Unmissable Paris Museums – List & Admission Conditions [2021]

The Paris Museums list is long and with interesting offers for history and art lovers. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Museums of Paris have reduced the number of daily visitors following the French Government’s recommendations. This ensures a more relaxed visit without the crowds, where everybody can keep at least one meter away from others.

Most of the time, this reduced number of visitors means all visitors must book a date and time slot in advance to enter the museum, and this rule is also valid for Paris Pass holders or those entitled to free admission.

Orsay Museum

Below, you will find the list of best Paris museums with their admission conditions, so you can know where you need to book timed tickets in advance. All these museums are included in the Paris Museum Pass, except the Eiffel Tower, which is not part of any Paris passes.

For the Paris museums where advance tickets are necessary, we have added links to our favorite trusty providers for your convenience.

HOW DOES IT WORK WITH THE PARIS MUSEUM PASS? The timed ticket rule, where applied, is also valid for the Paris Museum Pass holders. You will have to choose the date and time slot online for the museum of your choice, and then, you select the ‘Paris Museum Pass’ option (or the ‘free ticket’ option if the first does not exist). You don’t pay anything, and you get your booking confirmation for a cost of 0€. Then, you buy the Paris Museum Pass, and on the day of the visit, you need to show the booking confirmation for 0€ + the Paris Museum Pass Click here to buy the Paris Museum Pass for 2, 4, or 6 days.

Safety Measures and Advice

All museum staff and all visitors over 11 years old must wear a mask. The museums do not provide masks; visitors must bring their own. You must use the hand sanitizer dispenser before entering the museum. Social distancing rules and preventive measures must be respected in the museum.

Best Paris Museums List

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors. Booking in advance is highly recommended.

Cité de l’Architecture free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors. Booking in advance is highly recommended.

Musée de l’Armée (in Les Invalides) free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors. Booking in advance is highly recommended.

Musée des Arcs Décoratifs – it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Musée des Arts et Métiersfree access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Musée Nissim de Camondo – it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Musée Carnavalet – it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Carnavalet Museum - Paris

Chapelle Expiatoire it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Cinémathèque – it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Cité des Sciences (La Villette) it is recommended to book a date and time slot in advance.

Crypte Archéologique it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Cluny Museum – closed for works until 2022.

Conciergerie it is recommended to book a date and time slot in advance.

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Musée Eugène Delacroix – it is strongly recommended to book a date and time slot in advance.

Musée Gustave Moreau – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

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Musée Guimet – it is recommended to book a date and time slot in advance.

Musée Jean-Jacques Henner – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Institut du Monde Arabe – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

TIP: Traveling on a budget? Here’s the list of best free Museums in Paris.

Musée de l’Immigration – closed until fall 2022.

Musée du Judaïsme – it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Musée du Louvre it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Best of the Louvre

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Monnaie de Parisfree access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Musée de la Musique – it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Musée de l’Orangerie it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Musée d’Orsay it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance until 26 September 2021. After this date, it is strongly recommended to book a date and time slot.

Palais de la Découverte – closed for works.

Panthéonfree access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

The Panthéon in Paris

Musée Picasso it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Centre Pompidou it is strongly recommended to book a date and time slot in advance.

Musée du Quai Branly it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Musée Rodin-Parisfree access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Gardens Rodin Museum

Sainte Chapelle it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Tour Eiffel it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

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List of Best Museums around Paris

These monuments and museums are easy to reach from Paris, and they are all included in the Paris Museum Pass:

Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors. Booking in advance is highly recommended.

Musée de l’Archéologie – it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Château de Blérancourt – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Abbaye de Chaalis – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Château de Champs – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Château de Chantillyfree access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Chateau de Chantilly, France

Château de Compiègne – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Château de Fontainebleaufree access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Château de Maisons – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Château de Malmaison – it is recommended to book a date and time slot in advance.

Château de Pierrefondsit is recommended to book a date and time slot in advance during the weekend.

Chateau de Pierrefonds

Château de Port-Royal – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Château de Rambouilletit is recommended to book a date and time slot in advance.

Château Ecouen-Renaissance – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Maison Rodin-Meudon – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Basilique de Saint-Denisfree access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Main Nave in Saint-Denis

Musée de la Céramique de Sèvres – free access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

Château de Versailles it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Visit Versailles Gardens

TIP: Check out our quick guide to Versailles with our best tips!

Villa Savoye it is compulsory to book a date and time slot in advance.

Château de Vincennesfree access within the limit of the authorized number of visitors.

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Quirky Parisian explorers with a preference for lesser-known sights, we are continuously looking for new ideas and tips to bring you the best of the City of Light.