How To Museum Hop in Paris

Do Your Research

Many museums will offer free admission on certain days of the week. Free admission also usually means big crowds. Search the museum’s website for student or family discounts that are offered throughout the week as well. Many places have a student discount that is applicable even if you are an American student. Also, many museums offer free admission every day to tourists with a valid passport in addition to your student identification. When you are researching, also consider what time of day is usually busiest for that museum. For example, you may have wanted to see the Mona Lisa since you were 12, but you will never even get a glimpse of it if you go to the Louvre at the busiest time of the day. Early in the morning and a few hours before closing are always the best options to have the artwork all to yourself.

Plan a Route

In a city like Paris where there are museums on every street corner, museum hopping can prove stressful. Look at a map of the museums and plan a route for each day that helps you maximize your time at each museum and gets you from point A to point B the fastest. Consider splitting your days up by neighborhood or transportation route, so you can keep moving in one direction and see all that there is as efficiently as possible.

Know What You Like

There are over 130 museums in Paris, and no one can go to them all, and no one will necessarily like them all either. It is imperative to go into your museum hopping experience with an idea of what type of art you like. Whether it be modern art, science and historical artifacts, or classical art, knowing what you want to see will help you narrow down your choices tremendously. Unfortunately there is not enough time for the average tourist to visit all the museums Paris has to offer, but customizing your museum tour will lead to a trip you won’t soon forget. Below I have split up a portion of the best museums in Paris into respective categories that might pique your interest. Bonne chasse!