Exploring Paris: Top Museums to Visit

Intro

As part of the Round the World Trip 2024, I was in Paris during the Olympics. I had been to Disneyland Paris, to a Football Final and all around the city. My exploration of the capital of France was almost over, but first I had to go to the most famous museums and probably the best view of Paris at Galeries Lafayette. In this post, I will go deep inside these buildings and will take my time checking them out.

Galeries Lafayette

Galeries Lafayette is one of Paris’s most iconic department stores, renowned for its architectural beauty, luxury shopping, and vibrant atmosphere. Located on Boulevard Haussmann, near the Opéra Garnier, it has been a symbol of Parisian elegance and style since its opening in 1894.

One of the highlights is the free-access rooftop terrace. It provides panoramic views of Paris, including landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur. The terrace is a great spot for taking photos or simply enjoying the cityscape.

The centerpiece of Galeries Lafayette is its breathtaking Art Nouveau dome, built in 1912. The dome rises 43 meters high, with stained glass and intricate ironwork that flood the interior with colorful light. The balconies, decorated with golden railings and ornate designs, provide a perfect view of this masterpiece.

The platform on the top floor is free and very accessible. A barcode can be scanned to access a time slot, but a line is also formed to get on it.

Musée du Louvre

The Musée du Louvre in Paris is the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument, famous for its iconic glass pyramid entrance. Once a royal palace, it houses an unparalleled collection of art spanning thousands of years, including masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Divided into thematic sections such as Egyptian Antiquities, Islamic Art, and European Paintings, the museum offers a journey through human creativity and history. Its grandeur, both in architecture and art, makes it a must-visit cultural landmark.

During the Olympics, it was very crowded, despite the drop in tourism due to this event.

We had our tickets and time slot booked, and entered through the least busy gate, the Carrousel du Louvre Entrance: Located in the underground shopping mall, this entrance offers a quieter alternative and has shorter security lines. You can access it via Rue de Rivoli or from the Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre Metro station.

Once inside you can get lost with all the dozens of rooms this museum has to offer. We definitely did get lost lol. Many of the rooms were closed to the public though. Not sure the reason.

It was nice seeing outside and finding these magnificent views.

Some art was a little bit provocative lol.

But of course there were legendary pieces, like the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

A crowd this big could only mean one thing, we were about to encounter the most famous piece of art in France and maybe the world.

The Mona Lisa is a world-famous portrait by Leonardo da Vinci.. Painted between 1503 and 1506, it depicts a woman with a mysterious smile, thought to be Lisa Gherardini. Renowned for its artistic mastery, subtle details, and enigmatic expression, it’s celebrated as a masterpiece of the Renaissance and one of the most iconic artworks in history.

Definitely, the main attraction here.

My favorite though, in this museum is Liberty Leading the People, a masterpiece by Eugène Delacroix, painted in 1830 to commemorate the July Revolution in France. The artwork depicts Liberty personified as a heroic woman leading a diverse group of revolutionaries over barricades, holding the French tricolor flag aloft and wielding a musket.

Set amidst chaos and smoke, the painting symbolizes freedom, resistance, and the fight for justice. It’s celebrated for its dramatic composition, rich symbolism, and portrayal of unity among social classes.

And a close second is the Venus de Milo. Created around 150-125 BCE, it depicts Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and is renowned for its elegance, flowing drapery, and missing arms, which add to its mystery. It also reminds me of this iconic episode of The Simpsons.

Break from the Museums

We finished the Louvre, obviously we were not able to see everything, plus it was closing earlier. Regardless, after that we were able to change hotels, to a better one: Hôtel Mary’s République, not too far from my previous one, but in Le Marais.

Not too far from there, dinner had been served at Nobi Nobi, a Japanese restaurant, and the chicken was really good.

Musée d’Orsay

The Musée d’Orsay is a renowned art museum, housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station on the Seine. It features an exceptional collection of 19th- and early 20th-century art, including masterpieces by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, and Renoir. Known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, the museum combines stunning architecture with a celebration of modern artistic movements.

We had also booked the tickets and time slot months in advance, although there were no lines when we got in.

The museum has more of a chiller vibe than the apotheosic Louvre.

Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait in the Musée d’Orsay, painted in 1889, is one of his most famous depictions. Created during his stay at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, it reflects his emotional intensity and inner struggles.

The portrait shows Van Gogh in a blue-green background, dressed in a light coat with distinct, swirling brushstrokes that give the piece its dynamic energy. His piercing gaze and the expressive texture of his face and surroundings capture both his vulnerability and artistic brilliance. This work is celebrated for its vivid colors, raw emotion, and iconic style.

As it is located on the Seine, this museum offers a great view of Montmartre, the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre and the Olympics Cauldron.

And of course the Seine.

The Eiffel Tower also wanted to say hi.

And of course the mascot of the Olympics wanted some representation in this museum, The Phryges were here.

We spent a long time going through the many rooms and floors, a bit confusing, but still manageable. It was obviously not meant to be a museum.

Was not expecting this, but one of the upcoming museum visits, a Rodin, was also here. One of the many, almost 20, replicas of The Thinker.

And with this beautiful and huge painting of Paris I said goodbye to this wonderful museum. Definitely a must-do in your visit to Paris.

After hours and hours walking this museum, we needed a pick me up, and found a nice poke bowl place by les Jardins du Luxembourg.

Musée Rodin

The Musée Rodin in Paris is dedicated to the works of the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Located in a beautiful 18th-century mansion and its surrounding gardens, the museum showcases over 6,600 pieces, including his iconic sculptures like The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Gates of Hell. The collection also features drawings, sketches, and personal items of Rodin, offering insight into his creative process. The lush gardens, filled with Rodin’s sculptures, provide a serene setting for viewing his art in an outdoor context.

The paintings and sculptures could be a little provocative for some.

But it was great being able to walk around this mansion and then explore the gardens of this museum.

We took a break in the cafeteria located in the gardens, and got some coffees and pastries. We enjoyed the view before heading out of the marathon of museums.

Finally back in the Metro, we reflected on all the beautiful art and history we had sucked in in the last couple of days. I am not a fan of museums when I visit a city, but the ones in Paris are really worthy, I would totally recommend get lost on all those rooms, and explore and get to know the art pieces.

For now, one more entry for Paris was coming up, and then I would have to say good bye to this beautiful city. Until then.