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When we think of a city that has beauty, elegance, romance, and culture, one of the first choices that comes to mind is Paris. This city, known as the "city of lights", has a special charm both day and night. This makes for trips that can be made the most of, but even more so if you are a lover of history and art. In order to create an excellent itinerary, we show you a guide to the most famous Paris museums.
Visiting Paris is synonymous with immersing yourself in a world full of history and art. Every corner of this city has a hidden surprise for you and luckily for you, you have at your disposal some of the most famous museums in the world. Here is a list of museums in Paris that you can't miss.
The Louvre has a great international reputation and since 1989 it has had much more visual impact thanks to its famous pyramid.
This construction has come to compete with other monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysees. You may not know that the Louvre was originally built as a fortress during the 12th century. However, in the XII century its function changed to be the main residence of the kings of France. Today, it holds the title of the most visited museum in the world, having received more than 7.8 million visitors in 2022.
As a recommendation, we want you to remember to book your ticket in advance to ensure your visit and avoid endless queues. No wonder this museum has so many art lovers waiting at its doors. It has around 35,000 works of art, ranging from prehistoric times to the 21st century. What's more, the beauty of this monument is equally divided between the interior and exterior. When you walk through the corridors and admire the architecture, you can feel a great solemn atmosphere - Louis XIV himself has walked through these corridors too!
As for its opening hours, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, but is open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except on Fridays when it closes at 9:45 p.m. Last admission is 1 hour before closing and room evacuation begins 30 minutes before closing. On public holidays, such as January 1, May 1 and December 25, the Louvre is closed. However, it is open on other holidays, except if they fall on a Tuesday, which is the closing day for the entire museum.
The second in the list of museums in Paris is the Musée d'Orsay, an architectural and artistic marvel that was born as a train station for the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1900. As you can see, the Parisians during the universal expositions have had very good ideas that they have wanted to preserve to give their city more life.
Visiting this museum you will be able to travel through time thanks to a collection that spans from 1848 to 1914. Some of the paintings you can see are from artists like Van Gogh, Degas, Pissarro, Cézanne, Munch, Klimt and Manet. Of course, we advise you to study in advance the map of the museum and the main works you want to see, so you can go directly there. Another recommendation is to go on the first Sunday of the month to have free access to the museum and save that part of the travel budget for another activity.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The last entrance to the museum is at 5 p.m., while entrance to the exhibitions is at 5:15 p.m. Remember to plan your visit taking into account that the closing time for the galleries begins at 5:30 p.m. In case you are interested in making an evening visit, Thursdays are the perfect day, as they keep the doors open until 9:45 p.m. Last admission to the museum and exhibits is at 9 p.m. and closing time starts at 9:15 p.m. The museum is closed every Monday, May 1 and December 25.
The Pompidou is an artistic oasis in the medieval Marais district. To get there easily, we recommend you go to the Rambuteau metro station and get on line 11.
As it usually happens in the History of Art, novelties are not usually well accepted and that is what happened to this museum during the 1990s. However, today, with the passage of time and changes in mentality, it enjoys great prestige and appreciation for its design, thus being one of the most famous Paris museums. It contains more than 60,000 works from pop, surrealist and cubist art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. One of the highlights of this museum is that they hold temporary exhibitions of avant-garde works and little recognized talents, but who have much to contribute to the contemporary art scene.
It also has the place Georges Pompidou, where street artists, mimes and musicians animate the environment. To complete the experience, you can enjoy the Stravinsky fountain which is surrounded by outdoor cafes where you can have a good snack.
Therefore, thanks to its cozy atmosphere and large collection, we can safely say that the Pompidou is at the pinnacle of modern art with works by David Hockney, Picasso and Andy Warhol, among others.
Finally, you should know that this museum is open every day except Tuesdays, with annual closing on May 1 and early closing (7 p.m.) on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Regular museum and exhibit hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Thursdays, exhibits on level 6 are open until 11 p.m. and the Galerie des Enfants is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you're thinking of checking out a book or buying a souvenir, the bookstore and store are open from 11 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Evacuation of spaces begins 10 minutes before museum closing and checkout closes 1 hour before closing.
Let yourself be carried away by the amazing world of the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, where Frank Gehry's architecture is not only a masterpiece, but a spectacle in itself! This building is much more than a museum; it is a jewel that immerses you in a universe of modern art and complex artistic installations.
