Museums and galleries in Paris

Museums and galleries in Paris

1. Buy8th arrondissement

   Avenue Peugeot

   While not as spectacular from the outside as its sister brand Citroen's building, the Avenue Peugeot is also worth a visit if you are a car fan, as it always has a temporary exhibition of some of Peugeot's concept or competition cars the brand is famous for. You can obviously also explore the regular range of Peugeot cars and purchase one, as well as an extensive range of Peugeot merchandise from the on-site "boutique Peugeot", including the Peugeot condiment grinders the company makes for much longer than it does build cars.

   Daily (incl. Sundays) 08:30-20:00/23:00 (longer opening hours Th-Sa, summer and Christmas period)

2. See

   Carnavalet

   Museum of Paris history; exhibitions are permanent and free. Renovated 2017–2021.

3. See

   Centre Georges Pompidou

   The museum of modern art. The building and adjoining Stravinsky Fountain are attractions in themselves. Closed for renovation until 2030.

4. See4th arrondissement

   Centre Georges Pompidou

   Centre Georges Pompidou closed its doors in 2025, for a major renovation project, which is expected to be completed in 2030. The vast collection of the museum will be exhibited in various venues across France, as part of the Constellation Program. Please see the website for more information. Another site, Centre Pompidou Francilien – fabrique de l’art in Massy, is expected to open in 2027. Those who are unfamiliar with conceptual art sometimes don't know quite what to expect, or how to approach it. They should rest assured that the curators at the Pompidou Centre have assembled a marvellous introduction consisting of mostly approachable works which delight, amuse, and entertain. The art is far from the only reason for a visit, as the building also contains a vast public library and a fine restaurant (run by the Costes brothers) on the roof. In fact the place is literally surrounded by some of the nicest pavement cafés in the city, in its superb location between the car-free above ground part of Forum Les Halles and the Marais art district.

   closed – check website for reopening (expected 2030)

5. See12th arrondissement

   Cinema Museum

   La Cinémathèque française

   Housed in modern building designed by Frank Gehry, contains a cinema showing French & international films, temporary exhibitions lasting about 6 months, Museum dedicated to the history of cinema. Exhibitions are fairly visual.

   Exhibition & Museum Mon, Wed-Fri noon-7PM; Sat-Sun 11AM-8PM. closed Tue·Exhibition: Adult €12, Reduced €9.50, U18 €6: Museum Adult €10, Reduced&18-35 €7.50, U18 €5. Joint tickets available

6. See14th arrondissement

   Fondation Henri-Cartier-Bresson

   The foundation opened its doors in May 2003. It preserves Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck’s archives. Exhibition of photographs, paintings, sculptings, and illustrations.

   Tue-Sun 13:00-18:30, Wed till 20:30·€6

7. See

   Guimet Museum

   One of the largest collections outside Asia of Southeast Asian, Indian, Afghan, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art.

8. See

   Jacquemart-Andre Museum

   Private collection of French, Italian, and Dutch masterpieces in a typical 19th-century mansion.

9. See1st arrondissement

   Jardin des Tuileries

   Built adjoining the now-lost royal palace of the Tuileries, these gardens lying immediately west of the Louvre offer a central open space for Parisians and visitors with semi-formal gardens (an outdoor gallery for modern sculpture), various cafés, ice cream and crépe stalls, and a summer fun fair. The gardens are frequently home to a giant Ferris wheel and enclose the Musée de la Orangerie and the Jeu de Paume.

10. See8th arrondissement

    Jerome de Noirmont

    This museum represents some key contemporary and emerging artists such as Jean Pierre Raynaud, Eva and Adele, and Jeff Koons.

11. See1st arrondissement

    Jeu de Paume

    Built during the First Empire, in imitation of the Orangerie, this small building is used by the Galerie Nationale to display temporary exhibitions of art photography, either contemporary or historic. This museum once housed many of the Impressionist painters that are now to be found in the Musée d'Orsay on the other side of the River Seine.

