Paris is a dream destination for art lovers, history buffs, and culture enthusiasts, but exploring its world-class museums can quickly become expensive. Fortunately, the first weekend of every month, many Parisian museums — Except Le Louvre — open for free.
The city offers a treasure trove of free museums that let you experience its rich artistic and historical heritage without spending a cent. As someone who has wandered through the grand halls of the Louvre, admired avant-garde masterpieces in modern art galleries, and explored hidden gems off the beaten path, I know exactly where to go for the best complimentary cultural experiences.
From the fascinating Musée Carnavalet, which chronicles the history of Paris, to the contemporary wonders of the Palais de Tokyo (free for select exhibits), many top museums open their doors to visitors at no cost. Some offer permanent collections entirely free, while others provide free entry on the first Sunday of the month—a golden opportunity to see iconic museums like the Musée d’Orsay or the Centre Pompidou without a ticket.
Whether you’re passionate about fine arts, intrigued by scientific discoveries, or eager to step into a historical mansion, this guide will reveal the best free-entry museums in Paris that will enrich your visit without breaking the bank. Let’s explore the city’s most captivating cultural institutions—without spending a single euro.
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Best Museums in Paris that are Free All Year Round
1. Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux Arts de la Ville de Paris
One of this team’s favorite museums, undoubtedly in the ranking of the most recommended museums in Paris.
In this Fine Arts museum in Paris we will find a first floor of sculptures and then a romantic palace from the 19th century with a main collection of paintings that show testimonies of Paris at that time.
Looking for a great plan? The garden of the Petit Palais is known for being an oasis in Paris where you can have a coffee or lunch after seeing one of the most beautiful collections in the city. The lunch menu costs €15.9 and includes a main course and a dessert.
On the other hand, it is a Parisian refuge, so you will be able to enjoy the tranquility of this oasis in the most majestic area of the city since the Petit Palais is not a place that will be full of people .
Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris 8e — Métro Champs-Elysées — Clemenceau. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2. Carnavalet Museum, THE History of Paris
The Musée de Carnavalet is located in the heart of the Marais district. Upon entering, you will find a bust of Louis XIV in the middle of the central courtyard (cour carré). Although it may seem small at first, this museum offers a journey into the history of the city of Paris.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located at 23 rue de Sévigné, Paris 3e — Métro Saint-Paul Chemin Vert.
3. Victor Hugo’s House
On one of the corners of the Place des Vosgues, you will find the house of one of the most influential figures in the history of France, the father of Les Misérables and the sculptor of one of the most emblematic novels: Notre Dame de Paris. It is the house of Victor Hugo, one of the free museums in Paris.
It is a journey through his life, his art, paintings, writings, his room. The view of the Place des Vosges and the decoration of the Romantic period illustrate the period of French reconstruction after the revolution.
It is a free museum in Paris and you can visit it in half an hour.
Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée — 6 place des Vosges, Paris 4e — Métro Bastille. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
4. Holocaust Memorial in Paris (Holocaust museum)
Along the River Seine, you will find the Paris Holocaust Museum, the Memorial de la Shoah .
It is a historical journey through the odyssey experienced by the Jewish people escaping from persecution by fascist governments and movements , mainly since the end of the 19th century and the 20th century.
It is a museum of great impact, where beyond press clippings and excerpts of the discursive violence against the Jewish people, we will find first-hand testimonies of French Jews sent to the extermination camps in Germany and Austria. You will find very dynamic archive material with newspapers, videos and objects belonging to the victims.
The museum is located at 17 Rue Geoffroy l’Asnier, 75004 Paris and is open from Sunday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
5. THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
The National Archives Museum is a Renaissance palace surrounded by gardens typical of those that have survived in Le Marais. In this tribute to the form of cultural production and the outline of a history, we will find a special space for the decree of the Abolition of Slavery signed in 1848 .
The National Archives Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is located at 60 Rue des Francs Bourgeois in Le Marais.
6. Museum of Man
In a journey through the history of humanity , in this museum you will find human diversity, classified into languages, ethnicities, rituals, beliefs and also humanity in common. This is one of the two museums that make up the buildings of the Trocadéro and has a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower .
7. House of Balzac (Free when there are no new temporary exhibitions)
The home of one of the most influential writers in French literature during the 19th century, being one of the greatest novelists of all time.
47 rue Raynouard, Paris 16e — Métro Passy. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
8. Musée Bourdelle (Partially free )
This museum is a tribute to the French sculptor of the mid-19th century. A testimony to an era of constant emergence of artists at the end of the 19th century throughout France.
16 rue Antoine Bourdelle, Paris 15e — Métro Montparnasse — Bienvenüe. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
9. MUSEUM OF ROMANTIC LIFE
A museum that explores the emblematic figures of everyday life in mid-19th-century Paris, both through art and the interior of this mansion.
16 rue Chaptal, Paris 9e — Métro Pigalle. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
10. CERNUSCHI MUSEUM, ASIAN ART IN PARIS
Henri Cernuschi was a republican financier who, upon returning from his trip to Asia, opened a museum in his home with his collection of art and objects, which expanded over time.
7 avenue Velasquez, Paris 8e — Métro Villiers. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
11. Cognacq-Jay Museum
The Cognacq-Jay Museum is a beautiful mansion belonging to the city of Paris and displays a collection of works and art objects from the 18th century, largely owned by Ernest Cognac, founder of the large commercial building “ Le Samaritaine “.
