20 must-see museums in Paris

Activities
Art
Culture
Museum

Marie

Published on 12/08/2025

Paris, the French capital, is home to an incomparable wealth of culture, with more than 130 museums that bear witness to its thousand-year-old history and global artistic influence. Whether you’re passionate about classical art, ancient history or contemporary art, the City of Light offers an exceptional museum heritage that attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.

From the masterpieces of the Louvre to the Impressionist collections of the Musée d’Orsay and the contemporary creations of the Centre Pompidou, each Paris museum tells a part of the universal history of art and culture. This selection of 20 must-visit museums in Paris will guide you to the capital’s most precious treasures.

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1. The Louvre Museum

A must-see among Parisian museums, the Musée du Louvre remains the largest art and history museum in the world, with 460,000 exceptional works. Housed in the former royal palace, this temple of art is home to universal masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Delacroix’s Liberty Guiding the People.

From Egyptian antiquity to 19th-century French paintings, the Louvre offers a journey through civilisations and eras. Its collections of Western art, Oriental antiquities and objets d’art make it a unique museum in the world (99 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, rated 4.5/5 on Google for over 180,000 reviews).

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2. The Musée d’Orsay

Housed in a former Belle Époque railway station, the Musée d’Orsay is home to the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. This fascinating period in Western art (1848-1914) comes to life through masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cézanne and Degas.

Millet’s Les Glaneuses, Renoir’s Le Bal du moulin de la Galette and Monet’s Les Coquelicots transport you back to the golden age of French painting. The exceptional architecture of this former station transformed into a museum adds a unique dimension to your visit to Paris (1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, rated 4.5/5 on Google for over 95,000 reviews).

3. The Centre Pompidou (Beaubourg)

With its revolutionary, brightly-coloured architecture and exposed pipes, the Centre Pompidou houses Europe’s largest collection of modern and contemporary art. This daring museum presents works by the greatest artists of the 20th and 21st centuries: Picasso, Kandinsky, Matisse, Warhol and many others.

The Centre National d’Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou offers a modern approach to art, with prestigious temporary exhibitions and panoramic views over Paris from its top floors. A must for understanding the evolution of modern art (Place Georges Pompidou, 75004 Paris, rated 4.2/5 on Google for over 75,000 reviews).

4. The Rodin Museum

Housed in a superb 18th-century mansion and its formal gardens, the Musée Rodin is home to the world’s largest collection dedicated to the sculptor Auguste Rodin. His monumental works such as The Thinker, The Kiss and The Burghers of Calais flourish in this enchanting setting.

The museum’s gardens offer a unique artistic walk where sculptures and vegetation blend harmoniously. This former residence of the artist allows visitors to discover more than 7,000 sculptures and 8,000 drawings in a privileged environment (77 rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, rated 4.4/5 on Google for more than 25,000 reviews).

5. The Orangerie Museum

Nestling in the Tuileries gardens, the Musée de l’Orangerie is famous for housing Claude Monet’s monumental Water Lilies. These exceptional Impressionist works, specially designed for this venue, create an immersive atmosphere that is unique in the world.

The Walter-Guillaume collection completes this artistic journey with works by Cézanne, Renoir, Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. This little gem of a museum offers an intimate, contemplative experience in the heart of Paris (Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris, rated 4.4/5 on Google out of over 15,000 reviews).

6. The Picasso Museum

Housed in the elegant Hôtel Salé in the Marais district, the Musée Picasso is home to the world’s largest collection of works by Pablo Picasso. More than 5,000 works trace the master’s artistic development, from his beginnings in Barcelona to his latest creations in Mougins.

Paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and ceramics reveal Picasso’s creative diversity through his different periods: blue, pink, cubist and neoclassical. The Renaissance architecture of the town house creates a fascinating dialogue with modern art (5 rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris, rated 4.2/5 on Google for over 12,000 reviews).

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7. The Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum

Dedicated to the arts and civilisations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, the Musée du Quai Branly offers an extraordinary journey through the cultures of the world. Its contemporary architecture by Jean Nouvel and its green wall create an exceptional setting for these ethnographic collections.

More than 370,000 works testify to the richness and diversity of non-Western civilisations. African masks, Amerindian textiles, Polynesian statues: each object tells a unique cultural story. Temporary exhibitions offer contemporary perspectives on these living heritages (37 quai Branly, 75007 Paris, rated 4.3/5 on Google for over 20,000 reviews).

