Transportation Strikes in France 2023
This article may contain compensated links. Please read disclaimer for more info.
01/28/23
Traveling to Paris on a budget? Museum hopping is one of the best things to do in Paris and while visiting the most popular museums is not cheap, there is a little list of free museums in Paris where you can always pop into for absolutely free. At least for its permanent collections.
From Arts to Science museums with some artists’ workshops in between, you can visit interesting museums in Paris without feeling financially drained. Some of these museums are well known by the public while others are hidden gems. We invite you to go off the beaten path, you will find out that Paris has much more to offer than the Louvre Museum or the Orsay Museum . . . and for free.
Here’s the list of our favorite free museums Paris has to offer.
X
Free Museums in Paris – Arts & Culture
Musée Bourdelle
16 rue Antoine Bourdelle, Paris 15 – Metro Station Montparnasse – Bienvenüe Lines 4, 6, 12, 13 ; Vélib Station #15.002
via Flickr CC @Corinne Moncelli
- District: Paris 15
- Subject: Sculpture
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
This museum is dedicated to the work of Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929), French sculptor, and teacher. He was a student and friend of Auguste Rodin, who marked his style considerably, and a teacher of Giacometti and Henri Matisse. Bourdelle was also an important figure in the Art Déco movement and the transition from the Beaux-Arts style to modern sculpture.
The museum is set in Bourdelle’s apartment and studio. Apart from the beautiful sculptures, this museum is a great opportunity to see how an artist workshop looked like in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century.
X
Musée Cognacq-Jay
Hôtel Donon – 8 rue Elzévir, Paris 3; Metro Station Saint-Paul Line 1; Vélib Station #3.013
- District: Paris 3
- Subject: Painting
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
Ernest Cognacq was the founder of the historic Grands Magasins La Samaritaine. He and his spouse, Marie-Louise Jay, decided to leave the Ville de Paris their art collection, today hosted in a beautiful private mansion of Le Marais.
The collection consists of artwork of the 18th century with paintings by Canaletto, Tiepolo, Fragonard or Boucher. This museum is also a good opportunity to see how a private mansion of Le Marais looks like. This one, in particular, has a beautiful attic with a wooden ceiling, reminiscent of the nave of an overturned ship.
X
Musée Cernuschi
7 avenue Velasquez, Paris 8 – Metro Station Villiers Lines 2, 3; Vélib Station #8.037
via Flickr CC @Tom Flemming
- District: Paris 8
- Subject: Asian arts
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
Amongst the Paris free museums, this one outstands for the beauty of the building and its collection. The Cernuschi Museum is located in the private mansion where Henri Cernushi (1821-1896) lived and it shows his private collections of Asian art. Especially remarkable are the rooms dedicated to ancient Chinese art.
Come to this museum if you like Asian art. This free museum in Paris is also a good excuse to visit the beautiful Parc de Monceau, very close to the museum, afterward.
X
Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris
Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris 8; Metro Station Champs-Elysées– Clemenceau Line 1; VÉlib Station #8.001
- District: Paris 8
- Subject: Beaux-Arts
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
The Petit Palais is an architectural gem located on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. The building was built for the Exposition Universelle of 1900 and houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris with sculptures, paintings, tapestries, art objects, and icons.
The artistic panorama is very large, from Ancient and Medieval collections to works from the French and Italian Renaissance and Flemish and Dutch paintings.
Come to this museum for an excellent alternative to (the expensive) Grand Palais, also built for the Universal Exposition. Don’t miss its charming inner outdoor garden, perfect for a coffee or tea break.
X
Musée de la Vie Romantique
16 rue Chaptal, Paris 9; Metro Station Pigalle Lines 2, 12; Vélib Stations # 9.028 and 9.026
via Flickr CC @Ottavi Alain
- District: Paris 9
- Subject: Arts and Litterature
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
This is definitely the most romantic of the free Paris museums! The Musée de la Vie Romantique is a cute museum located in the former home of the painter of Dutch origin Ary Scheffer and a home of romantic inspiration during the first part of the 19th century.
On the ground floor of the pavilion, the museum exhibits the memories of the novelist George Sand, Scheffer’s neighbor who came to visit the painter often. Upstairs, the rooms evoke the memory of Ary Scheffer as of his contemporaries.
Don’t miss the museum’s beautiful garden, perfect for a coffee break (and some cakes) in a very romantic atmosphere.
X
Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
11 Avenue du Président Wilson, Paris 16 – Metro Station Iéna Line 9; Vélib Station #8.046
- District: Paris 16
- Subject: Arts
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
This museum located in the east wing of the Palais de Tokyo is devoted to Modern Art in all its forms: paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, and videos.
