How to Visit Paris Museums for Free
Many people think visiting museums in Paris is expensive, but there are actually many ways to visit Paris museums for free. If you plan your trip smartly, you can visit several museums without paying anything. In this guide, you will learn all the ways to enter Paris museums for free, who qualifies for free entry, and how to plan free museum days.
Free Entry for Children and Young Visitors
One of the most important things to know is that many museums in Paris are free for young visitors.
You can usually enter many major museums for free if you are:
- Under 18 years old → Free entry
- Under 26 and an EU resident → Free entry to many national museums
This includes famous museums such as:
- Louvre
- Musée d’Orsay
- Centre Pompidou (permanent collection)
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Conciergerie
- Panthéon
- Rodin Museum
If you qualify for free entry, you often do not need the Paris Museum Pass.
Free Museums in Paris All Year
Some museums in Paris are completely free all year for everyone (permanent collections).
Here are some free museums you can visit:
| Free Museum | Topic |
|---|---|
| Musée Carnavalet | History of Paris |
| Petit Palais | Art museum |
| Musée d’Art Moderne | Modern art |
| Maison de Victor Hugo | Writer’s house |
| Atelier Brancusi | Sculpture |
| Musée Bourdelle | Sculpture |
| Musée Cernuschi | Asian art |
These museums are great if you are traveling on a budget.
Free Museum Days in Paris
Many museums in Paris are free on specific days.
The most important one:
First Sunday of the month → Many museums are free
This often includes:
- Louvre (low season only)
- Musée d’Orsay
- Centre Pompidou
- Picasso Museum
- Rodin Museum
However, these days are very busy, so arrive early.
Free Entry in the Evening
Some museums are free during evening openings on certain days. For example:
- Some museums have free entry after a certain time
- Some museums are cheaper in the evening
- Some museums are free for students in the evening
Always check the official website of the museum.
Use the Paris Museum Pass Strategically
This may sound strange, but the Paris Museum Pass can also help you visit museums for free per museum, because once you have the pass, you do not pay per museum anymore.
A smart strategy:
- Visit free museums on some days
- Use the Museum Pass on other days
- Visit expensive museums with the pass
This reduces your average cost per museum to a very low amount.
Example Free Museum Plan
Here is an example of a 3-day budget plan:
Day 1 – Free Museums
- Petit Palais
- Carnavalet Museum
- Maison Victor Hugo
Cost = €0
Day 2 – Free Museum Day (First Sunday)
- Louvre
- Rodin Museum
Cost = €0
Day 3 – Paid Museums or Museum Pass
- Versailles
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Arc de Triomphe
This is a very cheap way to visit many museums.
Other Free Things That Feel Like Museums
There are also places in Paris that are not museums but feel like museums and are free:
- Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Sacré-Cœur Basilica
- Many churches
- Père Lachaise Cemetery
- Luxembourg Gardens statues
- Tuileries Garden statues
These places are free and very interesting.
Summary – All Ways to Visit Museums for Free
| Method | Free? |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | Yes |
| Under 26 EU | Yes |
| Free museums | Yes |
| First Sunday | Yes |
| Evening free entry | Sometimes |
| Museum Pass | Free per museum |
Final Thoughts
If you want to visit Paris museums for free, the best strategies are:
- Visit free museums
- Visit museums on the first Sunday of the month
- Use free entry if you are under 18 or under 26 (EU resident)
- Visit churches and historic buildings
- Use the Paris Museum Pass for expensive attractions
With a good plan, you can visit many museums in Paris while spending very little money or even nothing at all.