I've been to Musée d'Orsay twice over the years and have left both times feeling awed by what I saw…read moreand rueful of all I'd so obviously missed. You can't even speed run the place in two or three hours, and you probably need days or a lifetime to appreciate it in full. My more recent visit was earlier this month, with my husband and kids and other sundry family members, who spread out and explored the museum on their own. The d'Orsay opens at 9:30 in the morning and we booked tickets in advance for 10:00 entry. Getting in was quick and easy, and the crowd was pretty reasonable for the first hour or so, which we spent on the fifth floor. By the time we got to the special exhibit on the ground level, around noon, every room was thronged. We didn't make it to the second floor at all. The museum is a global treasure, a beautiful place with a staggering collection of French art, including the world's largest trove of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings. The d'Orsay was once the Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. It would be worth visiting for the architecture and use of space and light alone. The art, of course, is genuinely amazing. If you have even a passing familiarity with paintings as a genre, you will walk around the d'Orsay going, "Oh, THAT's here?" I saw multiple paintings I'd encountered in jigsaw puzzles, or on the covers of Debussy piano books. Manet, Cezánne, Gauguin, Degas; a whole room of Van Gogh, including one of his most recognizable self-portraits and his "Bedroom in Arles" (a very enjoyable 2,000-piece puzzle). Monet everywhere--I guess the d'Orsay owns 86 of his paintings. I loved the mini-exhibit of five paintings of the Rouen Cathedral, and even my six-year-old appreciated, if purely for subject matter, "The Saint-Lazare Station." Our kids, it turns out, do not yet appreciate art, and were in ragged form for much of our visit. Our three-year-old demanded to be carried at all times and kept insisting he didn't like "these pictures." (He also objected to his first nude, "The Bathers" by Renoir: "Why aren't they wearing any clothes, even? They can wear pants. They can cover themselves.") We had to take a breather in the underground cafe, with water and snacks, and this gave us enough steam to make it back out to the main floor. We managed to zip through a few of the many rooms lining the main corridor on our way up to the Renoir exhibit at the front of the museum. This part of our visit could not have been more cursory, and yet we stumbled upon Courbet's self-portrait, "The Desperate Man"--a cool painting I'd never seen before--and Millet's "The Angelus," a painting I'd learned about at the d'Orsay many years earlier. The Renoir exhibit (Renoir and Love: A Joyful Modernity, apparently just ended) was spectacular, an expansive collection of iconic paintings displayed for maximum impact. It was also jam packed and slightly unpleasant to navigate with two children on the verge of meltdown. I'd love to go back to Paris and explore the d'Orsay at my leisure. I'm sure it'd also be worthwhile to go with a guide, and perhaps two older, well-behaved children who might get something out of the experience. In the meantime, I'm grateful I've been able to see the place at all. It's a marvelous museum, one of the greatest in the world.

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 went to the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, or Air and Space Museum, at the recommendation of a…read morefriend who works for Delta Airlines and spends a lot of her time among planes. We have two young boys and this seemed like a perfect family outing when we were in Paris earlier this month. Our experience was slightly tainted by an uncharacteristic tantrum from our six-year-old, but the museum was otherwise wonderful. It was maybe a mistake to schedule this visit for our first morning in Paris, when everyone was tired and out of sorts. The museum, located on the grounds of an airport long closed to commercial aviation, is a bit of a hike from Paris. We got a much later start than intended, took the train out to Porte de la Chapelle and suffered a hot half-hour wait for the first bus that would take us to the museum. Enough to make even a reasonable adult feel irritable. The museum was pretty amazing, though, well worth visiting, especially with kids who love airplanes. It wasn't busy at all on a Thursday in July. No wait and no advance reservation required. We spent over two hours exploring and would've stayed longer if we didn't have to get back to Paris. There were definitely a couple exhibit halls we rushed through for time, and others we missed altogether. The Concorde hall, with two retired Concorde jets, was the highlight for us adults, but I think the boys loved everything. Our three-year-old is obsessed with "airplanes with propellers" and both kids enjoyed all the old airplanes and the hall full of helicopters. The tarmac was awesome and featured several planes in their full glory. We got to go inside a Boeing 747, a plane we've read about several times in one of the boys' favorite picture books. The space stuff was cool, too, and we would've spent more time looking at it if we hadn't had to get going. In retrospect, we should have skipped the gift shop, where our older kid had his meltdown because I wanted to buy him the die-cast Concorde jet instead of the generic made-in-China airplane I recognized from a toy store back home. It was a nice shop, though, with a lot of attractive plane models and other memorabilia that must appeal to adult enthusiasts. If you're child-free with limited time in Paris, you're probably not making it out to the Air and Space Museum. It's an excellent outing, though, for anyone who wants to walk inside a 747 and two Concorde jets.

Surprised this doesn't get more tourists! We went on weekday and it was quiet and seemed to be more…read morelocal visitors. Though to be fair, it's out of the way so hard to get to and we had to get an Uber which had little trouble making way to entrance. However, lots of interesting displays, history and planes that you can actually explore. Great place for kids to run around and push buttons, which if on holiday and you've done loads of art museums, and kids are itching for some interactive exhibits, this is the place.

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.

While this is not necessarily a must-see museum for all visitors to Paris, it is well worth the…read moretrek to see the beautiful sun-filled (and climate controlled!) building, enjoy the peaceful grounds and view from the top floor, and of course see art. We saw the Calder exhibit, and as it unfolded floor after floor, room after room, it felt like a generously curated exhibit in a building which is itself a work of art. There is also a café and gift shop. I recommend getting tickets in advance, though there is still a line. Add in time to walk around the park.

