Paris is a treasure chest of museums, but with so many options, how do you pick the right ones?
You want to see the classics (yes, Mona Lisa, we’re coming for you) without wasting time in crowds or missing secret gems. Maybe you’re a history buff hunting ancient artifacts, an art lover chasing Impressionist masterpieces, or just looking for something delightfully weird (ever seen a museum full of carnival games?).
No matter your interest, this guide cuts through the noise and will help you know what not to miss, giving you our top museums in Paris France. If you're looking to make the most out of your museum visits with readily available knowledge to questions you may have, consider hiring our professional tour guide who can answer your questions on the spot.
Read our article on Hidden Gems in Paris to learn of even more of the best Paris museums!
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Is the Paris Museum Pass Worth It?
Pros (Worth It If...)
- Saves Time: Skip ticket lines at major museums (Louvre, Orsay, Versailles)
- Cost-Effective for Busy Schedules: Pays for itself if you visit 3+ big museums in 2–3 days
- Convenience: One pass for 50+ museums (no need to buy separate tickets)
- Flexibility: Choose 2, 4, or 6-day options based on your itinerary
Cons (Not Worth It If...)
- Misses Hidden Gems: Doesn’t include quirky museums (like Musée des Arts Forains)
- Free Alternatives Exist: Many great museums (Carnavalet, Petit Palais) are always free
- Not for Slow Travelers: Less valuable if you prefer 1-2 museums per day
- EU Under-26 Perk: EU residents under 26 get free entry to many included museums anyway
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Best Paris Museums to Visit Overall
Paris is home to some of the world’s most famous museums, each offering something unique. Whether you love classical art, modern masterpieces, or history, there’s a museum for you. Below are the top picks, including ticket prices, opening hours and locations.
Top Pick for One Museum to Visit: Musée d’Orsay
If you only have time for one museum in Paris, Musée d’Orsay is a fantastic choice. Housed in a stunning former railway station, this museum focuses on 19th- and early 20th-century art, including famous works by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir and Degas. Unlike the overwhelming size of the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay is more manageable and offers a more relaxed experience while still showcasing world-class art. There’s a café up the top and a clockface window that many people, including myself, take photos of.
- Ticket Price: €16 for adults, free for under 18; free for EU residents under 26 and all visitors under 18. Free on the first Sunday of the month with a reservation.
- Opening Hours: 9:30am–6:00am (closed on Mondays; open until 9:45am on Thursdays for €12).
- Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris (along the Seine, near the Louvre).
Louvre vs. Musée d’Orsay: Which Is Better for You?
Both museums are incredible, but they cater to different tastes. Compared to the Musée d’Orsay above, which is best for art lovers but not the best if you’re more interested in ancient history or Renaissance art, the Louvre offers a different experience.
The Louvre
The Louvre is the largest and most famous museum in the world, home to thousands of works, including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Egyptian antiquities. It’s perfect if you love history, ancient art and Renaissance masterpieces. My favorite sections were on the lower levels, where you can explore Near Eastern Antiquities, along with artifacts from Mesopotamia, Greece and Egypt. As someone who studies archaeology, seeing what I’ve learned about in person was an awe-inspiring experience.
As we all know, the Louvre is massive and crowded, so you’ll need at least half a day (if not more) to explore properly.
- Ticket Price: €22 for adults; free for EU residents under 26 and all visitors under 18.
- Opening Hours: 9:00am–6:00pm (closed on Tuesdays; open until 9:00pm on Wednesdays and Fridays).
- Location: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris (right in the heart of the city, near the Tuileries Garden).
Further Reading: What to Eat in Paris!
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Best History Museums in Paris
Paris isn’t just about art, it’s also a city rich in history, with museums covering everything from ancient Roman times to World War II. Whether you’re fascinated by medieval knights, Egyptian mummies or Napoleon’s battles, there’s a museum for you.