Hôtel Donon — 8 rue Elzévir, Paris 3e — Métro Saint-Paul. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Best Paris Museums - Free only the 1st Sunday of the Month
Please note that in many cases you will be asked for a ticket reservation, which will be free (value €0) but which you must present, as at the Musée d’Orsay, for example.
12. THE INVALIDES: NAPOLEON’S TOMB
Les Invalides is a military hospital , with an amazing dome made of real gold, and is where Napoleon Bonaparte ‘s remains are kept. It is one of our favorite museums in Paris, and the first Sunday of every month, admission is free.
Open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 . On Tuesdays it is open until 21:00 .
13. Conciergerie (Marie Antoinette’s prison)
The Concergerie, or Marie Antoinette’s prison, was the prison of the French kings during the Revolution and is renowned for the number of objects and testimonies from the Austrian queen’s time in prison.
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14. Pantheon
It is the final resting place of, as we say on the tour of the Latin Quarter of Paris , the gods of the French Revolution , those characters who were building the French Republic . A majestic place that is worth a visit.
Open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
15. MUSEUM OF THE MIDDLE AGES OR MUSEUM OF CLUNY
In this museum you will find the heads of the kings of Judea , originally from the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris , pieces from the Saint Chapelle and some very famous tapestries of the Lady and the Unicorn. The Museum of Medieval Art or Cluny Museum is located between the Sorbonne University and the Boulevard de Saint Germain.
16. Palace of Versailles (Must see)
Although it is not “ in Paris “, Versailles is one of the greatest touristic attractions of Paris.
It is simply beautiful because of the amount of mythology, encrypted messages and the refinement with which each king or queen decorated their rooms, which are literally works of art . The icing on the cake? The Hall of Mirrors is mind-blowing! There’s nothing better than discovering the Gardens and Palace of Versailles and Louis XIV on a sunny day.
Be careful: Versailles will be open on the first Sundays of the month, between November and March . The rest of the year, the first Sunday of the month has the normal daily entry prices .
Best Paris Museums Free for the Youth
Last but not least, if you are under 26 years old and have a European passport , you can enter all the following museums for free.
17. Saint Chapelle
In the centre of the Île de la Cité we find this little gem next to the Palais de Justice . We are talking about the Saint Chappelle or Holy Chapel . The capital of stained glass, the most successful homage to Gothic art by the hand of King Louis IX .
Open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
18. Orsay Museum
The Musée d’Orsay is known for having one of the most important collections of impressionist art in the world. It has a room dedicated to the paintings of Van Gogh and we will also find the art of Renoir, Monet and Manet.
The most beautiful testimonies of the Parisian Belle Époque, the nights at the Moulin Rouge and life at the Paris Opera under the gaze and signature of Edgar Degas .
Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Thursdays until 9:30 p.m.
19. De L’orangerie Museum, Monet’s Nymphs and Orsay Annex
This museum can be considered an annex to the Musée d’Orsay , a private collection with works by Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, Derain, Soutine, Modigliani, Utrillo and le Douanier Rousseau , among others.
It is one of the free museums in Paris on the first Sunday of every month , but you will have to reserve your place (at €0) to be able to visit it.
Open from Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
20. Jeu de Paume Museum, THE MUSEUM OF VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHY IN PARIS
It is the quintessential photography and video museum in Paris , with temporary exhibitions and is undoubtedly one of my favorite museums in Paris (I’m Ivo).
The Jeu de Paume museum is a building symmetrical to the Orangerie , located on the right bank of the Tuileries Garden . It exudes a workshop, design and Helvetica, and if you are a designer, it is a museum that you definitely cannot miss when you come to the city, even though it is one of the least known and hardly appears on the agenda of blogs / tourism agencies.
The entrance fee for adults is €12 and for children it is €9 and it has a boutique that is crazy.
It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The bad news is that it is not a museum open on the first Sunday of the month.
21. PARIS CITY MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
The Museum of Modern Art in Paris is renowned for the diversity of artistic expressions on display: paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs and videos .
The Palais de Tokyo or Museum of Modern Art in Paris presents its exhibits in that workshop environment that we designers love so much and that takes us back to university days, it breathes laboratory and experimentation .
We will also find a café-bookstore where you can enjoy a good rest.
Address : 11 avenue du Président Wilson, Paris 16e — Métro Iéna. Open from Wednesday to Monday from 12:00 p.m. to midnight (except Saturdays when it closes at 6:00 p.m. ).
22. Pablo Picasso Museum in Paris
This little gem in the heart of the Le Marais district , a mansion that houses a revitalized Picasso museum, will allow us to find the path that the Spanish artist has developed since his arrival in Paris.
We will discover his influences and find testimonies of the time. It was not easy for Pablo Picasso in Paris to make the leap from “ degenerate “ to “ great artist of the century “. It is an intimate journey from the core of his time to stardom.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
23. GEORGES Pompidou Cultural Centre for Contemporary Art
The Georges Pompidou Cultural Centre is one of the world’s leading contemporary art museums , both for its selection of works and collections and for its concept and constant development of innovative proposals for the educational community and contemporary art lovers .
Open from Wednesday to Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
24. Arc de Triomphe
The most imposing monument to Napoleon Bonaparte in Paris. The arch has one of the most incredible views of Paris with the 12 avenues converging on it and is well worth enjoying.
25. Rodin Museum
Close to the Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, this grand 18th-century mansion features 3 hectares of beautiful garden filled with Rodin sculptures. This beautiful, yet lesser-known museum will give you a break on your trip to Paris .
Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
26. Basilica of Saint Denis
Like Versailles, it is not located in Paris but it is an emblematic place for the history of France as it is the final resting place of the French monarchy . Here you will find Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV .
Open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
