A guide to the best museums in Paris

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to at least one of its exceptional museums.

But where to start? After all, there are scores of great museums to choose from.

Well, have a listen to this week’s podcast guests, who have written a book detailing 111 museums you shouldn’t miss. Click play below to get an overview from authors Anne Carminati and James Wesolowski.

We chat about the museum scene in Paris, the pros and cons of large and small museums, and they recommend few good ones to find.

And of course, check out their new book, 111 Museums in Paris That You Shouldn’t Miss. The official website for their book is here.

A closer look at some key Paris museums

Now, we can’t very well list out their 111 recommendations in this blog post. But here at The Earful Tower we’ve taken some deep dives into specific museums in the past. Here’s a collection of our explorations to help you choose your next museum jaunt. Click the links to continue the dive.

One of the key museums you have to visit in Paris is the Louvre – but are you struggling with where to start? The Earful Tower’s Louvre guide Amber Minogue shares: How to visit the Louvre museum: six tips from a Louvre guide.

Overlooked Museums in Paris

If the Louvre doesn’t strike your fancy, take a look at our list of ten excellent Paris museums that are criminally overlooked. Here you can find a collection of museums dotted across the city which span from the historical Musée Carnavalet in the Marais to the modern Ateliers des Lumières in the trendy 11th arrondissement.

Notre Dame has been under construction for several years now, but there are still ways you can visit the church. The Éternelle Notre-Dame virtual reality experience takes you on a journey through the 850 years of Notre Dame’s history. Learn more about the exceptional virtual reality exhibition here.

A few smaller museums in Paris

Staying in or around the 16th arrondissement? This neighbourhood is filled with remarkable museums – from modern art to Monet, there’s a little bit of everything here. 

The Musée Nissim de Camondo is one of the most beautiful museums in Paris. While it is mostly unknown for first-time visitors, everyone else should add this to their must-see list.

For those looking for something really off the beaten path – try the Paris Sewers (the Musée des Egouts de Paris). This stinky museum opened to the public during the World Fair of 1867.

That’s all, folks! For even more recommendations, in every arrondissement, buy our PDF guide to Paris here. Or get it for free if you sign up on Patreon as the newest Earful Tower member.