6+ Must-See Art Museums for Your First Trip to Paris {2024}

You definitely can't see it all on your first trip to Paris. But a few Parisian art museums are unmissable. Check out your favorite Europe tour planner's must-see art museums in Paris for first-time visitors.

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Planning a trip to the best art museums in Paris?

Ah, Paris! The wine, the food, the impossibly chic Parisians, the historic sites, and the innumerable, unmissable museums. 


Admittedly, it can be a bit overwhelming, planning your first trip to Paris. The city is large and it seems every square inch is home to something you'd simply love to tour. But never fear, I'm here to point you in the right direction as you plan your first trip to Paris!


France is proudly home to many of the world's most famous and most well-respected artists and, unsurprisingly, the French capital home to several of the most-famous art museums in the world. With all the things you'll need to see in Paris, I firmly believe art museums should be at the top of the list. Hopefully you'll be back to Paris many times in your life. Whether you will or not, here are the art museums I'd recommend seeing on your first trip to Paris. 


And while you're here, I'd love nothing more than if you'd take a minute to check out all of my other Europe and Paris travel-planning resources:

• The Ultimate Guide to Packing for 10 Days in Europe
• The Practical Guide to Looking Perfect in Paris
• 5+ Ways to Charm the French: French Manners for Tourists
• Visiting the Chateau de Fontainebleau on a Day Trip from Paris
• The 7+ Essentials You'll Need in Europe This Summer

Tips for visiting Paris art museums

Petit Palais, Paris (2018)

I find that it's usually helpful to orient first-time visitors to Paris with a few basic pieces of advice before plunging into information about the tourist sites we're going to explore. So let's talk about a few tips for visiting museums in Paris.

Do not bring a backpack

All of the museums on this list will require you to either check a large back in the 'cloak room' or wear it on your front throughout your time in the museum.

Unless there is a reason that you need to carry so many possessions with you, I'd recommend leaving the backpack at home.

​I opt for a small, crossbody purse that leaves my hands free for exploration and doesn't require me to wait in a long line to check a bag in and out of a coat check.

The Practical Guide to Looking Perfect in Paris

Plan to grab a meal

While many American museums boast nice restaurants, my mind was frankly blown by the quality of several of the restaurants in French museums, particularly the Petit Palais and the Musée Rodin. You will not be served a cold, stale sandwich with a soggy tomato.

Make a plan

Even for the smaller art museums on this list, do your research in advance and determine if there are any must-see pieces for you at that museum. While we all want to see 'it all,' the reality is, tourism fatigue is real, especially in Paris. With some semblance of a game plan, you'll be better-informed to execute when the day comes for your visit, even if that preparedness means you're smartly choosing which works to skip when your feet start itching.

Go with the flow

Days on a Europe vacation are busy. Things change. Exhibits are closed. Art works are on loan. You'll be back. The most important thing is enjoying your time 'across the pond.' It's ok to shift your schedule around, as needed.

Be patient

Everyone in the Louvre wants to see the Mona Lisa. Wait your turn, be polite, and remember that the experience matters more than the 'perfect selfie.'

6+ Must-See Art Museums for Your First Trip to Paris {2024}

Alright! We've gotten through the basics and it's time to dive in. Let's walk through the best art museums in Paris for first-time visitors.

Large Parisian Art Museums

The Louvre ​(Musée du Louvre)

The ultimate must-visit museum is one of the largest and most famous in the world, the Louvre. Situated in a former royal hunting palace "The Louvre Palace," the original part of which was built in the 12th century, the building itself is a incredible site in and of itself. In the 16th century, it became a residence of the French kings, and served that purpose until the Sun King transitioned to Versailles. He left his collections at the Louvre, so it has been a 'museum' of sorts for over 400 years. It officially opened to the public in 1793, at the height of the French Revolution, but don't worry, you're plenty safe from radicals here now.


The Louvre has been added onto significantly over the years, most recently with I.M. Pei's glass pyramid in 1993, above the main entrance, under which is a small shopping center and ticket office in the lower level.

The Louvre is by far the largest museum on our list. You'll have the opportunity to stroll 782,910 square feet of exhibits to see some of the most famous works of art in the world, from the Venus de Milo to works by Leonardo da Vinci, including the Mona Lisa (thankfully protected behind glass).


Plan to spend a lot of time at the Louvre, both for permanent exhibits and temporary exhibitions. If at all possible, I go on a Friday when the museum is open late. It's less crowded, people are more relaxed, and there are fewer families. Want to learn more? Rent an audioguide for 6 euros.


The Louvre is closed on *Tuesdays.*

FAQ: Which Paris museum gets the most visitors?

The Louvre is the most-visited museum in the world. In 2022, the Louvre welcomed an almost unbelievable 7.8 million visitors.

Musée d'Orsay

Boasting an unparalleled permanent collection of late 19th and early 20th century French art, largely Impressionist and surrounding movements, the Musée d'Orsay is another of Paris's large, stunning art museums. With works by Henri Matisse, Édouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas, among many, many others, the d'Orsay is housed in a Beaux-Arts railway station. The focal point of the museum itself is the incredible clock in the main hall.


