Paris for free
The year 2025 is upon us, and a multitude of museums, monuments and exhibitions are on offer in Paris.
As bargain hunters and art lovers, we've selected a few free cultural offers.
Why not combine discovery with savings? Where should you start?
Monuments and museums
- Museum of Modern Art (MAM)
The MAM exhibits major artistic movements from the early 20th century to the present day (Picasso, Modigliani, Matisse, Raoul Dufy...).
Location: Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, 11, avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris
Date(s) and times: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays until 9:30 p.m. for temporary exhibitions
Price: free admission to permanent collections, temporary exhibitions from €7 to €15 (free for under-18s)
- Notre Dame
After years of painstaking restoration, Notre-Dame de Paris has finally reopened its doors and is ready to reclaim its place at the heart of history and hearts. Rediscover this timeless jewel, witness to centuries of art, faith and resilience. A historic moment awaits you under its majestic vaults.
Location : Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, Île de la Cité 75004 Paris
Date(s) and times: Monday to Friday, 7.45 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Thursday until 10 p.m.), Saturday and Sunday, 8.15 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Price: free, booking recommended for easy access
- Musée du Parfum - Fragonard
Dive into 5,000 years of perfume history! For over 20 years, the Fragonard Museum has been recounting the fascinating evolution of fragrances and essences through the centuries. Whether flowery, fruity or oriental, perfumes, eaux de toilette, essential cosmetics, soaps and candles cater to the desires of women, men and children alike. A unique sensory immersion awaits you!
Dates and times: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5.30pm
Location: 9 rue Scribe 75009 Paris, M°: Opéra, Madeleine, Havre-Caumartin, Saint-Lazare
Price: free guided tour
https://musee-parfum-paris.fragonard.com
- Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-arts de la Ville de Paris
The Petit Palais, nestled between the Seine and the Champs-Élysées, is an architectural masterpiece designed by Charles Girault for the 1900 Universal Exhibition. Open since 1902, its collections present a rich artistic panorama, from Antiquity to the early 20th century. The Musée des Beaux-Arts captivates visitors with the diversity of its works, combining paintings, sculptures and objets d'art, while offering a haven of peace with its interior garden, a veritable haven of serenity in the heart of Paris.
Date(s) and times : Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 8 p.m. Closed January 1, May 1, July 14, November 11, December 25.
Location: Avenue Winston Churchill, M°: Champs Elysées Clemenceau 75008 Paris
Price: Permanent collections free. Paying temporary exhibitions
Free museums and monuments in Paris for under-26s
- Panthéon, Place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris
- Musée de l'Armée - Hôtel National des Invalides, 129 rue de Grenelle 75007 Paris
- Musée national des Arts Décoratifs, 107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
- Musée national des Arts Asiatiques Guimet, 6 place d'Iéna / entrée du musée 19, avenue d'Iéna / entrée du Panthéon bouddhique 75116 Paris
- Musée du Louvre, Entrée principale par la Pyramide 75001 Paris
- Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, Palais de Chaillot, 1 place du Trocadéro et du 11 novembre 75116 Paris
- Cité Nationale de l’Histoire de l’Immigration - Palais de la Porte Dorée, 293 avenue Daumesnil 75012 Paris
- Musée du Quai Branly, 37 quai Branly Portail Debilly 75007
- Musée de l'Orangerie, Jardin des Tuileries 75001
- Musée d’Orsay, 1 rue de la Légion d'Honneur 75007
- Musée Picasso, Hôtel Salé 5, rue de Thorigny 75003
- Musée Rodin, 79 rue de Varenne 75007
- Musée Jean-Jacques Henner, 43 avenue de Villiers 75017
- Musée Eugène Delacroix, 6 rue de Furstenberg 75006
- Musée du Moyen Âge - Thermes et Hôtel de Cluny, 6 place Paul Painlevé 75005
- Musée Gustave Moreau, 14 rue de la Rochefoucauld 75009
- Musée des Plans-Reliefs, 129 rue de Grenelle 75007
- Institut du monde arabe, 1 Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard 75005
Exhibitions
- « Les jours heureux »: the free exhibition in the Hotel de Ville
Relive the summer of 2024, marked by the excitement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games that united an entire nation. Discover now the “Happy Days” exhibition, an immersive and nostalgic experience that will plunge you into the heart of this memorable event. Little secret: you'll leave with stars in your eyes!
Location: Salle Saint-Jean, Hôtel de Ville, 5 rue de Lobau, 75004 Paris
Date(s) and times : From Saturday, December 21, 2024 to Saturday, March 1, 2025
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Thursday, opening at 1 p.m., closing at 8 p.m.). Closed on Sundays and public holidays. On December 24, exceptional closing at 4 pm.
Price: free, on reservation
- Paris, Capitale de la perle
Would you like to immerse yourself in a world of luxury and history? This exhibition takes you on a fascinating journey at the crossroads of art, commerce and culture. Whether you're a jewelry aficionado, a history buff or simply looking for an exceptional cultural outing, there's something here for you. And let's be honest, who could refuse such a prestigious free experience?
Date(s) and times : L'École des Arts Joailliers, Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau, 16 bis, boulevard Montmartre, 75009 Paris
Dates and times: From November 21, 2024 to June 1, 2025, Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm. Nocturne Thursdays until 9pm.
Price : free, on reservation
- « Made in France, une histoire du textile »
This four-part exhibition invites the public to explore the history of the Made in France brand. It all began with Colbert, Comptroller General of Finances, who spurred the development of French textile factories. Then comes the turning point of the Revolution, marked by the abolition of guilds, followed by the Industrial Revolution, which transformed working conditions. Finally, the tour looks at the challenges posed by globalization, from successful public policies to periods of prosperity and deep crisis.
Location : Archives Nationales, 60 Rue des Francs Bourgeois 75003 Paris
Date(s) and times : October 16, 2024 - January 29, 2025
Price: free
www.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
- Seth, Escape Game (Street Art)
Escape Games, a new solo exhibition by artist Seth, is an invitation to escape, a symbolic flight from the troubling realities of our time, marked by conflict and uncertainty. In a world in search of bearings, Seth invites us to dream, to free ourselves and to rekindle hope. Through his characters, veritable guides to a parallel universe, he takes us on a journey where resilience, play and imagination combine to create a poetic escape.
Location : Galerie Itinérance, 24bis boulevard du Général Jean Simon 75013 Paris
Date(s) and times: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., from November 29, 2024 to February 28, 2025
Price: free
https://itinerrance.fr/expositions/seth-escape-games-29-11-2024/
