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5 lesser-known museums in Paris to visit this summer

The city of Paris will be transformed to host the Olympic Games this summer, which means accessing certain landmarks and museums may be a bit more involved than it usually is. Here are some alternative, off-the-beaten-track museums worth visiting.

Published: 18 July 2024 10:10 CEST
5 lesser-known museums in Paris to visit this summer
The Museum of Romantic Life in Paris in 2009. (Photo by JOEL SAGET / AFP)

If you are visiting Paris during the Olympic Games, be prepared for large crowds and long lines outside of the most famous museums and landmarks.

On top of that, many Olympic events, including the opening ceremony, will take place in the centre of the city, meaning there will be security zones set up along the Seine river. 

It will be important to plan ahead to make sure that you do not need a QR code to enter certain areas.

You can use the website Anticiper les Jeux to see if the address you wish to visit will be in a security zone. Once you have checked that, you should go to their website to find out if you need to take any additional steps, like reserving in advance.

READ MORE: How to check for Paris Olympics disruption in your area

While it will still be possible to visit many of the city’s iconic museums, such as the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, most will require advanced reservations, with modified hours and access to the museum or monument altered due to security zones.

So you might want to consider the museums that are not close to the Olympics security zone.

Here are some options;

READ MORE: Hotels, tickets and scams: What to know about visiting Paris for the 2024 Olympics

Fondation Louis Vuitton – Opened in 2014, this French art museum and cultural centre is sponsored by the LVMH group and its subsidiaries. The building itself is something to behold – designed by architect Frank Gehry. This summer, it will host a special Matisse exhibit (Matisse, L’Atelier Rouge) in collaboration with several other international museums.

Normal tickets cost €16, though there are discounted options available.

The centre is located at 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, which is located just to the west of Paris in the Bois de Boulogne.

Musée nationale de l’histoire de l’immigration – Recently reopened after a long closure and complete refurbishment, the permanent exhibit follows the history of immigration in France from 1685 to present day, via a fascinating combination of research and scientific data plus archive documents, newspapers, photographs personal testimonies and even a music booth.

The temporary exhibition tells the story of the modern Olympics, with a particular focus on women’s sport and the political dimensions of the Games. 

Full priced tickets cost €10. It is located at 293, avenue Daumesnil in Paris’ 12th arrondissement.

Musée Picasso – The museum boasts the largest collection of Picasso paintings in the world and has regular temporary exhibitions of other artists with connections to the Spanish painter.

Tickets cost €16. The museum is located at 5 rue de Thorigny, in the Marais in the 3rd arrondissement – although in central Paris, it will not be within any security zones. 

READ MORE: Five of the best off-the-beaten track museums in Paris

Musée de la Vie romantique – The former home of the Dutch-born painter Ary Scheffer, this is now a museum dedicated to romantic art in Montmartre. The first floor is dedicated to novelist George Sand. This summer, the temporary exhibit focuses on Théodore Géricault, to mark the bicentenary of his death.

The permanent collection is free, while the temporary exhibit tickets are €10. The museum is located at 16, rue Chaptal in Paris’ 9th arrondissement, near Montmartre – it also boasts a beautiful garden with a tea room, perfect for tea and cake after your visit.

Musée Marmottan Monet – One of Paris’ under appreciated fine arts museums, the Musée Marmottan houses a collection of art from France’s Napoleonic times, as well as several paintings by Impressionist painters, including one of the world’s largest collections of works by Claude Monet. On July 26th (the day of the opening ceremony) the museum will close early at 4pm but otherwise is open as normal.

Tickets cost €14. The museum is located in the west of Paris, at 2 Rue Louis Boilly in the 16th arrondissement, away from the Games activities and events.

What about the iconic museums and landmarks?

Eiffel tower – Be aware that the Tower is close to a Games venue. It will remain open during the Olympics period apart from the day of the Opening Ceremony (July 26th). However between July 18th and July 25th the Tower is in a security zone so you need to reserve in advance, though you will not need a QR code. More info here. From July 27th onwards the Tower will be open with normal visiting hours.

Louvre – During the Games, the Louvre will remain open to visitors, except for July 25th and 26th. However, all visitors from July 1st to September 8th must book a ticket ahead of time. A QR code is not required to visit the museum. You can find more info about Olympics related disruption/changes for the Louvre HERE.

Tuileries – the gardens will be closed on August 28th and throughout the Games it will be in a security zone, meaning vehicular traffic will be severely limited – although pedestrians can still access it without a QR code.

Musée d’Orsay – The museum will be closed on July 25th and 26th. From July 18th to 24th, it will remain open, but reservations will be compulsory. A QR code is not required. For the rest of the Games period, the museum will be open, but they will not offer late-night entry. More info here.

