Parents of children heading to Paris to study as part of an exchange programme might want to think about sending a parcel to France with some of the essentials, after it was claimed that the image of Paris as expensive is essentially true.

The city is always seen as pricey, a notion that is not false, the French capital's tourism board said.

However this is only part of the story, explained Veronique Potelet Anty at the Paris Office du Tourisme et des Congres.

She said that there are all sorts of different accommodation options that keep down costs, such as hostels and short-term rental apartments.

"The Parisian metro and bus system is affordable and enables people to visit the whole city easily," Ms Potelet Anty added.

"Dealing with culture, our national museums are free every first Sunday of the month, the ones belonging to the city hall - Victor Hugo, Petit Palais, Modern art museum - are free seven days a week."

Research from the hotel booking website Octopus Travel shows that Paris is among the top destinations in Europe this summer along with London and Barcelona.