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
This place is absolutely fantastic and breathtakingly beautiful! We were lucky to visit at the beginning of spring when everything was in bloom, making the experience even more magical. The gallery and its collection are truly impressive—a little Louvre of its own—and the fact that it’s completely free to the public is unbelievable. We loved it so much that we returned twice to the adorable restaurant for a delightful tea time. A hidden gem that shouldn’t be missed!
Martina - 2 weeks ago
An absolutely beautiful building with an extraordinary collection of art. Entrance to this palace is free and the exhibition is spread over two levels. There are well known artist such as Monet, Pissaro and Delacroix amongst the thousands of works. The collection has ancient Egyptian and Byzantine artifacts, beautiful Greek and Roman urns and goes through the ages with some wonderful contemporary pieces. The gardens were just blossoming and were a picture. There is a cafe and I had the most ordinary 1/2 sandwich for €9 ! But I figured it helps support the collection and building. A must see when in Paris.
G Mac - a week ago
Free admission to enjoy this beautiful palace inside and out. Highly recommended for everyone and especially budget conscious travellers! Exhibits were very interesting and enjoyable. Plenty of sitting space to rest while walking around the palace. There is a cafe inside so, you can enjoy a cup of coffee to rest your feet’s and talk about the arts.
Yukiko Moriya - a month ago
Beautiful smallish and free museum right on the Seine in the heart of Paris. Often has popular exhibitions of Impressionists & others. Relaxing interior courtyard garden & mosaic tile floors with lounge chairs for a quick nap in the sun.
ME A - a month ago
Beautiful, elegant, and what's not less important, a free museum in Paris. Sitting right next to Seine river it's a perfect spot to come for a stroll, or take a break in the beautiful garden cafe.
Nice collection of art work with painting of old and modern masters, sculptures, furniture. You can easily spend your whole day here. The garden is beautiful, there are lounge chairs to relax and enjoy the view.
Definitely less crowded than the Louvre.
A gem to not be missed!
elllen k - 5 months 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.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near Petit Palais:
Photo Gallery
-
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: RenéCD - cc license via Flickr
Video
Please provide consent and/or disable ad blocker to view the video.