We recommend that you imitate the most professional and study the museum map in advance to know where the works you want to see are located. The collection offers works by Ellsworth Kelly, Olafur Eliasson and Jean-Michel Basquiat, among others. In addition, Gehry's innovative architecture has made the Louis Vuitton Foundation a stage for major Parisian events and even Louis Vuitton fashion shows! Moreover, its rooftop terraces offer panoramic views that include the Eiffel Tower, the La Défense shopping district, the Jardin d'Acclimatation and the Bois de Boulogne. The Fondation Louis Vuitton is much more than an art space; it is a breathtaking setting that fuses architectural creativity with contemporary artistic expression.
As for its opening hours, this museum is open every day except Tuesday. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Friday, it is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing, offering a cultural experience until dusk. The ticket price is €16, although discounts are available for families and young people.
The Musée Marmottan Monet is one of the most famous Paris museums, an artistic corner that highlights the genius of Claude Monet with more than 300 paintings, including the emblematic work of the impressionist movement, "Impression, Sunrise". The museum dazzles with works such as "Nympheas", and other jewels of Monet, making it an unmissable stop for art lovers.
Thanks to the generous donation of Michel Monet, second son and heir of Claude Monet, this museum came to life and is preserving the final works of his father. In addition, he made the donation to the French State and not to private individuals, in an act of disinterested.
The Monet Museum's doors are open Tuesday through Sunday, welcoming art enthusiasts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you're a true fan of this museum, we recommend booking your visit for a Thursday, as they offer an extended experience, allowing visitors to enjoy the collection until 9 p.m. On the other hand, keep in mind that the museum is closed on Mondays, so plan your visit for any other day of the week.
The Musée du Luxembourg, is also considered the oldest public museum in France. It is a place to visit if you like time travel, as it dates back to the 18th century. Today, it is under the direction of the French senate and represents a dynamic space, hosting captivating temporary exhibitions that give a place to various artists, eras and themes. If this is your first visit, you should know that, while you explore these masterpieces, you can relax in the Angelina tea room in front of the museum, an Eden of tranquility, perfect for contemplating art before or after your visit.
As for the museum opening hours, you have at your disposal the opportunity to explore this cultural legacy every day of the year, from 10:30 am to 7 pm. On the other hand, if you are a big fan of this museum, remember that on Mondays you can enjoy an extended evening visit until 10 p.m. and if you want to organize a special visit, it is open on holidays, except May 1 and December 25. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, the museum welcomes you from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last admission 45 minutes before closing and evacuation of the galleries 15 minutes before closing.
The Hôtel de la Marine is the most recent jewel in the capital's cultural crown, rising above the Place de la Concorde. It is in the former Garde Meuble and, although barely a year old, it has already captured the attention of all Parisian art lovers. It has begun operations for the first time in 250 years, offering an immersive experience that invites you to explore the XVIII century apartments of the Garde Meuble's intendants. They have been meticulously restored to their original layout, as have the grandiose reception rooms filled with period furnishings and paintings. The tour is brought to life with a one-hour theatrical audio guide and has flexible hours every day.
Plan your visit keeping in mind that the last access to the monument is 45 minutes before closing time, so you can make the most of your time. In case you go in a group, it is important to know that Tuesday afternoons, Thursday mornings and the first night of the month are reserved for group visits, offering a more intimate experience. Finally, the museum is closed on the holidays of January 1, May 1 and December 25.
In conclusion, visiting the most famous Paris museums is imperative if you visit the “city of lights”. However, we recommend you select the ones that interest you the most and prioritize them to enjoy them properly. These museums that we have proposed are big and visiting them can take you, sometimes, a whole afternoon.
If you are interested in visiting all these museums, we recommend you to book a room during your trip in one of our hotels in Paris.
NH Paris Champs-Elysées is located in the 8th arrondissement, a chic neighborhood where many of Paris’s shopping destinations and must-see cultural landmarks are located. Thanks to the hotel’s excellent location, you’ll find that the Champs-Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, Place de la Concorde as well as the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the President of the French Republic, are all either within walking distance or within direct metro access.
NH Paris Gare de l’Est is located in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, on the right bank of the River Seine. It’s opposite Gare de l’Est train station and is only an eight-minute walk away from Gare du Nord. The hotel sits in a cosmopolitan and multicultural neighborhood, which is also home to two magnificent markets and is known for Canal Saint-Martin, which offers a great number of informal restaurants, hip bars and attractive shops.
NH Paris Opéra Faubourg is locate on Rue La Fayette in the 9th arrondissement (Opéra) of Paris, between Montmartre and the antiquarian district of Drouot. As a result, it’s within walking distance of some of the main tourist attractions in the city. For example, both Opéra Garnier and Galeries Lafayette are only a 15-minute walk from the property. Meanwhile, Boulevard Haussmann, which is home to many high street fashion brands, is just 10 minutes away. Other points of interest, such as the Louvre, Place Vendôme and Sacré-Cœur are within 30 minutes on foot.
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