In Paris, culture doesn’t always come at a price. Behind the long queues at the Louvre lie dozens of museums whose permanent collections are open to all, free of charge, all year round — private mansions in the Marais, sculptors’ studios, writers’ homes. Here is our selection of the finest free museums in Paris, to explore the city and its treasures without opening your wallet.
The City of Paris Museums, Free All Year Round
The capital’s best-kept secret: the fourteen municipal museums open their permanent collections free of charge, all year round and to everyone. Only temporary exhibitions remain paid. Our favourites:
- Petit Palais (8th) — The City’s Fine Arts museum, from Antiquity to the Impressionists, in a 1900 setting facing the Grand Palais. Don’t miss the inner garden and its café, one of Paris’s most elegant secrets.
- Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (16th) — Matisse, Dufy, Delaunay, and the monumental fresco La Fée Électricité. An exceptional collection, without ever the crowds of its neighbour.
- Musée Carnavalet (3rd) — The entire history of Paris, from its origins to the present day, spread across two private mansions in the Marais.
- Musée Cognacq-Jay (3rd) — The refinement of the 18th century, brought together by the founder of La Samaritaine, in an intimate interior that breathes the Age of Enlightenment.
- Musée de la Vie romantique (9th) — At the foot of Montmartre, a house-and-garden dedicated to George Sand and the romantic spirit. Reopened in February 2026.
- Musée Bourdelle (15th) and Musée Zadkine (6th) — Two former sculptors’ studios, worth visiting as much for the art as for the calm of their gardens.
- Maison de Victor Hugo (4th) — The writer’s apartment on the Place des Vosges (closed on Mondays).
- Musée Cernuschi (8th) — One of the oldest collections of Asian art in Europe, bordering the Parc Monceau.
- Maison de Balzac (16th) — The discreet Passy residence where the writer worked on La Comédie humaine (closed on Mondays).
Explore more in our Art & Culture section.
Always Free, Beyond the Municipal Network
A few insider addresses complete the list:
Musée du Parfum Fragonard (9th) — Reopened in 2026 in a former theatre near the Opéra Garnier, it traces the art of perfumery in a carefully designed setting. Free entry, no reservation required — a rare sensory interlude.
Musée Curie (5th) — The laboratory of Marie and Pierre Curie, for lovers of the history of science.
On the First Sunday of the Month, the Great National Museums
One Sunday a month, several national institutions open their doors free of charge. Booking a time slot online is strongly advised, as the crowds are guaranteed.
- Musée d’Orsay — The Impressionists, on the first Sunday of the month.
- Musée Picasso (Marais) — The largest collection of the artist’s work in the world, in the superb Hôtel Salé.
- Musée Rodin — The sculpture garden and The Thinker, one of the capital’s finest cultural moments.
- Musée de Cluny — The Middle Ages and the famous Lady and the Unicorn, free on the first Sunday with no reservation.
- Musée de l’Orangerie — Monet’s Water Lilies, in their oval setting.
- The Louvre — Free on the first Sunday of the month, but only from October to March. Reservation essential.
Free for Under-26s
Worth noting for younger visitors: in the national museums, permanent collections are free all year round for 18–25-year-olds residing in the European Union — not only on Sundays. Under-18s enter free everywhere, regardless of nationality. A simple ID at the desk is enough.
A Date to Remember: the European Heritage Days
Every third weekend of September, hundreds of monuments normally closed or ticketed open their doors for free — from the Élysée Palace to the Senate. In 2026, mark your calendar for 19 and 20 September for one of the year’s finest cultural moments.
Paris, France – September 10, 2017: The flag of France blow at the main entrance gate of Elysée Palace.
Our Tips for Making the Most of It
- Book a time slot online, even for free entry to the major museums.
- Free-entry days draw crowds: aim for opening time in the morning or weekday late-night openings.
- Always check opening hours on the official websites — they vary depending on public holidays and exhibitions.
In Summary
Paris is one of the few capitals where you can spend weeks exploring art and history without spending a cent. From sculptors’ studios to writers’ homes, these free museums offer another way to experience the city: slower, more intimate, often more elegant than the great crowded institutions.
Which museums are free in Paris? The fourteen City of Paris museums offer free access to their permanent collections all year round: Petit Palais, Musée d’Art Moderne, Carnavalet, Cognacq-Jay, Bourdelle, Zadkine, Cernuschi, Maison de Victor Hugo, Maison de Balzac and the Musée de la Vie romantique. The Musée du Parfum Fragonard is also entirely free.
Is the Louvre free on Sundays? Yes, but only on the first Sunday of the month and only from October to March. Outside this period, entry remains paid, except for under-18s and 18–25-year-olds residing in the European Union. Booking a time slot online is essential.
Which museums are free on the first Sunday of the month? Many national museums open free of charge that day: Musée d’Orsay, Musée Picasso, Musée Rodin, Musée de Cluny and Musée de l’Orangerie, among others. It’s best to book online, as attendance is higher.
Are museums free for under-26s? In the national museums, permanent collections are free all year round for 18–25-year-olds residing in the EU. Under-18s enter free everywhere, regardless of nationality. An ID at the desk is enough.
