If you’re in Paris, the culture is one of the things that most people would suggest for your touring. The wine, the food, and the amazing sights are absolutely on that list as well, but if you’re a museum fanatic, what ones should you see? In no particular order, these are the top ten Paris places that you should visit when you’re on your trip in my opinion after visiting Paris multiple times.

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Orangerie

If nothing else, the truly unique presentation of Monet’s waterlilies makes the Orangerie a must visit. Beyond that, it’s nestled pleasantly within the Tuileries, which means that you can enjoy a calming walk, enjoy some respite by the fountains, and then duck into the museum to admire the art. It’s a small footprint of a museum and when you’re done, you can even cross the Seine on the Solferino bridge (one of the most unique in the city and an underrated gem, in my opinion).

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Musée d’Orsay

Built in the shell of an old train station, the Musée d’Orsay boasts amazing architecture on top of its incredible art. It’s the home to a permanent collection that boasts Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Renoir, Degas, and many more. You get the amazing one-two punch of fantastic art on display while standing within incredible architecture, which is an art all on its own.

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Quai Branly

Here, the outside of the museum is already instantly interesting. It’s essentially an eco-museum with greenery all around it, making it a fantastic sight under the Eiffel Tower even before you get in to explore.

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Musée Cluny

The museum of the medieval is both a tucked away gem in the middle of Paris (right in the Latin Quarter), but also features incredible medieval artifacts from swords to knight’s armor to tapestries, and even headless monks.

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Louvre

Of course the Louvre was going to be on a list. Even though it is likely a touch overrated at this point in terms of the number of tourists who pass through its halls, it still boasts one of the world’s greatest art collections from various eras, geographies, and cultures. I’ve put it a little lower on the list because you’re going to run into crowds and it may not be the best museum experience you have. That doesn’t have to be true though. Check out my post on the “Lesser Seen Louvre” to beat the crowds and see amazing things.

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Conciergerie

This UNESCO recognized site is on the Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine, and is most notable for being the place where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned prior to her beheading. The architecture, history, and its prime location make it a fantastic reason to spend some time here.

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Musée de l’Armée

Not only can you walk through the halls of military history, but this is where you can also visit Napoleon’s tomb. It’s impossible to miss. It’s under the massive golden dome (visible from practically all of Paris). Within the crypt, on the pedestal, it’s the main attraction.

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Panthéon

In the same vein as the crypt for Napoleon’s tomb, the Panthéon is a crypt with the resting places of many other notable French people from history from Marie Curie to Voltaire and more. It’s also a stunning architectural sight with a great walk up the dome, and an amazing Foucault’s pendulum inside.

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Versailles

Versailles is busy, but that’s because it really is one of the most impressive and vast palaces that you can visit. Personally, at this point, Versailles for me is a visit for the gardens. Even at that, it’s for Petit Trianon and the musical fountain shows, but if it’s your first time in Paris, then make sure you leave time for the full experience.

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Château de Vincennes

Further afield is the impressive fortress-like Château de Vincennes. The towers rise strikingly into the air and because it’s further out, it’s not as crowded as some of the other Parisian sights you might visit. These fortified towers bring you back to a more medieval time and lets your imagination drift to when these defense positions were in use.

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These ten visits are just the tip of the Paris iceberg. There’s so much to see and do, but if you want a starter’s list, I’d recommend that you go with these ten during your first trip to get an eclectic mix when you first hit up Paris. And then, from there, keep on exploring. There’s so much to see.

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