If you’re a bit of a history fan, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve handpicked the best of Paris’ museums where you can get your cultural fix. Read on to find out which ones are simply unmissable.
1. Musée du Louvre
Paris’s most-visited museum doesn’t need much of an introduction. In fact, it should be against the law to visit any other first. In this iconic establishment you’ll find the famous Venus de Milo statue and, of course, the small-yet-mighty Mona Lisa. Even the exterior of the building is visually impressive. Join the jaw-dropping 8.1 million yearly visitors to see what all the fuss is about.
99, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Louvre-Pont des Arts
2. Centre Georges Pompidou
This unique museum was designed to look 'inside-out', with pipes, lifts and escalators on the outside. Inside, you’ll find a huge space housing cinematic exhibitions, modern art and live performances. It’s modern art gallery meets museum.
Place Georges Pompidou, Paris, 75004
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Notre Dame
3. Musée d’Orsay
This gorgeous museum is housed in a former railroad station and contains a huge collection of impressionist art and masterpieces produced between 1848 and 1914. It’s worth visiting for the architecture alone and houses a collection that’s similar to the Louvre, if you enjoyed your trip there.
1, rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Musée d'Orsay
4. Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Parisians are known for their chic style and impeccable taste, and if you want to get some French inspiration for your home décor, this museum is the place to visit. It holds a huge collection of fashion and homeware, including a sparkling gallery of jewels which has over 4,000 pieces.
107, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Louvre-Pyramide / Big Bus Information Centre
5. Petit Palais
Some of the big museums in Paris can of course draw huge crowds. If you’re after a quieter option, pick Petit Palais. It boasts works by Rembrandt and Rodin, striking architecture from the 19th century and a peaceful courtyard where you can have a spot of lunch. Best of all, it’s free to enter.
Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Grand Palais
6. Fondation Louis Vuitton
The striking, colourful building that this museum is housed in is worth a visit alone. The modern collection is split into four categories – contemplative, pop, expressionist, music & sound – for an immersive and varied experience. Don’t miss Plateaus – a unique and modern construction made from steel, plants and fluorescent lights.
8, Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, 75116 Paris
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Trocadéro
7. Musée Picasso
This collection was created by Pablo Picasso’s heirs and more of the famous artist’s pieces have slowly been acquired, bringing the total up to around 5,000. As well as finished paintings, there are sketches, drafts and photographs to document the artist’s process, so you can catch a glimpse into the inner workings of Picasso’s mind.
5, rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Notre Dame
8. Musée Rodin
This homage to sculpture artist Rodin is in the grounds of his former home, giving you a truly authentic experience. You’ll see how his work progressed and evolved over his lifetime, to understand his journey of revolutionizing sculpture. You’ll also find a café in the garden and regular temporary exhibitions too.
77, Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Musée d'Orsay
9. Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle
The national natural history museum of France actually has 14 sites spread across the country, and 4 in Paris. The original site is at the Jardin des Plantes to the left of the River Seine. It covers 28 hectares and features the country’s most impressive plant specimen collection.
57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Notre Dame
10. Cité des Sciences et de l’industrie
This place is the biggest science museum in Europe and attracts over 5 million visitors a year. Ideal for families, there are special areas for children and teens, plus interactive attractions including a planetarium, a submarine and an IMAX theatre.
30, avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris
Montmartre – Blue, Stop: Gare du Nord
And that’s not all. There are around 130 museums to visit in Paris, so even after you’ve visited all of the above, there’s plenty more to see. For more inspiration on how to fill the rest of your time in the city, click here for more itinerary ideas.
