The most famous museum in France, and possibly in the world, is the Louvre. Every first-timer to Paris goes to this cultural landmark to see the immense and iconic art collection it houses. But what if battling crowds in a gigantic museum isn’t your thing? Or what if you’ve been to the Louvre already? Well, believe it or not, there’s more than one museum in the French capital. Below is a selection of seven museums in Paris, including the oldest and the newest museums in the city. You may never have heard of them, but they are guaranteed to add a touch of surprise and a serious dose of awe to you next visit to France.
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7 Must-See Museums in Paris That Are Not the Louvre
- Where are the best museums in Paris (besides the Louvre) located?
- The best museums in Paris for Impressionist art
- The best museums in Paris for Modern art
- The best museums in Paris for repeat visitors
- Where to stay in Paris to be near the city’s best museums
Where are the best museums in Paris (besides the Louvre) located?
The best museums in Paris for Impressionist art
Musée d’Orsay
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The Musée d’Orsay, housed in a former grand railway station, is located on the banks of the river Seine. This iconic museum has an impressive selection of artwork from various movements, but it is especially well-known for its extensive collection of Impressionist art. Highlights of the Musée d’Orsay include works by Monet, Manet, van Gogh, Renoir, Caillebotte, Degas and many others. Once you’ve gone around the museum, head over to Café Campana on level five for a snack and a great indoor view of one of the massive clocks that adorn the facade of the museum.
Address: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France
Hours of operation: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:30 AM to 6 PM. Thursday from 9:30 AM to 9:45 PM. Closed on May 1, December 25, and every Monday.
Cost: It is cheaper to purchase your ticket upon arrival than online. Admission is $17.30 (16 €) for adults (18 and over) online instead of $15 (14 €) at the door. Between 6 PM and 9:45 PM on Thursday, visitors pay $13 (12 €) online or $11 (10 €) at the door. Discounts may apply; please check the website to see if you can benefit from them. Some exhibitions carry a separate charge.
Musée de l’Orangerie
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Located in the Tuileries Garden, near the Louvre, the Musée de l’Orangerie is best known for its large permanent collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Rousseau, and more. Monet’s immense Water Lilies, beautifully displayed in a circular room, are the highlights of this museum.
Address: Jardin Tuileries, 75001 Paris, France
Hours of operation: Wednesday to Monday from 9 AM to 6 PM. Closed Tuesday.
Cost: Admission is free for all on the first Sunday of every month, but an online reservation is compulsory. General admission is $13.50 (12.50 €) for adults (18 and over). Discounts may apply; please check the website to see if you can benefit from them. Some exhibitions carry a separate charge. Advance booking online is highly recommended.
The best museums in Paris for Modern art
Centre Pompidou
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The Centre Pompidou is a Modern art museum that was founded in 1977. The huge and colorful building, a structure made of glass and metal, stands out as one of the most unique in all of Paris. Meant to look like an inside-out building, the Centre Pompidou is a celebrated piece of architecture you’d be remiss to pass on. Inside, the Centre is home to world-renowned works (painting, sculptures installations, etc.) from contemporary artists such as Frida Khalo, Martial Raysse, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Fernand Léger, and many more.
Address: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France
Hours of operation: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 11 AM to 9 PM. Thursday from 9 AM to 11 PM. Closed on May 1 and every Tuesday.
Cost: Admission to the permanent collection of the museum is free for all on the first Sunday of every month. General admission is $16.30 (15 €) for adults (18 and over). Discounts may apply; please check the website to see if you can benefit from them. Some exhibitions carry a separate charge. Advance booking online is highly recommended.
Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (MAM)
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Don’t let the beautiful and seemingly classical exterior of the Palais de Tokyo fool you. The building, designed in 1937, has always housed Modern art. Le Palais de Tokyo is the building in which the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) is housed, but it’s also the name of the contemporary art venue that lives under the same roof, but separately from MAM. Calling itself an “anti-museum”, the Palais de Tokyo is full of radical art projects that change every season and keep the place in state of permanent transformation. The Palais de Tokyo has different admission fees and hours of operation from MAM. MAM is in the east wing of the building and is home to more than 15,000 works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. The art, and the way it’s displayed, is much more conventional there than at the venue next door.
Address: 11 Av. du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris, France
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Cost: Free admission to the permanent collection. A $5.50 (5 €) donation is recommended. Temporary exhibitions carry a separate charge.