The museum’s permanent collections, with more than 8,000 works of art, show the diverse art trends of the 20th century: Cubism, École de Paris, Abstract Art, and New Realism.
Come to this museum to see works by Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Henri Matisse, Alberto Giacometti, Georges Braque, and Yves Klein. This Paris Museum is one of the best free Paris museums.
X
Paris Free Museums – Artists & Writers’ Workshops
Atelier Brancusi – Centre Pompidou
Place Georges Pompidou /Rue Saint Martin, Paris 4; Metro Station Rambuteau, Line 11; Vélib Station #4.021
- District: Paris 4
- Subject: Sculpture
- Opening times: from 2 pm to 6 pm. Closed on Tuesday.
Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) was a major artist in the history of modern sculpture. He created most of his works in the workshop which he occupied in the 15th arrondissement.
In his will, he left his entire workshop to the French State. Today we can find this workshop entirely reconstructed on the square in front of Centre Pompidou featuring his unique collection of sculptures, pedestals, photos, and drawings.
Come to this museum to see how artists worked at the beginning of the 20th century and because Brancusi is Brancusi!
X
Maison de Balzac
47 rue Raynouard, Paris 16; Metro Station Passy Line 6; Vélib Station #16.112
- District: Paris 16
- Subject: Litterature
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
The Maison de Balzac is the last famous Parisian novelist’s house to exist today. It was in this house where he wrote “La Comédie Humaine”. Honoré de Balzac left many original editions, manuscripts, and illustrations exhibited in this house today.
We like the house by itself, especially its terraced layout and the surrounding garden with fantastic views of the Eiffel Tower.
Come to this museum to know more about Balzac and his life in this beautiful house.
X
Musée Zadkine
100 bis rue d’Assas, Paris 6; Metro Station Notre-Dame-des-Champs, Line 12; Vélib Stations #6.008 and 6.018
via Flickr CC @Pierre Lannes
- District: Paris 6
- Subject: Sculpture
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
This museum is a hidden gem, not far from the Luxemburg Gardens. Ossip Zadkine, a Russian sculptor, arrived at Montparnasse in 1909. After some time here and there he moved with his wife, also an artist, to this studio located on Assas Street. They lived and worked in this house until their last days. Head here to read our article on this museum.
Come to this museum to discover a hidden, picturesque place that few Parisians know.
X
Maison de Victor Hugo
Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée – 6 place des Vosges, Paris 4; M. Bastille, L1, 5 and 8; Velib Station #4.101
- District: Paris 4
- Subject: Litterature
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
Maison de Victor Hugo is the writer’s house-museum, located where Victor Hugo lived for 16 years between 1832–1848. In this apartment, Victor Hugo wrote many of his famous novels and also a big part of Les Misérables.
The apartment is in the form of seven rooms in a row, which chronologically evoke the writer’s journey: before the exile, during the exile, and also his life from the exile.
X
Free Museums in Paris – History
Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris
23 rue de Sévigné, Paris 3; Metro Station Saint-Paul, Line 1 or Metro Station Chemin Vert, Line 8; Vélib Stations #3.013
- District: Paris 3
- Subject: Hisotry
- Opening times: TBD. Currently closed for renovation works.
The Musée Carnavalet is dedicated to the history of the city of Paris from its origins to our days. The museum occupies two neighboring private mansions linked by a gallery on the first floor.
The collections of the Carnavalet Museum are varied and include archaeological remains, paintings, sculptures, drawings, medals and coins, engravings, old photographs, models of monuments, furniture, signs, portraits, as well as a unique set of testimonies on the French Revolution. The reconstruction of some old Parisian interiors is also very interesting to see.
The Carnevalet Museum is an excellent introduction to Paris for first-timers.
Musée de la Libération de Paris – Musée Jean Moulin – Musée Général Leclerc
4 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, Paris 14; Metro Station Denfert-Rochereau, Lines 4 and 6
- District: Paris 14
- Subject: Hisotry
- Opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday.
This museum is dedicated to the Liberation of Paris from the Nazi occupation (25th August 1944) through the journey of two very different men: Jean Moulin and Général Leclerc. The exhibition is dense but very interesting.
The museum is built above a defense shelter used as a command headquarters by Colonel Rol (future Rol-Tanguy), head of the FFI in the Paris region. This shelter can be visited in small groups and shows the life of the French Resistants in these underground tunnels.
Other Paris Free Museums
Musée Curie (Institut du Radium)
11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 5; Metro Station Cardinal Lemoine, Line 10 or Place Monge, Line 7; Vélib Station #5.012
- District: Paris 5
- Subject: Science
- Opening times: Wednesday to Saturday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday.
