Outside of the Eiffel Tower, nothing screams Paris like the glass pyramid of the Louvre, which sits front and center in the cultural scene in Paris. The Louvre is so dominant that you can be forgiven for forgetting there are other museums, not the Louvre, that offer a wealth of beauty, culture, and history to be explored. And best of all, many of them are free. From charming townhouses showcasing personal collections to centuries-old mansions and even an old railway station, the world of museums in Paris is vast, and the Louvre is just the start. Here are 12 (FREE) museums you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Paris.
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Table of Contents
- The Best Free Museums in Paris to Visit All Year-Round
- The Best Free Museums in Paris to Visit on the First Sunday of the Month
- Plan Your Next Culture Trip to Paris with Next Vacay
The Best Free Museums in Paris to Visit All Year-Round
Not every museum in Paris is the Louvre, and that’s a good thing. Between their stunning collections, intimate settings, and lack of crowds, these free museums are sure to shoot to the top of your list of favorite museums in Paris.
1. Petit Palais
Amid Paris’s stunning architectural wonders, the Petit Palais stands out as another beauty. Constructed for the Universal Exhibition in 1900, the Petit Palais is an elegantly crafted building, from its monumental wrought iron gate to its fresco-adorned vaulted ceilings, that makes it as breathtaking as the art it houses. And that’s saying something, as the Petit Palais houses a magnificent collection of works by masters, such as Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and more. Marvel at the stunning blend of architectural features and art encompassing medieval and Renaissance works. Don’t forget to stop at the interior garden café for a drink to soak in the sun and splendor of towering columns, mosaic-tiled ponds, and verdant greenery.
2. Musée Carnavalet
The oldest museum in Paris, tucked away within the oldest district in Paris, Musée Carnavalet is a hidden gem. While not new to Parisians, newcomers can easily overlook it due to the sheer breadth and depth of cultural destinations on offer. However, this small museum packs a big punch. Compressed within two stunning 17th-century buildings, the Musée Carnavalet takes visitors through 450 years of history, from antiquity and the Middle Ages to the 21st century. With a permanent collection encompassing photographs, archives, memorabilia, and more, viewing everything on a first visit is nearly impossible. But considering the collection is free to view, there’s no reason not to come back to this museum for a second visit, a third, or a fourth!
3. Maison de Victor Hugo
Located in the home of the 19th-century author, Maison de Victor Hugo is a free museum in Paris dedicated to none other than the famed French writer himself. Though Hugo only spent 16 years of his life in the apartment that now houses the museum, they were an influential time in which he wrote arguably the most famous text of his life, Les Misérables. But make no mistake, the museum doesn’t focus only on his greatest works. From the moment visitors enter the door, they step into the world of Victor Hugo. The house’s decoration reflects the different periods of the author’s life through furnishings, paintings, drawings, manuscripts, and so much more, including even decor created by Hugo himself. The experience is startlingly immersive but effectively carries out the museum’s primary goal: for visitors to explore the many facets of the man behind the legend.
4. Musée Bourdelle
An ode to the famed sculptor built within the halls of his own studio, the Musée Bourdelle celebrates the artist’s life and works. Admittedly, from the outside, the Musée Bourdelle doesn’t look like much more than tall brick walls and the occasional bush. But inside, visitors can explore Bourdelle’s world, from the apartments where he lived to the studio where he worked. It’s a place bursting with lifelike pieces and surreal magic. It’s easy to imagine the artist working beneath the high-arched ceilings and light-filled rooms, bringing his visions to life. And what visions they are, from Hercules drawing his bow to the arresting image of a dying centaur. Wander the statue-filled garden, marvel at monumental sculptures, and even grab a bite in the Rhodia restaurant, named after Bourdelle’s daughter.
5. Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris
Situated on the banks of the Seine, opposite the majestic Eiffel Tower, beauty surrounds the Museum of Modern Art (MAM). And while leaving all that beauty outside to go inside might otherwise be a struggle, the MAM makes up for it with its own stunning sights. Containing over 11,000 major artworks, MAM’s collection includes a breadth of works in different styles, from Fauvism and Cubism to abstraction and conceptual art. But the museum’s theme of “one artist, one masterpiece” shines brightest, with electrifying pieces by some of the greatest artists of their generation, from La Fée Electricité by Raoul Dufy to La Danse by Henri Matisse. While the crowds flock to the Louvre and Pompidou, it’s worth ducking into this undiscovered gem to explore one of Paris’s most fascinating periods of art history.
