The Louvre is essential, but Paris has one of the greatest concentrations of museums on earth, and some of the most rewarding are smaller, more focused, and far less overwhelming than the giant on the Seine. Whatever your interest, there's a perfect Paris museum — here's how to choose.
The Impressionist trio. If you love Impressionism, Paris is the source. The Musée d'Orsay, in a magnificent former railway station, holds the world's finest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting — Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, and more — and is many visitors' favorite museum in the city. Nearby, the intimate Musée de l'Orangerie wraps you in Monet's monumental Water Lilies across two oval rooms (plus a superb Cézanne-to-Picasso collection downstairs). And in season, a day trip to Giverny lets you walk the gardens that inspired the lilies. Together they're a perfect Impressionist arc.
Sculpture and a beautiful setting. The Musée Rodin, in an elegant 18th-century mansion with a gorgeous sculpture garden, is one of the most pleasant museums in Paris — Rodin's Thinker and Gates of Hell among the roses, a calm contrast to the big crowds. It's a top pick for a relaxed couple of hours.
History and grandeur. For history, Les Invalides houses the Army Museum's sweep of French military history and, beneath its golden dome, Napoleon's grand tomb — a must for history enthusiasts. The medieval-to-modern story of the city is also told at museums like the Carnavalet (the free museum of Paris's own history, in the Marais).
Modern, contemporary, and more. Paris's museum riches run deep: the Marais holds the Picasso Museum and the free Carnavalet; the city overflows with specialized collections (decorative arts, Asian art at the Guimet, the Cluny for the Middle Ages, and many more). (Note: the Centre Pompidou, the great modern-art museum, is closed for a multi-year renovation, so check its status before planning around it.)
Practical tips. Many museums close one day a week — the Louvre on Tuesdays, the Orsay and others on Mondays — so check before you go. Book timed tickets ahead for the popular ones. Several offer late evening openings (often quieter) on certain days. And a Paris Museum Pass can pay off if you'll visit several over a few days. Above all, don't try to do too many in one day — two focused visits beat four rushed ones.