The Curie Historical Museum is located in one of the old buildings of the Radium Institute in Paris. The building still preserves Marie Curie’s laboratory and office, just like when she used them. The museum consists of a permanent exhibition where visitors can learn about the history of the discovery of radioactivity by Pierre and Marie Curie and its first medical applications with radiotherapy.
We especially loved Marie Curie’s workspaces, where she spent most of her time. Both rooms face over a lovely and peaceful garden, very dear to Marie Curie, that you can also visit.
X
Nouveau Musée du Parfum Fragonard
3-5 square de l’Opéra Louis-Jouvet, Paris 9; Metro Station Opéra, Lines 3, 7 and 8; Vélib Station #9.106
- District: Paris 9
- Subject: Perfumes
- Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. Closed on Sunday.
Paris wouldn’t be Paris without a museum dedicated to Perfume! Originally opened in 1983, the Perfume Museum was renovated by the historical fragrance-maker Fragonard and reopened as the Fragonard Musée du Parfum.
To visit the Perfume Museum it is necessary to join a free guided tour in English or French. During the first part of the tour, scent lovers discover Fragonard’s “savoir-faire” and how perfumes are made while the second part is dedicated to the history of perfumes. Head here for our full article about the Fragonard Perfume Museum.
So there you have it, the list of the best free museums in Paris! Who needs to see the must-visit museums in Paris when there are so many little gems to explore for free? Now all you need to do is decide which free museums you will do on your trip to Paris (but we suggest to do them all!).
Read more of our Paris Bucket List
Some interesting articles in the blog
Kelly @ XterraWeb
05/18/2017 at 8:45 pmWhat a great list/travel guide! Since I was 14 years old, I have dreamed of visiting France. Paris, of course, will be one of my destinations. I have pinned this because I still believe that one day I will be able to go. 🙂
WorldInParis
05/18/2017 at 10:24 pmKeep on dreaming, Kelly. Dreams are the most beautiful thing that we have and only us can make these dreams come true. Hope to see you in Paris soon 😉
Mansoureh
02/15/2017 at 11:47 pmWow, I didn’t know there are many free museums in Paris. I haven’t heard of most of them before. Thanks for the list. I should definitely go back to Paris and explore more. I only been there once for 3 days.
WorldInParis
02/21/2017 at 2:23 pmGood there is still a long list of things to do in paris, Paris is always a good idea 😉
Nisha
02/14/2017 at 4:42 amThere is so much history and culture in Paris that it would take months if not years to get through all of them. Paris being expensive as it is, Who would imagine that there were so many museums which are free! I have been to a couple of them and have not heard about many of these. Thanks
WorldInParis
02/14/2017 at 11:19 pmYou are welcome. I guess your Paris wish list is getting bigger by now . . . isn’t it? 🙂
Trisha Velarmino
02/13/2017 at 6:24 pmI’ve been to Paris years ago and this just makes me want to come back to my favorite city! Merci beaucoup for an awesome and budget friendly list! 🙂
WorldInParis
02/13/2017 at 10:33 pmHope you will make it soon! 🙂
Vicki Louise
02/13/2017 at 3:49 amThere are so many free museums in Paris! This is such a great resource for travelers on a budget – or for those looking to see things outside the ‘main’ attractions. I think my first stop would be the perfumery!
WorldInParis
02/13/2017 at 10:37 pmI am sure you would really enjoy the perfume museum, Vicki 🙂
RaW | Ramble and Wander
02/12/2017 at 8:03 pmI love Paris and can stay there for days without even going out of the city to somewhere else. Why? Mostly because of the museums! My favourites are unfortunately the ones with entrance fees like Musée de l’Orangerie. Thanks to your list, I might go and check our Petit Palais and Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris one day. They both look like museums that I’d enjoy!
WorldInParis
02/12/2017 at 11:20 pmYes of course! And add to this list the Museum of Romantic Life for a short break in the tea garden 😉
WorldInParis
02/13/2017 at 10:39 pmIf one of your favourite museums in Paris is l’Orangerie, YES, Petit Palais and Musée d’Art Moderne are two options perfect for you 🙂
Swati & Sam
02/12/2017 at 1:20 pmWow what lovely pictures of the museum. We have never been to Paris and would keep this in mind. London also has a lot of free museums. It’s difficult to find time to visit museums in a city when you are visiting it for a short duration. A very informative write-up tho.
