hours & Notes
BnF François-Mitterrand Hall Toilets	Quai François Mauriac, 75013 Paris, France	Clean, accessible toilets inside the public hall areas. Open Tue-Sat 09:00-20:00, Sun 13:00-19:00.
Sanisette JCDecaux - Quai Panhard et Levassor	35 Quai Panhard et Levassor, 75013 Paris, France	Self-cleaning public toilet booth, free, 24/7 access.

Free Wi-Fi, Workspaces & Showers

Places with Free Wi-Fi & Power Outlets

Place	Address (Google Maps)	Wi-Fi & Desk Details
Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand (BnF) - Public Halls	Quai François Mauriac, 75013 Paris, France	Free high-speed public Wi-Fi (‘BNF-Public’) and power sockets near public seating inside Hall Est and Hall Ouest.
La Felicità / Station F	55 Boulevard Vincent Auriol, 75013 Paris, France	Large open food hall inside Station F with free Wi-Fi and power outlets around main seating areas.

Note: Public Wi-Fi here is unencrypted. If accessing bank or work portals, keep NordVPN on. Grab the student rate (via Student Beans verification), or lock in the 2-year plan to save the most.

Cheap Showers & Public Baths

Location	Cost	Address (Google Maps)	How to Use
Bains-douches Dunois	0 EUR	10 Rue Dunois, 75013 Paris, France	Free municipal public bathhouse with individual shower stalls. Towel and soap not provided. Check opening days (closed Sundays).

Getting Around Cheaply

Best Way to Move Around: Walking along Avenue de France or Seine riverbank; Metro Line 14 and RER C at Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand station.
Standard Fare: 2.15EUR
Transit Scams to Avoid: Beware of fake ticket sellers standing near ticket machines at Metro/RER station entrances offering invalid pre-used tickets.

SIM Cards & Internet

Best Budget Carrier: Free Mobile
How to Keep Data Costs Low: Free Mobile €2/month plan (includes 2 hours calls + 50MB data), available instantly from automated kiosks.

Safety, Scams & Areas to Avoid

Common Local Scams

Scam	How to Avoid It
Fake Petition Scam	Do not sign clipboard petitions presented by people claiming to represent deaf/mute charities on the BnF esplanade or near the footbridge; firmly decline and keep walking.
Pickpocketing on RER C and Metro Line 14	Keep bags zipped and front-facing, especially when boarding crowded trains at peak rush hours.

Areas to Avoid at Night:

The neighborhood is modern and safe, but avoid isolated underpasses along Quai Panhard et Levassor or under Boulevard Général Jean-Simon late at night.