Museums of Paris

Some of the best historic collections in France can be seen in the hundreds Paris museums and complexes. Many of these collections are located right in the heart of the city, housed in beautiful buildings.

Musee Rodin
This 18th-century former hotel is where Auguste Rodin once lived and many of his works are housed here. The museum and the large garden may be visited separately. The magnificent garden contains more than 2,000 rose bushes.

Museum open: April to September, Tuesday to Sunday - 09:30 to 17:45
October to March, Tuesday to Sunday - 09:30 to 16:45

Musee Carnavalet - 23 Rue de Sevigne, Paris

This museum is dedicated to the history of Paris through to modern times, and is housed in two adjacent historic mansions. which were formerly hotels. There is a very interesting section devoted to the Revolution which includes models of guillotines, execution orders, and objects used by the royal family during their final days.

Museum open: daily - 10:00 to 17:40, closed Mondays and bank holidays

Musee de Notre Dame - 10, Rue du Cloître Notre Dame, Paris

Charting the history of the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral with numerous paintings, engravings, medallions and other objects and documents.

Museum open: 14:30 to 18:00, closed - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Musee de la Mode et du Costume de la Ville de Paris - 10 Avenue Pierre-Ier de Serbie, Paris

Housed in Palais Galliera, this museum features a collection of French costume and fashion accessories from the 18th century to the present day.

Museum open: daily - 10:00 to 17:40, closed Mondays

Musee Nissim de Camondo - 63 Rue de Monceau, Paris

This museum features 18th-century French aristocracic luxuries, which consists of paintings, tapestries, gilded furniture, rugs, porcelain and solid silver tableware.

Museum open: Wednesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00

Musee de la Musique - 221 Avenue Jean-Jaures, Paris

This spectacular museum displays a remarkable array of musical instruments dating from the 16th century to the present day, as well as paintings and sculptures.

Museum open: Tuesday to Thursday - 12:00 to 18:00, Friday and Saturday - 12:00 to 19:30, Sunday - 10:00 to 18:00

Musee d’Histoire Naturelle - 57 Rue Cuvier, Paris

Located in Jardin des Plantes, this natural history museum combines several museums and contains exhibits on geology, mineralogy, botany, paleontology, anatomy and zoology, and includes skeletons of dinosaurs.

Museum open: April to September, Wednesday to Monday - 10:00 to 18:00
October to March, Wednesday to Monday - 10:00 to 17:00

Maison de Victor Hugo - 6 Place des Vosges, Paris

This museum is Victor Hugo’s former 19th-century home, and houses exhibits on the French author’s life. Famed for Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hugo’s talent as an artist can be seen.

Museum open: daily - 10:00 to 17:40, closed Mondays and bank holidays

Musee Delacroix - 6 Rue de Furstenberg, Paris

The former home of the great 19th-century painter, Eugene Delacroix, who lived and worked at this studio-apartment.

Museum open: daily - 09:30 to 17:00, closed Tuesday

Musee National du Moyen Age-Thermes et Hotel de Cluny - 6 Place Paul-Painleve, Paris

This art museum, located in the spacious 15th-century Hotel de Cluny, houses a collection of medieval decorative art, an array of tapestries, including the Lady to the Unicorn, together with a collection of original sculptures.

Museum admission: charge

Museum open: daily except Tuesday - 09:15 to 17:45