Versailles – The château, as well as the gardens will remain open to the public throughout the Games, with normal visiting hours. More info here.

Musée de l’Orangerie – The Musée de l’Orangerie will be open during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, it will be closed on July 20th, 25th, 26th, as well as August 26th and 28th. All visitors will need to make an online reservation in advance. Between July 18th and 24th, you will need a QR code to enter the security zone, and this may take up to eight days to process. More info here.

Grand Palais – Normally a museum, this landmark will instead host several Olympic events during the Games period and is therefore closed to normal visitors.

Member comments

  2. The Musée André Jacquemart on Blvd Hausmann is worth a visit. Plan on lunch or tea in the fabulous dining room.

  3. Other world class museums I recommend are: Guimet-Asian, Cernuschi-Asian, Musée Nissan de Camando-house museum, Musée des Arts Décoratifs-décorative arts. These are all world class museums. Paris also has many smaller museums that are only open ocassionally. Ask at the ticket desk if they can recommend any different museums. They have given me fantastic advice.

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PARIS

Tickets and dates: All you need to know about Notre-Dame reopening

There are 100 days left before Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris will finally open its doors to visitors again. Here is what you need to know about getting tickets in advance, the reopening plans, and the status of the restoration.

Published: 30 August 2024 10:57 CEST
Tickets and dates: All you need to know about Notre-Dame reopening

August 30th marks a major milestone in the restoration of Notre-Dame in Paris, with just 100 days – or three intense months of work – remaining for the 500-plus artisans working against the clock to ensure the cathedral is ready in time.

The Cathedral has been closed to the public since it was badly damaged by fire in April 2019.

Since then, Parisians and visitors have been able to see a lot of the progress, as the outside work redefined the city’s skyline, but they have not been able to go inside.

But soon, visitors will be able to re-enter the famous cathedral. Here is what you need to know;

When exactly will the cathedral re-open?

The Cathedral is on track to re-open on time on December 8th – the Festival of the Immaculate Conception.

How can I get tickets?

Anyone planning to visit Notre-Dame after its grand reopening should be aware that, when it does throw open its doors to the public, you will need to have a pre-booked ticket to enter.

In anticipation of an estimated 15 million visitors a year, the diocese is taking steps to better manage the flow of people in the 6,000m2 of the building – which can accommodate 2,500 people at a time. 

A mobile app is due to be rolled out in the autumn, and the official website is being redesigned to allow visitors to book free tickets.

But officials are keen to point out that potential visitors do not need to rush to the website or app to book months in advance. Spaces are expected to be available probably a day or two in advance, and visitors will be able to book a visit at the cathedral itself on the day they intend to visit.

What about groups?

Be aware that admission will initially be reserved for individual visitors. Group bookings will not be possible until six months after the cathedral’s reopening, officials have said.

What is the status of the restoration work?

“We can see that we are close to the goal and that fuels our confidence that we will achieve the objective,”  Philippe Jost, president of the public institution responsible for the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris, told Le Parisien, in an interview to mark the date.

The vault of the transept crossing was completed in May, allowing work to start on finishes to the interior of the building, and the gradual removal of scaffolding from the outside. The cathedral’s renewed silhouette has been visible throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Spectacular steps” have been taken in the past six months, Jost said, including the completion of the solid oak frames above the nave and the choir, and the installation of the lead roofs.

But, he said, there are still “an incredible amount of things to do in every corner” – including restoring the flooring, connecting electrical networks and installing new liturgical furniture. In just 100 days. “There is no question of falling asleep and telling yourself that it’s in the bag,” Jost said.

What can I do in the meantime?

You can still walk around the site and read the posters explaining the restoration process, though you will not be able to enter. Photos of the fire-damaged cathedral and its restoration form an exhibition on the barriers keeping people out of the site.

Guided tours exist in the area, including one offered by Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral and CASA volunteers. These tours are free and they go around the cathedral, lasting about one hour. More info for booking here.

Will there be other work in the future?

Even though Notre-Dame is reopening, the cathedral’s restoration work will continue for another four to five years. 

“The City of Paris … will be carrying out work around the cathedral, notably on the forecourt, for at least three years,” the diocese said in a press release.

Starting in 2025, the cathedral’s stone exterior will begin to be refurbished, using surplus funds from the huge pot of donations that poured in after the fire.

The plans include adding trees and vegetation to the square in front of the cathedral, as well as a small stream that will help to cool the area during hot weather. 

The space behind the cathedral will also be transformed, adding in a lawn and grassy area. Under the monument, the underground parking lot will transform into a visitor centre, offering an interior walkway that will give access to the archaeological crypt and will open up onto the Seine.

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