Musée du quai Branly

Updated on September 13, 2026

The Musée du quai Branly, also known as the Museum of Non-Western Arts and Civilizations, is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, alongside the banks of the Seine. Every year, millions of visitors come to this museum, considered the finest of its kind in the world.

Highlights

The Living Wall of the Quai Branly

The exterior of the Musée du quai Branly is instantly recognizable thanks to its living, organic façade. Indeed, a green wall covers 800m² of the museum's exterior. Designed by botanist Patrick Blanc, this living wall features no fewer than 15,000 plants from all four corners of the world.

Kompuonkarawan – The façade mask

This is a monumental carved wooden face from Papua New Guinea. It is typically mounted on a house's façade and represents an ancestor of the home's owners. These masks serve a protective function.

The Quai Branly garden

The Quai Branly garden is an 18,000m² space perfectly integrated into the museum. Free to enter, you can wander its paths among ponds and small hills. At the center of the garden lies an open-air theater, occasionally used for talks or performances.

Chupícuaro – The female figurine

Originating from Mexico, this statuette was uncovered during archaeological excavations. The figure represents femininity, adorned with geometric patterns depicting body paintings used in certain rituals. Made of terracotta, this statuette was shaped sometime between 600 BC and 200 AD.

Infos pratiques

Tips

To avoid lines at the Quai Branly museum, it's best to book your ticket directly online. This will save you time. Also take advantage of the late-night openings on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays until 9pm to avoid crowds. Finally, admission to the permanent and temporary collections is free on the first Sunday of every month.

How to get there

For a visit to Quai Branly, the fastest option remains the metro. Take line 9 and get off at "Alma-Marceau" or "Iéna," line 8 to "École Militaire," or line 6 to "Bir-Hakeim." Other options: bus lines 42, 63, 69, 72, 80, 82, 87, and 92 all have stops not far from the Musée du quai Branly.