One visit is not enough…read more When you learn to swim. One lesson is never enough. The more you dive into the depths and emerge for a breath of air, the more you enjoy. The more rapturous moments are grasped. Ah, so is the Musee d'Orsay. It is not a museum to plunge to once. One must visit multiple times. Otherwise, it is impossible to swim between exhibits, paddle through the intentions of artists. Be sure, you don't need to swim to enjoy the galleries. Even dog paddling between famous works is enjoyable. However, to truly move through exhibits with ease takes practice. You will thank yourself.

We arrived at Musée d'Orsay without a pre bought ticket…read more The line wasn't that long so we decided to stay. We were inching along, and then suddenly the line moved really fast, they were letting people enter faster. We spent over 10 minutes and we were in. This museum is smaller than the Louvre, and has many floors and seems harder to navigate, so I just let my son take the lead and I followed. We took our time admiring the paintings: Monet, Lautrec, Van Gogh, Degas....some people are going with the flow, but some took too much time posing with the paintings, maybe thinking it's their personal studio .... We really like this museum. The time we went, there is a special exhibit dedicated to Renoir.

This will blow you out of the water! Every other art show on tour housing comparison to wonder…read morecollection that is at the Atelier des Lumieres. There was a double feature when I went of Picasso and Rousseau. I was in awe the entire time. The Picasso show was about 40 mins and the Rousseau was 20 minutes. I felt immersed in the art of the Rousseau collection, but I saw the story in the life of Picasso during his collection. This is a must when in Paris

I can't remember how I found out about this "exhibit"…read more When I originally saw the ad it was about Klimt being the main show. That would have been so cool. It ended the week before my arrival. But it was still a great show. Purchase your ticket online and pick a date and time. Originally thought the exhibit was in an old warehouse, but it's the main floor of a residential building. Two stories of open space. The images are projected on the floor and all the walls choreographed to music. The first was Van Gogh's Starry Night with other of his works mixed. Japanese Images of a Floating World was next installation. The works have movement and floats through the vast space. There are no seats. Be careful walking around, as people just sit in the middle of the floor to watch. You can hang out and watch it a second time. Highly recommend seeing this.

The major thing we wanted to do in Paris was visit the catacombs, an underground ossuary containing…read morethe bones of more than six million people. The catacombs are part of Paris' abandoned mine and quarry network, and bones were moved to the catacombs because the cemeteries were running out of space. The first bones were transferred from the Cimetière des Saints-Innocents after the cemetery was closed in 1780 due to overuse. The catacombs are an extremely popular attraction, and purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended as a limited number of people are admitted each hour, and with good reason -- the experience would be extremely unpleasant if overly crowded. However, you can only purchase tickets one week in advance, and the catacombs are not open on Mondays. The two full days we were in Paris were Sunday and Monday, so I had to ensure that we were able to get tickets for Sunday April 7. Fortunately I was successful! Tickets were €29 each, although per the website, they are now €31. Unfortunately, the catacombs are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or who have mobility issues -- the 1.5km long route has 243 stairs -- 131 to descend and 112 to ascend. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and if you want to see bones and skulls (no full skeletons, though), the Paris catacombs won't disappoint! [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Paris, France; Beware of stairs!]

Yes. Come do the touristy things like shopping, eating, and sightseeing. But also consider this…read moreplace with a spin to the sightseeing portion with a historical twist. The admissions price you pay is worth it. You just don't see this type of local flair anywhere else. Soak in the history about Paris and also its darker side. Your perspective about things will change, for most people anyway. The takeaway the hubs took from this experience is that nothing really matters at the end. It's a real eye opening experience TBH. As you wander the dark corridors, you will see piles of real human bones piled in neat stacks. It was saddening to realize that these were once human beings. Now they are part of a collection of unknown souls. It was just a down to earth experience. The audio tour will allow you to wander at your pleasure so there's no real rush or live tour. Book early because spots are limited!

