Paris Art Museums: Admission charges and discounts

Paris' museums blend the modern and the historic.

Fortunately for budget travelers, many of the city's art museums offer free or reduced admissions, at least on certain days or at special times. In this article, we offer a quick outline of admission charges for the city's most popular museums, including any tips for saving.

First, however, a word about the city's gift to art aficionados, the Paris Museum Pass:

Paris Museum Pass

We strongly encourage art lovers to invest in the "Paris Museum Pass," which grants admission (and, better yet, line jumping!) to more than 60 museums and tourist attractions in and around Paris (including the Palace of Versailles).

For those serious about seeing lots of art during their time in Paris, buying the card is a no-brainer (especially as you get to jump straight to the front of most entrance lines, thus speeding things up substantially).

Price: €39 two-day pass, €54 four-day pass, €69 six-day pass. For more information, including a full list of museums covered by the pass, visit the Paris Museum Pass site.

Here's a quick overview of Paris' most famous art museums, and tips for getting in for less.

Centre Pompidou

Place Georges Pompidou, 75004
Open 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily. Closed Tuesday
Web site

Normal admission: €13 (adults)

Free: Visitors under 13; free to everyone on the first Sunday of every month.

Louvre

1 Place André Malraux, 75001
Open Open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. Closed Tuesday.
Web site

Normal admission: €11 (adults, permanent collection); €15 (permanent and temporary collections)

Free: Visitors under 18; visitors under 26 from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Fridays; free to everyone on the first Sunday of every month. (Be forewarned: Visiting the museum on a "free Sunday" will definitely mean more crowds than ever in front of the Mona Lisa.)

Musée Carnavalet

23 Rue de Sévigné, 75003
Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. Closed Monday.
Web site

Located in a grand old mansion in the Marais, the museum tells the complete history of Paris, using lots of art.

Free: Every day, temporary exhibitions and cultural activities cost between €4-8.

Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris

11 avenue du Président Wilson, 75116
Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. Closed Monday.
Web site

Located not far from the Eiffel Tower, the city's modern art museum offers free admission daily.

Free: Free to visit permanent collection, temporary collections cost between €5 - 11.

Maison de Victor Hugo

6 Place des Vosges, 75004
Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. Closed Monday.
Web site

Hugo's apartment, which he lived in from 1832-1848, overlooks the Place des Vosges and is hardly misérable. Not an art museum, per se, but lots of interesting artwork is on display.

Free: Every day

Musée de la Vie Romantique

16 Rue Chaptal, 75009
Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. Closed Monday.
Web site

Free: Free every day to permanent collection, temporary collections cost about €7.

Musée d'Orsay

1 Rue de la Légion d'honneur, 75007
Open 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily, except Thursday (9:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m.). Closed Monday.
Web site

Normal admission: €9 (adults); €6.50 (visitors aged 18-25)

Reduced admission: €6.50 for all from 4:30 p.m. on every day (except Thursday); from 6 p.m. on Thursday

Free: Visitors under 18, everyone on the first Sunday of every month

Musée Rodin

79 Rue de Varenne, 75007
Open 10 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. daily, except Wednesdays (10 a.m. - 8:45 p.m.) Closed Monday.
Web site

Normal admission: €9 (adults); €5 (18-25 year-olds); €10 (family rate: two adults and two children under 18); €1 for the garden only

Free: Visitors under 18, free for all on the first Sunday of the month

Petit Palais

Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008
Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. Closed Monday.
Web site

Free: Free to permanent collection, temporary exhibits charges apply.

More on art in France

For more helpful information on visiting art in France, check out these resources from other sites we find helpful:

Favorite French Art by whyGoFrance.com

Favorite French Art by Chez Loulou

Art and Chateau Vaux le Vicomte by Food Lover's Odyssey

About the author: Tom Meyers is the Editor in Chief of EuroCheapo.com.