What Paris Museums Are Open on Mondays? 7 Places to Visit

Planning a museum day in Paris on a Monday? You might have heard that many of the city’s most famous museums close at the beginning of the week.

While that’s true for places like the Musée d’Orsay and Musée Rodin, you still have plenty of wonderful options.

In fact, the Louvre, Musée de l’Orangerie, Musée de l’Armée, and several other museums welcome visitors on Mondays.

So, there’s no need to give up on your cultural plans just because it’s the first day of the week!

In this guide, you’ll find seven Paris museums open on Mondays, including their opening hours, what to see, and practical tips to help you plan your visit.

A quick tip: Museum schedules can change due to public holidays, temporary exhibitions, and special events. Always check the official website before heading out.

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Which Museums Are Open in Paris on Mondays?

If you’re looking for a quick answer, here are seven museums you can consider visiting on a Monday:

Museum	Monday opening hours	Location
Musée du Louvre	9 AM–6 PM	1st arrondissement
Musée de l’Orangerie	9 AM–6 PM	1st arrondissement
Musée de l’Armée	10 AM–6 PM	7th arrondissement
Musée Jacquemart-André	10 AM–6 PM	8th arrondissement
Musée du Luxembourg	10:30 AM–7 PM*	6th arrondissement
Fondation Louis Vuitton	11 AM–8 PM*	16th arrondissement
Musée National Eugène-Delacroix	12 PM–5:30 PM	6th arrondissement

The Musée du Luxembourg opens only during exhibition periods. The Fondation Louis Vuitton’s schedule can vary depending on its exhibitions and programming, so check the official website for your visit date.

7 Best Museums to Visit in Paris on a Monday

1. Musée du Louvre

Opening hours: Monday, 9 AM–6 PM
Location: Rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement
Nearest metro: Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre

Let’s start with the obvious choice: the Louvre!

One of the biggest misconceptions about visiting Paris museums is that the Louvre is closed on Mondays.

Actually, it’s open every Monday and closes on Tuesdays instead.

So, if you’ve been saving the Louvre for the beginning of the week, you’re in luck.

Housed in a former royal palace, the Louvre is one of the world’s most famous museums and home to an extraordinary collection spanning thousands of years.

Its galleries cover ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern civilizations, as well as European painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and much more.

Of course, you probably already know some of its most famous residents.

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace are among the museum’s best-known masterpieces.

But there’s much more to discover beyond the most photographed works.

I particularly recommend exploring the museum’s historic rooms and the collections of French paintings, where you can get a closer look at the art and history of the country.

The Louvre is enormous, so don’t try to see everything in one visit.

Choose a few collections or artworks in the Louvre that interest you and plan your route beforehand.

Otherwise, it’s very easy to spend hours wandering through the galleries without realizing how much time has passed!

My tip: Book a timed-entry ticket in advance, especially during the high season. The museum recommends booking online, and the last admission is one hour before closing.

2. Musée de l’Orangerie

Opening hours: Monday, 9 AM–6 PM
Location: Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 1st arrondissement
Nearest metro: Concorde

If you love Impressionist art, the Musée de l’Orangerie should definitely be on your list.

Located inside the beautiful Tuileries Garden, just a short walk from the Louvre, this museum is best known for Claude Monet’s monumental Water Lilies paintings.

These enormous canvases are displayed in two specially designed oval rooms, where the natural light and curved walls create a rather unique experience.

Monet wanted visitors to feel surrounded by his paintings, almost as if they were standing inside the landscape itself. And that’s exactly what makes this gallery so special.

The museum also houses an impressive collection of modern art, including works by Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani, and other important artists.

The Walter-Guillaume collection is particularly interesting if you want to explore the development of modern painting in the early 20th century.

The Orangerie is smaller than the Louvre, which makes it a great option if you prefer a more relaxed museum visit.

You can comfortably combine it with a walk through the Tuileries Garden or a visit to the Louvre on the same day.

My tip: The museum is closed on Tuesdays, not Mondays. Online reservations are strongly recommended, and the last admission is at 5:15 PM.

3. Musée de l’Armée – Les Invalides

Opening hours: Daily, 10 AM–6 PM
Location: Hôtel National des Invalides, 7th arrondissement
Nearest metro: Invalides or La Tour-Maubourg

For anyone interested in French history, the Musée de l’Armée is one of the most fascinating museums in Paris.

