Museums in Paris (2026): The Complete Guide and Tickets

The largest and most famous art museum in the world, housed in a historic royal palace. Don’t miss Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, along with the antiquities wings of Egypt and Greece.

The museum is housed in an impressive train station built for the 1900 World’s Fair, and it holds the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in the world. Don’t miss Van Gogh’s “Starry Night Over the Rhône” and the masterpieces of Monet, Manet and Renoir.

A lavish 18th-century palace on Place de la Concorde that shows off the splendor of the French aristocracy. Don’t miss the carefully restored reception rooms, the loggia overlooking the square and the impressive Al Thani Collection.

An elegant Parisian mansion dedicated to the work of the sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917). Among the highlights are the monumental sculptures “The Thinker,” “The Kiss” and “The Gates of Hell,” spread around a magical, calming sculpture garden in the heart of Paris.

The museum sits in the Jardin des Tuileries and is dedicated to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. Its centerpiece and most famous work is the series of panoramic “Water Lilies” paintings by Claude Monet (1840-1926), displayed in two dedicated oval rooms.

A spectacular private art collection displayed in a lavish mansion from the Haussmann era. The highlights include Italian Renaissance art by Botticelli and Donatello, alongside masterpieces by Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Flemish artists.

The museum, in the upscale 16th arrondissement, holds the largest collection of works by Claude Monet in the world. Don’t miss the historic painting “Impression, Sunrise,” which gave the Impressionist movement its name.

A complex of old buildings and picturesque gardens that tells the bohemian history of the famous neighborhood. Make sure you visit the restored studio of the artist Suzanne Valadon (1865-1938) and stroll through the Renoir Gardens overlooking the local vineyard.

The iconic royal palace of Louis XIV shows French classical architecture at its grandest. Don’t miss the famous Hall of Mirrors, the spectacular gardens of Versailles and Marie Antoinette’s estate (the Trianon).

A historic Parisian institution founded in 1882 that displays more than 200 lifelike wax figures of celebrities, politicians and historical figures. Don’t miss the spectacular sound and light show in the original Palace of Mirages (Palais des Mirages).

The oldest museum of technology, engineering and inventions in Europe, housed, unusually, inside an old and impressive priory. The must-see exhibit is Foucault’s original pendulum, along with the first model of Clément Ader’s airplane and a rare astronomical collection.

Located inside the Jardin des Plantes, it tells the story of the evolution of life on Earth in a mesmerizing way. The highlight and symbol of the place is the impressive giant parade of life-size stuffed animals in the center of the hall.

A huge, interactive science center in the Parc de la Villette, especially well suited to kids. It offers fascinating exhibitions on space, the human body, communication and technology, and the planetarium and the real submarine “Argonaute” on display outside are well worth a visit.

A sweet culinary and educational experience that tells the history of the cocoa bean from the Aztec Empire to the present day. I especially recommend joining the chocolate-making workshops led by professional chocolatiers and tasting a huge variety of chocolates.

An interactive, hands-on center designed to put your sight, your logic and your sense of space to the test. Don’t miss the “anti-gravity” room, the vortex tunnel and the Infinity Room, which make for unforgettable photos.

A monumental 17th-century historic complex dedicated to France’s military history from the Middle Ages to the world wars. The most famous site here, and a must, is the grand, enormous tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte beneath the golden dome of the Dôme church.

A groundbreaking digital art center inside a former foundry in eastern Paris. It presents mesmerizing immersive exhibitions in which classic works of art are projected onto huge walls and floors, coming to life to a tailored musical soundtrack.

A unique building designed by the architect Jean Nouvel at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, dedicated entirely to the art and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Don’t miss the famous green wall outside, and explore the collection of tribal masks and ancient sculptures in a mysterious atmosphere.

A new, interactive and hands-on museum in the heart of the city that celebrates the great French tradition of cheese aging. The visit includes fascinating demonstrations of how cheese is made, an introduction to the different cheese regions of France and, of course, a professional guide and excellent tastings.

A 17th-century mansion in the Marais, the only one by François Mansart (1598-1666) that survives intact, with decorated salons, portraits of Louis XIV’s hounds, taxidermy and contemporary art. It also works for people who don’t like hunting.