Paris is home to incredible home spots, and one of the most remarkable is the Louvre, arguably the most famous museum in the world. While the historical building and its vast collection deserve all the attention, Paris has over 100 museums that deserve a visit.
Exploring other museums is an excellent idea for those who want to escape the long lines at Louvre, where most visitors go to see the Mona Lisa, or those who have been to Paris before.
10 Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is a paradise for fine art admirers, featuring the highest number of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in a museum. It's impossible to see its 2,000 paintings and 600 sculptures in just one visit, so the best thing visitors can do is choose the masterpieces they want to see in advance, but it's not an easy task.
The famous artists featured in the museum include Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Degas, August Rodin, and Henri Matisse.
9 Centre Pompidou
This museum is the place to be for travelers interested in modern and contemporary art. The Centre Pompidou was inaugurated in the 1970s and became famous for hosting dance performances, cinema exhibitions, and its modern art collection that spans over 100,000 pieces.
From the beginning, the Centre Pompidou was intended to be a space for different types of art and make it accessible to the public. Every year, the museum receives nearly three million visitors, and it's one of the most visited in Paris.
8 Louis Vuitton Foundation
Despite its name, the Louis Vuitton Foundation is not related to fashion but is a museum of contemporary art and temporary exhibitions. The futuristic building was designed by Frank Gehry, known for his innovative use of glass and architecture. One of their goals is to promote and collaborate with artists from all over the globe and offer visitors an immersive experience.
Visitors can explore 11 galleries, educational spaces, offices, and a concert hall. As it works with temporary exhibitions, there is always something new to see.
7 Musée Picasso Paris
The largest Picasso public collection on earth can be found in Paris. The Musée Picasso Paris is located at the Hôtel Salé, a lavish mansion built in the 17th century in the historic Marais district. The museum owns 5,000 artwork pieces created by Picasso and 500 of them are displayed for visitors.
Picasso was an artist capable of navigating different types of art, and it's possible to see that in the museum: sculptures, paintings, letters, poetry, and prints are part of the collection. On top of that, the museum displays Picasso's memorabilia.
6 Musée Des Arts Et Métiers
The Musée des Arts et Métiers was planned to impress science and technology fans. The museum is an immersion in the mind of inventors, featuring 2,400 inventions displayed in seven collections: Scientific instruments, Materials, Energy, Mechanics, Construction, Communication, and Transport.
The experience starts at their metro station, which was built with copper tubing. The first impression when arriving at this station is that visitors are inside Julio Vern's book. One of the first aircraft and the first model of the Statue of Liberty are among its highlights.
5 Musée de l'Orangerie
The Musée de l'Orangerie is home to eight Water Lilies murals created by Monet, which is already a great reason to visit the place. Monet guided the installation of the panels, aiming to create the illusion of an endless whole with no horizon or shore.
This museum also has an incredible art collection created by artists from the 20th century, including Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Picasso, and Auguste Renoir. It is located next to the famous Jardin des Tuileries near the Place de la Concorde and overlooks the Seine.
4 Musée Rodin
Travelers aiming to experience art in a new way should include Musée Rodin on their list. The Musée Rodin is only 20 minutes from the Eiffel Tower, and it's located at the Hôtel Biron, an 18th-century mansion with a seven-acre garden. The museum has an impressive Rodin collection, including sculptures and drawings that Rodin donated.
Rodin's masterpiece, The Thinker, can be found in the garden, one of the museum's highlights. Other art pieces that deserve attention are The Kiss and The Gates of Hell.
3 Musée Marmottan Monet
This is the place to be to admire the work of impressionist masters. The Musée Marmottan Monet has an impressive collection of 100 pieces created by Monet, including Impression, and Sunrise, most of them donated by Monet's son in the 1940s. Another highlight of the museum is the collection of Berthe Morisot, who was a master in using watercolors in her work.
The Musée Marmottan Monet also feature artwork created by Gauguin, Guillaumin, Renoir, Sisley, Degas and other proeminent names. It's located in the 16th arrondissement and easily reachable by public transportation.
2 Atelier des Lumières
The Atelier des Lumières brings together art and technology, offering visitors an immersive experience, and is considered the foist digital art museum in Paris. After entering the museum, visitors experience a three-dimensional world stimulating different senses. People are surrounded by art, and there's always a new exhibition, so it's a good idea to check on their social media what they are hosting at the moment.
Different from other museums, most of the public of the Atelier des Lumières is French. As the number of visitors is limited, booking tickets in advance is essential.
1 Musée du Parfum
Perfumes are part of French history, but many people don't know there's a museum dedicated to them in Paris. The Musée du Parfum is located in the Opéra Garnier quarter, and it's perfect for people interested to discover more about this art. The free guided tour explains the secrets behind perfumes through the centuries.
Visitors who want to dive into the experience can join one of their workshops and create their own Eau de Cologne. It's a unique experience in Paris.