Once you have visited the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, you will have so much fun exploring the small museums in Paris. You will find all kinds of treasures in these smaller museums. Visiting any of the museums on this list is the perfect, affordable, activity to enjoy while in Paris. If you are planning to visit several museums during your trip to Paris, considering getting a Paris Museums Pass!
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The most beautiful and unique small museums in Paris
Marmottan Monet
If you love Monet like we do, you will have to visit the Marmottan Monet Museum. It’s one of the best small museums in Paris!
In addition the Musée d’Orsay, the Orangerie, the Louvre and Giverny (outside of Paris), you will love visiting the Marmottan Monet Museum.
It is also the place to see a collection of Berthe Morisot’s work. She was the first female Impressionist and her work is impressive. She was part of the group of artists including Degas, Pissarro, Monet and Renoir. She was a student of Corot and Manet’s muse. Unlike her better known colleagues, she unfortunately sold very little work, making it difficult to find museums that showcase her work. The Marmottan Monet features the leading collection of the artist’s work.
2 rue Louis-Boilly
75016 Paris
14€
Musée Rodin
Everything is stunning about the Musée Rodin. From the beautiful mansion, to the gorgeous gardens, the location is exceptional. I love Rodin’s work so it is a real pleasure to be able to see his work up close and personally in such a beautiful setting.
77 rue de Varenne
75007 Paris
14€
Musée Picasso
If you love Picasso’s work, then you will absolutely love this collection of his work. The Picasso Museum in Paris is such a gem! It’s up there with our favorite small worldwide collections.
5 rue de Thorigny
75003 Paris
16€
Book your priority access ticket
Musée de Montmartre
Don’t miss Montmartre when you visit Paris! It is one of our favorite small museums in Paris. It walks you through the history of Montmartre. You’ll learn about Le Chat Noir, the famous cabaret, as well as the artists of Montmartre.
The artists Suzanne Valadon, Maurice Utrillo et André Utter used an atelier-apartment space in the building to create their work. Unfortunately, not much of the original details of the space remain, but the atelier-apartment has been recreated with historic precision by designer, Hubert Le Gall.
The Musée de Montmartre is surrounded by three gardens dedicated to Auguste Renoir. The gardens are dedicated to Renoir because he lived on the site from 1875 to 1877.
Pro tip : come here to see gorgeous views over the Clos Montmartre, Montmartre’s vineyard.
12 rue Cortot
75018 Paris
15€ (you can choose to visit the gardens without visiting the museum for a reduced fee of 5€)
The Orangerie
This museum was hand-picked by Claude Monet to house his famous water lily collection. You cannot come to Paris without visiting Monet’s water lilies. They are spectacular, floor to ceiling masterpieces.
This is one of my absolute favorite collections in Paris.
Place de la Concorde
75001 Paris
12,50€
Book your ticket to skip the line
Book a small group guided visit
Espace Dali
11 rue Poulbot
75018 Paris
16€
Skip the line by purchasing your ticket in advance
Musée Gustave Moreau
This museum was initially Gustave Moreau’s home. It also houses a library that you can visit. I love visiting private homes that have been turned into museums. If you do, then you will love this little treasure of a museum in Paris!
14 rue de la Rochefoucauld
75009 Paris
8€
Musée Cognacq-Jay
The Musée Cognaq-Jay is in the Hôtel Donon, in the Marais. It houses the private collection of the entrepreneurial couple, Ernest Cognacq and Marie-Louise Jay. The permanent collection is free to visit all year long. There is an entrance fee for temporary exhibits.
8 rue Elzevir
75003 Paris
Free to visit the permanent collections
9€ to visit the temporary exhibits
Maison de Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo’s Parisian home is in the Place des Vosges. It takes about an hour to visit and will give you some insight into the life and work of Victor Hugo. We especially love the Chinese room upstairs.
6 Place des Vosges
75004 Paris
Free
While you’re in the Marais… sign up for a Le Marais Guided Walking Tour
Musée Carnavalet
The collections of sculpture, paintings and artifacts tells the story of the history of the city of Paris.
16 rue des Francs Bourgeois
75004 Paris
Free (with a suggested 5€ donation)
Musée Nissim de Camondo (temporarily closed)
This gorgeous Parisian mansion was transformed into a museum that houses decorative art from the the second half of the eighteenth century. It is on the edge of the beautiful Parc Monceau, so you can visit the museum and then walk around the park.
63 rue de Monceau
75008 Paris
9€
Planning to visit several museums during your trip to Paris?
Click here to get your Paris Museums Pass!
