Paris Museum

15 top museums to visit in Paris for lovers of art and culture

Paris museum

Paris is a city where Western history and art are all concentrated in one place. It is also home to some of the world's most famous works of art, making it one of the few cities in the world where you can experience famous works that you've only seen in books or movies. 
With around 130 museums in Paris, it is not easy to choose which one to visit. To help you choose a museum to suit your situation, taste, and interest, O'Bon Paris has created a museum guide by category. We hope this article will help you enjoy this beautiful city of art.

 

The Most Iconic Museums 

Musée du Louvre 
Louvre Paris

In one of the biggest museums, Louvre Museum, you can encounter various artworks and objects of European art from the medieval to the 19th century. Its glass pyramid is one of the most popular photogenic spots, and the museum is always a must-visit spot for tourists from all over the world. The Pyramid of the Louvre was installed by President Mitterrand in 1984, and at first many French opposed the pyramid's construction. The reason was the inconsistency of modern architecture and the classical Renaissance style of France and the history of the Louvre. Together with the Eiffel Tower, it is now a symbol of Paris. It would be a very regrettable thing to have been to Paris and not to the Louvre. It is recommended to visit even for a short time. 

Address: Rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris
Transportation:  Metro line 1, 7 Palais-Royal - Musée du Louvre station
Opening Hours: Mon, Thur, Sat, Sun 9:00–18:00 / Wed, Fri 9:00–21:45 / Closed on Tuesday / On the first Saturday of each month, the museum is also opened from 18:00 to 21:45 and admission fee is free for all visitors. (Closing rooms begins at 17:30, and at 21:30 on night opening days.)

Musée d’Orsay 
Orsay museum

As an “Impressionist paradise”, the Orsay boasts a splendid collection of Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, the origin of early modern art (1848-1914). You can find the works by masters including Degas, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh and Renoir who reflected the life of the time through their various artworks such as sculptures, photographs and decorative art. Don't miss the opportunity to see almost all of the most important Impressionist works in the history of art, such as Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Monet, all in one place. The building used to be a train station.

Address : 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur
Transportation : Metro line 12 Solférino station / RER C Musée d'Orsay station 
Opening Hours : Tue - Sun 9:30-18:00 except Thursday (until 21:45) / Closed on Monday

Musée de l'Orangerie 
Orangerie

One of the most popular museums for impressionist fans is the Musée de l’Orangerie, which is also called Orangerie museum in English. It is situated in the Tuileries Parc, a 5-minute walk from Concorde station. The Orangerie museum is famous because of its display of huge monumental WATER LILIES by Claude Monet. Once you enter the museum, The beautiful Monet water lilies surrounding the round wall and the bright light entering the museum will give you unforgettable memories. It is conveniently located next to Paris's major attractions, such as Place de la Concorde, Seine River and Tuileries Park.

Address: Jardin des Tuileries Place de la Concorde 75001 PARIS
Transportation: Metro line 1, 8, 12 Concorde station
Opening Hours: Mon, Wed-Sun 9:00-18:00(Last admission 17:15) / Closed on Tuesdays

 

Le Centre Pompidou
Pompidou centre

Also known as the Pompidou Center, this is the Art Center, which makes Paris a mecca for international modern and contemporary art. The project was initiated by the president of France Georges Pompidou, and was named after him. After the death of Pompidou, it was opened under President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. With an exhibition area of 17,000 square meters, it is one of the largest contemporary art museums in the world. In addition, there are the Bibliotheque Publique d`Information, a very large national library with a total of 1.2 million volumes, the Center de Creation Industrielle, which exhibits various designs of everyday items of modern society and also a Cinemateque, which screens about 20 author's films every week. It is located in Les Hall, the center of Paris, and there are many bars and restaurants near by famous amongyoung people. 

Address: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris
Transportation: Metro line 1 Hôtel de Ville, Metro line 1,4 Châtelet, Les Halles, Metro line 11  Rambuteau 
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday 11:00-21:00 / Thursday 11:00-23:00 / (Closed on Tuesdays) 

 

Hidden Museums with beautiful French gardens

Musée Rodin
Rodain Museum

The building of the museum is the Hotel Biron, which Rodin used and lived as an atelier for 10 years from 1908 until his death. In 1911, the French government bought the house of Virône, and Rodin donated his work and collection to the state, suggesting that it be left as a museum. It is a place where you can find some of the most important and famous works in the history of modern sculpture, such as The Burghers of Calais, The Thinker, and The Gates of Hell. It is recommended to visit on a sunny day as the garden is really beautiful.