8. Le Petit Palais – City of Paris Fine Arts Museum

The architectural jewel of the 1900 Universal Exhibition, the Petit Palais houses the city’s Fine Arts collections in a sumptuous setting. Its interior courtyard, exotic gardens and Art Nouveau glass roof make it one of the most beautiful museum settings in Paris.

From antiquities to 19th-century works, decorative arts and French painting, the Petit Palais offers a complete panorama of Western art. Free admission to the permanent collections makes this museum even more accessible (Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris, rated 4.4/5 on Google for over 18,000 reviews).

9. The National Museum of Asian Arts – Guimet

A world reference for Asian art, the Musée Guimet boasts one of the richest collections of Oriental art outside Asia. From Afghanistan to Japan, via India, China and South-East Asia, this museum offers an initiatory journey through 5,000 years of Asian artistic creation.

Monumental Buddhas, Khmer sculptures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese prints: each room reveals the artistic and spiritual traditions of Asia. The Gallery of Religions presents the great currents of Eastern thought through their artistic expressions (6 place d’Iéna, 75016 Paris, rated 4.3/5 on Google out of more than 8,000 reviews).

10. Carnavalet Museum – History of Paris

The only museum dedicated to the history of Paris, the Musée Carnavalet traces 2,000 years of development in the French capital. Housed in two private mansions in the Marais district, linked by a contemporary gallery, it presents over 625,000 works tracing the history of Paris.

From Gallo-Roman Lutetia to modern Paris, via the French Revolution and the Belle Époque, each era comes to life through paintings, objets d’art, furniture and models. Free admission to the permanent collections allows everyone to discover the soul of Paris (23 rue de Sévigné, 75003 Paris, rated 4.2/5 on Google for over 5,000 reviews).

11. The Musée de Cluny – National Museum of the Middle Ages

Housed in an exceptional medieval hotel and the remains of the Gallo-Roman baths of Lutetia, the Musée de Cluny boasts the largest collection of medieval art in the world. This journey back in time reveals the artistic treasures of the European Middle Ages.

The jewel in the crown of these collections is the famous hanging of the Lady and the Unicorn, a masterpiece of Gothic art. Sculptures, silverware, illuminated manuscripts and stained glass bear witness to the richness of medieval art in an authentic architectural setting (6 place Paul Painlevé, 75005 Paris, rated 4.2/5 on Google out of 7000 reviews).

12. National Museum of Natural History

As a world-renowned scientific institution, the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle amazes young and old alike with its exceptional collections. The Grande Galerie de l’Évolution presents the diversity of living things in a spectacular tour that combines education and wonder.

Dinosaur skeletons, naturalised animals, rare minerals: each gallery explores an aspect of the natural sciences. The Jardin des Plantes, a 24-hectare green setting in the heart of Paris, completes this discovery with its tropical greenhouses and themed gardens (57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, rated 4.3/5 on Google out of more than 25,000 reviews).

13. The Paris Museum of Modern Art

Housed in the Palais de Tokyo, the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris presents the major artistic movements of the 20th century through a rich and varied collection. French modern art is in dialogue with the European and international avant-gardes.

From the École de Paris to the New Realists, via abstract art and surrealism, this museum offers a complete panorama of modern art. Its ambitious temporary exhibitions and free admission to the permanent collections make it a place not to be missed (11 avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris, rated 4.3/5 on Google for over 6,000 reviews).

14. Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie

Europe’s largest science museum, the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie at La Villette offers an interactive, fun approach to science and technology. Its permanent and temporary exhibitions make contemporary scientific discoveries accessible.

Planetarium, Géode, Cité des enfants, Cité de la santé: each area develops a scientific theme through manipulations, experiments and demonstrations. This quintessential family museum arouses the scientific curiosity of all ages (30 avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris, rated 4.2/5 on Google for over 15,000 reviews).

15. Palais Galliera – Fashion Museum

The only museum in Paris entirely devoted to fashion, the Palais Galliera presents the evolution of clothing and haute couture from the 18th century to the present day. Its temporary exhibitions reveal the treasures of its collection of over 200,000 items.

Worth dresses, creations by Dior, Chanel and Saint Laurent: this museum celebrates the French art of living and the influence of Paris as a fashion capital. The neo-Renaissance architecture of the palace, surrounded by a garden, creates a refined setting for these textile treasures (10 avenue Pierre Ier de Serbie, 75016 Paris, rated 4.4/5 on Google for over 3,000 reviews).