Ancient & Medieval History Museums in Paris
Musée de Cluny (Musée National du Moyen Âge)
Other than the Louvre’s ancient antiquities, if looking for a history museum Paris, this museum is dedicated to the Middle Ages and is housed in a Gothic mansion built on top of ancient Roman baths. Inside, you’ll find tapestries (like the famous Lady and the Unicorn), medieval sculptures and even real knights’ armor. It’s a great place to step back in time.
- Ticket Price: €12 for adults; free for EU residents under 26 and all visitors under 18.
- Opening Hours: 9:30am–6:15pm (closed on Mondays).
- Location: 28 Rue Du Sommerard, 75005 Paris (in the Latin Quarter, near the Sorbonne).
Petit Palais (Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris)
This beautiful palace-turned-museum has a mix of ancient artifacts, medieval art and Renaissance paintings. The best part? Permanent collections are free! It’s a great option if you want history without the crowds.
- Ticket Price: Free for permanent collections; temporary exhibits cost extra (around €10–15).
- Opening Hours: 10:00am–6:00pm (closed on Mondays).
- Location: Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris (near the Champs-Élysées).
Modern History Museums in Paris
For those interested in war, revolution and 19th–20th century history, these museums bring Paris’s dramatic past to life.
Army Museum (Musée de l’Armée) at Les Invalides
This massive museum covers French military history from the Middle Ages to World War II. The highlight? Napoleon’s tomb, housed in a grand golden dome. You’ll see swords, cannons, uniforms and even Hitler’s bunker maps.
- Ticket Price: €17 for adults; free for EU residents under 26 and all under 18. A combined ticket with the Musée Rodin is €26.
- Opening Hours: 10:00am–6:00pm (open until 10pm on the 1st Friday of each month for €10).
- Location: 129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris (inside Les Invalides complex).
Carnavalet Museum (Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris)
This museum is all about Paris itself, from the French Revolution to the 20th century. You’ll see revolutionary pamphlets, old Parisian shop signs and even Marie Antoinette’s personal items. It’s a great way to understand the city’s wild past.
- Ticket Price: Free for all visitors! Paid temporary exhibitions.
- Opening Hours: 10:00am–6:00am (closed on Mondays).
- Location: 23 Rue de Sévigné, 75003 Paris (in the Marais district).
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Best Art Museums in Paris
Paris has museums covering every style from classic Impressionist paintings to cutting-edge contemporary installations. Whether you love Monet’s dreamy water lilies or bold modern art, here’s a simple guide to the best art museums.
Musée de l’Orangerie
If you love impressionism and post-impressionism art, alongside the Musée d’Orsay, a smaller but magical museum is the Orangerie, famous for Monet’s giant Water Lilies murals, displayed in two oval rooms designed to feel like a peaceful pond. There’s also a great collection of Renoir, Cézanne and Picasso.
- Ticket Price: €12.50 for adults; free for EU residents under 26 and all under 18.
- Opening Hours: 9:00am–6:00am (closed Tuesdays).
- Location: Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris (inside the Tuileries Garden).
Centre Pompidou
If you prefer bold, experimental, or abstract art, the Pompidou looks like a giant, inside-out building with colorful pipes. Inside, you’ll find modern art like Picasso, Dalí, Warhol and Kandinsky, plus ever-changing contemporary exhibits. The rooftop also has stunning views of Paris.
- Ticket Price: €15–€17 for adults; free for EU residents under 26 and all under 18.
- Opening Hours: 11:00am–7:00pm (closed Tuesdays).
- Location: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris (in the Marais district).
This is Paris’s coolest spot for cutting-edge contemporary art, featuring experimental installations, video art and immersive exhibits. Unlike traditional museums, the vibe here is edgy and unconventional, perfect if you like art that makes you think (or even shocks you a little).
- Ticket Price: €12 for adults; free for under 18s.
- Opening Hours: 12:00pm–10:00pm (closed Tuesdays).
- Location: 13 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris (near the Eiffel Tower).
Further Reading: The Best Things to Do in Paris at Night
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Best Fashion Museums in Paris
Paris is the fashion capital of the world, so it’s no surprise it has incredible museums dedicated to style, design and haute couture. Whether you love iconic designers like Christian Dior or want to explore centuries of decorative arts, these museums offer a glamorous peek into the world of fashion.
Galerie Dior
If you’re a fan of elegance, luxury and timeless style, the Galerie Dior is a must-visit fashion museum Paris. Housed in the very building where Christian Dior launched his legendary fashion house in 1946, this museum is like stepping into a dream wardrobe. You’ll see iconic dresses worn by celebrities, original sketches and stunning displays of Dior’s most famous collections. The museum does an amazing job of showing how Dior revolutionized fashion with his ‘New Look’ silhouette in the 1950s.
- Ticket Price: Around €16 (prices may vary for special exhibits)
- Opening Hours: 11:00am–7:00pm (closed on Tuesdays)
- Location: 11 Rue François 1er, 75008 Paris (just off the Champs-Élysées)
This museum is not just about fashion; it’s about all things design, from furniture to jewelry to clothing. The fashion section is particularly impressive, with a rotating collection of historic garments, accessories and haute couture pieces from the Middle Ages to today. You might see 18th-century court dresses, Chanel suits or avant-garde runway looks, depending on the exhibit. The museum also has gorgeous displays of interior design and decorative objects, making it a great choice if you love both fashion and art.
- Ticket Price: €15 (full for visitors under 26)
- Opening Hours: 11:00am–6:00pm (open until 9:00 PM on Thursdays; closed Mondays)
- Location: 107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris (inside the Louvre’s west wing)
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Best Quirky & Cool Museums in Paris
Paris isn't just about famous art and history; it's also home to some wonderfully weird and whimsical museums that are perfect for travelers looking for something different. These offbeat spots offer playful, bizarre and unforgettable experiences you won't find anywhere else.
Musée des Arts Forains (Fairground Art Museum)
What is the coolest museum in Paris for a non-museum person? Don’t skip the Musée des Arts Forains. This private collection of vintage carnival games and rides from the 19th–20th centuries is like entering a time machine to old-world funfairs. You'll see hand-carved merry-go-rounds you can actually ride, antique carnival games like ring toss and shooting galleries and beautifully restored fairground attractions that still work. You can't just walk in, though, as visits are by guided tour only, making it feel extra special. The enthusiastic guides bring the museum to life with stories and even let visitors try some games!
- Ticket Price: €18.80 for adults (advance booking required)
- Opening Hours: Tours begin at 10:30am and run through to 4pm (Wednesdays, weekends & French school holidays)
- Location: 53 Av. des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris (near Bercy Village)
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (Museum of Hunting and Nature)
This is hands down Paris's weirdest and most fascinating small museum. The atmosphere is part natural history museum, part Gothic fantasy. At first glance, it's about hunting, but really, it's a surreal cabinet of curiosities mixing eerie taxidermy animals posed in strange scenes, mythical creature artworks (unicorns, werewolves), antique hunting weapons that look like art pieces and interactive displays where you can pull drawers open to discover oddities.
- Ticket Price: €13.50 (free first Sunday of the month)
- Opening Hours: 11am–6pm (closed Mondays)
- Location: 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris (in the trendy Marais district)
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Best Paris Museums for Kids
Paris isn't just for adults; it's packed with amazing museums that will keep kids entertained while they learn! From hands-on science experiments to mind-blowing inventions, these spots make learning fun.
Musée des Arts et Métiers (Museum of Arts and Crafts)
This is like a giant playground of inventions where kids can see real-life versions of things they learn about in school. Housed in a former monastery, it's packed with early cars, airplanes and trains (including one of the first airplanes ever!), working models of famous inventions, cool scientific instruments from throughout history and interactive displays that explain how things work. The Foucault Pendulum in the chapel is also fascinating, as it’s a giant swinging ball that proves the Earth rotates!
