In early 2025, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that restoration costs for the Louvre Museum would be funded by increased ticket prices. While this may concern culture-loving travellers, Paris remains a city brimming with accessible artistic and historical treasures. For British visitors, this development presents an ideal opportunity to explore the French capital's many other fascinating institutions that welcome guests without an entry fee throughout the entire year.
Parisian Culture Without the Price Tag
Beyond the famous paid attractions, Paris hosts a wealth of museums where admission is permanently free. This allows UK tourists to allocate more of their budget to other delights, from patisseries to museum shop souvenirs. It is always wise to check individual websites, as many other major museums offer free entry on specific days, often the first Sunday of the month.
Here is a curated selection of seven exceptional museums that promise a rich cultural experience with no entrance cost at any time of year.
1. La Maison Élysée
Located in front of the 18th-century presidential palace, this compact museum offers a unique glimpse into the heart of French governance. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, its collection includes presidential furniture and an array of state gifts, such as a vividly coloured vase presented by the Tunisian government in 2024. Interactive displays animate the palace's history, and live demonstrations by artisans like gold leaf painters are regularly held. A standout artefact is the medieval carpenter's axe, used in repairs to Notre Dame Cathedral following the 2019 fire.
2. Fragonard Musée du Parfum
Nestled in the Opéra Garnier district, this elegant museum delves into the world of scent. It showcases the vast olfactory archives of the Fragonard perfume house and features a workshop where visitors can craft a personal fragrance. Ancient apothecary bottles and antique cabinets display raw materials, while archival photos trace the evolution of perfume-making. The collection of perfume-related art assembled by Jean-François Costa, who led the company from 1939, is particularly captivating, featuring 18th-century diamond-studded bottles and 16th-century silver pomanders. The oldest item is a remarkable stone perfume vase shaped like a bull, dating from 3000 BC.
3. Musée Carnavalet
Housed in a stunning 16th-century Renaissance mansion, this is Paris's oldest municipal museum. Its 600,000 items narrate the history of the city and France, ranging from a prehistoric dugout canoe from 4600 BC to historic street signs. An upcoming exhibition will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Marquise de Sévigné (1626-1696). Among its most unusual holdings are several personal effects of novelist Marcel Proust, including his actual bed, chaise longue, and writing table.
4. Musée-Librairie du Compagnonnage
This Saint-Germain-des-Prés museum illuminates the historic compagnonnage system, a little-known but integral part of French society that has trained artisans since the 1200s. Exhibits highlight the craftspeople who built Paris, featuring plans of Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower, and profiling figures like Louis Mazerolle, a carpenter honoured as a Compagnon Charpentier du Devoir in 1864. The museum's attached bookstore is an excellent resource for anyone interested in traditional trades.
5. Petit Palais Musée des Beaux-Arts
This vast fine arts museum occupies a beautiful beaux-arts building constructed for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. Its collections span ancient Greek vases, decorative arts like priceless Lalique glassware, and paintings by masters including Courbet, Pissarro, Monet, and Cézanne. It holds France's second-largest collection of Dutch master paintings after the Louvre. A must-see is Claude Monet's Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt, Winter Effect from 1880, a masterpiece of Impressionism.
6. Bourdelle Museum
Dedicated to sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, who helped transition from Beaux-Arts to modern sculpture, this museum showcases hundreds of his works in plaster, marble, and bronze. It offers insight into his contributions, such as his work on the Champs-Elysées theatre. Visitors can also step into his lovingly preserved former studio, complete with its original cast iron stove, sculpting stand, and tool-sharpening machine.
7. Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris
Strategically located between the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, this museum houses an impressive 15,000 works. It stages a busy programme of exhibitions on artists like Basquiat, Haring, and Warhol. The permanent collection covers movements from Cubism and Abstraction to New Realism, featuring works by Picasso and Matisse. A highlight is the large-scale installation House of Horrors by Elaine Sturtevant (d. 2014), an immersive piece inspired by ghost trains and drag queen Divine, guaranteed to redefine your view of funfair attractions.
Making the Most of Your Paris Visit
For British travellers, these seven institutions prove that experiencing Paris's profound cultural heritage does not require a hefty budget. By prioritising these free-admission venues, you can enjoy world-class art, history, and craftsmanship while saving your euros for other aspects of your Parisian adventure. Always verify opening times before your visit, and prepare to be captivated by the depth and diversity of culture available at no cost in the City of Light.