12. See1st arrondissement

    L'Orangerie

    Musée de la Orangerie

    Reopened after extensive renovations, this small museum near the Louvre houses the Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume Collection, sold to the French Republic on very generous terms and numbering 143 paintings from the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century (15 Cézannes, 24 Renoirs, 10 Matisses, 12 Picassos, 28 Derains, 22 Soutines). The collection joined the eight immense Water Lilies that Monet gave France in 1922 and which have been displayed since 1927 in two huge oval rooms purpose-built on the artist's instructions.

    Wed-Mon (closed Christmas Day and 1 May) individuals 12:30-19:00, Thu till 21:00; groups, 09:30-12:30;·Adults, €7.50; concessions, €5; special exhibitions, + €1.20; audio guides available in several languages €4.50/€3

13. See13th arrondissement

    La Cité de la Mode et du Design

    Les Docks

    Part gallery - part restaurant - part nightclub, La Cite (Les Docks) is a modern building that is instantly recognisable due to being draped on one side with a large neon green shell covering the stairwells and roof the building. Roughly translated in English as The City of Fashion and Design, this is a trendy spot at the weekends and is used for event like Paris Design Week. The restaurant in the building is open all year round.

    Mon Thu 11:00-19:00, Wed Fri 11:00-22:00, Sat Sun 10:00-20:00

14. Buy2nd arrondissement

    La Gallerie Vivienne

    Start with the best preserved of the galleries and whose décor has been maintained in authentic colours from the era. It's really the mosaic floor which is the star of the show. The shops are distinctly upscale, and all about conspicuous consumption: a wine seller, a tea shop, and a dealer in antique books are among the highlights.

15. Buy1st arrondissement

    Le Carrousel du Louvre

    A diverse underground shopping precinct adjoining the Louvre Museum. Open daily including Sundays. There is also a direct access into the Louvre.

16. See8th arrondissement

    Le Grand Palais

    Galeries nationales du Grand Palais

    Built in 1900 for the universal exposition, the Grand Palais was an engineering feat and a milestone of design, marking the transition between historicism and modern architecture. It remain impressive today due to its unique, exquisite style and sheer volume of its main nave. The Grand Palais, managed by the state-owned institution Rnm who also manage the Musee de Luxembourg, is used both for temporary exhibitions of historic and contemporary art collections (both beaux arts and applied) and unique events, such as catwalk shows during the Paris Fashion Week, Bonhams car auctions and prestigious galas.

    Prices and opening hours set individually for each exhibition and event

17. See

    Les Invalides

    Very impressive museum of arms and armor from the Middle Ages to today. Also contains the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.

18. See4th arrondissement

    MEP – Maison Européenne de la Photographie

    Gallery of photography. The MEP collection spans the history of international photography from the 1950s to the present.

    Wed Fri 11:00-20:00, Thu 11:00-22:00, Sat Sun 10:00-20:00·Full €13, Reduced €9 (+ €1 online)

19. See6th arrondissement

    Museum of the History of Medicine

    Musée d’Histoire de la Médecine

    The museum is located on the second floor of the headquarters of the University of Paris Cité, in a room built in 1905. Inaugurated in the mid-1950’s, it was initially accessible to professors and students of the Faculty of Medicine only. It finally opened its doors to the general public in 1994. The collections are oldest in Europe, were brought together by Dean Lafaye in the 18th century, later added an important set of pieces that cover the different branches of surgical art until the end of the 19th century. There are instruments that were used for the care of the Louis XIV, as well as a few kits of doctors and surgeons and even physiology instruments. (Closed from mid July until the end of August)

20. See3rd arrondissement

    Musée Carnavalet

    Contained within two historic houses (hotels), the museum explores the history of Paris through objects in over 140 separate rooms.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December·Free entry to the permanent collection

21. See3rd arrondissement

    Musée Cognacq-Jay

    The Cognacq-Jay museum houses the collection of 18th-century art amassed by Ernest Cognacq, founder of La Samaritaine department stores, and his wife Marie-Louise Jaÿ.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays·€6-€8

22. See5th arrondissement

    Musée Curie

    This charming scientific museum preserves the offices and laboratories of Pierre and Marie Curie, pioneers in the discovery of radioactivity. Their instruments, equipment, and furniture is arranged as it was during their critically important research. Guided tours in English available.