La Bourse de Commerce
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The newest Paris museum at time of writing, the Bourse de Commerce, is home to a collection of more than 10,000 contemporary artwork (paintings, sculptures, installations, performances, videos, photographs, etc.) from 350 different artists. The Bourse de Commerce, formerly the Paris stock exchange, hence its name, is a particularly beautiful building that was entirely renovated between 2017 and 2020 to become an art venue. The cupola, and the immense fresco immediately below it, are its finest attributes. Even if you’re not into contemporary art, just getting to see inside this 15th-century building is worth the entry fee.
Address: 2 rue de Viarmes, 75001 Paris, France
Hours of operation: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM. Friday from 11 AM to 9 PM. Open until 9 PM on the first Saturday of every month. Closed on May 1 and every Tuesday.
Cost: Free admission on the first Saturday of every month from 5 PM to 9 PM with an online booking. General admission varies throughout the year, from $10 (9 €) for adults and $8 (7 €) for visitors between the ages of 18 and 26 in the winter, to $15.25 (14 €) for adults and $11 (10 €) for visitors between the ages of 18 and 26 in the spring. Other discounts may apply; please check the website to see if you can benefit from them. Some exhibitions carry a separate charge.
The best museums in Paris for repeat visitors
Musée Carnavalet
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The oldest museum in Paris, the Carnavalet Museum, reopened in 2021 after five years and $70 million dollars of renovations. The museum, whose focus is the rich history of the French capital, initially opened in 1880 and is still going strong today. There are almost 4,000 items displayed in chronological order, from the Mesolithic period to the 21st century. The newly renovated rooms at the Carnavalet Museum are all a sight to see, but the Salle des Enseignes, which features old Parisian shop signs, is one that will transport you into the Paris of yore.
Address: 23 Rue de Sévigné, 75003 Paris, France
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25.
Cost: General admission to the permanent collection is free. Some exhibitions carry a separate charge.
Musée du Quai Branly — Jacques Chirac
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The Quai Branly Museum is one museum that distinguishes itself from the pack. It opened its doors in 2006 to display only non-western art to focus on traditional pieces from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. The hundreds of thousands of pieces are housed in a colorful glass building designed by famous architect Jean Nouvel. A stunning green wall designed by Patrick Blanc covers one of the museum’s exterior walls with 376 varieties of 15,000 plants. The museum is located alongside the river Seine, very close to the Eiffel Tower.
Address: 37 Quai Jacques Chirac, 75007 Paris, France
Hours of operation: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM. Thursday from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Closed on May 1, December 25, and every Monday.
Cost: General admission is $13 (12 €). Discounts may apply; please check the website to see if you can benefit from them. Some exhibitions carry a separate charge.
Where to stay in Paris to be near the city’s best museums
We hope you love the Airbnbs we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.
Modern apartment with views of the Eiffel Tower
This stylist apartment is located within walking distance to the Paris Modern Art Museum (MAM). The Quai Branly Museum, as well as the Eiffel Tower, are across the river Seine from the apartment, a short walk away via the Debilly footbridge. This stunning Airbnb with amazing views of the Eiffel Tower is in the center of the action and can accommodate up to six guests in one bedroom and two sofa beds. The living space is large and the decor is chic and contemporary. There is a large bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, and a balcony with patio furniture so you can enjoy the views al fresco.
Romantic apartment with dream-like Parisian decor
This Airbnb may be small, but it packs in the charm. For one, it’s located near the Tuileries Garden, where the Orangerie Museum is located. It’s also close to the Louvre if you want to visit, as well as the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées. A short walk across the river Seine via the Concorde Bridge and alongside the riverbank and allows you to reach the Orsay Museum, too. Inside, this Airbnb is like a old-timey French movie set; the decor is romantic, with herringbone wooden floors so typical of Parisian apartments, molded ceilings, antique furniture, and a canopy bed adorned with beautiful textiles. This Airbnb is suited for only two guests and the bed is located in the living space. The kitchen and bathroom are modern, bright, and clean.
19th-century studio apartment next door to the Centre Pompidou
This tiny studio, only suitable for a couple or a single traveler, is across the street from the Centre Pompidou and in a lively neighborhood with many cafés and restaurants. While very small, this Airbnb is the perfect size if you want to spend more time exploring the city than staying inside. The decor and amenities are beautiful, clean, and modern. 