Discover Paris’s 90 best Museums spots for your trip

The Louvre occupies a former royal residence along the Seine, displaying tens of thousands of artworks and artifacts spanning ancient civilizations to the 19th century. Its collection includes the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

The museum's modern glass pyramid entrance, added in 1989, has become a landmark in its own right.

Notre-Dame de Paris is a medieval Gothic cathedral known for its sculpted portals, stained-glass windows, and towers overlooking the Seine. It houses relics including the Crown of Thorns and a treasury of tapestries, icons, and liturgical art.

Visitors can attend Mass, explore the nave and chapels, or view exhibits on its architecture and history.

Standing at Place de l'Étoile, the Arc de Triomphe honors those who fought for France and shelters the tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath its sculpted arch. Visitors climb 284 steps to a rooftop terrace for panoramic views over the Champs-Élysées and the city.

The monument also features sculpted groups on its facade and hosts guided tours, family-oriented activities, and workshops.

The Hôtel de la Marine occupies one of the twin buildings on Place de la Concorde designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel in the 1770s, and served as the headquarters of the French Navy for over two centuries before its recent restoration and public opening. The interiors have been meticulously recreated to their 18th-century splendor, and reviewers consistently rate it among the best museum experiences in Paris.

A 2-3 hour guided tour through the Louvre with a pre-reserved ticket for fast entry. The guide leads a route through the museum's most iconic works, including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, sharing the stories behind each.

Guests can continue exploring independently after the guided portion ends.

A guided Louvre tour with reserved (skip-the-line) access, covering major works including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and pieces by Caravaggio and Michelangelo. An expert guide provides context and stories behind each masterpiece throughout the visit.

Musée d'Orsay occupies a former Belle Époque railway station, its grand hall and glass roof forming a striking backdrop for the collection inside. The museum specializes in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, alongside sculpture and decorative arts.

Timed-entry tickets help manage visitor flow, and many describe the building itself, with its ornate architecture and large clock, as a highlight alongside the artwork.

Opened in 1875 to mark the inauguration of the Opéra Garnier, this Grands Boulevards brasserie retains its period charm. Open daily from 7am to 1am, it serves traditional French cuisine including pâté-croûte, steak au poivre and seafood platters.

A sunny terrace and private salons make it suited to family lunches, post-theatre dinners or private events.

Palais Garnier opened in 1875 as the primary home of the Paris Opera, designed by architect Charles Garnier in an opulent Beaux-Arts style. The building features a grand marble staircase, gilded interiors, and a ceiling painted by Marc Chagall above the auditorium.

Visitors can tour the building during the day or attend ballet and opera performances.

The Grand Palais is a landmark exhibition hall known for its massive glass dome and grand architecture. It hosts rotating art exhibitions, drawing queues for popular shows.

Visitors praise the building itself as much as the exhibitions, along with thoughtful curation and well-stocked museum shops. It stands directly across from the Petit Palais.

Built by Louis XIV as a home for wounded soldiers, this landmark complex now houses the Musée de l'Armée and Napoleon's tomb beneath its gilded dome. The emperor's remains, returned from Saint Helena in 1840, were placed here in a ceremony known as the Retour des Cendres.

Visitors can explore military history exhibits alongside the tomb itself.

This landscaped garden links the Louvre to Place de la Concorde, offering tree-lined paths, fountains, and statues alongside a central café. Visitors can expect a peaceful escape amid manicured lawns and gravel walkways, with occasional attractions like a Ferris wheel.

It's a popular spot for a quiet stroll or rest between museum visits.

The Musée de l'Orangerie houses Claude Monet's Grandes Décorations, immersive Nymphéas paintings displayed in oval rooms designed for the works. It also holds the Walter-Guillaume collection, featuring paintings by artists such as Renoir, Cézanne, and Picasso.

Set in the Tuileries Garden, the museum offers guided tours, family workshops, and accessibility-adapted visits alongside its permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Built for Saint Louis, Sainte-Chapelle is a UNESCO-listed masterpiece of Rayonnant Gothic architecture within the Palais de la Cité. Its upper chapel is lined with towering stained-glass windows depicting biblical scenes, illuminating the space in color.

The Rose Window of the Apocalypse adds further detail to this soaring, light-filled interior. Tickets cost €22, with free entry for visitors under 26.

A 2-hour small-group guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay, housed in a former Beaux-Arts train station. The guide covers major works by Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Cézanne, and Degas, with skip-the-line entry and context on the Impressionist movement.