    Mon-Fri 13ː30-17ː00 except bank holidays and during Aug·free

23. See9th arrondissement

    Musée Grévin

    The Musée Grévin is a waxwork museum with some 500 characters arranged in scenes from the history of France and modern life.

24. See9th arrondissement

    Musée Gustave Moreau

    The house of the symbolist painter has now become a museum to his life and work.

    Wed-Mon, 10ː00-12.45 and 14ː00-17ː15·€4 (some reductions on offer)

25. See8th arrondissement

    Musée Jacquemart-André

    Jacquemart-Andre Museum

    Private collection of French, Italian, Dutch masterpieces in a typical XIXth century mansion.

26. See5th arrondissement

    Musée National Du Moyen Âge

    Musée de Cluny

    Housed in a 15th-century abbey, alongside 1st century Gallo-Roman baths, the museum has an extensive collection of medieval art and artifacts. Highlights include the medieval "Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries, a papal golden rose, and the original heads from the facade of Notre Dame.

    Daily 09:15-17:15·€7.50 (€5.50 reduced rate, free under 18, museum card accepted)

27. See7th arrondissement

    Musée Rodin

    A museum dedicated to the life and work of the great sculptor. The house contains an extensive collection, which is unusually well presented in a spacious building with big windows that are open in nice weather, which makes this museum double pleasant.

    Tue-Sun: museum: 10:00-17:45, park: till 18:00; ticket office: till 17:15. Closed Mon·Admission €5, with discount €3, garden only €1, family ticket €10 (2 adults+1 child, museum+garden), visitors under 18 free

28. See7th arrondissement

    Musée d'Orsay

    Housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station (completed in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle, later saved from demolition and converted to its present use), the rambling, open-plan museum is home to the works of the great artists of the 19th century (1848-1914) - Impressionists, post-Impressionists, and the rest - that were formerly displayed in the l'Orangerie. This is perhaps the most spectacular collection of European impressionism in the world—breath-taking rooms full of Manet, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, and many others. Impressionist represent the biggest draw, but there is much more to explore.

    €9; concessions €6.50; under 18 or 26 for EU member states free

29. See7th arrondissement

    Musée de l'Armée

    This museum is in the historic Invalides complex and presents the history of the French Army. It is co-located with Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb (entry to which is included in the ticket price). Most of the exhibitions are very old fashioned, and the coverage of the First World War is surprisingly limited. A highlight is the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, which displays painstakingly accurate models of French fortresses and includes its own shop.

    10:00-17:00 (1 Oct-31 Mar), 10:00-18:00 (1 Apr-30 Sep), closed on the first Mon of each month·Admission €9, with discount €7

30. See1st arrondissement

    Musée des Arts décoratifs

    A monument to the French art de vivre, housed in a 19th-century wing of the Louvre that has been restored to beaux-arts splendour, its galleries and period rooms showcase eight centuries of Gallic taste in interior decoration.

31. See3rd arrondissement

    Musée des Arts et Métiers

    Museum of Arts and Trades

    An industrial design museum in Paris that houses the collection of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (National Conservatory of Arts and Industry), which was founded in 1794 as a repository for the preservation of scientific instruments and inventions.

    Tue-Sun, 10:00-18:00, Fr until 21:00, closed on Mondays and public holidays·€9-€12

32. See7th arrondissement

    Musée des Égouts de Paris

    Paris Sewer Museum

    For an interesting take on Paris, check out the underground sewers of Paris. See swords found in the sewers over the years and get an appreciation for what it takes to keep Paris running.

