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.

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.

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.

Grande Arche de la Défense is a beautiful, modern monument in La Défense, Paris…read more Although it isn't the most well-known or widely recognised monument in Paris, it is kind of an unsung hero of the city which is truly one of my favourite cities in the world, it's a modern arch which consists of government offices, in a really nice square which separates Westfield and CNIT, right by the metro station which is underneath. At 360 ft tall, it is a little taller than the Tour Eiffel and also forms part of the Axe Historique. It's magnificent structure really adds grace and elegance into the La Defense area and makes the view from the Starbucks nearby a little better, especially in the outdoor patio area. It does have multiple steps which lead up the monument which is popular for people to sit and relax, while it might not have the international fame or wow-factor as the Arc de Triomph (of which it is 4km away from) or the Tour Eiffel, it's a pretty nice and underrated monument in a great city.

Certainly one of the more amazing sites in Paris. A great example of the new modern Paris. I love…read morethe idea behind this arch, unfortunately it's not being applied at all around the world today.

If you like smaller museums, this is a very neat place to check out at least once when visiting…read moreParis. The main floor and second story have beautiful old interiors. The lower level has a more modern look and features a large collection of Monet works, mostly later ones. It is a beautiful place. They also have a temporary exhibition area with rotating exhibits, although I happened to come between exhibits based on when my trip was. They were setting one up while I was in town. The museum isn't huge, so I suggest timed tickets to make entry easy. The residential and tree-filled neighborhood where this museum is located is also quite pretty. It may be nice to walk around and look at the architecture before or after.

This was a great afternoon and a special treat was the theme exposition on Sleep and hypnosis and…read moreart about it over Centuries. Put Centuries in a few rooms and you get a real overview on how we look at sleep and how we need it. The Monet Exhibit and mantle clocks are not to be missed. We always need a Monet gift from the store, make it 4.

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.

Features contemporary art and permanent collection is free to the public. There are also paid…read moreexhibits but you'll just appreciate what they have downstairs. Their outside space has skateboarders and overlooks the Seine. Nice bookstore too.

"It was okay" is how I would reply, if asked about my visit (09/27/2023) to the Musee d' Art…read moreModerne while in Paris for the 1st time. I have to say, having a lukewarm experience was disappointing & so unexpected. I must have hyped up the Musee d' Art Moderne in my head before visiting because I was so sure that because it was a PARIS museum that it was going to "wow" me from beginning to end because surely, all Paris museums were supposed to have that wow factor. On a positive note, at least I can now share a few helpful tidbits w/ others so hopefully, you'll have a wow experience! :) Helpful tidbits: - - - research exhibits beforehand: During my visit the majority of the exhibits on display didn't "wow" me so I would recommend doing a little research beforehand to see if the exhibits being shown when you go are something that would peak your interest (I didn't do this & wish I would have) - - - budget friendly thing to do! It is free to visit this Paris museum so a great location to use the restroom and/or take a break from all your Paris sightseeing - - - security screening & free coat/bag check Hope, this info helps! Rebecca visiting from Austin, Texas (United States)

The Catacombs of Paris are beautiful, haunting, and unlike anything else in the world. The…read morecarefully arranged bones, narrow stone passageways, dim lighting, and oppressive silence create an incredible dark ambiance. It is equal parts historical site, work of art, and solemn reminder that every city rests upon the lives that came before it. Prepare yourself for the stairs. There are 131 steps leading down into the depths, and they can take a while to navigate. More importantly, what goes down must eventually come back up--by way of another 112 steps. Wear comfortable shoes, take your time, and remember that the underground passages remain cool and humid throughout the year. The official route stretches approximately 1.5 kilometers and contains uneven, occasionally slippery floors. Allow yourself time to absorb the details, but remain respectful: these are the remains of millions of people, so do not touch the bones or wander beyond the designated visitor areas. I regret that I failed to follow my own advice. While attempting to document an unusual inscription, I accidentally entered a restricted passage. The gate closed behind me, my compass began pointing downward, and the map now displays corridors that did not exist five minutes earlier. I have been wandering beneath Paris for eleven days. I am submitting this review through a complicated system of smoke signals and carrier pigeons. Unfortunately, smoke behaves poorly underground, and the pigeons keep returning with pieces of baguette instead of rescuers. If anyone receives this message, please alert the authorities. I am somewhere beneath the 14th arrondissement, near a skull that looks vaguely disappointed in me. The Catacombs are an unforgettable experience with remarkable history, stunning arrangements, and a wonderfully dark atmosphere. Stay on the official path, respect the dead, and conserve your energy for the climb back to daylight. Five stars. Please send rope--and a pigeon capable of following instructions.

Absolutely one of the best experiences ever. It is a must to get the Audio Guide Tour - so…read moreinformative on th History of Paris and The Catacombes. We unfortunately had 105 degree weather in Paris and literally this tour was a "cool" experience for the history and the temperature - literally. Also the little gift shop after is a must - I smile every morning using my spoon and have a pair of gloves that I will be wearing as well. This and Jim Morrison's Grave was my two favorite things.

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.