This summer, the Paris 2024 Olympics will commence, bringing a whole new crowd of tourists to the romantic city. With that, one of the city’s most famous museum spots, The Louvre, is racking up ticket prices by 30 percent. The museum last increased its admission cost in 2017 to €17, but in the new year, starting in January, the cost will increase to €22. The Louvre showcases famed national art, including works like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
However, France holds an abundance of stellar museums that might not get the same attention as The Louvre. These lesser-known spots could make your European adventure all the more special. While The Louvre has a prominent role in French history, showcases some of the world’s most exquisite gems, and even has its own pop ballad, France is filled with tons of other museum options that might not break the bank. Follow along to learn about a few other museum destinations for your next trip to Paris.
Musée d’Orsay
Step into a world of French history through 19th and 20th-century art at Musée d’Orsay, located on the Left Bank of the stunning and famous Seine. The museum is currently showing a number of limited edition exhibits from Van Gogh to Louis Janmot to Peter Doig to Blanche Derousse. Some integrate technology with decades-old artifacts but most items displayed at Musée d’Orsay remain rooted in French history.
General Admission Price: €16
Tickets available at Musée d’Orsay
Musée Yves Saint Laurent
In an exploration of Yves Saint Laurent‘s life as one of the most influential fashion designers, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent focuses on the designer’s creation of his collections as well as the history behind twentieth haute couture. With exhibitions delving into sectors of YSL’s fashion house and special programming like their upcoming Creative Wednesday event, guests can dive into the world of fashion head first.
General Admission Price: €10
Tickets available at Musée Yves Saint Laurent
Musée Picasso
The Musée Picasso, located in the Hôtel Salé, is an art gallery filled with over 5,000 works of Pablo Picasso. From famous paintings to personal archives, this gallery tells the story of one of the most famous artists of his time. Outside of the many Picasso works on display, the Musée Picasso shows one additional exhibit at a time with another artists work. The French artist, photographer, and writer Sophie Calle is currently on display in an exploration of many of her central themes.
General Admission Price: €14
Tickets available at Musée Picasso
Fondation Louis Vuitton
The contemporary art museum, funded by the LMVH Group, is “committed to making art and culture accessible to all,” according to the museum’s website. Since its opening in 2014, the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris has commissioned artists to make specific installations for the museum ranging across various mediums, including contemporary art, concerts, films, and other performances.
General Admission Price: €16
Tickets available at The Fondation Louis Vuitton
Musée du Parfum
Nothing gets more Parisian than a luxury scent to top off a French haute couture outfit. At the Musée du Parfum by Fragonard Parfumeur, guests learn about how perfume is made from the bare bone materials to the final product. Scent is at the forefront of this unique museum experience, but at the end, guests can also view a selection of vintage perfume bottles.
General Admission Price: Free (paid experiences available)
Tickets available at Musée du Parfum
Atelier des Lumières
Enter a multimedia wonderland at Atelier des Lumières, located in the heart of Paris. This immersive museum incorporates art, music, and video into one, promising a unique and multidimensional experience. This is not your traditional art museum, instead, it’s dynamic, mesmerizing, and eccentric.
General Admission Price: €17
Tickets available at Atelier des Lumières
Musée de la Vie Romantique
With only three literary museums in Paris, Musée de la Vie Romantique shows a number of artifacts ranging from portraits to sculptures to canvases all related to romantic literature and art. The collections focus on three prominent figures in the romantic era: the writer George Sand, the painter Ary Scheffer, the intellectual Ernest Renan. This museum will take you on a literary and artistic journey through the romantic era in Paris.
General Admission Price: Free (paid exhibitions available)
Tickets available at Musée de la Vie Romantique
Musee de l’Armee des Invalides
The Musee de l’Armee des Invalides dissects French military history and holds an array of over 500,000 weapons, uniforms, artillery, armor, and even paintings. In 1905, the Musée d’Artillerie and the Musée Historique de l’Armée merged to create the Musee de l’Armee des Invalides. Since then, the newly named museum has served Paris and tourists with a deep understanding of the militant history in France.
General Admission Price: Free (paid exhibitions available)
Tickets available at Musee de l’Armee
Musée de la Contrefaçon
All you can do is laugh when spotting the fake versions of luxury products, and at the Musée de la Contrefaçon, that’s the whole point. The museum displays over 300 fake luxury items while explaining the deep history and dangers of counterfeiting goods from purses to car parts to art.
General Admission Price: €6
Tickets available at Musée de la Contrefaçon
Le Musée de poche
Le Musée de poche defines itself as “a small cultural place intended for the artistic awakening of children.” Here, children are able to explore their creativity through rotating exhibitions, workshops, and a library.
Prices vary
Tickets available at Le Musée de poche
Musée de la Magie
Looking for a little magic in your trip to Paris? The Musée de la Magie explores magic as an art form and delve into its deep history. Enjoy optical illusions, interactive games, and a permanent magic show while learning about the art forms history.
General Admission Price: €15
Tickets available at Musée de la Magie
Petit Palais
The Petit Palais not only showcases French, Greek, and Roman art but also houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts. With an array of art styles, this classic French art museum is considered a historical monument with some of the world’s most famous pieces including Sultane Reine, The Death of Leonardo da Vinci, and The Birth of Venus.
General Admission Price: €12
Tickets available at Petit Palais
