Free (or Cheap) Paris Museums
When you're sick of spending €7 to €10 to look at the backs of tourists' heads and have lost the energy to trot through endless rooms of "important" art feeling obligated to "appreciate" it all, you can turn to one of Paris's 14 municipal museums. Some are free, most are cheap, and all are more or less interesting. These museums allow you to spend just about an hour or so snooping through a particular field, whether it be fashion history, an author's house, or the city's collection of modern art. Here's an overview of the most worthwhile municipal museums.
Hôtel de Ville
Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
75004 Paris, Paris, France
This landmark is strictly speaking not a municipal museum, but it always hosts the coolest free exhibits in Paris (expect a line). The current show until September pays … homage to the French Barbra Streisand, Dalida, with an exposition showing a selection of her outfits and previously unreleased photographs. [link]
Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
11, Avenue du Président Wilson
75116 16ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
Occupying the other side of the Palais de Tokyo, complement your visit to that contemporary art gallery by stopping in this municipal and very free museum. Most of the … paintings are placed a bit far apart, but the gigantic Matisse canvasses are breathtaking, and you can sneak in a view of the Eiffel Tower. [link]
La Maison de Balzac
47, Rue Raynouard
75016 16ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
When you've stopped sniggering like an 8th grader about the pronunciation of the author's last name, you can enjoy his house for free in its original state, as well as … manuscripts, portraits, and a wall chart of the more than 2,000 characters of his Comédie Humaine. [link]
Musée Galliera
10, Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie
75116 16ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
Fashion history is chronicled in 90,000 pieces, including glorious gowns from the 18th and 19th centuries. Don't believe Sofia Coppola -- this is what Marie-Antoinette … really wore. Posh threads at the posh price of €7. [link]
Musée Carnavalet
23 r. de Sévigné 75003 Paris, France 01 42 72 22 62
Housed in one of the nicest hotel particulier in the Marais, the Carnavalet chronicles the history of Paris through architecture, paintings, sculpture, furniture, … drawings, photographs, and much more. Be sure to check out Proust's cork-lined bedroom in original condition. Permanent collection is free. [link]
Musée Bourdelle
18, Rue Antoine Bourdelle
75015 15ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
Over 500 of Antoine Bourdelle's sculptures and paintings can be found throughout the gardens and studios where he lived and worked. Rodin was a great admirer of …
Bourdelle, but you have to pay for his museum, whereas you can see Bourdelle's for free. [link]
Petit Palais
Avenue Winston Churchill
75008 8ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
[link]
Musée de la Vie Romantique
This free museum dedicated to the age of Romanticism boasts an impressive collection of George Sand's portraits, furniture, and jewelry. From May to October, a teahouse … opens in the charming garden. The entry fee is at the steep end with €7. [link]
Maisons de Victor Hugo
6, Place des Vosges
75004 Paris, Paris, France
Peruse the great master's lovely house on the place des Vosges, checking out his life told through paintings, drawings, and manuscripts throughout the free …
permanent collection before ducking in at the Café Hugo on the corner. [link]
Musée Zadkine
100, Rue d'Assas
75006 6ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
The free permanent collection contains around 300 pieces by Russian sculptor Ossip Zadkine. Loll through his house and garden in the rue d'Assas and then splurge on a … drink at the Closerie des Lilas at Port Royal. [link]
Les Catacombs de Paris
1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy near Denfert-Rochereau station Paris, France
Get your spook on in this ossuary created in 1810, where the bones of overflowing cemeteries were stored to alleviate hygiene problems. The underground corridors seem to … go on for ages. Not for the faint of heart but worth the 5 euros. [link]
