In our A Total Trip series, writers document what they spent on a recent getaway. In this edition, Stephanie Ong shows us how much a weekend of food and fun cost her and her partner in Paris.

I鈥檓 a writer based in Milan, Italy, and recently went to Paris with my partner for a long weekend because it鈥檚 one of our favorite cities for culture, architecture and unparalleled sweets.

We weren鈥檛 planning on splurging, but wanted to leave room for small indulgences. As we鈥檇 visited before, we were keen to explore lesser-known haunts.

Pre-trip spending

We were lucky enough to be staying in a friend鈥檚 apartment in the Marais, a neighborhood that鈥檚 central and filled with great restaurants, cafes and bars. It鈥檚 also home to attractions like the Centre Pompidou and the Mus茅e Picasso. It鈥檚 pricey, though. If you鈥檙e looking to stay in the Marais, an will generally cost about 鈧�800 for three nights.

On the ground

Friday

Airport transfer: We arrived around 9pm at Charles de Gaulle airport and took the RER B line train to Ch芒telet-Les-Halles (鈧�11.45 per person). From there we took a taxi to the Marais (鈧�17.20).

Dinner: It was late so when we arrived, we headed to the one thing we knew would be open: a bouillon. These traditional places often have charming belle epoque interiors, and some of the best-value dishes you鈥檒l find in Paris. We spent just 鈧�25.50 at in Pigalle, for an above-par appetizer of herring, two mains (we each got ratatouille) and a cr猫me br没l茅e.

Total: 鈧�65.60

Saturday

Breakfast: We were running late so we grabbed coffee and croissants (鈧�5 total) to go from nearby .

Morning museum: Our friend was kind enough to give us a tour of the Philippe Starck Paris is Pataphysical exhibition at Mus茅e Carnavalet (tickets 鈧�13 each). We left convinced of Starck鈥檚 quirky genius.

Lunch: Recommended to me by several friends, was an easy choice: a Proven莽al bistro where the desserts alone merit a stop. The comes dished out from a ceramic pot; the portion we received was almost bigger than my head. We spent a total of 鈧�61.80 on a duck breast cooked to perfection, red mullet filets with tapenade, plus that enormous dessert and espresso.

Shopping and galleries: The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the many galleries and boutiques in Marais. I made sure to stop at and , Paris鈥� most famous concept store.

Transport: We bought a three-day electric bike pass on Lime (鈧�7.99 each).

Dinner: Zipping through town on our newly acquired transport, we arrived at in the 2nd arrondissement. The restaurant evokes Tokyo鈥檚 fish market 鈥� and while the line was insane (it doesn鈥檛 accept bookings), the fish ramen lived up to the hype. We spent 鈧�41 for two bowls of ramen, an extra serving of pork and two ice teas.

On our way home, we stopped for a drink (鈧�4 for a half pint of beer; 鈧�5 for a glass of wine) at , where a mix of fashion students and creatives made for standout people-watching.

Total: 鈧�158.78

Sunday

Brunch: The day started slow with brunch at . We both opted for a savory crepe made from buckwheat flour and then split a sweet crepe (with sugar, butter and yuzu) so light and divine I could have had two (total 鈧�31.50). My partner finished his meal off with an espresso (鈧�3) 鈥� because he鈥檚 Italian, and has to order a coffee everywhere and then complain about its quality.

Architecture: Our next stop was , which he tailored in minute detail to his needs and those of his wife. A 40-minute bike ride away, it was close to , also designed by Le Corbusier, for a Swiss banker. We compared the two thanks to a combined entry ticket (鈧�15 each).

Snack: After an exhausting bike ride back, we rehydrated over two ice teas and a deeply satisfying cr猫me br没l茅e鈥搃nspired cake (鈧�21 total) at .

Dinner: We decided to stay close to home and walked to , whose small plates and wine choices were recommended by friends. We ordered five dishes (鈧�55), from blini to a plate of mouthwatering mussels, along with two glasses of wine (鈧�7 per glass).

Total: 鈧�154.50

Monday

Breakfast and transport: We bid goodbye to the city with our last pastries: an almond croissant (鈧�2.60) and a fantastically flaky pain au chocolat (鈧�1.85). We washed them down with two coffees (鈧�6.20), all from , a place we鈥檇 visited the day before. An Uber (鈧�21) took us to the train station. From there train tickets to CDG cost 鈧�11.45 each.

Total: 鈧�54.55

The final tally: 鈧�432.93 for two

Accommodation is usually the biggest cost factor when traveling to Paris. We were lucky enough to stay in a friend鈥檚 apartment; otherwise, we would have had to rethink our budget. Our biggest surprise, especially coming from Italy, was the price of coffee (鈧�5 for a cappuccino). Our best buy was the three-day electric bike pass, which was well priced and made getting around fast and easy.