Best Museums in Paris

Most people that come to Paris go to the Louvre. It's famous worldwide. You could spend your entire trip to Paris in this museum and still not see it all. It is a great museum that was once a castle. Did you know ? If you do decide to go to the Louvre, start off in the basement, you can see some of the original walls and watch videos of the growth of the Louvre over the years and how it got to be the size it is today. If you want smaller museums, here are some others that visitors go to less but are still worth a visit.

1. Musée de l'Homme

The view from Musée de l'Homme

Located next to Trocadéro square, this museum tells the story of the evolution of man. You can see the mummy that inspired the painting The Scream by Edvard Munch.

The mummy that inspired The Scream by Edvard Munch

There's also a great view of the Eiffel Tower from inside this museum. 2. Musée du Quai Branly This museum is located close to the Eiffel Tower, so if you're planning to see the Eiffel Tower on your visit, add this museum to your places to go. Or if you want to see the area where Princess Diana had a fatal car accident at Pont de l'Alma, that is close by as well. In this spot above Pont de l'Alma, there is a flame that is a replica to the flame of the Statue of Liberty in the United States, which has become a spot dedicated to Diana. Back to the museum. It features art from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. It is quite a big museum, but if you go at a steady pace, this museum is do-able in a few hours.

3. Pompidou Centre

The Pompidou Center

Located in the 4th Arrondissement of Paris near Les Halles. If you go to this museum, head to rue Montorgueil after and then to the church of Saint Eustache. Two great places to see and explore in this area. Pompidou is a museum of modern art. I saw a Georgia O'Keefe exhibition here a few years ago. Check out what exhibitions are happening and if you're interested in seeing them.

If you're not interested in modern art, at least go see the building, it was the first example of an inside-out building. Structures that are normally inside a building are on the outside, you can see people going up and down the escalators from the outside. It is located in a cute area of Paris, stay in this area and have some crêpes and enjoy the artwork in the fountain outside of the museum.

4. Musée de Cluny

The ceiling in Musée de Cluny

This is a museum of medieval art. It features art dating back to the Gallo-Roman period of Paris.

The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry

You can see the famous tapestries of the Lady and the Unicorn, a series of six tapestries dating to around 1500. The building that houses this museum is definitely worth a visit. It just reopened to the public last year.

5. Musée de l'Orangerie

This museum features impressionist paintings, including Claude Monet's Water Lilies and is located in the Tuileries Garden near the Place de la Concorde.

Claude Monet's Water Lilies

This is a small museum but definitely worth a visit.

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And don't forget, the first Sunday of every month, most museums are FREE in Paris. So, if you're in Paris on the first Sunday of the month, take advantage of this opportunity. But be aware that this is an opportunity for everyone, and without tourists, the population of Paris and it's suburbs is 11 million !!