6. Musée Cognacq-Jay
A quick cultural stop at the Musée Cognacq-Jay is a must for a small taste of the sweet life. Showcasing an outstanding collection of 18th-century artwork, travelers shouldn’t overlook this small but mighty (and most importantly, free) museum. The collection doesn’t just include stunning paintings like Balaam and the Donkey by Rembrandt but also features such highlights as a Polish-style bed by Georges Jacob, a statue of Venus by François-Marie Poncet, and more. Housed within a beautiful 16th-century mansion, the decorative setting only adds to the charm of the collection, transporting visitors back to a time of kingly rule and bourgeois design.
7. Musée de la Vie Romantique
One of three literary museums in Paris, the Musée de la Vie Romantique is a quiet gem celebrating what else but the romantics. The museum, located inside a mansion in the Pigalle neighborhood, recreates the era of Romanticism in the former home of Ary Scheffer. The then-home served as a gathering place for Romantics of all kinds, from George Sand to Eugène Delacroix and even Frédéric Chopin. The museum’s first floor is dedicated to George Sand, with items ranging from paintings and sculptures to furniture and objects from her home. Upstairs pays homage to Ary Scheffer, Ernest Renan, and other Romantic contemporaries. Pop into this quaint home-turned-museum, enjoy a turn around the garden oasis, and soak in the romanticism of this intimate museum.
8. Musée du Parfum – Fragonard
For a one-of-a-kind museum where scent usurps sight and fragrance takes the forefront, look no further than the Musée du Parfum. Set in the heart of Paris, this free museum explores something that permeates everyday life: perfume. Every fragrance tells a story, and the Fragonard Museum both explores those stories and pays tribute to the master perfumers. The first section of the museum immerses visitors in the art of perfume-making, from gathering raw materials to bottling the finalized fragrance. In the second section, visitors can wander through the museum’s vast collection, which spans perfumery-related artifacts from Ancient Egypt to the 20th century. Let your nose guide you as you explore this cultural icon that puts scent at the center stage.
The Best Free Museums in Paris to Visit on the First Sunday of the Month
While Paris has a plethora of small museums that are always free, there’s something to be said for exploring the vast collections of some of the city’s most beloved museums. And while visiting these museums will typically cost you, on the first Sunday of the month, they’re totally free.
9. Musée d’Orsay
Situated on the banks of the Seine, the Musée d’Orsay is a railway station turned museum that looks like a palace and just so happens to house the largest collection of Impressionist works in the world. But an impressive collection of impressionist paintings isn’t the only thing found inside this museum. The museum’s collection spans Western art from 1848 to 1914 and includes paintings, photography, sculpture, and even decorative arts. If you want to see the greats—Cézanne, Degas, Gauguin, Monet, Renoir, Seurat, Van Gogh, and more—then reserve your free tickets for the first Sunday of the month, and prepare to be blown away inside this art paradise.
10. Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou is an icon of the 20th century. A visually stunning museum, the architectural design is unique in that the building’s guts are on display outside, with pipes in bold colors resembling arteries that feed life into it. But arguably, it’s the art housed inside that makes up the lifeblood of this museum. The Centre Pompidou is home to Europe’s largest collection of modern and contemporary art and more masterpieces than can be counted on two hands—Chagall, Delaunay, Kahlo, Matisse, Raysse, Veilhan, and more. It’s a treasure trove of art within a sprawling complex that you’ll likely need more than a day to peruse, so why not take advantage of a free Sunday to get in what’s sure to be one of many visits?
11. Musée de l’Orangerie
Located near the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, the Musée de l’Orangerie is a building with an interesting history. Once a greenhouse of the Tuileries Palace that was used primarily for growing citrus trees, it’s now a small museum that packs a big surprise. The Musée de l’Orangerie famously hosts eight large Water Lily murals by Monet in its permanent collection. But while you’re likely to come for the Water Lilies, you’re just as likely to stay to explore the rest of this museum’s wonders, from the beautiful architecture to the works of masters, including Cézanne, Picasso, Renoir, and more. It’s a quick Sunday stop that packs in a wealth of world-class art among a never-ending number of Paris gems.
12. Musée Rodin
Devoted to the life and works of the sculptor Auguste Rodin, the Musée Rodin isn’t just one museum; it’s two. Or at least, it’s two buildings. The site of the first, the Hôtel Biron in central Paris, is where Rodin did much of his work, while the second, Villa des Brillants at Meudon, is where he lived. Donated from Rodin’s own collection, the museum holds the sculptor’s most impressive works: The Thinker, The Kiss, and the Gates of Hell. Many of his sculptures can be viewed in the garden, while, inside, visitors can explore a collection spanning thousands of pieces, from photography to drawings and even art objects. Helping to chase away the winter blues, the museum in Paris is free to visit on the first Sundays of the month from October 1 to March 31, while the Rodin Museum – Meudon is open every weekend, free of charge.
Plan Your Next Culture Trip to Paris with Next Vacay
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