The grand staircase of the Palais Garnier, lit by its bronze lamps

38 of the best · Paris, France

Arts & Culture in Paris

The Louvre and the Orsay, Monet at the Orangerie, Rodin and Picasso, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the Palais Garnier, the Philharmonie and the Comédie-Française.

Our 38 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026

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Insiders' picks

Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Paris.

  1. Book a timed slot

    Musée du Louvre

    Louvre·Museum

    From the Mona Lisa to the Venus de Milo, in the former royal palace on the Seine.

    Explore View on map

  2. The Impressionists

    Musée d’Orsay

    Left Bank·Museum

    The Impressionists and the art of 1848–1914, in a former railway station on the Seine.

    Explore View on map

  3. The grand staircase

    Palais Garnier (Opéra national de Paris)

    Opéra·Opera house

    The gilded opera house on the Place de l’Opéra, with its grand staircase, for opera and ballet.

    Explore View on map

The full list: Arts & Culture, A–Z

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The newest official trailers and upcoming films, updated automatically as they are released. In Paris, many cinemas show films in their original language (look for “VO”).

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Neighbourhood

The back story 1

In-depth stories behind the list.

  1. The back story

    Paris, the city of art: the back story

    Paris·In depth

    The Louvre, the Impressionists at the Orsay and the Orangerie, Rodin and Picasso, and the great new foundations: the museums, and the opera and concert halls.

    Explore View on map

Visual arts

Museums 6

Great collections.

  1. Immersive exhibitions

    Atelier des Lumières

    Oberkampf·Digital art centre

    Immersive digital exhibitions in a former foundry in the 11th arrondissement.

    Explore View on map

  2. Closed for transformation 2025–2030

    Centre Pompidou

    Beaubourg·Museum

    The modern art museum’s famous building is closed for its transformation from 2025 to 2030; the collection travels to partner venues.

    Explore View on map

  3. The story of Paris

    Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris

    Marais·Museum

    The museum of the history of Paris, in two mansions in the Marais.

    23 rue de Sévigné, 75003 ParisExplore View on map

  4. The Impressionists

    Musée d’Orsay

    Left Bank·Museum

    The Impressionists and the art of 1848–1914, in a former railway station on the Seine.

    Explore View on map

  5. Book a timed slot

    Musée du Louvre

    Louvre·Museum

    From the Mona Lisa to the Venus de Milo, in the former royal palace on the Seine.

    Explore View on map

  6. Arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas

    Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac

    Eiffel Tower·Museum

    The arts and civilisations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, beside the Eiffel Tower.

    37 quai Jacques-Chirac, 75007 ParisExplore View on map

Art museums and foundations 9

Monet, Rodin, Picasso and the new private foundations.

  1. Under the glass dome

    Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection

    Les Halles·Art foundation

    The Pinault Collection’s contemporary art, in the round former commodity exchange.

    2 rue de Viarmes, 75001 ParisExplore View on map

  2. Now on the Place du Palais-Royal

    Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain

    Palais-Royal·Art foundation

    Contemporary art, now in its new home at 2 place du Palais-Royal, opposite the Louvre.

    2 place du Palais-Royal, 75001 ParisExplore View on map

  3. Frank Gehry’s glass sails

    Fondation Louis Vuitton

    Bois de Boulogne·Art foundation

    Contemporary art in Frank Gehry’s glass-sailed building in the Bois de Boulogne.

    Explore View on map

  4. Monet’s Water Lilies

    Musée de l’Orangerie

    Tuileries·Museum

    Monet’s Water Lilies in two oval rooms, at the western end of the Tuileries.

    Explore View on map

  5. A collectors’ mansion

    Musée Jacquemart-André

    Boulevard Haussmann·Museum

    A 19th-century collectors’ mansion on the boulevard Haussmann, with Italian and French masters.

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  6. Impression, soleil levant

    Musée Marmottan Monet

    Passy·Museum

    Monet and the Impressionists, in a mansion by the Ranelagh gardens.

    Explore View on map

  7. In the Hôtel Salé

    Musée national Picasso-Paris

    Marais·Museum

    Picasso’s work, in a 17th-century mansion in the Marais.

    5 rue de Thorigny, 75003 ParisExplore View on map

  8. The Thinker in the garden

    Musée Rodin

    Invalides·Museum

    Rodin’s sculptures in the Hôtel Biron and its rose garden.

    77 rue de Varenne, 75007 ParisExplore View on map

  9. The city’s fine art museum

    Petit Palais

    Champs-Élysées·Museum

    The City of Paris’s Museum of Fine Arts, built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, with a garden café.

    Explore View on map

Architecture & landmarks 5

Great buildings, old and new.

  1. The view down the Champs-Élysées

    Arc de Triomphe

    Étoile·Monument

    The triumphal arch at the top of the Champs-Élysées, with a terrace on the roof.

    Explore View on map

  2. Book on the official site only

    Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)

    Champ-de-Mars·Landmark

    Gustave Eiffel’s iron tower on the Champ-de-Mars, built for the Exposition Universelle of 1889.

    Explore View on map

  3. Reopened December 2024

    Notre-Dame de Paris

    Île de la Cité·Cathedral

    The great Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire.

    Explore View on map

  4. On the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève

    Panthéon

    Latin Quarter·Monument

    The domed monument on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, resting place of great French figures.

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  5. Walls of stained glass

    Sainte-Chapelle

    Île de la Cité·Royal chapel

    The royal chapel on the Île de la Cité, its upper chapel walled with stained glass.

    Explore View on map

Performing arts

Concert halls 3

The Philharmonie, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and the Salle Pleyel.

  1. Jean Nouvel’s concert hall

    Philharmonie de Paris

    La Villette·Concert hall

    The great concert hall at the Parc de la Villette.

    221 avenue Jean-Jaurès, 75019 ParisExplore View on map

  2. On the Faubourg Saint-Honoré

    Salle Pleyel

    Faubourg Saint-Honoré·Concert hall

    The historic concert hall on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

    252 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 ParisExplore View on map

  3. Art Deco on the avenue Montaigne

    Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

    Avenue Montaigne·Theatre

    The Art Deco theatre on the avenue Montaigne, for concerts, opera and dance.

    15 avenue Montaigne, 75008 ParisExplore View on map

Theatre and cabaret 5

The Comédie-Française, the Châtelet and the revues.

  1. The national theatre

    Comédie-Française

    Palais-Royal·Theatre

    France’s national theatre company, in the Salle Richelieu by the Palais-Royal.

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  2. The avenue George-V cabaret

    Crazy Horse Paris

    Avenue George-V·Cabaret

    The cabaret on the avenue George-V.

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  3. Under the red windmill

    Moulin Rouge

    Pigalle·Cabaret

    The cabaret under the red windmill on the boulevard de Clichy.

    82 boulevard de Clichy, 75018 ParisExplore View on map

  4. The oldest cabaret in Paris, in its own words

    Paradis Latin

    Latin Quarter·Cabaret

    A cabaret in the Latin Quarter, the oldest in Paris in its own words.

    28 rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, 75005 ParisExplore View on map

  5. Musicals and more

    Théâtre du Châtelet

    Châtelet·Theatre

    The great theatre on the Place du Châtelet, for musicals, dance and concerts.

    1 place du Châtelet, 75001 ParisExplore View on map

Opera and ballet 2

The Opéra national de Paris at the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille.

  1. The modern opera house

    Opéra Bastille

    Bastille·Opera house

    The modern house of the Opéra national de Paris, on the Place de la Bastille.

    Explore View on map

  2. The grand staircase

    Palais Garnier (Opéra national de Paris)

    Opéra·Opera house

    The gilded opera house on the Place de l’Opéra, with its grand staircase, for opera and ballet.

    Explore View on map

Film 2

Cinemas and film.

  1. The film archive

    La Cinémathèque française

    Bercy·Cinema

    France’s film archive and museum, with screenings and exhibitions, in Frank Gehry’s building at Bercy.

    Explore View on map

  2. Europe’s grand movie palace

    Le Grand Rex

    Grands Boulevards·Cinema

    The Art Deco movie palace on the boulevard Poissonnière.

    1 boulevard Poissonnière, 75002 ParisExplore View on map

Literature & poetry 3

Writers, libraries and bookshops.

  1. On the boulevard Saint-Germain

    Café de Flore

    Saint-Germain·Café

    The most famous café of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

    172 boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 ParisExplore View on map

  2. Facing the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés

    Les Deux Magots

    Saint-Germain·Café

    The literary café on the Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

    6 place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 75006 ParisExplore View on map

  3. Facing Notre-Dame

    Shakespeare and Company

    Latin Quarter·Bookshop

    The English-language bookshop facing Notre-Dame across the Seine, since 1951.

    37 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 ParisExplore View on map

Folk & cultural traditions

Crafts & makers 2

Traditional crafts and the people who keep them.

  1. On the rue du Bac

    Deyrolle

    Saint-Germain·Cabinet of curiosities

    The cabinet of curiosities on the rue du Bac: natural history, taxidermy and botanical prints.

    46 rue du Bac, 75007 ParisExplore View on map

  2. Mosaic floors and glass roofs

    Galerie Vivienne

    Palais-Royal·Covered passage

    The most elegant of the covered passages, near the Palais-Royal.

    Explore View on map

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