The 17 Best Museums in Paris

Paris has one of the largest museum and cultural offerings in Europe; so much so that sometimes you need a guide to help you navigate the wide variety and make the best choices. It's impossible to pick just one, but as I imagine your time in Paris won't be endless, here's a list of the city's most important museums so you can choose which ones to spend your time at.

It needs no introduction; it is the museum par excellence in Paris and one of the largest art collections in Europe. Therefore, I advise you to book your skip-the-line tickets in advance. Otherwise, you run the risk of tickets to the Louvre selling out due to the large number of visitors.

Types of tickets

In addition to the general admission ticket, there are various ticket options for exploring the museum. Here are the best ones:

• Guided tour: without a doubt, the most recommended option. To fully enjoy the visual spectacle before you, I 100% recommend booking a guided tour of the Louvre Museum; when a professional explains the museum's main works to you, you enjoy and learn twice as much in half the time.
• Family option: If you are travelling with your family and are considering skipping the Louvre because you have children, don't do it! You have the option of booking a private guided tour for children that will spark their interest in art and culture.

Useful information

I find it difficult to be objective about this museum because, of all the museums in Paris, it is my favourite. The size of the museum, divided into two floors, and the orderly layout of the rooms allow you to enjoy it without feeling overwhelmed and at your own pace. In addition, the light that floods the main gallery and the tranquillity that permeates the atmosphere make this place very special.

Types of tickets

• General admission: To see both the permanent and temporary collections, the best option is to book your digital ticket to the Musée d'Orsay.
• Guided tour: In my case, I prefer to enjoy it on my own, but don't rule out taking a guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay, which will give you the information you need to fall in love with both the museum itself and the works of art it contains.

Useful information

The Pompidou Centre will remain closed until 2030 due to extensive architectural and technical renovations aimed at modernising its facilities without altering its iconic industrial design. While the work is underway, part of its collection will travel throughout France and Europe as part of the Constellation Pompidou programme, keeping its artistic spirit alive.

Considered one of the most original museums in Europe, this cultural centre houses one of the largest collections of contemporary art in the world. With its exposed pipework and external escalators, the Pompidou is both an architectural icon and a temple of modern art, where names such as Duchamp, Kandinsky, Picasso and Matisse shine.

Plan your visit

Although the building will not be open to visitors for the next few years, the Pompidou remains very much a part of Parisian cultural life. The museum organises temporary exhibitions in other venues around the city and collaborates with international institutions to showcase its most outstanding works.

If you are planning your trip for after the reopening, you will be pleased to know that the centre's spacious rooms allow you to stroll through the exhibitions without feeling overwhelmed, and there are usually fewer queues than at other museums in Paris. You can also buy tickets for the Pompidou Centre in advance once it reopens.

Useful information

In the meantime, you can take the opportunity to discover other contemporary art venues in the city, such as the Fondation Louis Vuitton or the Palais de Tokyo, which keep the modern Parisian scene alive.

Whether you are familiar with Rodin's work or have never seen one of his sculptures, you must visit this museum. The collection of 400 works housed in a historic 18th-century mansion is complemented by those on display in the beautiful gardens, where you can stroll without crowds or rushing.

As always, I recommend buying your ticket to the Rodin Museum in advance so you can simply arrive and enjoy.

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If you like Impressionist painting, this museum is the place to enjoy Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by Matisse, Picasso, Renoir and Cézanne. Located near the Louvre, in the Tuileries Garden, the Orangerie is a small, specialised museum (you'll recognise it by its Greek temple appearance), but it is still one of the most visited museums in Paris and one of the city's highlights.

You may have seen Monet's water lily paintings (which he painted up to 250 times in pursuit of perfection); eight of these works are in this museum. To make sure you don't miss out, be sure to buy your ticket to the Musée de l'Orangerie in advance.

*Due to renovation work in its galleries, this museum is currently closed until early March 2025.