Angelina is an iconic Parisian tea room on Rue de Rivoli, known since its founding for signature hot chocolate and pastries like the Mont Blanc and mille-feuille. The elegant setting draws steady crowds for breakfast, brunch and savory dishes alongside sweets.

Expect attentive service, occasional waits, and a refined, bustling atmosphere popular with international visitors.

Established in 1686 in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Le Procope was the first Paris restaurant to serve coffee at table and became a meeting place for figures like Voltaire, Rousseau and Diderot. The 18th-century interior preserves this literary history, while a hidden courtyard terrace offers outdoor seating.

The kitchen reworks classic Parisian dishes such as coq au vin and braised beef cheek, and historic salons are available for private events.

A 2-hour small-group guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay, housed in a former Beaux-Arts train station. The guide covers major works by Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Cézanne, and Degas, with skip-the-line entry and context on the Impressionist movement.

Housed in a converted 19th-century foundry, this Culturespaces venue opened in 2018 as a digital art centre. Large-scale projections cover the walls, floor and ceiling, immersing visitors in works by artists such as Van Gogh alongside contemporary digital creations.

A rotating programme includes different shows on different days, plus a children's workshop space and a bookshop-boutique.

AURA Invalides uses projection mapping and sound design across the historic courtyard of the Invalides to tell the story of the monument and Napoleon's tomb after dark. Reviewers consistently praise the quality of the lighting and storytelling as a fresh way to experience a site many have already seen by day.

A skip-the-line ticket to the Paris Catacombs, paired with a self-guided audio tour available in 4 languages. Visitors descend into the underground tunnels, originally quarries, to see rooms lined with the bones and skulls of around 6 million Parisians, relocated here when the city's cemeteries became overfilled.

The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie opened in 1986 within the vast Parc de la Villette and remains one of the largest science museums in Europe, with permanent exhibitions spanning space, the human body, and technology. It's especially popular with families, though some reviewers note that exhibit information is not always available in English.

Housed in the Hôtel Biron, the Musée Rodin displays major works by sculptor Auguste Rodin, including The Thinker and The Gates of Hell. The surrounding garden, filled with sculptures and rose beds, is one of the museum's highlights.

The collection also includes works by Camille Claudel, Rodin's collaborator and muse.

Housed in Paul Marmottan's former private mansion with preserved Empire-style decor, this museum combines period rooms with an outstanding art collection. It holds the world's largest fund of Claude Monet's works alongside pieces by Berthe Morisot, plus medieval and Ancien Régime paintings, sculptures and illuminations.

Temporary exhibitions and a garden café add to the visit.

The Petit Palais houses the City of Paris's museum of fine arts, with permanent collections free to access. Visitors can explore galleries featuring works by artists like Gustave Courbet, alongside temporary exhibitions covering modern and contemporary art.

The building itself, with its péristyle, is part of the experience, and guided tours and workshops are regularly offered. Open Tuesday to Sunday, with late nights on Fridays and Saturdays for temporary exhibitions.

This guided visit provides entry to the Louvre along with an introduction to its permanent collections, from ancient antiquities to European masterpieces. A guide leads visitors through key galleries, offering context on the museum's history and highlighted works.

Guided tours are also available through temporary exhibitions. Reservation is required, and is mandatory for all visitors between 1 July and 31 August 2026.

Shakespeare and Company is an independent English-language bookstore on the Left Bank, selling fiction, poetry, rare editions and its own branded titles. Beyond books, it hosts author events, podcasts and a small cafe, drawing on a literary history tied to figures like James Joyce.

Shelves are packed across cosy, winding rooms, with staff picks and themed sections for browsing.

Completed in 1919, this Romano-Byzantine basilica sits atop the Montmartre hill and is known for its striking white dome and travertine stone facade. Inside, visitors find an ornate choir mosaic, chapels, stained glass, and the Savoyarde bell, alongside an active community offering daily Mass, confession, and continuous adoration.

Its terrace and dome offer panoramic views over the city.

Set in the Hôtel Salé, a 17th-century townhouse in the Marais, this museum holds a vast permanent collection tracing Picasso's career alongside personal archives and his own art collection. It also hosts rotating temporary exhibitions and a rooftop café.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30am to 6pm, with the third floor currently accessible only by stairs.

Set in one of the Butte's oldest buildings on rue Cortot, this museum traces the history and artistic ferment of Montmartre, including its cabarets and painters' studios. Permanent collections cover Suzanne Valadon's atelier, while temporary exhibitions rotate through the space.

The adjoining Renoir Gardens overlook the Clos Montmartre vineyard, and the Café Renoir, styled like a winter garden, opens onto outdoor seating.