Address: 77 rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
Transportation: Metro Line 13 Varenne Station, Metro Line 13 and Line 8 Invalides Station, RER Line C Invalides Station 
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:45

Petit Palais 
Petit Palais museum paris

Petit Palais, which means small palace, is an art museum located in the 8th arrondissement. Originally built for the 1900 World's Fair, it is now opened as the Paris Museum of Fine Arts. It was built at the same time as the Grand Palais and the Alexandre III Bridge and stands facing each other. In addition to the permanent exhibition, various contemporary art exhibitions are held on a quarterly basis. If you are looking for a relatively quiet but historically important and beautiful art museum, this is the place to be. 

Address: Av. Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris, France
Transportation: Metro Line 1 Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau, Metro Line 13 and Line 8 Invalides Station, RER Line C Invalides Station
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00

 

Palais Galliera 
museum of fashion Palais Galliera

The Palais Galliera, Fashion Museum of the City of Paris, is a French museum located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, dedicated to the art and history of clothing and haute couture. If you are a fashion lover, it is a good place to visit along with the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, which is located a 5-minute walk away. An outdoor restaurant overlooking the Eiffel Tower and a flower garden make this museum even more special.

Address: Palais Galliera, 10 Av. Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75116 Paris, France
Transportation: Metro Line 9 léna 
Opening hours: Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun 10:00 to 18:00 / Thur, Fri 10:00 to 21:00

Musée Jacquemart-André
Jacquemart-André museum cafe

Eduard Andre was a rich banker in the 19th century and collected a wide range of artworks and jewelry. At this museum, you can see how the luxurious life was in the 19th century. It truly leads you to the past with its wide range of collections and luxurious decorations. From small jewelry to furniture and paintings, they are still shining in this beautiful museum house. There is a beautifully decorated cafe as well where you can simply sit down to enjoy light meals. There are more Parisians than tourists who enjoy brunch or coffee after seeing the exhibition on a weekend morning. 

Address: 158, Boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris
Transportation: Metro line 9, 13 Miromesnil or line 9 Sainte-Philippe-du-Roule
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00-18:00 (Monday until 20:30 when there is a special exhibition)

Musée de la Vie romantique 
Musée de la Vie romantique

This Romantic museum of Paris is hidden away in Montmarte. The best thing about this hidden place is the terrace cafe just next to the museum. On weekends, it will be better to visit in the morning or around lunchtime to get seats. Since it is a small museum, there are not many works, so it is recommended to drink coffee and admire the small garden on the way to Montmartre rather than taking time for only this place.

Address: 16 Rue Chaptal, 75009 Paris
Transportation: Metro line 12 Saint-Georges, line 2, 12 Pigalle, line 2 Blanche
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00

 

Modern & Contemporary Art Museums 
 

Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris
Modern & Contemporary Art Museums paris

Unlike Center Pompidou, Musée d'Art Moderne is more Paris-centric and dedicated to Modern and Contemporary art of the 20th and 21st centuries, focusing on Fauves and cubists, the Ecole de Paris, and works by the Delaunays and Fautrier. The museum collections include more than 10,000 works from art movements of the 20th century. Exhibitions highlight the European and international art scenes of the 20th century, as well as displaying monographic and thematic exhibitions of trends in today's art. Temporary exhibitions run every six weeks.
This place is also famous for art lovers rather than tourists, but there are many modern artworks that are easy for the general public to enjoy as well. The architecture is stunning and there is a terrace where you can see the most beautiful Eiffel view in Paris.

Address: 11 avenue du Président Wilson
Transportation: Metro line 9, Alma-marceau
Openinghours: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 

 

Palais de Tokyo 
Palais de Tokyo

Palais de Tokyo has gained tremendous popularity among young artists and Parisians with its performance, environmental art, and installation arts. Also, note that the Avenue du Président Wilson is not far from the Eiffel Tower and is well-situated on the Seine. As one of the most important contemporary art museums in the world, you can see the works of avant-garde and hot young artists rather than the classic paintings that are popular with the public. The restaurant located here has a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower and is famous among Parisians as an Instagram hotspot.

