City of Paris Fine Arts Museum
(Petit Palais and the Musée des Beaux-Arts)
The permanent collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in the beautiful Petit Palais is free to see
Musee des Beaux-Arts or City of Paris Fine Arts Museum is a spectacular museum situated on the north bank of the river Seine in Paris. The museum first opened in 1900 and it has continued at the current location for more than a century. This superb museum should definitely be included in your itinerary when visiting Paris.
Visitors to the Petit Palais can enjoy viewing the works of many famous artists found in their permanent collection for free. There are also a variety of temporary exhibits rotating throughout the year that can be seen for a nominal charge.
The collection of artwork on display at the Musee des Beaux-Arts is both fine and full. They range in time from Ancient Greece all the way up to the First World War. .The collection includes works by many notable artists such as Rembrandt, Monet, Delacroix, Courbet, Rodin and many more. The permanent collection is divided into sections for easy viewing.
Nearby attractions: Science Museum and Grand Palace National Gallery
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: No, except to see temporary exhibits and programsPetit Palais Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: Av. Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris, France
Phone: 01 53 43 40 00
Official Website: Petit Palais
Petit Palais Reviews
Rated out of 5
A beautiful hidden gem in Paris. The architecture alone is stunning, and the inner courtyard garden is incredibly peaceful, perfect for a quiet break between sightseeing spots. The art collections are elegant and well curated, and I especially loved how spacious and calm the galleries feel.
As a travel content creator based in Berlin, I truly appreciated the aesthetic details and natural light, it’s a wonderful place for both inspiration and photography. Highly recommended if you want a refined cultural experience without the overwhelming crowds.
— Arlinda
arlinda nako - a month ago
This place blew me away. It was absolutely stunning!
I've heard about petit palais many times for recommendation. I decided to visit today and all the artwork, sculptures and displays were magnificent and of such a high standard. I highly recommend this place if you enjoy french artwork.
M Y - a month ago
Free museum. I enjoy looking at art but I would say I don’t know how to appreciate art. The art here is as good as the louvre although they are smaller and have less iconic pieces. Excellent budget travel activity
There is no booking but the crowd moves quickly.
Rooney yu - 2 months ago
This is a fantastic place to visit in Paris. It's free access to the open collection which is a great range. The I side ambience is great, well appointed and we'll managed. The pieces on display are magnificent, including depiction of the French Republic, Monet's Seine River, Dante, amongst many others. There is a cafe in the Petite Palais also, very cosy, with breakfast, snacks, hot and cold drinks. Comfortable seating is available on two floors. Courteous staff are available for your assistance.
Russell Maharaj - 3 months ago
Way better than Grand Palais by architecture and more like the usual museums of Paris. Free to visit and see the collections. There are also some exhibitions you can visit by purchasing tickets. Very big paintings and I especially like the book tower they did. A must see.
Gunsu Kiziltan - a month ago
Directions
| Metro / RER Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M1 or M13 | Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau | 3 minutes |
| M9 | Franklin Delano Roosevelt | 7 minutes |
| M8 or RER-C | Invalides | 5 minutes |
How to get to Petit Palais by Metro / RER
By Metro or RER-C: From Metro Line 1 or 13 exit at Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau Station. The Petit Palais is straight south on the left side of Avenue Winston Churchill. Follow Avenue du General Eisenhower beside the Grand Palais to the gallery entrance.
From Metro Line 1 or 9 exit at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Station and follow Avenue des Champs Elysees southeast from the traffic circle to Avenue Winston Churchill and go right. Continue to the main entrance on your left.
From Metro Line 8 or RER-C exit at Invalides and head north over the Alexandre III bridge. Continue north on Avenue Winston Churchill to the entrance on your right.
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Accommodations near Petit Palais:
Photo Gallery
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Incredibly beautiful interior of the Petit Palais competes with the many works in the Musée des Beaux-Arts cc 3.0 licensed photo by Edal via Wikimedia -
Exploring the many exhibits in the well lit interior of the Musée des Beaux-Arts in the Petit Palais cc licensed photo by jean-louis zimmermann -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr
