There are sooooooo many museums in Paris so if you don't have a lot of time here it's easy to get overwhelmed. In addition to the obvious choices, the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, there are so many other amazing choices so I'll add on a couple more in case you want to do some more museum wandering!
Musée du Louvre
This is probably the most obvious go to spot in Paris for tourists other than the Eiffel Tower. It is the largest art museum in the world and is a beautiful work of architecture, as it was originally a palace. In the center of the exterior you will also find the famous Louvre Pyramid, which was added in 1989 as another entrance to the museum as the original couldn't handle the amount of visitors entering every day.
A lot of people just go see the exterior of the Louvre, get their pictures and call it a day, but if you have any interest in art or history, then definitely go inside! I warn you to plan ahead which exhibitions and pieces of art you want to see most because the museum is massive and there is no way you could see everything all in one day. I went twice and still didn't see everything. Also note that there is more to see than just the Mona Lisa. That ridiculously famous painting is also constantly surrounded by crowds of people trying to take selfies so be warned. I just lurked from the side and got a couple photos of it. Eugène Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, Théodore Géricault's The Raft of the Medusa, the French crown jewels, and Napolean III's royal apartments, are all other works of art that are worth seeing. There are also plenty of other displays of sculptures, antiquities and decorative arts. Do your research and see what interests you!
Le Centre Pompidou
Not only is the Centre Pomidou quite a sight to enjoy just from the outside but inside it has a library, a research center and of course, an art museum, the largest modern art museum in Europe. Sounds tempting right? In addition the top of the center gives you great views of the city! If you are a fan of modern art and artists like Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Matisse, Frida Kahlo or Picasso, then you should definitely pay this museum a visit.
Musée d'Orsay
Though less popular among tourists compared to the Louvre, this is actually one of my favorite art museums in Europe, in addition to the Reina Sofia in Madrid. I absolutely love impressionism and post-impressionism and this museum has the largest collection of these art styles in the world, so no wonder I love it! In addition to having lovely works of art, the overall interior of the museum is really unique as it was originally railway station , Gare d'Orsay. One of the coolest aspects of it is that it has a giant clock at the end of the main hall! Musée d'Orsay now has works of Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Manet and so many more amazing artists! Some of my favorite paintings to check out are Renoir's Bal du Moulin de la Galette, Van Gogh's Self-Portrait, Monet's Nymphéas bleus (Blue Water Lilies), and Manet's Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe.
Musée de l'Orangerie
If you are already at the Louvre, then it's an easy walk to the Tuileries Gardens (definitely worth a visit!) and find this art museum, the home of Monet's famous water lily murals. You will also find plenty of other impressionist and post-impressionist works from Renoir, Rousseau, Mattise, Picasso, Cézanne and many more. If you have some time after the Louvre and enjoy this style of art then make a stop here!
Have more time?
Two more museums I would love to go to if I go back to Paris (I plan to!) are the Galeries nationales du Grand Palais and Le Petit Palais. Grand Palais is definitely a sight to see from the outside and is worth going to regardless but inside is also a museum with various exhibitions. Le Petit Palais is a fine arts museum with works of Delacroix, Pierre Bonnard, Cézanne, Renoir and many more, and it is completely free! Can't say no to that right? Definitely something I don't want to miss the next time I'm in Paris!
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