As you depart Fondation Louis Vuitton following your visit you may find yourself asking whether you…read morecame to see the exhibit or the Frank Gehry masterpiece in which it's housed. Instead, consider it a 2-fer: you got to experience both the art and the building for a single price of admission. Both are exceptional. I understand that museum exhibits change but it's difficult to imagine a better use for the massive space than the Calder restrospective I enjoyed. It's so comprehensive that I'm certain I'll never see a Calder show that compares. I can't even imagine another museum that has the space to house such a collection. And then there's the building itself. Should you ever finish viewing the Calder exhibit, make your way to the rooftop. You were surely awed by the sight of Gehry's masterpiece from the outside but only from inside can you get to the terrace with its peek-a-boo, un-photographable Eiffel Tower view. Clearly, Gehry could have given us a dead-on site from which to take a selfie with that landmark in the background and equally clear was that he chose not to. The terrace itself is rife with views, just not that one. Don't miss it. Fondation Louis Vuitton had crowds without being crowded (except in the initial exhibit rooms) making it the perfect antithesis of a Louvre or d'Orsay experience. Other stuff: * Al fresco terrace cafe (with blankets provided; it was chilly in May) and a light-filled, artsy ground floor restaurant; * Best to purchase advance, timed tickets, easily done 1-day ahead. * When booking your ticket you can also reserve (for a couple additional euros) a shuttle to and from the site. The walk there takes about 15 minutes, is well-marked, and flat. I'd paid for the shuttle but didn't use it in either direction.

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.

This was worth the visit for some quirky and amazing folk art. There is an exhibit in a dark room…read morethat had so many fabulous pieces of art, that I thought we had seen the whole museum. But wait! Up some windy stairs is a sunlit room with about the same amount of art. Some things were creepy, some were a level of obsessive detail that required long minutes of marveling, and some were inspiring. 2 hours is a sufficient visit, and you will want to reserve time to peruse the bookstore and get a snack, lunch, or beverage at the café. The museum is in the garment district, and the art may inspire you to pick up some fabric to make a collage.

A stunning cyclorama with two feature exhibits, a bright and airy bookstore, and a crazy busy cafe…read morefor an accessible 9€. We popped in for the Jeunet/Caro exhibit, because when in Paris, you Amélie. The design of the exhibit space is in a wagon wheel, with fixtures from the duos filmography segmented by "pie piece." An intriguing blend of movie props, original script notes, stills and videography paint a brilliant behind-the-scenes for The City of Lost Children, Delicatessen, MicMacs, Alien: Resurrection and more. A floor up, sunlight floods a year-long showcase residency called Turbulence in the Balkans, featuring Eastern European works but unfortunately, no brass bands. Sad dance party loss. Anyhoodle, the space open, well-designed and easy to get through in an hour or so. If the exhibits catch your fancy, pop in for an afternoon delight.

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!

It was so cool to visit the little town of Auvers-sur-Oise where Vincent Van Gogh spent the final,…read moreyet very productive, 70 days of his life before his suicide death at age 37. We stood at the very spots where he painted some wheat fields, where he painted the town city hall, and where he painted the local church. We saw the inn where he rented a room for those final days. Visiting here definitely gives you a sense of connection with one of the world's greatest painters. He painted what he felt from the scene in front of him and the style of his 2100 paintings was ahead of his time as he never achieved any fame until well after his death. It's well worth a visit!

So I realize that some of the things I do only appeal to a certain demo…read more..... Some people are going to appreciate this more than other and some are going to ask why I would drive an hour plus through Paris traffic to get to Auvers-sur-Oise? The answer is that I'm a damn Van Gogh nerd..... The Van Gogh traveling experience is great but nothing.....nothing compares to standing in front of the real thing. I didn't think it could get much better than being at Orsay and admiring Starry Night over the Rhône. Or being at MOM and seeing The Starry Night (Arles) Yea, I was wrong. Being at Auvers-sur-Oise and walking in his footsteps is an experience all it's own. Visiting the house he rented the room he would eventually die in is a somber experience. The true highlight though is the Van Gogh walk..... Walk the same roads and fields, stop and look at the inspiration from some of his last and most recognizable paintings. The city has done a great job of marking the trail and setting up informational stations along the route. I cannot recommend this trip enough. I'll be back one day.....

First, please excuse any mispronunciation. We came across the Musse De La Grande Guerre by pure…read morechance. It was a very pleasant surprise. The museum is enormous. With artifacts starting pre-First World War to the following years after the conflict. The museum is very interpretative with uniforms, weapons, and equipment being worn by mannequins representing all of the nations involved in the conflict. There is even tanks, armament, planes, and various vehicles. I have highly recommended this museum to all friends, family, and anyone interested in the Great War.

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.

How much you enjoy the Picasso Museum is no doubt related to your overall feelings about Picasso's…read moreart. Detest Picasso's art and you'll likely have no reason to come here. But if you love his art, are unfamiliar with it, or waver in your opinion this, the definitive Picasso experience I'd say, is a great experience. The museum is in Le Marais and has a quiet presence, especially compared to many other Paris museums. Their rooftop cafe is a good way to end your visit here but even better is an underused (empty on my visit) outdoor space full of grass, flowers, and chairs from which to enjoy it. Unless you know of this space you'll likely overlook it but if you do know of it? What a great place to sit quietly and enjoy the peace. The museum itself takes you through Picasso's extensive oeuvre but also features rather extensive exhibits by at least one other artist (Henry Taylor on this visit) and may also feature works by artists with whom Picasso traded or purchased artwork from (e.g. Matisse). Quiet, thorough, with a charming cafe and a peaceful garden, I'd not return to the Picasso Museum anytime soon as I'm uncertain how frequently their exhibit changes, but if you've never been and think you might enjoy it, I'd say that you're probably right.