Paris is renowned for its dozens of world-class museums, from head-spinning fine art collections to history, science and industry exhibits, chilling underground catacombs, and even old curiosity cabinets. Better still, many of the city’s finest collections are entirely free.
Browse Museums & Galleries by Interest
The Best Modern Art Museums in Paris (& How to Enjoy Them)
The birthplace of countless artistic movements, Paris is also– unsurprisingly– home to some of the world’s finest modern art collections. From key works in Impressionism and Expressionism […]
Best Free Museums in Paris, from Fine Art to City History
When I was a young teaching assistant and a newcomer to Paris, I had to stretch my meager budget as best I could. If I managed not […]
The Best Independent Art Galleries in Paris
Paris is home to a number of “greats”– from monuments to food and fashion, museums and art galleries. Especially when visiting the capital for the first time, […]
Best Small Museums in Paris: 10 Quiet Gems You Shouldn’t Overlook
The first time I set foot inside the Louvre Museum, I had already been living in Paris for three or four years. The guests I accompanied were […]
The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris: 8 Reasons to Love It
More than a museum, it’s a cultural touchstone Few places in Paris carry the sort of sentimental weight that the Centre Georges Pompidou does for me. When […]
5 Parisian Museums With Fantastic Views
While the primary reason you’ll be beelining to some of the French capital’s best museums is for their collections and exhibitions, some offer spectacular views– panoramic or […]
5 Great Museums for Kids in Paris: Family-Friendly Collections
I often get e-mails from parents asking how to keep their young ones stimulated and happy in the French capital. And while it’s a city that can […]
The Musée Carnavalet, Dedicated to Paris City History, Finally Re-Opens
Anyone aiming to better understand the long and complex history of the French capital would do well to pay a visit to the Musée Carnavalet in Paris. […]
The Jeu de Paume Gallery in Paris, Showcasing Photography & Multimedia Art
Situated at the northwestern edge of the Jardin des Tuileries, the Jeu de Paume in Paris is one of the city’s most important exhibition spaces dedicated to […]
In Review: Atelier des Lumières, The First (All)-Digital Art Museum in Paris
When I first heard that an all-digital art museum and cultural space called the Atelier des Lumières would be opening its doors in Paris sometime in 2018, […]
The Jean-Jacques Henner Museum: A Quietly Stunning Paris Collection
Most tourists never set foot into one of the French capital’s finest single-artist collections, the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum. This is a shame. Not only does it house […]
Inside the Wine Museum in Paris (Musée du Vin)
Aside from the humble baguette, there is perhaps no other staple more common in French homes than the bottle of wine. Parisians have the luxury of choosing […]
Inside the 104 (Cent-Quatre), a Vibrant Contemporary Art Hub in Paris
A fascinating and important branch in the Parisian culture scene, the 104 (Le Cent Quatre) is a vast communal art center in Paris’ remote 19th arrondissement. This […]
Looking for a Good Virtual Tour of Paris? Start With These.
Since the world was turned upside-down by a minuscule, spike-covered virus, those of us who take joy in travel have had to find creative ways to keep […]
Exploring the Fondation Louis Vuitton Museum in Paris, Inside & Out
We don’t wish to disappoint you: this newcomer to the Parisian arts scene doesn’t resemble a giant, patterned couture bag from the popular designer after which it’s named. […]
Art on Water: Fluctuart, First Floating Urban Gallery, Opens in Paris
Opened in July 2019, Fluctuart is the world’s first floating “urban art center”. Docked at the foot of The Pont des Invalides on the left bank of […]
The Catacombs of Paris: History & How to Visit
Few places in the French capital inspire the morbid curiosity that the Catacombs of Paris do– and for good reason. The part that’s open to the public […]
In Focus: The Guimet Museum in Paris, Dedicated to Asian Arts
Established in 1889 by prolific French art collector Emile Guimet, this vast museum named after him is one of France’s most important collections of art and artifacts […]
Best Things to Do For History Lovers
Medieval Paris: A Self-Guided Tour of 5 Intriguing Places
During the 19th century, the Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann gutted much of what had been medieval Paris-– forging the iconic skyline and enormous, grandiose boulevards we now (wrongly) […]
The Catacombs of Paris: History & How to Visit
Few places in the French capital inspire the morbid curiosity that the Catacombs of Paris do– and for good reason. The part that’s open to the public […]
These 5 Places in Paris Aren’t Usually Associated With African-American History. They Should Be.
“It’s a great city, Paris, a beautiful city––and––it was very good for me.”– James Baldwin, Another Country (1962) One of the most singular and important American authors […]
Looking for Roman Paris: Ancient Ruins From Lutetia
Heading to Paris to see Roman ruins? Probably not. Unlike Pompeii, Lyon (the former capital of Roman Gaul, once called Lugdunum), and Rome itself, Paris isn’t especially […]
The Musée Carnavalet, Dedicated to Paris City History, Finally Re-Opens
Anyone aiming to better understand the long and complex history of the French capital would do well to pay a visit to the Musée Carnavalet in Paris. […]
An Elegant Paris Building– With a Dark History of Nazi Collaboration
On the Place des Petits Pères in central Paris, a sense of calm abounds these days. The Basilique Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church graces the square, and the lush gardens […]
The Tour Saint-Jacques: An Enigmatic Treasure in Central Paris
During my early years living in Paris, I passed a nondescript construction site in the city center on a semi-daily basis. Clad with scaffolding and dark plastic […]
Seeking Josephine Baker in Paris: A Bit of History & Places to Visit
When most people think of Josephine Baker, they imagine her dancing in some glamorous Paris venue at the height of the jazz age. While this image certainly […]
Inside the Wine Museum in Paris (Musée du Vin)
Aside from the humble baguette, there is perhaps no other staple more common in French homes than the bottle of wine. Parisians have the luxury of choosing […]
Looking for a Good Virtual Tour of Paris? Start With These.
Since the world was turned upside-down by a minuscule, spike-covered virus, those of us who take joy in travel have had to find creative ways to keep […]
Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris: Walking Paths & Famous Graves
Opened in 1824, Montparnasse Cemetery sits on a site that was once occupied by three farms, in what was then a rural, sleepy corner of southern Paris. […]
Seeking Belle-Epoque Paris in the Grands Boulevards District: My Full Guide
Explore This Article Orientation and TransportA Bit of Neighborhood HistoryEntertainment, Theaters & MuseumsEating Out and Shopping in the Grands BoulevardsLes Arcades (Covered Passageways)Passage JouffroyPassage des PanoramasLa Galerie VivienneGrands […]
The American Revolution in France: Key Sites to Visit in Paris
Especially since I became a dual Franco-American citizen, I’ve been fascinated by the “dialogic” nature of the American and French Revolutions. By that, I mean the way […]
The Oldest House in Paris Was Built by Famous *Alchemist* Nicolas Flamel
The modest medieval house located at 51, Rue de Montmorency in Paris is off-radar for most tourists. Yet for a niche set of visitors with interests in […]
Seeking Edith Piaf in Paris? Visit These 4 Places
Affectionately dubbed “the little sparrow” and “la môme” (the kid) in France, Edith Piaf is a musical legend who has (rather surprisingly?) resonated with successive generations of listeners. […]