Fragonard Perfume Museum
This unique Parisian small museum walks you through the history of the French perfume brand, Fragonard. See unique perfume-related objects on display, such as a Louis XIV perfume burner, a Fabergé perfume bottle from 1899 and a bronze perfume vase dating all the way back to 3-2 B.C.!
Perfume workshops are also regularly available during which you will learn about perfume making and even have the chance to make your very own eau de toilette. If this interests you, take a look at their website before your trip to Paris, as it is necessary to book and paid spot in the Fragonard perfume workshops.
3-5 Square Louis Jouvet
75009 Paris
Free
Book your ticket here which includes a perfume workshop
Musee Cluny
The Medieval Museum of Paris. This space is fascinating and unusual. Definitely worth a visit! Visit the Cluny Museum to learn about Medieval art and Medieval times in Paris and to see tapestries and statues from this time period.
28 rue de Sommerard
75005 Paris
12€
Purchase your ticket directly at the museum.
Musée Jacquemart-André
This is one of my absolute personal favorites! This jewel of a museum was once the Jacquemart André’s family’s private residence in Paris, filled with the personal collection of the couple. It also has one of the best gift shops in Paris in my opinion, as well as a gorgeous restaurant/tea salon and garden.
Pro tip : if you live in Paris, I highly recommend buying the friends of the Musée Jacquemart André card. It costs 35€ (or 65€ for 2 people) and will give you unlimited access to the museum (permanent and temporary exhibits) for an entire year, as well as a discount in the gift shop and the gorgeous restaurant. We’ve purchased the card in the past ourselves and I would happily buy it again.
158 Boulevard Haussmann
75008 Paris
18€
Maison de Balzac
If you love Balzac’s work and would like to see where he lived and learn a little more about how he wrote and created and more details about the characters in his book, you will love the Maison de Balzac in the 16th arrondissement.
47 rue Raynouard
75016 Paris
Free access to the permanent collections
Musée Cernuschi
The Musée Cernuschi houses the private collection of Henri Cernuschi, banker and art collector. He spent time exploring Asia in the late 1800s and when he came home to Paris, he had a mansion built to house his collection of Asian art, notably art from China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.
In addition to the beautiful art collection, the mansion on the edge of the Parc Monceau is a work of art itself. It is also home to the a stunning library, specialized in Asian art.
7 Avenue Vélasquez
75008 Paris
10€
Best…
- Best staircase : Musée Jacquemart André
- Best outdoor garden : Musée Rodin, Musée Jacquemart André, Musée de la Vie Romantique
- Best cafe : Musée Jacquemart André
- Best gift store : Musée Jacquemart André
- Best photo opps : Musée Jacquemart André, Musée Rodin, L’Orangerie & Musée Marmottan Monet
- Best location : L’Orangerie, Musée Nissim de Camondo, Musée Picasso
- Best love story : Musée Jacquemart André
- Best Asian art : Musée Nissim de Camondo
Tips for reserving, visiting, etc.
If you are an EU resident, most museums in Paris are free to you if you are under 26. You will need to show proof so make sure you bring your passport, ID card or residency card.
Many museums in Paris are also free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month. Make sure you arrive early because museums tend to get very crowded!
Note : The only museum on this list that isn’t free for anyone is Musée Jacquemart-André.
A word on luggage : some of these museums will let you check a bag but most of them will not let you enter with luggage. These museums are on the smaller side and don’t have a lot of extra room to keep bags while you visit. Plan to drop your bags off at your hotel before visiting.
Where to stay in Paris
- Hotel du Louvre – this hotel is perfectly located across the street from the Palais Royal and steps away from the Louvre and the Tuileries.
- Maison Souquet – a luxury hotel in the 9th arrondissement housed in a maison particulière from the 1800s. (Their bar is stellar too!)
- Maison Proust – a gorgeous new hotel in Paris that also has an absolutely dreamy La Mer spa!
- Hotel Parister – a more affordable stay in the trendy 9th arrondissement.
- Hotel Delavigne – an affordable option centrally located in the 6th arrondissement near Odéon.
- Hotel La Comtesse – 4-star hotel with Eiffel Tower views from all the rooms!
More fun things to do in Paris
- Download our Free Paris Food Guide
- 10 Non Touristy Things to Do in Paris
- Don’t Miss These Cafes in Paris!
- The Best Donuts in Paris
- High Tea in Paris
- Free Things to Do in Paris
The Best Small Museums in Paris
Don’t miss these beautiful small museums in Paris. These are a little more off the beaten path than the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay but they are absolutely worth a visit!
If you love the Parisian museums as much as I do, you will love this Paris Museums Map by local artist Carol Gillott!
Pin for later!
Pin for later!
First published January 13, 2020. Last updated February 4, 2024 with more information, additional tips, and better readability.
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