Home » Free Museums in Paris on 1st Sunday of the month
free museums in paris on 1st sunday of the month

Free Museums in Paris on 1st Sunday of the month

Discover the TOP 10 free museums on the 1st Sunday of the month in Paris. Visiting a free museum on the first Sunday of the month in Paris can be an excellent idea, especially if you choose a relatively early morning schedule to avoid crowds. In general, only permanent collections are accessible free of charge.

1. Orsay Museum

Inaugurated in 1986 and located along the quays on the left bank of the Seine, the MusĂ©e d’Orsay is one of the best museums to discover in Paris. It is also one of the most pleasant Parisian museums to visit. The MusĂ©e d’Orsay is known for its rich collection of impressionist paintings. Moreover, it is the most extensive collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings worldwide.

orsay museum paris

2. Quai Branly Museum – Jacques Chirac

Before 2016, the Musée du Quai Branly bore the name of the Museum of Arts and Civilizations of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. A very nice museum to discover in Paris, close to the Eiffel Tower.

3. Orangery Museum

The Musée de l’Orangerie is a lovely little museum in the Tuileries Garden in Paris. Visiting the permanent collections is free on the first Sunday of the month. Here you will find collections of European art from the 20th century. If you visit this museum, don’t miss Monet’s Water Lilies room.

4. National Museum of Modern Art – Center Pompidou

The Center Pompidou is one of the most visited Parisian museums and free museums on the 1st Sunday of the month in Paris. Hence it is an excellent opportunity to discover the permanent collections dedicated to contemporary art of this famous museum in Paris. In addition, the Center Pompidou is also known for its incredible architecture, but also the views it offers over Paris. So enjoy it!

5. Museum of Arts and Crafts

The Musée des Arts et Métiers is also one of the best free museums in Paris on the 1st Sunday of the month. The collections of this museum are inside an old church. The museum is mainly about science, with a working Foucault’s pendulum experiment highlighting the earth’s rotation, as Foucault did for the first time in 1851.

6. National Picasso Museum-Paris

Located in a magnificent building dating from the 17th century, this museum offers a collection of 5000 works by Picasso and objects and archives belonging to the painter. If you appreciate this famous 20th-century painter, this museum is a place to visit, especially since it is free on the first Sunday of the month.

7. Guimet Museum – National Museum of Asian Arts

The Guimet Museum is one of the most beautiful free museums on the 1st Sunday of the month to visit in Paris. Here you will find an extensive collection of Asian art. If you want to learn more about Asian cultures or if you already appreciate these cultures, the Guimet Museum is a must.

8. Cluny Museum – Museum of the Middle Ages

This museum is not one of the most famous museums in the capital. However, it is worth the detour. Here you will learn about French architecture and the most famous national monuments.

9. City of Architecture and Heritage

This museum is not one of the most famous museums in the capital. However, it is worth the detour. Here you will learn about French architecture and the most famous national monuments.

10. National Museum of Immigration History

The National Museum of the History of Immigration teaches us more about the different migratory flows to France. The museum is inside the Palais de la Porte Dorée, a beautiful building of Art Deco architecture. It is also recognized as a historical monument.

BONUS: Petit Palais, Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris (free all the time)

The Petit Palais, also known as the Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris, is a must-see place in Paris, especially since admission is always free all year round. A real architectural gem to visit without hesitation!

petit palais free to visit in paris

Other free museums on the 1st Sunday of the month in Paris whose free entry has been suspended

Here is the list of museums in Paris that were free on the 1st Sunday and whose free admission has unfortunately been suspended since:

  • Pantheon (free from the 1st Sunday of the month suspended)
  • Arc de Triomphe (free from the 1st Sunday of the month suspended)
  • Concierge service (free from the 1st Sunday of the month suspended)
  • Sainte-Chapelle (free from the 1st Sunday of the month suspended)
free monuments and museums in Paris

Visiting the free museums on the first Sunday of the month in Paris is an excellent idea for the wallet. On the other hand, expect a longer wait than usual for visits to the premises.

Click to rate this post!

Louis and Emilie

We once heard visitors in Paris saying that the French are not the most welcoming people. It made us sad. That's why we started this blog! So you can get the best information for your travel to France! Of course, we love Paris. We have lived in multiple areas, from Canal St Martin to right next to the Eiffel Tower. We also explore regions of France whenever we can. Our favorites for a weekend away from Paris are Etretat and Mont Saint Michel. The beautiful French Riviera is a marvelous place to explore for a week.

Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *