The Olympics may swell crowds and prices in the French capital, but there are plenty of off-radar things to do, and value to find, if you know where to look...

Irish insiders share their tips for Paris. Composite image (Getty) Before you enter Paris, know one thing: it’s the most densely populated capital in Europe (almost four times more so than London). And that’s before the Olympics .

Paris can also be prohibitively expensive, but there are ways and means of stepping back from the crowd and of spending less money while enjoying what is arguably the most beautiful large city in the world. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.