Address: 13 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris
Transportation: Metro line 9, Alma-marceau
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday 12:00pm-12: 00am (Closed on Tuesdays)

Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection
Bouse de Commerce Pinault Collection

It is a space that brings together the personal collections of Francois Pinault, the founder of the Kering Group, which owns art auction houses Christie and luxury fashion brand like Gucci. In 2016, the Paris City Council approved the project to transform the building into an exhibition space for contemporary art, including pieces from his private collection of more than 3,500 works valued at around €1.25 billion. It is said that Chairman planned this project as he was greatly stimulated by his rival, LVMH Group Bernard Arnault, who created a Fondation Louis Vuitton. World-renowned architect Tadao Ando took charge of the large-scale renovation. He created a new exhibition space suitable for contemporary art exhibitions while preserving the existing internal structure to preserve the city's memories engraved on the walls of the commercial exchange building. It is the latest cultural attraction in Paris, so please don't miss it.

Address: 2 Rue de Viarmes, 75001 Paris 
Transportation: Metro line 1, Louvre - Rivoli
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday 11:00-19:00 / Friday 11:00-21:00 / (Closed on Tuesdays) 

Fondation Louis Vuitton  
Fondation Louis Vuitton

The Louis Vuitton Foundation is a Contemporary art museum and cultural center sponsored by the group LVMH and its subsidiaries. This museum opened on October 20, 2014. The Deconstructivist building was designed by American architect Frank Gehry, with groundwork starting in 2006. It is a place where you can see the works of some of the world's most important contemporary artists, attracting more than 1 million spectators and celebrities from all over the world each year. A complex cultural center that not only hosts fine art but also performances by famous classical musicians and performing arts such as plays. In the middle of a large forest, the modern architecture of Frank Gehry blends into a spectacular setting. A must-visit place for art lovers.

Address: 13 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris
Transportation: Metro line 9, Alma-marceau
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday 12:00pm-12: 00am (Closed on Tuesdays)

 

Unusual & Unique museums

Musée du Parfum 
Musée du Parfum

Situated in the heart of Paris, just a few minutes walk from the Opera Garnier, they give you a rundown of the history of the building, the company, perfumes through the ages, perfume making past and present, and then test your sense of smell with trying to identify different scents. You can also make your own perfume during a mini perfume workshop in English, organized by Paris Musée du Parfum Fragonard. Do not hesitate to download the Obon paris coupon here, you can enjoy a free guide tour in English and discounts on perfumes and workshops.

Address: 3-5, square de l'Opéra Louis Jouvet, 75009 Paris
Transportation: Metro lines 3, 7 and 8 Opéra
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00

Atelier des lumières 
Atelier des lumières paris

Do you want to enjoy art as if you were playing with your family or lover in a slightly different place?  l’Ateliers des Lumières will be the best plan for you. In the TV series “Emily in Paris”, there is a scene where Emily sits here with Gabriel and Camille enjoying a beautiful feast of light. The digital artworks are projected on all the surfaces of the hall and invite the viewers for a journey in the world of arts. At Atelier des Lumières, you can use all your senses during that experience and enjoy a unique playlist matching the exhibition: the curators add music to their creations, to create a musical dialog with works of art. It is also a very pedagogical way to make children discover and enjoy artistic masterpieces. As an O'bon Paris reader, you can enjoy a 10% discount promo code here. 

Address: 38 Rue Saint Maur, 75011 Paris
Transportation: Metro Line 9 Voltaire or Saint-Ambroise Station, Line 3 Rue Saint-Maur Station, Line 2 Père Lachaise Station 
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday from 10:00-18:00 / Friday and Saturday 10:00-22:00 / Sunday 10:00-19:00

 

 

O'bon Paris' tip

paris museum pass GO CITY

With the GO CITY's Paris All-Inclusive Pass, you can visit most of the museums mentioned in this article without any restrictions.This is because the Paris Museum Pass is included in the GO CITY All-Inclusive Pass.
Not only the Museum Pass, but you can also enjoy wine tasting, Seine River cruise, climbing the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre tour, French breakfast, and experiencing local bars, all with just one Paris pass without any additional cost. Isn't it quite attractive to enjoy most of Paris's museums as well as restaurants, bars where locals go, and guided tours at an affordable pass price?
By using the O'bon Paris discount code, you can purchase the pass at a 10% discounted price, so don't miss this special opportunity. Check out our special offer here 

 


Author : Minchae
  Photo : O'bon Paris Team