WorldInParis
02/12/2017 at 11:23 pmMuseums are always a cool option for cold or rainy days so it is always useful to have a museums list in mind 😉
Laura
02/12/2017 at 1:38 amI can imagine that you could spend a whole day looking around free museums. Its one of my fav things to do in Europe.
WorldInParis
02/21/2017 at 2:25 pmYes but the city of Paris is so beautiful to walk. Better keep free museums for rainy days 😉
Suze
02/11/2017 at 10:56 pmWhat a great list! I used to live in Paris and I’ve been meaning to visit the Atelier Brancusi for years but must get round to it on a future trip. Musee Carnavalet is one of my favourites
WorldInParis
02/24/2017 at 10:54 amThanks! I agree about Musée Carnevalet. Unfortunately it will be closed for a long time for an extensive renovation
Efthimis K.
02/11/2017 at 6:57 pmI love museums! Art lovers will definitely have a blast in Paris with all these art museums. Musée des Beaux-Arts is amazing and the building is breathtaking!
WorldInParis
02/24/2017 at 11:36 amEthimis if you love museums book a whole month in Paris when you decide to come ! 😉
Laura Lynch
02/11/2017 at 6:45 pmWe’re going to Paris again in a few weeks and I haven’t gone to any of these museums, so definitely adding to my list of things to do. There really is a lot of culture to dig into there.
WorldInParis
02/24/2017 at 11:39 amCool to know you are coming! If you are going to Louvre maybe you will find our “Louvre Survival Guide” helpful
https://worldinparis.com/louvre-museum-guide
And there are other posts about cute museums that maybe interest you. Don’t hesitate to drop me a line if you have more practical questions, I will be happy to help 🙂
Drew
02/11/2017 at 6:32 pmI had no idea there were so many options for free museums in Paris. What a comprehensive list too, thanks for sharing! I’m always a sucker for modern art, so it’s great that I can skip the Pompidou next time and head straight to the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris for my modern art fix! And for free to boot!
WorldInParis
02/25/2017 at 7:59 pmDrew, just at the foot of Pompidou there is the interesting Brancusi’s workshop, for FREE, so you don’t need to go that far 😉
Laura
02/11/2017 at 11:25 amThanks for making this interesting post! I turned 26 this year, so a lot of the ‘big’ museums now aren’t free for me anymore. Didn’t know which ones were free! I added this post to my favorites! Gonna let you know which ones we visited when we go on our next trip!
WorldInParis
02/25/2017 at 8:00 pmCool Laura! Make me know which ones you liked when you come to Paris 😉
Fábio Inácio
02/05/2017 at 1:39 pmI was in Paria in 2012 and to be honest I didn’t see much because it was the end of my trip and my budget was already finished. I wished to know this list when I was there. The good news is that I am planning to go soon and this post will help me so much. Looking for photography exhibitions 🙂
Gypsycouple
12/05/2016 at 8:23 amHave never been fans of museums especially because of the high entry fees we never found justified to our meagre interest in them. However when you add free to the mix, it becomes a very interesting proposition especially for an expensive city like Paris. Love the guide and will totally be bookmarking it for our next trip!
WorldInParis
12/06/2016 at 9:56 amOh, happy to know you found it helpful 🙂
anna
12/04/2016 at 7:46 amOh my word! What a resource. Thank you for taking the time to compile all of this! Bookmarking 🙂
Cai Dominguez
12/01/2016 at 7:33 pmSeriously, this article is helpful. It’s very costly to travel to Paris and pay extra for museum. Gladly, there are lots to choose from! This is so amazing! If I have to pick one I think I’ll visit Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Love this one!
WorldInParis
12/02/2016 at 11:45 amThanks for your comment Cai! Good pick, interesting things going on at Musée d’Art Moderne
Emily
12/01/2016 at 10:49 amSuper helpful guide for those in Paris on a budget or after something a little bit different. I’ll be sure to save this for the next time I go. I think my first stop would be Musee Zadkine and then the perfumery.
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:08 pmGood choices, I love those museums! Thanks for the comment, Emily
neha
12/01/2016 at 5:33 amI have bookmarked your post. Since I am going to Paris next year and I have to make the best possible use of my time. Would these museums be more crowded than the ones that levy a good entry fee?
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:10 pmgood news is that these museums are not crowded at all 😉
Vyjay
12/01/2016 at 4:45 amParis is such an exquisite place. The museums are such an integral part of the magic of Paris. Loved the Louvre among many others. The fact that there are so many museums that have free entry with wonderful exhibits is an added attraction. Can never ave enough of Paris, will check these out next time when in Paris.
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:11 pmgood to know there will be another time in Paris for you!
Johna
11/30/2016 at 2:42 pmSo many free museums in Paris! Wish my family and I had more time to visit them while we were there. Only had 2 and a half days in Paris. Definitely have to come back here 😀
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:11 pmcool to know there will be a second time for you in Paris! 🙂
Indrani
11/30/2016 at 12:57 pmI didn’t know there were so many free museums in Paris. Very ideal to spend spare time… that is if you have spare time in Paris. I enjoyed walking streets of Paris and didn’t care to check out the several museums there. I would love to visit the one of perfumes!
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:12 pmmuseums are good for when it rains. good pick, the perfume museum is very nice
Rashmi and Chalukya
11/30/2016 at 10:34 amWe haven’t done much of the museums though we visited Paris couple of times. Glad to have stumbled on this post we will make sure to do most of this we visit next time. Fragonard Musée du Parfum is for sure unmissable 🙂
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:13 pmi see that perfume museum is the public’s favourite one 🙂
Jerny
11/30/2016 at 2:50 amIs this a sign? I’ve been reading about Paris more lately. Haha! Hopefully soon! Parisians really love art and stuff, no? It’s part of their passion. and people love it! Thanks for these pointers. I’ll keep them in mind 🙂
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:13 pmYou are welcome, Jerny!
Marge
11/29/2016 at 11:02 pmMuseum and it’s free?! You definitely got my interest there. I am a sucker for museums and art galleries. While some people have a thing for churches, I have a thing for museums (and yeah art galleries). I just think that a visit to a museum is one of the best ways to really get to know a place. I try to find one in places I go to as much as I can. Thank you for coming up with this list. Who knows, maybe I’d find myself in France one of these days, then I can definitely check out these museums for myself.
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:14 pmHope you will find your way to Paris one day!
Megan
11/29/2016 at 1:35 pmGreat info 🙂 will bookmark for the next time i’m in Paris!
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:14 pmGood to be helpful!
Andi
11/29/2016 at 4:32 amI am not really into art because I am not artistic. But I can still appreciate stuff at least, and this huge wall painting is really nice. It is very artistic and something that is filled with hard work and emotion. I hope many will continue to do art .
WorldInParis
12/01/2016 at 3:15 pmthere are also history museum or other subjects museums. there is a big choice in Paris
Amy
11/28/2016 at 7:33 pmSuch an impressive list! And great for the traveler visiting such a beautiful, yet expensive city. I love that there are so many topics from art to science, history and even perfume! Wish we’d have had more time to visit places like this, next trip will have to take a few in!
WorldInParis
12/02/2016 at 11:46 amHope you will have the opportunity to come to Paris again to enjoy these museums 🙂
Carmen's Luxury Travel
11/28/2016 at 7:18 amWow, I’ve been to Paris a few times and didn’t realize there are so many free museums! I’d love to visit Musée de la Vie Romantique next time. Love those green shutters 🙂 Great post, thanks for sharing!
WorldInParis
12/02/2016 at 11:47 amGood choice, this museum has a very beautiful garden, perfect for “romantic” tea parties 🙂
Mike
11/28/2016 at 4:26 amAwesome guide. Its always good to know when there are free things to do and museums are such a great way to explore a city. The Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris looks quite interesting and I’ll be sure to check it out when I make it to Paris!
WorldInParis
12/02/2016 at 11:53 amGood choice, Mike! I particularly like their photo exhibitions there 🙂
Helena
11/27/2016 at 11:53 pmThis is such a fantastic list! I love museums and if they are free than I am even more so there. Thanks for your great insight!
WorldInParis
12/02/2016 at 11:48 amYou are welcome Helena 🙂
Cherene Saradar
11/27/2016 at 5:36 pmThis is great info. Love the beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing this!
Edd Sanchez
11/26/2016 at 9:15 pmWish I’d know about half of these for my last trip to Paris, will have to save these for next time!
WorldInParis
11/27/2016 at 11:06 amGlad to know there will be a next time for Paris! 🙂
Jing
11/26/2016 at 5:26 pmI love art museums! will definitely check out your recommended list the next time I visit Paris. 🙂
Carol Colborn
11/26/2016 at 4:54 pmGood list! Free museums are always high on our agenda. Saw the Fraggonard in Grasse, France where it is headquartered.
Jordan
11/26/2016 at 2:35 pmSuch a useful guide for doing Paris on the cheap – especially with the price of everything else there! Have bookmarked! Thanks
Lucas Rodrigues
11/26/2016 at 1:34 pmThat’s a really detailed post, very nice info! Too bad I’m not going to Paris soon, but I pinned it for later use 😀