Details of interest

The leading Spanish artist in Cubism always considered Paris his second home. If you take a guided tour of the Montmartre neighbourhood, you will discover the places he frequented during his stay in the French capital and hear more than one anecdote about the artist. For this reason, there had to be a museum dedicated to him in Paris, specifically in the Le Marais neighbourhood (a neighbourhood that, by the way, is well worth visiting).

Although it is not the largest collection of this artist's work, the pieces and documentation housed in this museum offer a window into the life and work of this Spanish genius. What's more, your ticket to the Picasso Museum also allows you to admire pieces by Matisse, Miró, Derain and Cézanne that were part of the artist's own collection.

Details of interest

France is a country that places great importance on its military history, whose achievements are embodied by the figure of Napoleon. On a visit to the Les Invalides museum, located in the hotel of the same name, you will learn about the European political landscape while viewing the collection of armour, war paintings, weapons and other objects related to the French Revolution and the Second World War.

The visit also includes the Dome Church, where Napoleon's tomb is located.

Details of interest

All big cities have a wax museum where famous figures from the city's history are represented. Paris is no exception, and in this case, the wax museum (Musée Grévin) is quite impressive and enlivened by the show you'll find in the Gallery of Illusions.

Ryan Gosling, Marilyn Monroe, Louis XIV and Mozart are some of the figures represented in the museum. This is one of the most enjoyable visits to do with the family, but I recommend booking your tickets to the Grevin Museum in advance to avoid the queues that form at the entrance.

Details of interest

In this museum, you won't see works of art or learn about history. In this museum, you'll have a good time and be amazed at how your own senses can deceive you. The Museum of Illusions, as its name suggests, focuses on optical phenomena and intellectual challenges.

This experience, which can also be enjoyed in cities such as New York, Shanghai, Toronto and Dubai, is ideal for sharing with friends or children. If you want to take a break between visits on your trip to Paris, book your tickets to the Museum of Illusions and enjoy a different kind of experience.

Details of interest

It's best not to visit this museum on an empty stomach, because you run the risk of getting a serious sugar rush. A visit to the Chocolate Museum in Paris includes unlimited chocolate tasting and will help you learn about the history of one of France's most famous sweets and, of course, how it is made.

With a 90-minute audio-guided tour that you can book online, this visit is sure to make your mouth water.

Interesting details

You have to travel outside the centre of Paris to visit this museum dedicated to the First World War, but if you are particularly interested in this part of history, it is well worth buying a ticket to the Great War Museum, where you can see a total of 70,000 historical objects and documents.

The collection was started by a private historian, Jean-Pierre Verney, who spent 50 years gathering the objects that were later purchased by the Pays de Meaux community, which now houses the museum. One of the advantages of this museum is that it is adapted for children to visit and learn a little more about this important period in European history in an interactive way.

Interesting details

Not all of Paris's works of art are displayed on a pedestal or in a frame. The city's cultural heritage is also something to be admired, and part of this heritage is the French wine-making tradition. In this museum, you will learn more about wine, how it is made and its importance in the French capital. Admission to the Wine Museum also includes a tasting.

The Wine Museum is located near the Eiffel Tower and its galleries are built on the former Passy quarries.

Details of interest

The Impressionist painter Auguste Renoir lived in what is now the Montmartre Museum, which is why the breathtaking gardens surrounding the museum (overlooking a secret vineyard) still bear his name. This museum is dedicated to nostalgia; nostalgia divided between Renoir's life and the essence of the Montmartre neighbourhood that inspired the artist during one of the most important artistic periods of his career.

The most important thing about the Montmartre Museum is not the works of art (although there are some), but the history of a neighbourhood and an era, the history of bohemian Paris. If you fell in love with the stories of this place and those who lived there, I recommend visiting the Montmartre Museum and taking the time to absorb everything this museum has to tell you.

Details of interest

The Petit Palais building, at the beginning of the Champs-Élysées, houses works of art ranging from antiquity to the early 20th century, collectively known as the Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris.