16. Musée des Arts et Métiers

Europe’s oldest technical museum, the Musée des Arts et Métiers houses an exceptional collection of inventions and innovations that have marked the history of science and technology. From the medieval astrolabe to the first automobiles, this museum tells the story of the adventure of progress.

Blériot’s aeroplane, Jacquard’s weaving loom, Vaucanson’s automata: each object bears witness to human inventive genius. The former church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs houses some of the most spectacular collections in a unique architectural setting (60 rue Réaumur, 75003 Paris, rated 4.2/5 on Google for over 8,000 reviews).

17. The Marmottan Monet Museum

Home to the world’s largest collection of works by Claude Monet, the Musée Marmottan Monet presents the development of Impressionism through the life of the Giverny master. The Impression, Rising Sun, which gave its name to the Impressionist movement, is on display here.

In a private mansion in the 16th arrondissement, the Water Lilies, the Cathedrals of Rouen and the Views of London reveal Monet’s research into light and reflections. The Berthe Morisot and École de Barbizon collections enrich this exceptional Impressionist tour (2 rue Louis Boilly, 75016 Paris, rated 4.4/5 on Google with over 4,000 reviews).

18. The Army Museum – Hôtel des Invalides

In the prestigious setting of the Hôtel des Invalides, the Musée de l’Armée retraces French military history through one of the world’s richest collections of military art and history. The tomb of Napoleon I under the Dôme des Invalides is a unique moment of emotion.

Medieval armour, period uniforms, exceptional weapons: each era of French military history comes to life. The Charles de Gaulle Gallery presents 20th-century France, from the two world wars to the construction of Europe (129 rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, rated 4.4/5 on Google for over 20,000 reviews).

19. The Louis Vuitton Foundation

A glass and steel vessel designed by Frank Gehry in the Bois de Boulogne, the Fondation Louis Vuitton offers a dialogue between contemporary creation and artistic heritage. Its revolutionary architecture makes it a symbol of contemporary Paris.

The prestigious temporary exhibitions and the permanent collection reveal the challenges of international contemporary art. The building’s terraces offer exceptional views over Paris, making each visit a unique architectural and artistic experience (8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, 75116 Paris, rated 4.4/5 on Google for over 15,000 reviews).

20. The Grand Palais

An emblematic monument on the Champs-Élysées with its exceptional 13,500 m² glass roof, the Grand Palais hosts the biggest temporary exhibitions in Paris. Built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, it remains a symbol of French Art Nouveau.

From Monet to Picasso, from pharaonic art to the contemporary avant-garde, the Grand Palais presents exhibitions that are events in the cultural life of Paris. Its dome of glass and steel, the largest stained glass windows in Paris, creates a unique light for discovering the world’s greatest artistic treasures (3 avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris, rated 4.3/5 on Google for over 25,000 reviews).

In conclusion, these 20 must-see museums in Paris represent an exceptional cultural heritage that reflects the historical and artistic wealth of the French capital. Each museum offers a unique experience, from the universal masterpieces of the Louvre to the contemporary innovations of the Fondation Louis Vuitton. To make the most of your discovery of these Parisian treasures, don’t hesitate to let yourself be guided by theNavaway audioguide itinerary, which will take you between these exceptional places while discovering the most beautiful districts of the City of Light.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to visit a Paris museum?

The length of your visit will vary according to the museum and your interests. Allow 2-3 hours for the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay, and 1? hours for more specialised museums such as the Musée Rodin or the Musée Picasso. For a first approach, concentrate on the key works.

Which museums in Paris are free?

Several museums offer free admission to their permanent collections: the Petit Palais, the Musée Carnavalet, the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, the Maison de Victor Hugo and the Maison de Balzac. National museums also offer free admission on the first Sunday of each month (October to March).

How can you avoid queuing in Paris museums?

Book your tickets online in advance, visit during the week rather than at the weekend, and give preference to late-day slots. The Paris Museum Pass gives direct access to over 60 sites without queuing. Avoid the first Sunday of the month for national museums.

What’s the best way to visit the museums in central Paris?

Start with the Louvre in the morning, then head to the Musée d’Orsay in the afternoon. The next day, explore the Ile de la Cité with the Sainte-Chapelle, then the Marais with the Picasso and Carnavalet museums. TheNavaway itinerary intelligently guides you between these exceptional sites.