Museums in Paris

Museum tours and tickets in Paris

Stand face-to-face with the Mona Lisa, get lost in Impressionist masterpieces, and  take in centuries of history.

About Paris museums

Museums in Paris have accumulated their history over centuries, and many are housed in buildings with their own significance. The Louvre served as a royal palace for more than 400 years before opening as a public museum in 1793 due to a post-revolutionary belief that great art should belong to everyone. The Musee d’Orsay was built as a railway station for the 1900 Universal Exhibition; its soaring glass ceilings now shelter the world’s largest collection of Impressionist art. At the Musée de l’Orangerie, Monet worked with architects to design two oval rooms with natural overhead light—built specifically to display his Water Lilies series. With more than 130 museums across the city, Paris contains centuries of human creativity, making it possible to move between ancient civilizations and modern innovation in a single afternoon.

Top highlights for your visit

The Louvre’s royal past

The Louvre’s royal past

Before it became the world’s largest art museum, the Louvre served as a grand royal palace. That history is still visible in the architecture as you move through its galleries today.
Musée d’Orsay’s train station origins

Musée d’Orsay’s train station origins

The Musee d’Orsay was built as a Beaux-Arts railway station for the 1900 Universal Exhibition. Its soaring iron and glass interior now contains the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including works by Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh.
The Tuileries Garden walk

The Tuileries Garden walk

The pedestrian-friendly banks of the Seine connect the Louvre, the Musee de l’Orangerie, and the Musee d’Orsay. Traversing the route on foot, you’ll pass through the Tuileries Garden, just steps from the Place de la Concorde.
Monet’s oval rooms

Monet’s oval rooms

At the Musee de l’Orangerie, Claude Monet’s Water Lilies canvases are displayed in two custom-built, naturally lit oval rooms, specifically designed to complement the paintings within.

Museums in Paris FAQs

Things to know before visiting museums in Paris

Entry and dress code

  • Book timed-entry tickets in advance directly through official museum websites.
  • The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and the Musee d’Orsay is closed on Mondays.
  • There is no dress code. Wear whatever is comfortable for a long day on your feet.

What to bring

  • Visitors under 18 and EU residents under 26 can receive free admission with an ID.
  • Free or reduced admission is also available to those with an official disability card.
  • The Paris Museum Pass covers entry to over 50 museums and monuments.

Important information

  • Large suitcases, bulky backpacks, and selfie sticks are not allowed in the galleries.
  • Allow extra time for mandatory security screenings, even with a timed-entry ticket.
  • The Centre Pompidou is closed for renovations and will not reopen until 2030.