Paris is famous for its amazing art, beautiful buildings, and charming streets. But here’s something you might not know: you can visit many of the city’s best museums for free! That’s right, you don’t have to spend money to enjoy incredible art, history, and culture.
In this guide, you’ll find a list of 7 best free museums in Paris. Some are always free, and others are free on the first Sunday of each month. If you love paintings, old Paris stories, or cool modern art, there’s something here for you. Keep reading to find out where to go, what to see, and how to make the most of your museum trip!
🖼️ Le Petit Palais
A Belle Époque beauty, Le Petit Palais | Photo Credits: Wagner51 on Wikimedia
Le Petit Palais isn’t just a museum; it’s a piece of art itself. Built for the 1900 World’s Fair, this grand building welcomes you with a huge golden gate and curved architecture. Inside, you’ll find classic European art, from sculptures and tapestries to paintings by greats like Monet, Rodin, Rembrandt, and Cezanne.
You can also walk through a courtyard garden with a café, perfect for a quiet break. The best part? This entire museum is free all year round!
📍 Location: Across from the Grand Palais, 8th arrondissement
🕓 Best time to visit: Weekday mornings to avoid crowds
🖼️ What you’ll see: Classical European paintings
🏛️ Musée Carnavalet
Parisian history up close at Musée Carnavalet | Photo Credits: Ernest McGray on Flickr
Explore Paris’s past at the Musée Carnavalet. This museum tells the story of the city through time, from Roman ruins and medieval times to the French Revolution and beyond. You’ll walk through old shop signs, antique furniture, and rooms decorated just like they were centuries ago.
Located in two lovely mansions in the Marais, it’s one of the best free museums in Paris, France, if you love history. Plus, it's a quiet gem that many tourists miss.
📍 Location: Le Marais district, 3rd arrondissement
🕓 Best time to visit: Late morning or mid-afternoon on weekdays
🖼️ What you’ll see: Paris’s historical artifacts,
🌹 Musée de la Vie Romantique
Romantic vibes at Musée de la Vie Romantique | Photo Credits: Velvet on Wikimedia
If you want something charming and off the beaten path, head to the Musée de la Vie Romantique. Located at the base of Montmartre, this cozy spot was once the home of painter Ary Scheffer. Today, it’s filled with Romantic-era art, sculptures, and objects from the lives of artists and writers, especially George Sand.
The best part? The rose-filled garden café, where you can sip coffee surrounded by flowers. It’s a little slice of serenity in busy Paris.
📍 Location: 9th arrondissement, near Pigalle
🕓 Best time to visit: Spring afternoons for the garden café
🖼️ What you’ll see: Romantic-era art
🎨 Musée d’Art Moderne
Outside of Musée d’Art Moderne | Photo Credits: Coldcreation on Wikimedia
The Musée d’Art Moderne is a great place to see bold and colorful art. Located inside the Palais de Tokyo, this museum features exciting artwork from the 1900s to today. One of its most famous pieces is The Electricity Fairy, a giant mural that fills an entire wall with color and energy.
You can also enjoy works by well-known artists like Braque, Delaunay, and Picasso. Their creative styles make the museum feel fun and modern. After exploring the galleries, walk outside to enjoy a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower nearby.
📍 Location: 16th arrondissement, near the Seine
🕓 Best time to visit: Late afternoon for golden hour views
🖼️ What you’ll see: Bold modern and contemporary art
🕰️ Musée d'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay at the historic Paris station
The Musée d'Orsay is one of the most famous museums in Paris, and for good reason. Housed in a stunning former train station, this museum is home to a world-class collection of art from the 1800s to the early 1900s. Inside, you’ll find masterpieces by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters like Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Degas.
If you're in Paris on the first Sunday of the month, you can visit the Musée d'Orsay for free! But don’t worry if your trip doesn’t line up with that date. You can still buy a ticket online, and it’s absolutely worth it.
📍 Location: Left Bank of the Seine, 7th arrondissement
🕓 Best time to visit: Early on the first Sunday of the month
🖼️ What you’ll see: Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces
💧 Musée de l'Orangerie
Claude Monet’s artwork at Musée de l'Orangerie
The Musée de l'Orangerie is a must-see for art lovers, especially fans of Claude Monet. It’s home to his stunning Water Lilies murals, displayed in two large oval rooms designed just the way Monet imagined.
