Top 10 hidden museums Paris
Paris is famous for world-class museums like the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, but what many visitors do not realize is that Paris also has many hidden museums that are much less crowded, often cheaper or even free, and sometimes even more interesting than the big famous museums. These hidden museums are perfect if you want to escape the crowds, discover something unique, and see a different side of Paris that most tourists never see.
In this guide, you will discover the top 10 hidden museums in Paris that are absolutely worth visiting.
A Museum Dedicated to the History of Paris
1. Carnavalet Museum – History of Paris
The Carnavalet Museum is one of the most underrated museums in Paris, and it tells the complete story of the city of Paris from ancient times to modern day. The museum is located in two beautiful historic mansions in the Marais district, and the building itself already feels like a museum.
Inside the museum you can see:
- Rooms from old Paris houses
- French Revolution exhibits
- Old shop signs from Paris
- Paintings of historic Paris
- Marie Antoinette items
- Napoleon objects
The best part:
The permanent collection is free.
This is one of the best hidden museums in Paris.
A Small Museum About Romantic Life
2. Musée de la Vie Romantique
This small museum is located in a beautiful house at the foot of Montmartre and feels more like visiting someone’s home than a museum. It is dedicated to the Romantic period in Paris and writers like George Sand.
Why this museum is special:
- Beautiful garden
- Small and quiet
- Very atmospheric
- Romantic setting
- Café in the garden
This is a perfect museum if you want something quiet and different.
The Sewer Museum of Paris
3. Paris Sewer Museum (Musée des Égouts)
This is one of the most unusual museums in Paris. The Sewer Museum is located inside the real Paris sewer system, and you walk through tunnels and learn how the Paris sewer system works.
You will learn about:
- Paris water system
- Sewers and engineering
- History of Paris infrastructure
- How Paris became a modern city
This is a very unusual museum and very different from art museums.
A Museum About Fairground and Carnival Art
4. Musée des Arts Forains
This is one of the most magical hidden museums in Paris. The Museum of Fairground Arts is located in a large hall and contains old carousels, carnival rides, and fairground games from the 19th and early 20th century.
What makes this museum special:
- You can ride old carousels
- Very colorful and unique
- Guided tours only
- Feels like a movie set
This is one of the most unique museums in Paris and great if you want something different.
A Museum Inside an Old Hunting Mansion
5. Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
This museum is about hunting and nature, but even if that does not sound interesting at first, the museum is located inside a beautiful historic mansion and the exhibitions are very creative and artistic.
Inside you will see:
- Animal sculptures
- Historic weapons
- Art inspired by nature
- Very unusual rooms
This is a very surprising museum and not crowded.
A Museum About Perfume
6. Fragonard Perfume Museum
Paris is famous for perfume, and this museum explains how perfume is made and the history of perfume in France.
You will learn about:
- How perfume is made
- Different perfume ingredients
- Historic perfume bottles
- French perfume history
The visit is short (about 45 minutes) and often free.
A Museum About Magic
7. Musée de la Magie (Museum of Magic)
This small museum in the Marais is dedicated to magic, illusions, and magicians. It is a very fun museum and very different from traditional museums.
Inside you will see:
- Magic tricks
- Illusions
- Old magic posters
- Magic shows (sometimes)
Great if you want something unusual.
A Museum About Paris Catacombs History
8. Catacombs Museum (Small Exhibition Area)
Many people visit the Catacombs but do not realize there is also a small museum exhibition that explains:
- Why the Catacombs were created
- Paris underground tunnels
- History of Paris cemeteries
- Engineering of the tunnels
This makes the Catacombs visit much more interesting.
A Museum About Cinema
9. Cinémathèque Française (Film Museum)
If you like movies, this is a fantastic hidden museum. It is dedicated to the history of cinema and film.
Inside you can see:
- Old film cameras
- Movie costumes
- Film sets
- Movie props
- Film history exhibitions
This museum is located in a very modern building in Bercy.
A Museum About Money
10. Paris Mint Museum (Musée de la Monnaie)
This museum is located inside the Paris Mint, where French coins are made. The museum is very modern and interactive.
Inside you can see:
- Coins
- Gold bars
- How coins are made
- Interactive exhibits
- Historic money
The building itself is also very beautiful.
Why Visit Hidden Museums in Paris?
There are many advantages to visiting hidden museums:
| Hidden Museums | Famous Museums |
|---|---|
| Quiet | Very crowded |
| Relaxed | Busy |
| Unique | Famous |
| Often cheaper | Expensive |
| Local atmosphere | Tourist atmosphere |
A good strategy is:
Visit big museums in the morning and hidden museums in the afternoon.
Suggested Hidden Museum Route
You can combine several hidden museums in one day:
Hidden Museums Day
- Carnavalet Museum
- Museum of Magic
- Hunting and Nature Museum
- Perfume Museum
This is a great alternative to a crowded museum day.
Final Advice
Paris has dozens of small and hidden museums that most tourists never visit, but these museums are often some of the most interesting places in the city because they are unique, quiet, and very different from the large famous museums like the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay. If you have several days in Paris, it is a very good idea to combine the big famous museums with a few hidden museums, because this will give you a much more complete and relaxed experience of the city.