- Ticket Price: €12 (free for under-18s)
- Opening Hours: 10am–6pm (until 9pm Fridays, closed Mondays)
- Location: 60 Rue Réaumur, 75003 Paris (in the trendy Marais district
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (City of Science and Industry)
This is Paris's ultimate kids' science museum that’s so big you could spend all day here! Everything is hands-on and kids are encouraged to touch, play and experiment. Located in the futuristic Parc de la Villette, it features the Cité des Enfants (separate areas for 2–7 and 5–12 year olds) with water play, construction zones and science experiments, an actual submarine kids can explore, interactive exhibits about space, robots, the human body and more, a planetarium with awesome shows and outdoor playgrounds for when they need to burn off energy.
- Ticket Price: €4.5–€19 depending on exhibits (cheaper for kids)
- Opening Hours: 9:15am–6pm (9:15am–7pm on Sundays and during summer, closed Mondays)
- Location: 30 Av. Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris
Bonus Tip for Families: Museums get busy on weekends, so weekday mornings are best for smaller crowds. The Cité des Sciences is enormous, so check their website to plan which exhibits your kids will like most.
Further Reading: 30 Things to Do in Paris with Kids
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Best Small Museums in Paris
While Paris is famous for its massive museums like the Louvre, some of its most charming spots are smaller, more intimate collections that feel like hidden treasures. These cozy museums offer world-class art without the crowds, often in stunning historic buildings that are attractions themselves.
Musée Jacquemart-André
Imagine walking into a luxurious 19th-century mansion filled with masterpieces, where you can almost picture the wealthy owners hosting glamorous parties. That’s the Musée Jacquemart-André, once the private home of art-loving socialites Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart. Today, it’s a breathtaking museum showcasing their personal collection of Renaissance art, French masterpieces from artists like Botticelli and Bellini, and lavish décor with its gilded ceilings and grand staircases.
- Ticket Price: €13 for adults, €8 for 7–25 year olds and free for under 7 (excludes exhibitions).
- Opening Hours: 10:00am–6:00pm (Monday to Thursday, until 10pm on Fridays and until 7pm on weekends).
- Location: 158 Boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris (near the Champs-Élysées)
This hidden gem was once the home and studio of Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau, and it’s been preserved exactly as he left it. Moreau, a mentor to artists like Matisse, filled this space with his dreamy, mystical paintings of mythological creatures, biblical scenes and fantasy worlds. The museum feels like walking into the artist’s imagination. You get to see Moreau’s spiral staircase, leading to floors packed with his dramatic works, his original studio, left untouched with brushes and paints still out, and his eerie, romantic artworks that inspired later movements like Surrealism.
- Ticket Price: €8 (free on the first Sunday of every month with a reservation).
- Opening Hours: 10:00am–6:00pm (closed Tuesdays)
- Location: 14 Rue de la Rochefoucauld, 75009 Paris (near Montmartre)
Tip: Keep your ticket as in the 15 days after your visit, you get a reduced rate for entry into the Musée Guiment, Musée d’Orsan, Palais Garnier and Musee de la Vie Romantique.
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Best Free Museums in Paris
- Musée Carnavalet
- Petit Palais
- 59 Rivoli
- Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (Modern Art)
- Musée de la Libération (WWII Museum)
- Fragonard Perfume Museum
Many paid museums (like Orsay, Louvre and Rodin) are free on the 1st Sunday of the month (Oct–Mar only). Expect crowds, but it’s worth it! Make sure to make a reservation.
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Your Perfect Paris Museum Trio
So, which museums should you visit? Here’s how to choose your top 3 without overthinking it:
- For the ‘Must-Do’: Pick one iconic spot (Louvre for art, Orsay for Impressionism).
- For Your Passion: Add one museum that matches your vibe, such as history (Cluny), quirk (Arts Forains), or beauty (Orangerie).
- For a Wildcard: Try one small gem (Jacquemart-André’s mansion or Carnavalet’s free history walk).
That’s it! You’ll see the classics, discover something personal and still have time for croissants. There are also plenty of Museum exhibits in Paris to keep an eye out for that may pique your interest. If you need help deciding, why not have a chat with one of our private, local Paris tour guides? They can help you match your interests with the relevant museum in Paris and also help you plan your trip so you can fit in everything you want in the time period you’re there.
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