The d'Orsay is closed on Monday, and the evening opening is Thursday nights.

FAQ: Is the Musée d'Orsay better than the Louvre?

What a question! If you can see both, they're very different and both deserve a visit. If you love Impressionism, the d'Orsay can't be beat. But the Louvre has a much broader range of exhibits, and is much larger. If you can only do one on your first visit, I'd do the Louvre.

Extra Credit: Centre Pompidou

Europe's first modern art museum is obviously worth a visit, if you're a modern or contemporary art aficionado. Consider a visit to Centre Pompidou, before it closes for a serious renovation at the end of 2024.

Smaller, Single-Artist Feature Parisian Museums

Musée Rodin

Now we move onto my personal favorite museum in Paris, the Musée Rodin. The Musée Rodin's location in the heart of Paris is housed in the Hôtel Biron, Rodin's city workshop, which he donated to the country for this purpose. The museum also runs Rodin's personal home, Villa des Brillants. (We did not visit the latter, so I can't speak to it, but it's probably lovely). Dedicated to the work of French sculptor Auguste Rodin, the Musée Rodin is one of the top attractions in Paris, welcoming 700,000 guests per year. The Thinker, The Kiss, The Walking Man, The Gates of Hell - you'll see them all.


It's convenient to tie your visit to the Musée Rodin in with your time at the Eiffel Tower and the Hôtel des Invalides, also on the Left Bank and, of course, the Musée d'Orsay.


Featuring an almost unbelievable number of Rodin's 19th century works of art, the home itself is impressive. Stroll the grounds, take in the gardens. I very happily spent the afternoon of my 30th birthday here. Grab lunch and a drink at L'Augustine, the new and stunning cafe. The French even do museum cafes impressively.

The museum is closed on Mondays.

There is a Rodin Museum in Philadelphia.
​Make sure you're on the right Rodin website when you're planning your trip!

FAQ: What's the best day to visit museums in Paris?

Mid-week mornings are the best times to visit museums in Paris. Some museums, including a couple on this list, are closed random days midweek, but when possible, Tuesday, Wednesday, and even Thursday mornings tend to be less crowded.


For museums that offer the option, night openings are also a less-crowded option, if your schedule allows.

​Musée de l'Orangerie

  Musée de l'Orangerie is nestled into a corner of the Tuileries Garden, close to the Place de la Concorde. It contains a number of Impressionist and post-Impressionist pieces by all of the famous names, but is most well-known for the installation of the eight, enormous canvases of The Water Lillies by Claude Monet, which the painter gave to the government on Armistice Day in 1918, and they were installed about a decade later, after the artist's death.


The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

FAQ: Should I get a Paris Museum Pass?

The Paris Museum Pass allows tourists entrance into over 50 museums and historic sites in and around Paris. It is available in 3, 4, and 6 day options. Like the London Pass, the Paris Museum Pass makes sense if you plan your days accordingly and get as few days as possible. There's really no reason to buy a 6-day pass, for example, as during that time you'll almost certainly take day trips, need breaks, etc.

Picasso Museum/ Musée Picasso

Heading over the Le Marais, which incidentally also offers some of the best boutique shopping in Paris, we find another small museum focused on a single artist, the Picasso Museum. It's a popular destination and a great place to take in a bit of culture while you're exploring Le Marais.

​The museum is closed on Mondays.

FAQ: Is the Picasso Museum Paris worth it?

Yes. I would not consider myself a huge Picasso fan, but the museum was absolutely 'worth it.' The building itself is gorgeous, it contains several of Picasso's most famous pieces, and it's a nice respite when you're exploring Le Marais.

Architectural Splendor Paris Art Museums

Petit Palais & Grand Palais

Built for the Universal Exposition of 1900, the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais now house the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Cite de Paris (City of Paris Museum of Fine Art), and an exhibition hall, with some museum elements, respectively. The Grand Palais has been closed since 2021 for a major renovation in advance of the Paris Olympics in 2024. You'll spend more time at the Petit Palais, with its excellent art collection. It's worth grabbing lunch at their excellent cafe-restaurant. You can easily tie this visit in with your time exploring the Champs-Élysées.

Thanks for stopping by!

I so appreciate you dropping by the blog as you plan your trip to Paris, particularly the best art museums in Paris! There's no topic I adore more than Europe travel planning. While you can't see it all on your trip to Paris, I hope my list of the best museums helps you narrow down your list and start planning your days in Paris. And, while you're here, I hope you'll take some time to peruse my other Europe and France/Paris travel planning posts, including:

• The Ultimate Guide to Packing for 10 Days in Europe
• The Practical Guide to Looking Perfect in Paris
• 5+ Ways to Charm the French: French Manners for Tourists
• Visiting the Chateau de Fontainebleau on a Day Trip from Paris

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