Guests could spend their whole vacation (or even a lifetime) investigating the art collections in Paris. A lot of museums aren’t open on Mondays or Tuesdays, while the other museums are open until late on particular days. Moreover, certain museums don’t close and work late every single day.

A Paris Museum Pass provides unlimited entrance to most museums through a 2-day or 4-day period. Discover the best collections and plan your unforgettable visits to the most popular museums of Paris with our list.

The Louvre Museum

The Louvre contains some of the most famous and striking pieces of art collected in all of Western Culture. From sculptures to paintings, it offers a comprehensive collection of the best and most recognized masterpieces in the world, so a trip here is a great opportunity to see these masterpieces first-hand.

With 30,000 works of art on exhibition, the Louvre is one of the most popular Parisian destinations for tourists and locals alike. Over three thousand ancient mosaics and classic art all coexist here. Legacy pieces, such as the jewels of the French crown, firmly stun visitors into awe. You can travel here and take a wide variety of memorable photos to enjoy after your visit (some restrictions are in place).

Orsay Museum or Musee d’Orsay

The Musee d’Orsay is situated opposite the Louvre, on the left bank of the Seine River, in a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. With exhibitions on offer that include Monet, Renoir, Impressionists, and many more painting legends, this is a destination perfect for art lovers. Worth checking out are the showcases of perfume bottles designed by Pierre Cardin or the compilations of coins, with artifacts going back to antiquity. Musee d’Orsay opened in 1986 as one of several state-owned museums.

Comprised of 1800 and 1900 works, the Musee d’Orsay shares a diverse selection of paintings by artists such as Pissarro, Monet, Caillebotte, Corot, Vuillard, Sisley, and Renoir. The museum’s collections are so varied it has received the nickname “the Museum without Walls.”

Cluny Museum or Musée national du Moyen Âge – Thermes et hôtel de Cluny

If you want to experience both Middle Age and Renaissance ornamental arts, the Cluny Museum is the spot to go. Situated in the Rue Saint-Guilhem, it is housed in an abbot’s house on one of the most charming streets of Paris. This museum offers warmth during the cold breezes.

The Museum of the Middle Ages, full of historic paintings from medieval times, thanks to public transport, has become a famous choice for visitors who want to understand European culture first-hand.

One of the significant draws of the Musée national du Moyen ge, or Museum of Medieval Art, is the unusual architecture. Though not your typical museum walk-through, rather than using walls and individual rooms to house exhibits, this museum relies on extensive round arches to wrap everything. As you progress over the museum’s winding structure, nine medieval gardens unfold.

The Pompidou Centre

The Pompidou Centre, located near the Louvre, is an artwork museum known for its collection of 1800 and 1900 artworks. The museum houses a collection of contemporary art, incorporating Braque, Duchamp, Dufy, Matisse, Kandinsky, and Picasso. Modern art continues in the Contemporary assortment of works by Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and other contemporary craftsmen.

The Drawing Collection is an amazing assortment of graphics created by several of the most noted French impressionist painters. Water color family portraits available to view on their website are an engaging way to take in this unique artistic style.

One of the popular must-visit places in Paris is the Pompidou Centre, which boasts art, movies, and new media. The centre includes a multitude of artifacts, including films, fine art installations, and movies made from 1902 up to now.
Located on the first and sixth floors of the museum, there are three bookshops and a souvenir boutique to visit. Stunning views of Paris can be admired from the two locations in the museum.

Petit Palais

The Petit Palais now houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de la ville de Paris). It was designed by architect, Charles Girault, who won an 1894 competition to design something new for the 1900 Exhibition in Paris. Girault incorporated the grandeur and dignity of an official palace into his design, while creating a programme of work focused on glorifying the city and celebrating art.

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