Museums in Paris

The quintessential Parisian experience includes a visit to the top-tier museums in the city. Paris pays homage to all the significant eras of art, discovery and enlightenment through both renowned and underrated museums such as the Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, Orangerie Museum, Carnavalet, and many more. Discover works of renowned painters such Van Gogh, Monet, Rainier, da Vinci, Caravaggio, Titian, and many more.

The Louvre Museum is without a doubt the most-visited and -busiest in Paris. Along with the Louvre, the Orsay Museum, Centre Pompidou, Quai Branly, Orangerie Museum, and Grevin Museum are the most popular in the city.

There are several family-friendly museums in Paris for children. Museum of Sciences and Industry, Discover Palace, Musee du Quai Branly, Museum of Magic, Museum of Natural History, and Chocolate Museum are the top places for children in Paris.

Yes. If you book your museum tickets online, you can enjoy skip-the-line entry which allows you to bypass the long waiting lines and get priority entry to all exhibits and collections. Another way of getting skip-the-line entry is by booking a guided tour. These by default include priority access to the museum. You can find skip-the-line entry with Louvre Museum tickets, Orsay Museum tickets, Musee de l'Orangerie tickets, Picasso Museum tickets, Rodin Museum tickets and more.

Yes, most museums in Paris offer guided tours to visitors. You can opt for a self-guided tour with an audio guide to explore the museums at your own pace. Alternatively, you can also opt for the services of a local guide who will give you an in-depth tour of the museums and their prized collections. Guided tours in Paris are great if you're looking for an in-depth insight into museums' history, architecture, featured artists, and prominent artwork.

Not all museums in Paris offer night tours. Specific museums such as the Louvre, Montmartre, Orsay Museum, etc., offer evening or night tours. You'll be accompanied by an expert guide who will guide you through museum's unique collections and give you insight on its history, featured artists, cultural relevance and more. The night time is perfect for those looking to avoid large crowds and soak in all the fascinating information about Paris's museums. One of the most popular, highly recommended tours is of the Louvre at night.

Children, senior citizens, and students with valid ID proof can enjoy discounted tickets in selected museums. Additionally, Headout offers discounts up to 16% and cashback up to 10% on selected museum tickets in Paris.

Most popular museums in the city are covered under Paris city passes. You can visit the Louvre, Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Pantheon, Arc de Triomphe, Rodin, Grevin, Quai Branly, Orangerie, Picasso Museum, and many more with these passes.

The cancelation policy varies depending on the type of ticket you purchase. While some museum tickets in Paris allow you to cancel up to 24/48/72 hours before your scheduled visit, some of them cannot be canceled or rescheduled.

Visitors enjoy free entry to most museums in Paris on the first Sunday of every month. Children, EU citizens under the age of 26, and persons with disabilities also enjoy free entry to these museums.

Some free museums are Musee Bourdelle, Musée Cognacq-Jay, Musée Cernuschi, The Petit Palais, Musée de la Vie Romantique, and Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.

One may assume that the oldest museum is the Louvre, but it is Paris' Carnavalet Museum that goes back about 2000 years. The Carnavalet provides a unique, in-depth insight into the city's history and has recently opened up after extensive renovations. This museum exhibits the lives and lifestyles of prominent royal figures in the form of art, furnishings, tools, books, jewelry, maps, models, and other fascinating objects.

The largest museum is the Louvre, which has on display about 380,000 works of art, spread across over 60,000 sq. m. in surface area. This makes it one of the most-visited museums in the world. One can find works of art by maestros such as Caravaggio, Eugene Delacroix, Jacques-Louis David, Leonardo da Vinci, and more.

Personal photography is allowed at most museums in Paris. However, photography for commercial use, or through tripods and selfie sticks is not permitted.

The best time of day to visit museums in Paris is early morning during weekdays, since weekends and evenings tend to draw a large crowd. The best time of year would be between October to April; however, keep in mind that December gets quite crowded due to the holiday season worldwide.

No, most museums in Paris are closed on Christmas and New Year's. Open on Christmas: Musée de Montmartre, Centre Pompidou, and Musée Jacquemart-André. Open on New Year's: Musée de l’Orangerie, Quai Branly, Orsay Museum, and Grand Palais among others.