Free Museum Outing: A Wide Choice in Paris for Under 26s

It is the largest museum in the capital, and the one you absolutely must visit if the opportunity presents itself. There is a large permanent collection, in addition to temporary exhibitions, such as the latest, highlighting the treasures of Notre-Dame.

You will find works by many world-renowned artists, such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Eugène Delacroix, and Raphael.

In order to fully enjoy this museum outing, it is ideal to book your tickets in advance, so you will not have to queue before entering the museum. If you are available, the ideal time to go is during the day on a weekday outside of school holidays, so there will be far fewer people and you can observe the works that interest you quietly.

If you want to go out in the evening, the Louvre Museum has set up “Night at the Museum”, with entrance tickets for Friday evenings, after the museum closes to regular visitors. However, only a portion of the exhibitions are accessible during these nocturnal events. To be sure of being able to enter during these special editions of the Louvre, it is best to book your entrance tickets in advance to avoid being without tickets on the day of your visit.

This museum located on the banks of the Seine is also a must-see address in Paris. The Musée d’Orsay took place in the hall of the old Orsay train station in 1986. It is one of the museums where you can find the largest number of Impressionist-style works. There are also emblematic paintings such as Vincent Van Gogh's self-portrait and Claude Monet's blue water lilies, among many others.

However, as a victim of its success, the exhibition on the painter Vincent Van Gogh is full until its closure, so if you have not had the opportunity to book your entrance ticket and you absolutely want to be able to discover it, prepare for a wait of up to 2 hours and not having guaranteed access.

In any case, the permanent collections and the hall of this atypical museum are worth the detour and will surprise you. The old station hall has indeed become a large, bright space where you can find statues and majestic works.

It is also possible to spend an evening at the museum, but unlike the Louvre, the nocturnal edition takes place on Thursday evenings, until 10 p.m. As such, you can spend Thursday evening at the Musée d’Orsay, Friday at the Louvre, and why not Saturday evening in another museum?

If you prefer modern art museums, the Pompidou Centre is ideal for you. On the upper floor of this building with its rather atypical architecture, there is a permanent exhibition with artists from all over the world. The part of this museum that is free to access is smaller and therefore faster than the museums mentioned above, but it is still interesting to visit. We discover a very different and more particular approach to art, which can lead to questions and try to understand the message of these works, which are mostly explained by the artist. The best thing about this museum: its panoramic terrace which offers a breathtaking view of the capital, with the Eiffel Tower, the Montparnasse Tower and Montmartre. The ideal time to go is a little before sunset to be able to enjoy the breathtaking colors over Paris.

Located in the Tuileries Garden, the Musée de l'Orangerie can be visited on the same day as the Louvre Museum, thanks to their geographical proximity. Indeed, you only need to cross the Tuileries Garden to get from one museum to the other. This museum is located in the space that was once used to house the oranges of the Tuileries Garden in winter, as its name strongly suggests. Within this museum, there are large-format paintings, such as several versions of the Water Lilies, one of the many paintings made by the famous painter Claude Monet. Apart from these large formats, this museum brings together a significant number of works concerning the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist periods. This museum is one of those whose entrance is free for European citizens or European residents under 25 years old. 

The Palais de Tokyo is not really a museum, however, throughout the year there are various exhibitions created by artists with unique styles. Some of the exhibitions are free, however, it must be kept in mind that from one exhibition to another the prices in force may change. In addition to the artistic exhibitions, there is also a café in the Palais de Tokyo as well as a large square which is also appreciated by skaters. It is therefore pleasant to sit at an outside table, with a small coffee and watch the skaters between two exhibitions. 

The next exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo for Spring 2024, is paid, with a price of €9 for students. The overall theme of this exhibition concerns the transformation of isolation into protection, approached from different points of view.

The Petit Palais is one of the only museums in Paris whose entrance is not only free for those under 25 but for all visitors! 

The size of this public place is certainly smaller than most Parisian museums, however the charm and historical character of the place give it a well-deserved place in the list of museums to visit absolutely during your visit to Paris. Among the permanent works of this museum, there is also Monet's painting, “Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt”, with the colors and special and renowned technique of this artist from Ile de France. 

In the courtyard of this palace, there is also a café in a setting with historical and typical charm which can be disorienting compared to the current architecture and decorations. 

They also offer temporary exhibitions, including one currently entitled “Le Paris de la modernité” and available until April 14, 2024, which is free for those under 18. Just like for the Louvre museum, it is possible to visit this museum at night as part of nocturnal visits, offered on Friday evenings and Saturday evenings, enough to spend a good cultural evening!