Orangerie Museum, Paris, France -- April 12…read more Our family of four with kids ages 9 and 10 visited after a morning at the Louvre, looking for a more relaxed museum experience. It ended up being one of the most enjoyable stops of the trip. Arrival and First Impressions The museum is smaller and much calmer than the Louvre, which made it an easy transition after a busy morning. The space is bright with beautiful natural light and a peaceful atmosphere. We arrived without reservations, and it took about 45 minutes to enter the museum. The Highlights Monet's water lilies are the centerpiece and absolutely worth the visit. The scale, color, and immersive layout of the rooms make it a unique experience. We also enjoyed seeing works by artists like Matisse and Renoir. The park outside was a great bonus and gave the kids space to run around afterward. The Challenges We waited about 45 minutes to get in without reservations, which could have been avoided with advance tickets. Final Thoughts This museum was my personal favorite and a place we would absolutely visit again. It is a great option for families or anyone looking for a more manageable and peaceful museum experience. It is definitely worth it, especially if you plan ahead

I'm honestly surprised I did not go to this museum when visiting Paris in the past, as it has a…read morebeautiful installation of Claude Monet's Water Lillies. Book tickets directly from the museum website, otherwise you may pay more. Times entries are available. Get there early to avoid the crowds as the galleries are small. The two oval rooms of Monet paintings are the highlight here. Designed by the painter himself, they are meant to be observed in silence, but that is not what we experienced while there. Eat before you visit. The cafe food and drink was unfortunately some of the worst I've experienced in a museum.This museum is in the Tuileries Garden with a large wall around the area. Nice views of the Eiffel Tour and seating overlooking the river is available nearby.

I was very impressed walking through this building. The display is in the information told me…read morethings that I never knew about something that I thought I knew quite a bit of bad. The presentation was well conceived and comfortable. There were plenty of places to stop and listen with the language interpretation headsets that were presented before going on the tour. It's self guided and at your own pace. It worked out wonderfully period it is attached to the Basilica which are able to wander around on the inside which is an amazing structure that was rebuilt after World War II you can imagine the massive size of this name out of work that went into restoring it to its former glory. Be sure to see this little storyboard showing the rebuild.

While I would say that it can be a little difficult to find, being located in a small alleyway…read morebeside the Rouen Cathedral, it is about Jeanne d'arc, and anything about Jeanne is pretty clearly advertised in and around Rouen (in fact they clearly mark all of the significant Jeanne related spots in the city). This isn't actually your ordinary museum, and it definitely isn't her house (you are going to have to go out into the French countryside to actually find her birthplace), but it is a museum that is dedicated to her (I believe that it is the former Archbishop's residence). The museum is more like a guided documentary that follows the second trial of Jeanne, the one that acquitted here (after she had been burnt at the stake mind you) and goes through all aspects of her life, her time in the military, the Battle of Orleans, and of course here capture, trial, and eventual execution. As it is set up as a video where you move from room to room for a different part, they only let people in every fifteen minutes, and the entire tour takes around an hour and a half (depending on how long you spend in the final rooms that look at her legacy). Certainly a different way to set up a museum, and definitely a place to visit if you happen to be in Rouen.

The Louvre Museum is one of the most amazing museums in the entire world, located right in the…read moreheart of Paris. The approach to the entrance felt significant, with the glass pyramid acting as a central anchor point surrounded by courtyards, wings, and long stretches of stone façades that hinted at the scale of what was inside. The building combines historic palace architecture with vast modern exhibition spaces. Inside, the experience unfolded through sheer size more than anything else. Galleries branched in multiple directions, each holding different periods and regions, from ancient civilizations to classical European art. I moved through long corridors and open halls, sections that shifted in both atmosphere and lighting depending on the collection. One moment I was in a dimly lit room of Greek antiquities, the next I was under bright skylights surrounded by French paintings. Even without focusing on individual works, the density of what is housed here was immediately noticeable. The layout encouraged wandering rather than a strict path, and I found it easy to lose track of time moving between rooms, staircases, and open gathering areas. Some sections felt busier and more compressed, especially around the most famous works. Other areas opened up into quieter pockets where the scale of the building became more apparent. I appreciated those quiet moments the most.

A dream come true to finally visit the Louvre. If you want to make sure to get in, you have to…read morepurchase your tickets online, and preferably at 9am when they first open. We arrived an hour early and was second in line so we got to be one of the first to see the Mona Lisa right as they opened and were able to get as close as the public can get. The museum is closed to the public every Tuesday. We walked through the day before and it seemed that groups in conferences is what goes on during those Tuesdays that they're closed. I booked our tickets 2 months in advance, and was able to get the opening day slot for two. And just 20 minutes after opening, the room 711 in the Denon Wing where the Mona Lisa is, got packed. You can spend the whole day here and still not have seen everything. There are multiple floors filled with art work, and luckily there are elevators. There's also a small cafe, and restaurant on the first level, and then another cafe at the second. At the exit it almost turns into a mall of shops and eateries. So it might take you another hour past when you thought you'd be exiting. You definitely want good walking shoes, cuz you'll loose track of how far you walked, even after 3 hours.

