Paris has always been a hotspot for artists from around the globe, drawing many to France in search of a larger audience for their work. Today, the city’s art galleries boast some of the most extensive and impressive collections in the world. Besides their massive permanent collections, these galleries frequently host special exhibitions that feature pieces from across the world, including contributions from other galleries, art stores, and private collections that are rarely seen.
With so much to choose from, deciding what to see can be overwhelming. To help you out, here’s a guide to some of the best art museums in Paris.
One of the world’s most famous art galleries, this museum covers artwork from prehistoric times up until the 19th century. It features collections from ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, as well as Islamic and decorative art. You’ll find vast rooms filled with white marble sculptures along with impressive collections of paintings divided into categories like 18th-century French or Italian Renaissance. It’s also home to the Mona Lisa and significant works by Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael.
The best way to explore the Louvre is to start with the sections that interest you the most, as it’s so large that walking from one part to another can take about ten minutes. Keep an eye out for late-night openings when the illuminated building takes on a more haunting feel.
Housed in an old railway station, this museum is a temple of French art. It showcases masterpieces by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas, Gauguin, and Van Gogh, making it one of the most comprehensive collections of impressionist and post-impressionist works. Most of the paintings date from between 1848 and 1915, so if you’re a fan of these art movements, this gallery is a must-visit.
Located right by the Seine, you can take a break and stroll along the riverbank or cross over the bridge to the famous Tuileries gardens if you need a respite from all the fine art.
This smaller, almost hidden gem of a gallery houses works by some of the world’s most famous painters. It’s best known for Monet’s famous Water Lilies canvas, which appeared in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.” The gallery also displays works by Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso, and Rousseau, which are often never moved and can only be seen here.
For those who find traditional art a bit dull, this is the place to go. The inverted-factory style building houses Europe’s largest collection of contemporary art. Named after a French president who envisioned the center in the early seventies, the building is a shining example of modern architecture. Its silver scaffolding exterior and staggered external escalators lead to six expansive floors of modern and contemporary art.
The collection includes 1960s photography, minimalist canvases, and quirky conceptual sculptures. After exploring these varied visions of reality, check out the streets around the gallery, which offer off-the-beaten-track cafés, restaurants, and boutiques.
While less known than its ultra-modern counterpart, this national gallery of contemporary art showcases first-class work. It originally housed all the works from the Musée d’Orsay and was later redeveloped into a more modern space. It reopened with retrospectives on internationally renowned contemporary artists like Eva Hesse and Robert Gober but has since shifted focus to film and photography. Now, it also features collections by Ed Ruscha and Cindy Sherman.
The views from the huge bay windows offer stunning sights of the nearby Tuileries gardens and the Eiffel Tower. Although the nearby cafés cater mostly to tourists, having a picnic in the park on a sunny day is a truly Parisian experience.
This gallery is set in the converted home of Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart, who dedicated 158 Boulevard Haussman as a public gallery for their art collections. The crown jewel is the Italian museum, showcasing 15th and 16th-century sculptures alongside masterpieces by Donatello, Bellini, Carpaccio, and Botticelli. Equally grand are the unchanged reception rooms, the former owners’ private quarters, and their winter gardens. It’s a beautifully opulent place dedicated to Italian art.
France’s largest collection of Dalí sculptures and engravings can be found here, with over 300 works on display. It allows visitors to explore the lesser-known side of Dalí’s surrealism in 3D. After a mind-bending visit, explore the vibrant café culture of Montmartre or take a trip to the nearby Sacré Coeur.
So, there you have it—a comprehensive guide to Paris’s art scene, spanning from prehistoric times to modern day, with something for everyone in between. Now there’s no excuse to miss out!