    Full fare: €4.30, Student: €3.50

33. See1st arrondissement

    Musée du Louvre

    Its exhibits come from such diverse origins as ancient Egypt, classical Greece and the Roman Empire, medieval Europe, and Napoleonic France, but controversially including many items that were looted from their places of origin. Its most famous exhibit, of course, is Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Mona Lisa (French: La Joconde, Italian: La Gioconda), generally to be found surrounded by hordes of camera-flashing tourists. The Louvre poses many of the same challenges to the visitor as Paris itself; overwhelming in size, crowded in high seasons, and much information available only in French. If you want to see everything in the Louvre, plan at least two full days. However, it is better to pick and choose, as the collection was assembled with an eye to completeness rather than quality. As of July 2019, due to intense crowding and reports of ticket fraud, entry now almost always requires a pre-booked timed ticket, even for holders of the Paris Museum Pass.

    Wed-Mon 09:00-18:00, closed public holidays; evening openings Wed and Fri until 21:45·€12-16; under 18, free; EU-residents, 18-26 years free; exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon €13; combined ticket (museum + special exhibitions) adults €16 Carte Musée

34. See8th arrondissement

    Musée du Petit Palais

    The Petit Palais was built as a complement to the Grand Palais for the 1900 universal exhibition, and afterwards became the prime exhibition venue for the City of Paris' vast collection of artworks spanning centuries from ancient history to around 1914. Later material is at the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris in the 16th. There is a permanent exhibition of selected artworks of artifacts, complemented by temporary exhibitions of historic artworks. The Petit Palais also features an on-site cafe/restaurant, as well as a book and gift shop.

    Open daily except except Mondays and public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00. Thursdays until 20:00 for temporary exhibitions only. Ticket office closes at 17:00·Free admission to the permanent collections. Admission charge for temporary exhibitions (EUR 5-11)

35. See7th arrondissement

    Musée du quai Branly

    Opened in 2006, this is the newest and the most modern of Paris' great museums, housing an outstanding collection of tribal art, with a particular emphasis on France's former (and present) territories in Oceania and Africa. The museum is large and you can easily spend half a day browsing, especially if you pause to explore the multimedia presentations.

    Open Tue-Sun 10:30-19:00 (Thu til 21:00).·Admission €14.00

36. See1st arrondissement

    Musée en Herbe

    The little brother of the original Musée en Herbe in the Bois de Boulogne, this museum is also geared to children. They have games and hands-on exhibits, so you won't have to supervise quite as closely as in other museums. Arts workshops are available as well, but you'll need to reserve a space in advance.

    Daily 10:00-19:00·€4 for the exhibitions, €8 for the workshops

37. See

    Musée national du Moyen Âge

    A medieval museum exhibiting the five "The Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries, housed in a part Roman, part medieval building.

38. See

    Mémorial de la Shoah

    Paris's Holocaust Memorial Museum, in the heart of the Marais on rue Geoffroy l'Asnier. Free Entry, weekly guided tours. Second Sunday of the month there is a free tour in English.

39. See12th arrondissement

    Palais de la Porte Dorée

    Housed in an amazing Art Deco building, purpose-built for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition, featuring an elaborate frieze across the front facade that depicts the achievement of French overseas territories. It houses an Aquarium and an Immigration Museum. The aquarium can be seen in about an hour and is popular with families with small children.

40. See8th arrondissement

    Palais de la decouverte

    Palace of discovery

    In a magnificent the western wing of the Grand Palais, this museum forms a part of science-themed education-oriented universcience establishment together with the La Cite des Sciences in La Villette. In the Palais, you will find two large floors with rooms dedicated to different branches of science, including physics, chemistry, mathematics and life-sciences, as well as a planetarium.

    Tue-Sat 09:30-18:00, Sun 10:00-19:00, closed on Mondays and public holidays and on the day Tour de France finishes in Paris.·Full price €9, planetarium requires extra €3 supplement

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Paris (CC BY-SA 4.0).