Lovely little museum of Monet's art. We stopped by after visiting Monet's house & gardens. We…read moreenjoyed reading about his life and works and seeing his paintings. We spent around 30min-45min.

Free entry to the museum was all we needed to hear! After a wonderful few hours at Monet's…read moregardens, we saw the sign welcoming visitors so we went inside 3 rooms of widely spaced artworks & this exhibition was covering comparisons of Monet and Rothko. Never would have thought to compare the two but it worked! Lots of benches to sit & gaze at the masters & contemplate their works We were fans!

Centre Pompidou was due to close its doors for a years-long renovation when I went. Thought not…read morecompletely shut down (Wolfgang Tillmans was showing his photographs), the lack of exhibits make this arts center a shell of its former self; even the long escalator, a prominent feature, wasn't in operation. Also, there was no access to the rooftop viewing platform. The building is very cool with its "inside out" design as giant pipes decorate the exterior. I remember Centre Pompidou as full of life, I hope when it returns to be able to experience its full art programming once again. Two stars because it's depressing to see the building half done & half alive.

The best museum in Paris for the views and vibes! Even on a winter weekend at sunset, it wasn't…read moreovercrowded--a refreshing change from the city's more packed museums. The main collection is on the 5th floor, with special exhibits on the 6th, and the panoramic views from the balcony are stunning--you can see both the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur. Entry is affordable at €15 per person, and the museum has several shops, dining options, and restrooms inside. It's also easily accessible by public transportation, with plenty of great spots to eat and drink nearby. A must-visit for art lovers and architecture enthusiasts alike!

Located on Montaigne Avenue, the Dior Gallery is a stunning walk through experience through…read moreChristian Dior's journey and designs across the years. Tucked amongst the buildings on the street, it's almost hard to believe how large the gallery is on the inside as there is so much to see from dresses to accessories to magazines and more. Upon entering, the exhibition starts at the top floor, where you make your way through the building and steadily downwards on a journey through time. This is a fun experience for those who love fashion, history, and art, but there is truly much to appreciate for someone coming in with no prior knowledge or expectation. This gallery is extensive and they change out the pieces periodically, so there's a lot of re-visit value. The gallery goes beyond fashion and has moments discussing Christian Dior's personal life, the building itself, and how the Dior name continues to thrive in modern-day couture. At the end of the gallery they have their own Dior Le Café, which carries both drinks and food, and a mini gift shop section. I found it a great spot to relax and rechage. *Lucky Sando en trio: This trio of sandwhiches was delicious and larger than expected for a tea-time-style snack. The egg-mayonnaise was moist and flavorful, tasting as expected. I enjoyed the smoked salmon and cucumber one which provided a refreshing and cooler-tasting sandwich. The chicken with spices was the most unique one of the three. It had tumeric and other spices that made it stand out. It held the most umami. *Caesar salad with Chicken: This dish was crafted together at table-side which was both unexpected and lovely to experience! I appreciated the different toppings to what I thought was going to be a generic salad, and the overall outcome was very vibrant. The chicken itself is a fully seasoned and cooked fillet, making this dish very filling. *Chocolate Chaud: This is my favorite drink in France, and ordering it here was no different. Deeply rich and made with heavy cream and dark chocolate, chocolate chaud tastes like drinking liquid chocolate straight from a pot. Generally, you can purchase tickets online for a specific date and time with full price being 16 EUR, though there are discounted options available. You can also try your hand for a walk-in visit, though the line can get rather long. I was fortunate enough to enter for free and without a wait, which I am extremely grateful to the team for!

Okay, so the museum is amazing. The rainbow stair case of Dior is amazing to behold and the…read morefashions throughout are just incredible and it's better than most Met fashion exhibits I've been to (the McQueen & China exhibits being the notable exceptions.) But I'm here for the food. The chocolate and blackberry mousse tartlet was hands down the best pastry I had in Paris. The offerings are beautiful but pricey. However, totally worth it and wish I'd ordered more.

Ok place to kill a little time between cafes and shipping in Les Marais…read more Some nice pieces were on exhibit. The building itself is nice to look at, though only the grand staircase remains unchanged.

This is place is a must see. It was not busy and had a much more personal feeling while visiting…read more Stopped many times and just took in the art. Come and enjoy the art. We had a Paris Museum Pass and this Museum was included.