🏆 5 museums you shouldn't miss
The Louvre Museum
The world-famous museum. It is recommended to book a skip-the-line ticket.
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Secure booking
Musee d'Orsay
Hall of Impressionism in a beautiful train station.
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Instant digital card
Hotel de la Marine
A magnificent palace on Place de la Concorde.
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Secure booking
Palace of Versailles
Royal splendor and endless gardens. A must visit.
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Includes audio guide
Rodin Museum
A perfect combination of ingenious sculptures and a magical garden in the heart of the city.
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Skip-the-line entry
🧐 Golden tip for visiting the Louvre
The line for the Mona Lisa can be exhausting and ruin the experience. My recommendation? Book a ticket Hosted Access (“Login with a host”).
This allows you to enter through a side entrance, skip the usual line, and get directly to the work with a guide who knows the shortest route.
Check availability for a skip-the-line ticket »The exhibitions currently taking place in Paris
Before we start going from museum to museum, I thought you might be interested in knowing what the hottest exhibitions are in the City of Lights right now. So here's a list of the top ten:
If you would like to know what other exhibitions are currently taking place in Paris, you are welcome to click the button below.
After you've checked out what exhibitions are happening while you're in Paris, it's time to provide you with information on all the museums you shouldn't miss. To make your choice easier, I've arranged the museums by category. You're welcome to start scrolling down to discover which museums are in each category.
🏛️ Fine Arts and Classics
Palace of Versailles
- The most magnificent palace in France
- Spectacular gardens (especially in summer)
- Outside Paris (requires train travel)
Best selling! 🔥
The Louvre Museum
- The largest museum in the world (Mona Lisa)
- Infinite masterpieces
- Very busy – must book in advance
Musee d'Orsay
- Rare Impressionist Collection (Van Gogh)
- Located in a beautiful train station
- Long lines at the entrance
Personally recommended
Rodin Museum
- A magical and relaxing sculpture garden
- Less crowded than the big museums
- A large part of the museum is outdoors.
Hotel de la Marine
- A magnificent palace in the heart Paris
- Great view of Place de la Concorde
- Lesser known, but very impressive
Jacquemart-André Museum
- Private collection in a magnificent mansion
- Great cafe on site
- Relatively small museum
The Orangery Museum
- Monet's Water Lilies (a must!)
- Located within the Tuileries Gardens
- Very small and crowded at times
Marmottan-Monet Museum
- The largest collection of Claude Monet
- Upscale and quiet neighborhood (16th arrondissement)
- A little far from the city center
Montmartre Museum
- Rustic atmosphere and magical gardens
- The history of Parisian bohemia
- Steep climb (but worth it)
🔳 Modern and contemporary art
Center Pompidou
- Modern art and panoramic views
- Unique and colorful architecture
- Some of the galleries are sometimes under renovation.
Trading Exchange (Pinault)
- A magnificent new museum in a historic building
- Very central location (Le Halle)
- Very modern art (not for everyone)
Louis Vuitton Museum
- Breathtaking architectural structure
- World-class rotating exhibitions
- Far from the city center (Bois de Boulogne)
Picasso Museum
- The largest Picasso collection
- Located in the heart of the Marais in a beautiful building
- Focuses on only one artist
🧸 Children and family
Grévin Wax Museum
- A wonderful and fun experience for the whole family
- Impressive and historic interior design
- Relatively expensive tickets
Arts and Crafts
- A fascinating history of inventions
- The famous Foucault pendulum
- Less suitable for very young children
Evolution Gallery
- An impressive life-size animal parade
- Great location in the botanical gardens
- Requires a lot of walking
Museum of Science and Industry
- Interactive and perfect for curious children
- Huge complex with lots of activities
- Far from the city center (Park La Villette)
Sweet workshop!
The chocolate museum
- Including chocolate tasting
- Possibility of creative workshops
- Relatively small museum
Museum of Illusions
- Great photos for Instagram
- Fun for all ages
- Relatively short visit (about an hour)
👠 Fashion and Design
Dior Gallery
- Breathtaking design and display
- A fascinating history of fashion
- Tickets are selling out very quickly.
Yves Saint Laurent Museum
- The designer's original studio
- Iconic dress display
- Relatively small museum
📜 History, monuments and cultures
Army Museum (The Invalides)
- Napoleon's impressive tomb
- Huge collection of weapons and armor
- Requires a long time for full coverage
Atelier des Lumieres
- An amazing visual and musical experience
- Very suitable for children too
- Usually full, must book in advance
Quai Branly Museum
- Fascinating tribal art
- Beautiful garden and special building
- Dim lighting in some halls
Cheese Museum
- Culinary experience including tastings
- Located in the heart of Paris
- Relatively new and less well-known
🆓 Free museums
Carnival Museum
- History of Paris in a spectacular building
- Free admission to the permanent collection
- Some exhibits are in French only
Cognac Museum J.
- An intimate and beautiful collection
- Inside a mansion in the heart of the Marais
- Very small (short visit)
Victor Hugo Museum
- Perfect location on Place de la Voise
- A glimpse into the life of the great writer
- Free admission (paid exhibitions)
The Petit Palais
- An Art Nouveau building that is stunning in its beauty
- Hidden inner garden with cafe
- Long line sometimes (despite being free)
Museums and Monuments Card
If you plan to visit a large number of monuments and museums in Paris, it is worth considering buying the Museum cardIt will save you money and time.
Questions and Answers (FAQ)
What are the most popular museums in Paris?
These are the ten most popular museums in Paris:
- The Louvre Museum
- Musee d'Orsay
- Center Pompidou
- Army Museum (The Invalides)
- Quai Branly Museum
- Petit Palais
- The Orangery Museum
- Museum of Evolution
- Gervan Museum
- Rodin Museum
Are the museums open on Sundays and holidays?
Although each museum has different days and hours of operation, the vast majority of museums are open on Sundays and holidays.
What day are most museums closed?
Most museums are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays. In any case, if you book tickets in advance, you won't have a problem because the system won't allow you to buy a ticket for a day when the museum is closed anyway.
What days can you visit museums in Paris for free?
All state-owned museums (for example, the Louvre) will allow you to visit them for free on the first Sunday of every month (this rule does not apply to private museums such as Jacquemart André). Despite all this, let me strongly recommend that you do not visit museums on days when admission is free due to the high crowding.
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