If you’re wondering how many museums Paris has, the answer is quite a lot. Paris is a city where art, history, and culture are profoundly valued, reflected in the fact that there are over 30 museums to visit.
From the renowned galleries of the Louvre to the contemporary spaces of the Pompidou Center, Parisian museums cover an incredible range of disciplines, including painting, sculpture, history, and science. There’s a museum in Paris to capture your imagination and enrich your visit.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best museums in Paris, highlighting the most important masterpieces on display and offering practical tips to make the most of your visit. Whether it’s your first time in Paris or you’ve been here before, this list will help you uncover the cultural treasures hidden in Paris’s museums.
Interactive map of all museums in Paris
Below, you’ll find an interactive map showing all the museums in the city. For more information about each one, click on its icon, and a window will pop up with the following details:
- Name
- Description
- Address
- URL
- Google Maps rating
- Photos
Remember, you can share this map with anyone by clicking on the icon in the upper right corner.
Here’s a list of the most important museums you can visit in Paris:
One of the most important museums in the city and the world, the Louvre is located in the heart of Paris along the banks of the Seine. Its extensive art collection is fittingly housed in the impressive Louvre Palace, which has both historical and artistic significance. Its architecture is a blend of historical elements and the modern glass pyramid that appears in countless photos.
The Louvre boasts over 35,000 works of art, covering a period from prehistory to the 19th century. Some of the museum’s most famous pieces include the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Liberty Leading the People. The museum has a long history, having opened in 1793 during the French Revolution.
When it comes to tickets, it’s important to note that there are often long lines, so buying tickets online is highly recommended. Here are some options:
2. Pompidou Center
This striking building houses Paris’s National Center for Art and Culture, which includes a fantastic library, a music research center, and most notably, the National Museum of Modern Art (the largest modern art collection in Europe). Opened in 1977, it makes an immediate impression with its unconventional design, featuring exposed pipes and escalators on its exterior.
Main Collections:
- Modern Art: Spanning from the early 20th century to the 1960s, this collection includes significant works from movements like cubism, surrealism, and fauvism. Key pieces include “Le Violon d’Ingres” by Man Ray, sketches of Picasso’s “Guernica,” and “The Garden of Delights” by Max Ernst.
- Contemporary Art: Here, you’ll find works from the 1960s onward by iconic artists like Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys, Anselm Kiefer, Cindy Sherman, and Damien Hirst. This collection encompasses paintings, sculptures, photography, and even video art.
- Architecture: Design and architecture play a central role at the Pompidou, with blueprints and furniture pieces by influential figures such as Le Corbusier and Philippe Starck.
To avoid waiting in line, we recommend booking your tickets in advance through these links:
3. Musée d’Orsay
This museum is the world’s leading gallery for Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and Realist paintings. Located in the former Orsay railway station (built for the 1900 World’s Fair), it’s a must-see for art enthusiasts.
Main Collections:
- Impressionism: Home to the world’s largest collection of Impressionist art, featuring works by Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, Renoir, and Degas.
- Post-Impressionism: Notable pieces include “Starry Night Over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gogh, “The Card Players” by Paul Cézanne, and “Arearea” by Paul Gauguin.
- Realism: Focused on daily life, with standout works like “The Origin of the World” by Courbet, “The Gleaners” by Millet, “The Third-Class Carriage” by Daumier, and “The Plow” by Bonheur.
Museum Hours:
- The Musée d’Orsay is open every day except Mondays.
- Hours: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
- On Thursdays, it stays open later, until 9:45 PM.
Tickets:
- Musée d’Orsay entry ticket
- Guided tour of the Musée d’Orsay
- Entry ticket + digital audio guide
- Entry ticket and Seine River cruise
4. Musée Rodin
Museum-Palace Rodin Museum
This museum is primarily dedicated to the work of the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin. It opened as a museum in 1919 in the former luxurious Hôtel Biron, where Rodin once lived, and today it holds the most complete collection of his sculptures, drawings, and other works.
Housed in a beautiful 18th-century building surrounded by expansive gardens, it provides an ideal setting for Rodin’s art. In addition to its permanent collections, the museum also features works by other artists, including Camille Claudel, a major muse and collaborator of Rodin.
Some of the most famous pieces you can see in the museum include:
- The Thinker (Le Penseur)
- The Kiss (Le Baiser)
- The Gates of Hell (La Porte de l’Enfer)
If you’re interested in visiting both the Rodin and Orsay Museums, consider booking this combined entry ticket for both, which comes with a nice discount.
5. Musée de l’Orangerie
A renowned gallery featuring Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and Modern Art, located next to the Seine River in the Tuileries Garden. Originally an orangery greenhouse, this bright and welcoming space is ideal for experiencing art.
The Orangerie is particularly famous for Monet’s “Water Lilies Cycle.” Beyond Monet, the museum also holds an excellent collection of works by other Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists.
Notable works to see:
- Water Lilies Cycle (Les Nymphéas) by Claude Monet
- The Walter-Guillaume Collection, featuring works collected by art patrons Walter and Domenica Guillaume
This is one of Paris’s must-visit museums. Admission is free for minors and for European citizens under 26. You can also use the Paris Museum Pass for entry or purchase tickets at a discount here.
Booking tickets online in advance is recommended to avoid queues.
6. Army Museum
The Army Museum (Musée de l’Armée) preserves a significant part of French history through exhibits on battles, weapons, wars, and key figures such as Napoleon. Located within the Les Invalides complex, it is one of the world’s most famous military museums.
In addition to its impressive exhibits, Les Invalides is well-known for housing the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte (in the Dôme des Invalides). The museum’s displays cover arms and armor, the World Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars.
Napoleon’s mausoleum is located beneath the golden dome of the Dôme Church, with his red quartzite tomb surrounded by sculptures and the crypts of other notable figures from his era.
Entry Tickets:
- General admission ticket granting unlimited access to all Les Invalides buildings:
BOOK - Guided 2.5-hour tour, covering the cathedral, Napoleon’s tomb, and the Army Museum: BOOK
BOOKHours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (April to October) and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (November to March).
7. Musée de Cluny
The Cluny Museum, or National Museum of the Middle Ages, is located in the heart of the Latin Quarter of Paris, specifically in the remains of the ancient thermal baths of Lutetia. Founded in 1843, it houses a remarkable collection of medieval artifacts ranging from the 5th to the 15th century.
If one piece stands out above all, it would be the famous Tapestries of the Lady and the Unicorn.
Main Collections:
- Tapestries: One of the world’s finest collections of medieval tapestries, with pieces dating from the 14th to the 16th centuries.
- Sculptures: Masterpieces of Romanesque and Gothic sculpture, including religious figures, architectural elements, and funerary sculptures.
- Medieval Art: Encompasses stained glass, manuscripts, metalwork, ceramics, and jewelry from the period.
The Musée de Cluny is open daily except Mondays from 9:15 AM to 5:45 PM.
8. Picasso Museum
France shares a profound connection with Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, and in Paris, you can visit the Picasso Museum, located in the Hôtel Salé in the Marais district. Opened in 1985, the museum holds hundreds of works spanning Picasso’s entire career.
The museum offers an in-depth look at Picasso’s artistic evolution, with paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and drawings that captivate visitors, along with insights into his personal life that might surprise many.
The museum also hosts periodic temporary exhibitions, often exploring aspects of Picasso’s work, collaborations with other artists, or specific periods in his life. For a quieter visit, it’s best to arrive as soon as the museum opens or after 4:00 PM and avoid weekends.
These are some of the top museums in Paris, but there are many others to explore on your own. If you’re passionate about art and culture, Paris is one of the best cities to experience.