Best Free Museums in Paris: A Tourist’s Guide

Paris is one of the world’s cultural capitals, and the good news is you don’t need a big budget to explore its museums. Many are always free, while some of the most famous institutions open their doors for free on specific days. This guide highlights the best free museums in Paris, what to expect, practical details like opening hours and accessibility, plus insider tips for making the most of your visit. With this guide, you can craft an itinerary that balances art, history, and Parisian charm without spending a cent.

Always-Free Museums in Paris

Petit Palais – Fine Arts in a Belle Époque Setting

• 🖼️ What you’ll see: A collection ranging from classical antiquities to 20th-century masterpieces. Works by Monet, Cézanne, Delacroix, and Rodin await, alongside sculptures, mosaics, and decorative arts.
• ⏰ Hours: Tue–Sun, 10:00–18:00 (closed Mon).
• 📍 Location: Avenue Winston Churchill, 8th arrondissement (Métro: Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau).
• 🌿 Highlights: The courtyard garden café, intricate mosaics, and the free permanent collection. The building itself, built for the 1900 World’s Fair, is an attraction worth admiring.
• 💡 Extra tip: Download the free Petit Palais app for interactive tours.

Musée Carnavalet – History of Paris

• 🏛️ What you’ll see: Over 600,000 items telling the story of Paris. From medieval shop signs and royal portraits to French Revolution relics, the museum captures the soul of the city across centuries.
• ⏰ Hours: Tue–Sun, 10:00–18:00 (closed Mon).
• 📍 Location: Rue de Sévigné, 3rd arrondissement (Métro: Saint-Paul).
• 🔑 Highlights: French Revolution memorabilia (including Bastille artifacts), Belle Époque rooms, and art nouveau furniture. The gardens offer a tranquil break from the Marais bustle.
• 💡 Extra tip: Focus on one historical period to avoid fatigue—the collection is vast!

Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (MAM Paris)

• 🎨 What you’ll see: 20th-century art with over 11,000 works. Expect masterpieces by Picasso, Braque, Matisse, and Dufy, plus abstract and surrealist collections.
• ⏰ Hours: Tue–Sun, 10:00–18:00 (closed Mon).
• 📍 Location: Palais de Tokyo, 16th arrondissement (Métro: Iéna).
• 🌟 Highlights: Raoul Dufy’s enormous mural La Fée Électricité and Matisse’s La Danse. The museum terrace offers breathtaking Eiffel Tower views.
• 💡 Extra tip: Temporary exhibitions require a ticket, but the permanent collection is always free.

Maison de Victor Hugo

• 📚 What you’ll see: Victor Hugo’s apartment at Place des Vosges, filled with personal artifacts, manuscripts, paintings, and period furniture.
• ⏰ Hours: Tue–Sun, 10:00–18:00 (closed Mon).
• 📍 Location: Place des Vosges, 4th arrondissement (Métro: Bastille).
• ❤️ Highlights: Hugo’s red study where he wrote parts of Les Misérables. Temporary exhibitions may require a fee, but the permanent apartment is free.
• 💡 Extra tip: Take time to stroll around Place des Vosges after your visit—it’s one of Paris’s most beautiful squares.

Musée Bourdelle

• 🗿 What you’ll see: Antoine Bourdelle’s preserved studio and monumental sculptures, complemented by lush gardens.
• ⏰ Hours: Tue–Sun, 10:00–18:00 (closed Mon).
• 📍 Location: Rue Antoine Bourdelle, 15th arrondissement (Métro: Montparnasse).
• 🌳 Highlights: Famous works like Hercules the Archer, personal studio items, and serene gardens dotted with bronzes.
• 💡 Extra tip: This museum is less crowded than others, making it ideal for a peaceful cultural stop.

