Contrary to popular belief, you can visit excellent museums in Paris without spending a cent. The City of Paris and several institutions offer free, permanent access to their main collections, only temporary exhibitions usually charge admission.
The Musée Carnavalet
Devoted to the history of Paris from its origins to today, this museum housed in two Marais mansions reopened after renovation with a remarkably clear layout. The recreated apartments and old Parisian shop signs are a real treat, even for visitors with little background in the city's history.
The Petit Palais
Built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, this palace houses the City of Paris's fine art collections, from antiquity to the early twentieth century. The inner courtyard with its garden and mosaic is one of the most relaxing spots near the Champs-Élysées.
The Victor Hugo House
The writer lived for sixteen years in this apartment on Place des Vosges, now turned into a museum tracing his life and work through furniture, manuscripts and drawings. The visit naturally ends with a break on one of the most beautiful squares in Paris. The Place des Vosges itself is free to enter and worth a detour before or after the visit.
Conditional free entry at national museums
Unlike the municipal museums above, the permanent collections at national museums and monuments (Musée d'Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Arc de Triomphe, Panthéon, Sainte-Chapelle...) are not free year-round. Several of them do offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month, usually from November to March only: conditions vary from one venue to another, so check each museum's website before you go.
Tips
- The permanent collections of the City of Paris museums are free all year, with no age condition and no proof required.
- Only temporary exhibitions are paid: always check the difference before queuing at the ticket office.
- Once a year, the European Heritage Days give free or exceptional access to places that are normally paid or closed to the public; our practical guide explains how it works and the dates of the latest known edition.
- In the Marais, Lafayette Anticipations shows contemporary art with free entry, and the Musée de l'histoire de l'immigration is free for under-26s and on the first Sunday of the month.
- Visitors under 26 living in the EU or the European Economic Area get free access to the permanent collections of most national museums and monuments; ID or proof of residence may be requested at the entrance.
- The Louvre no longer offers free entry on the first Sunday, but is free on the first Friday of the month after 6pm, except in July and August.
- These free slots often sell out quickly: online booking is almost always needed for the most popular museums and monuments.
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