Admission to the permanent collection is free, but the most interesting part of this museum is the temporary exhibitions. It is also worth taking a look at the building itself and strolling through the peaceful central garden.

Details of interest

There are food museums, art museums, museums about the history of the city's inhabitants, war museums... Of course, there had to be one that tells the story of the evolution of the city of Paris itself, from its birth to the present day.

This is the Carnavalet Museum, located in the Le Marais district, which houses all kinds of works of art, models, furniture and other objects related to the history of the French capital. A recommended visit for anyone curious to find out how the City of Light came to be what it is today.

Details of interest

Don't be fooled by the name; in this museum you won't learn about the history of Japan, but you will continue to experience key pieces of modern and contemporary art similar to those in the Pompidou Museum. The Palais de Tokyo houses a smaller collection than its big brother, but one that is equally interesting.

The Palais de Tokyo museum breaks away from tradition to become a centre for artistic creation that encompasses the visual arts, fashion and music. It is one of the most original and essential visits for art lovers looking for something new and out of the ordinary.

Details of interest

Access to the permanent collection of this museum, located in one of the wings of the Palais de Tokyo, is free of charge. The Museum of Modern Art focuses on 20th-century painting and therefore on movements such as surrealism, Dadaism, Fauvism and Cubism by artists such as Modigliani, Picasso, Matisse and Braque.

The Museum of Modern Art tends to go unnoticed by most people, but I assure you that it is well worth a visit.

Details of interest

Paris is the great capital of the arts, which is why it has so many cultural centres where you can enjoy discovering the heritage of its artists. If, in addition to visiting its monuments, you want to make your visit a true experience of French art and culture, here are some other exhibitions to add to your cultural agenda:

• The World of Banksy exhibition in Paris: the mysterious graffiti artist Banksy has created a large number of murals around the world that leave no one indifferent. In this immersive exhibition on his work, you can learn more about the satire and social activism that this well-known British artist seeks to convey.
• Marmottan Monet Museum in Paris: if you like Monet's work, this is the museum for you. It houses the largest collection of paintings by the Impressionist artist. Among the many paintings in the museum, you can explore the legendary 'Impression, Sunrise'
• Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac Museum in Paris: this is a collection of works of art from around the world that showcase the cultural diversity of the five continents. From masks to weapons, musical instruments and tapestries, this is an evocative collection that will surprise you.
• Hôtel de la Marine in Paris: although not a museum as such, this iconic 18th-century monument, which retains its impressive period décor, also has a collection of works that show the evolution of art from ancient civilisations to the present day.

If you are a museum lover and, after reading this list, you have already added several to your travel plan, I recommend investing in a Paris tourist pass. These passes allow you to access various attractions, save money and, in many cases, avoid queues.

Tourist pass options in Paris

• Paris Museum Pass: If your main interest is museums and monuments, this pass offers free, skip-the-line entry to numerous cultural sites for 2, 4 or 6 consecutive days, depending on the option you choose. It is ideal if you plan to visit several museums during your stay.
• Paris Pass: A more comprehensive option that combines museums, monuments and other tourist attractions, including boat trips and bus tours. Perfect if you want to enjoy a more varied experience in the city.
• Paris Explorer Pass: With this pass, you can choose a specific number of attractions instead of a limited number of days: it's a good alternative if you prefer a more flexible plan without feeling the pressure to see many things in a short time.

For more information about these tourist passes, check out our post, which is very useful for finding out whether the Paris tourist card is worth it.

If, in addition to the cultural offerings of Paris, you want to round off your visit to the City of Light with a more relaxed attraction, a great way to top it off is to climb the Eiffel Tower and enjoy the incredible views of the city from the top. Here is an article I have written about Eiffel Tower Tickets and Tours so you can read all the details you need to know when planning your visit.

If, on the other hand, you feel like relaxing while seeing the city's most incredible buildings, taking a cruise on the Seine is a great option. I've also written a guide on 8 Best Seine River Cruises to tell you everything you need to know. Bon voyage!