6 Must-See Paris Museums and How to Visit

High culture is a quintessential part of Paris’ personality, and nowhere is that better expressed than in the city’s wealth of world-class museums. From art-world heavyweights to modernist stylings, here are six of the City of Light’s top museums.

3 min readMar 1, 2020By Claire Bullen

Hi, I'm Claire!

Claire Bullen is an award-winning food, drinks, and travel writer and editor who has lived and worked in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Paris, and London. She is the author of The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings, and the editor at GoodBeerHunting.com. Her writing has also appeared in Time Out New York, The Daily Meal, Pellicle Magazine, and beyond.

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1. Louvre

Take in the opulence at The Louvre in Paris.Photo Credit: Pierre Morel

Paris' cultural crown jewel.

In addition to masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, Nike of Samothrace, and Venus de Milo, the museum’s collection comprises hundreds of thousands of paintings, sculptures, drawings, and jewels.

How to visit: Tours with skip-the-line entry will help you sail past the crowds, while tours covering the highlights make it easier to navigate the colossal institution.

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2. Orsay Museum (Musée d’Orsay)

Exterior of the Orsay Museum (Musée d’Orsay) in Paris.

The Orsay Museum is beautiful inside and out.Photo Credit: Anthony Feldmiller

Masterworks in a former train station.

As notable for its 19th-century architecture as its collection of impressionist masterpieces, the riverside Musée d’Orsay has real personality. Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas, Manet, and Monet are all well-represented in its collection.

How to Visit: Book a VIP tour to browse the museum’s highlights before enjoying a meal in the onsite restaurant. Alternatively, try a customizable private guided tour to see everything on your list.

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3. Pompidou Center (Centre Pompidou)

Visitors sit outside of the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Modern art fans won’t want to miss the Pompidou Center in Paris.

A futuristic culture hub.

Immediately striking for its unconventional looks, the Centre Pompidou was designed by star architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers and houses the National Museum of Modern Art (Musée National d’Art Moderne) as well as other cultural bodies.

How to Visit: Prebook priority-access tickets to enter the museum without delay, or go on a private guided tour to learn about its modern-art highlights. And don’t miss the views overlooking Paris from the center’s top level.

3. Picasso Museum (Musée Picasso)

A visitor takes a photo of the Picasso Museum (Musée Picasso) in Paris.

Explore Spanish art in Paris at the Picasso Museum.Photo Credit: Pierre Morel

Highlighting the Spanish artist's creative process.

Following a lengthy renovation that doubled its size, the Musée Picasso reopened in 2014 and has since become an unmissable highlight in artsy Marais. Fans of the visionary cubist artist can discover the 5,000-plus works displayed here.

How to visit: Make Picasso’s masterworks accessible to the whole family on a kid-friendly tour, or pair a museum visit with a walking tour of the surrounding Marais neighborhood.

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4. Musée de l’Orangerie

Visitors walk around the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris.

Marvel over Monet’s Water Lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie.

Water Lilies and more.

Located within the Tuileries Gardens (and just a quick stroll from the Louvre), the Musée de l’Orangerie is one of Paris’ most charming cultural institutions. Its outsize reputation rests on its collection of eight enormous water lily paintings from Monet, which are displayed in two light-drenched, oval rooms.

How to visit: Pair a visit with a trip to the nearby Musée d’Orsay for full impressionist immersion, or book a skip-the-line tour to spend more time with Monet’s canvases.

5. Quai Branly Museum (Musée du Quai Branly)

Interior of the Quai Branly Museum in Paris.

Stop by the Quai Branly Museum for an insight into indigenous art.

Indigenous art beyond western civilizations.

Home to an enormous collection of artworks from Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania, the Musée du Quai Branly is one of the City of Light’s most distinctive museums (Its striking building, designed by Jean Nouvel, also helps set it apart).

How to visit: Explore the collections independently with a Paris museum pass; glimpse the museum during a Seine river cruise; or head to its rooftop Les Ombres Restaurant for up-close Eiffel Tower views.

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