Besides Monet’s work, the museum also features the Walter-Guillaume Collection, which includes paintings by Cézanne, Matisse, Renoir, Modigliani, and Picasso. It’s a compact museum, so it’s easy to visit without feeling overwhelmed.
This museum is part of the first Sunday Paris free museums program, so you can enter for free on the first Sunday of each month. If you won’t be in Paris on the first Sunday, you can still buy a ticket in advance.
📍 Location: Tuileries Garden, 1st arrondissement
🕓 Best time to visit: First Sunday morning; line up early
🖼️ What you’ll see: Impressionist and early Modern art
🖌️ Musée Picasso
Explore the works of Pablo Picasso at Musée Picasso | Photo Credits: Ibex73 on Wikimedia
The Musée Picasso is one of the best places in Paris to explore the life and work of Pablo Picasso. Set inside a beautiful 17th-century mansion in the historic Le Marais district, this museum holds more than 5,000 works by the legendary artist.
You'll see a wide range of pieces, from famous paintings and sketches to sculptures, photographs, and even personal notebooks. Walking through the museum feels like taking a journey through Picasso’s creative mind.
The Musée Picasso is free to visit on the first Sunday of the month, which makes it one of the top choices for museum free Paris days. If you’re not in Paris on a free Sunday, don’t worry! You can still buy tickets ahead of time.
📍 Location: Le Marais, 3rd arrondissement
🕓 Best time to visit: First Sunday mid-morning or weekday afternoons for fewer crowds
🖼️ What you’ll see: Pablo Picasso’s personal works
📝 Tips for Your Paris Museum Trip
Before you head out to explore the best free museums in Paris, here are some tips to help make your visit even better!
Use a France eSIM
Having data on your phone helps a lot while exploring Paris. You can look up museum hours, find nearby cafés, and use translation apps if needed. With a France eSIM, you can stay connected without buying a physical SIM card or dealing with roaming charges.
Plan Your First Sunday Early
Many museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, so they can get crowded quickly. Try to arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes before opening time, especially for popular spots like Musée d'Orsay or Musée de l'Orangerie. That way, you’ll have more time inside the museum and less time waiting outside.
Consider the Paris Museum Pass
If your trip doesn’t line up with a free Sunday, or you want to see even more museums, the Paris Museum Pass is a great option. It gives you skip-the-line access to over 50 museums and monuments. You can choose passes for 2, 4, or 6 days depending on how long you’re staying.
❓FAQs about free museums in Paris
What Paris museums are free?
Some museums, like Le Petit Palais, Musée Carnavalet, and Musée de la Vie Romantique are free all year round. Others, like Musée d'Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie, are free on the first Sunday of each month.
Is the Musée d'Orsay free entry?
The Musée d'Orsay gives free entry on the first Sunday of each month. Outside of that, you’ll need a ticket, but it’s worth every cent to see the Impressionist masterpieces.
Are museums free in Paris on Sundays?
Yes, many museums in Paris are free on the first Sunday of each month. This includes popular spots like the Musée Picasso, Musée d'Orsay, and Musée de l'Orangerie. Just remember to arrive early to avoid the crowds!
Is the Grand Palais free in Paris?
The Grand Palais is usually not free and is usually closed for renovations or special exhibits. You’ll want to check ahead before planning a visit.
Is Palais Garnier free on the first Sunday of the month?
Palais Garnier usually requires a ticket for entry and is not part of the first Sunday Paris free museums list. But guided tours are available and worth it for the architecture alone!
🎟️ Art for free? Oui, please!
Now that you know where to find the best free museums in Paris, it’s time to plan your cultural adventure. If you’re admiring Monet’s water lilies or diving into Parisian history, you don’t have to break the bank to experience world-class art.
So charge your phone, pack light, and follow your curiosity through the city’s galleries and gardens. And if you need tickets, tours, or even a France eSIM to stay connected, Klook’s got your back every step of the way!
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