Petit Palais Paris: free entry, opening hours and what to see
The Petit Palais, Paris's fine arts museum, is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, with free entry to the permanent collections. The Petit Palais is a historic monument, built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition by architect Charles Girault. Located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, facing the Grand Palais on Avenue Winston Churchill, the Petit Palais is one of the 14 museums run by the City of Paris. To round off your visit, see our page on the Grand Palais, just across the street.
Highlights
The permanent collection
The Petit Palais became the City of Paris's Fine Arts Museum in 1902. Paintings, sculptures, decorative and graphic arts... you'll discover a wide range of works illustrating the major artistic movements from antiquity up to the First World War.
The indoor café
At the heart of the museum, you can refuel at the café-restaurant, with its warm, modern decor.
The Petit Palais garden
On sunny days, take the time to enjoy a coffee gourmand in the interior garden, which will charm you with its exotic plants and colonnades.
Practical info
Tips
- If you're short on time, a visit to the Petit Palais's entrance hall and inner courtyard alone is well worth it. The museum is a short walk from the Champs-Élysées, ideal for extending your stroll. A few steps away, the Pont Alexandre III links this bank to Les Invalides and offers one of the finest views of the Seine.
- Charles Girault made a point of creating spaces lit only by natural light. The porch is topped by a dome, and the Petit Palais is full of skylights, bay windows and transparent cupolas.
- Also worth knowing: the permanent collections are free to visit for the general public. Only temporary exhibitions are paid.
- The permanent collections are free; only temporary exhibitions are paid (the price depends on the exhibition, see the museum's website). The museum is closed on Mondays.
How to get there
As is often the case in Paris, the best way to reach the Petit Palais is by public transport. The Petit Palais is accessible by metro at the "Champs-Élysées Clémenceau" station (lines 1 and 13) and by bus (routes 28, 42, 73, 80).
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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