Other Always-Free Gems

• 🏮 Musée Cernuschi: Asian art museum near Parc Monceau, housing one of Europe’s largest collections of Chinese bronzes.
• 🎭 Musée Cognacq-Jay: 18th-century paintings, sculptures, and decorative art in a refined Marais townhouse.
• 🌹 Musée de la Vie Romantique: A charming museum dedicated to the Romantic era, featuring George Sand memorabilia and a rose-filled courtyard café.
• ✍️ Maison de Balzac: Balzac’s hidden home in Passy, where manuscripts and personal objects reflect his literary life.
• 🪚 Atelier Brancusi: Sculptor Constantin Brancusi’s recreated studio, opposite the Centre Pompidou.
• 🌸 Musée du Parfum (Fragonard): Free guided tours explaining perfume-making traditions.
• 🕯️ Mémorial de la Shoah: Holocaust memorial museum offering powerful exhibitions and historical records.

Free Museums on Specific Days

The Louvre

• 🎟️ Free for: Under-18s always, EU residents under 26 daily. Free for everyone on July 14 (Bastille Day) and first Friday evenings of the month (after 6pm, except summer).
• 💡 Tip: Reserve online to avoid disappointment. Expect crowds around the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.

Musée d’Orsay

• 🎟️ Free for: Under-18s and EU residents under 26 daily. Free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month (advance booking required).
• 💡 Tip: Arrive early or late on free days. Don’t miss the Impressionist gallery on the top floor.

Centre Pompidou

• 🎟️ Free for: Under-18s and EU residents under 26 daily. Free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month.
• 💡 Tip: Beyond art, climb the escalators for sweeping Parisian views.

Musée de l’Orangerie

• 🎟️ Free for: Under-18s and EU residents under 26 daily. Free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month.
• 💡 Tip: Monet’s Water Lilies are best viewed in the morning light.

Musée Picasso

• 🎟️ Free for: Under-18s and EU residents under 26 daily. Free for all on the first Sunday of the month.
• 💡 Tip: Explore Picasso’s chronological progression through styles, from Blue Period to Cubism.

Musée Rodin

• 🎟️ Free for: Under-18s and EU residents under 26 daily. Free for all on the first Sunday of the month from October to March.
• 💡 Tip: The sculpture garden, dotted with masterpieces, is especially atmospheric in spring.

Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac

• 🎟️ Free for: Under-18s and EU residents under 26 daily. Free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month.
• 💡 Tip: The museum’s vertical garden is almost as impressive as the collection inside.

Other First-Sunday Free Museums

• 🛡️ Musée Cluny: Famous for the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries and medieval artifacts.
• ⚙️ Musée des Arts et Métiers: Fascinating inventions, early planes, and Foucault’s Pendulum.
• 🐻 Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature: A quirky mix of taxidermy, art, and antique weapons.
• 👑 Palace of Versailles: Free for all on the first Sunday from November to March; EU residents under 26 are free year-round.

Tips for Tourists

• ⏰ Arrive Early: Lines can be long on free days, especially at the Louvre, Orsay, and Orangerie.
• 💻 Book Online: Reserve free tickets when required; some museums won’t admit walk-ins on free days.
• 🎒 Travel Light: Avoid bringing large bags or backpacks to pass security faster.
• ♿ Accessibility: Most museums are wheelchair accessible, with free entry for disabled visitors and a companion.
• 🗺️ Combine Visits: Maximize your time by pairing nearby museums (e.g., Orsay and Orangerie or Carnavalet and Victor Hugo’s house).
• 🍽️ Plan Meals: Many museums have charming cafés. Petit Palais and Musée de la Vie Romantique are particularly lovely spots for a break.
• 💝 Donations Welcome: Even though free, donations help keep cultural institutions thriving.

Summary Table: Free Museums in Paris

Final Thoughts

Exploring Paris’s museums doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether it’s gazing at the timeless Water Lilies at Orangerie, uncovering the grand history at Carnavalet, or enjoying the hidden sculpture gardens of Bourdelle, the city offers cultural treasures at every turn. With careful planning, you can design a trip that blends iconic highlights with hidden gems. Remember to allow time to wander, sit quietly in a gallery, or enjoy a coffee in a museum garden—these moments are as much a part of the Paris experience as the masterpieces themselves. Bon voyage and happy museum-hopping!