5 Amazing Museums You Can’t Miss During Your Next Paris Vacation

If you’re planning a trip to Paris, it can be difficult to figure out which of the thousands of tourist attractions, historical monuments, and gorgeous cafes you should visit. If you’re traveling with kids or teens, or if you’re visiting Paris during the colder months, visiting museums can be a great option! With over 8,000 museums throughout France, you have plenty of choices available — and here are just a few of our top picks:
 
1. The Louvre
No Parisian museum guide would be complete without mentioning the city’s most famous museum! The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world, and it sees around 9.3 million visitors during an average year. You’ll find well-known pieces like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, but there are plenty of other exhibitions year-round, featuring everything from Rembrandt paintings to Islamic and Egyptian art.

• Location: Musée du Louvre (1st arrondissement)

 

• Metro stop: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre (lines 1 and 7)

 

• Hours: Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday: from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.; Tuesday: closed.

 

• Admission: €15

 

• Website: www.louvre.fr/en

2. The National Museum of Modern Art (MNAM)
Located on the fourth and fifth floors of the Centre Georges Pompidou, the MNAM boasts of more than 50,000 works in permanent collections, including pieces by famous 20th-century artists such as Picasso and Matisse. The Centre Georges Pompidou building itself is an architectural wonder, and you can stop by the public library or sit in the open mezzanine-level cafe while you’re there!

• Location: Place Georges Pompidou, Beaubourg (4th arrondissement)

 

• Metro stop: Rambuteau or Hotel de Ville (line 11); Les Halles (line 4)

 

• Hours: Everyday except Tuesdays: from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

• Admission: €14

 

• Website: www.centrepompidou.fr/en

3. The Carnavalet Museum
Walking through the Carnavalet Museum is a great way to soak up some French history when you’re visiting Paris. Located within two Renaissance-era mansions (the 16th-century Hotel de Carnavalet and the 17th-century Hotel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau), the Carnavalet presents extensive exhibits that cover every aspect of France’s rich history.

• Location: 16 Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Marais (3rd arrondissement)

 

• Metro stop: Saint-Paul (line 1) or Chemin Vert (line 8)

 

• Hours: Everyday except Mondays: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

• Admission: Free!

 

• Website: www.carnavalet.paris.fr

4. The Maison de Victor Hugo
This museum pays tribute to the well-known French author of classic works such as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame andLes Miserables. The Maison de Victor Hugo displays collections of the writer’s personal items, manuscripts, and furniture.

• Location: 6 Place des Vosges, Marais (3rd arrondissement)

 

• Metro stop: Saint-Paul (line 1) or Chemin Vert (line 8)

 

• Hours: Everyday except Mondays: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

• Admission: Free for permanent exhibits; €5 to €7 for temporary exhibits

 

• Website: maisonsvictorhugo.paris.fr/en

5. The Paris Catacombs
Built during the 18 century, the Catacombs are a massive underground burial site, extending approximately two kilometers beneath the earth and holding the remains of some six million Parisians. It may not be the best activity if you’re visiting Paris with young children, but it’s a fascinating archaeological and historical site that may interest teens and adults.

• Location: 1 Avenue Colonel Henri Roi-Tanguy (14th arrondissement)

 

• Metro stop: Denfert-Rochereau (lines 4 and 6)

 

• Hours: Everyday except Mondays: from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

• Admission: €5

 

• Website: www.catacombes.paris.fr/

Now we’d like to hear from you! If you’ve traveled through France before, what museums would you recommend to someone visiting Paris for the first time? Be sure to let us know!