Located inside the impressive Hôtel des Invalides, a complex originally created by Louis XIV in the 17th century to house and care for wounded and retired soldiers, the museum takes visitors through centuries of military history.

Its collections cover everything from medieval armor and Renaissance weapons to the French Revolution, the Napoleonic era, and the two World Wars.

You’ll find uniforms, paintings, military objects, historical documents, and personal items that help tell the story of France’s military past.

One of the main highlights is the Dôme des Invalides, the magnificent golden-domed church where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried.

His monumental tomb is an impressive sight, and the architecture alone makes the visit worthwhile.

Even if military history isn’t usually your first choice, the museum offers a different perspective on French history and the people who shaped it.

My tip: Allow at least two to three hours if you want to explore the main collections and see Napoleon’s tomb. The museum is open every day except January 1, May 1, and December 25.

4. Musée Jacquemart-André

Opening hours: Monday–Thursday, 10 AM–6 PM
Location: 158 Boulevard Haussmann, 8th arrondissement
Nearest metro: Saint-Philippe du Roule, Miromesnil, or Saint-Augustin

If you enjoy art museums with beautiful interiors, the Musée Jacquemart-André is a wonderful place to add to your Paris itinerary.

Unlike the Louvre, this museum isn’t housed in a former royal palace. It occupies the elegant private mansion of Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart, a wealthy couple who spent much of their lives collecting art and decorative objects.

Their former home is now a museum, and visiting it feels a little like stepping into the world of a wealthy 19th-century Parisian family.

The rooms are decorated with elaborate furniture, sculptures, paintings, and objects collected during their travels.

The collection includes important works by Italian Renaissance masters, as well as French and Dutch paintings.

You’ll find artists such as Botticelli, Canaletto, Rembrandt, and other notable names.

One of the most charming parts of the visit is seeing how the artwork is displayed throughout the mansion.

Instead of walking through traditional museum galleries, you move from one beautifully decorated room to another, discovering the couple’s collection along the way.

And there’s another reason to visit: the museum has a lovely restaurant and tea room, Le Nélie, where you can stop for a coffee or something to eat.

My tip: The museum is located not far from the Champs-Élysées, making it easy to combine with a walk around the 8th arrondissement. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.

5. Musée du Luxembourg

Opening hours: During exhibition periods, daily from 10:30 AM–7 PM; Mondays until 10 PM
Location: 19 Rue de Vaugirard, 6th arrondissement
Nearest metro: Saint-Sulpice, Mabillon, or Rennes

The Musée du Luxembourg is a lovely option if you’re exploring the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area or planning to spend some time around the Luxembourg Gardens.

Opened in the 18th century, it has a long history as a public art museum and exhibition space.

Today, however, it focuses on temporary exhibitions rather than maintaining a permanent collection.

This means the experience can be quite different depending on when you visit.

The museum hosts exhibitions covering art, artists, and cultural themes, so it’s worth checking the current program before adding it to your itinerary.

One particularly nice detail is that the museum stays open later on Mondays, until 10 PM during exhibition periods.

That’s useful if you want to spend the afternoon exploring the Left Bank and finish your day with an exhibition.

After your visit, take some time to explore the Jardin du Luxembourg.

It’s one of the prettiest gardens in Paris, with tree-lined paths, fountains, statues, and the beautiful Luxembourg Palace.

My tip: This museum is only open when exhibitions are running. Check the official website before planning your visit, especially if you’re traveling between exhibitions.

6. Fondation Louis Vuitton

Opening hours: Monday, 11 AM–8 PM (check the current schedule)
Location: 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, 16th arrondissement
Nearest metro: Les Sablons, followed by a walk through the park

If you’re interested in contemporary art and modern architecture, the Fondation Louis Vuitton offers a very different experience from Paris’s traditional museums.

Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the building is one of the most striking examples of contemporary architecture in the city.

Its glass panels resemble enormous sails, giving the structure an almost floating appearance among the trees of the Bois de Boulogne.

Inside, the Fondation hosts temporary exhibitions featuring modern and contemporary artists, along with cultural events and other artistic projects.

The program changes regularly, so there’s always something different to discover.

Even if you’re not particularly interested in contemporary art, the building itself is worth seeing.

Its unusual design, large glass surfaces, and terraces make it a fascinating place to explore.

The Fondation is located in the Bois de Boulogne, a large park in western Paris.

This means the visit can also be a nice opportunity to escape the busy streets around the city center for a few hours.

My tip: The Fondation’s opening schedule depends on its exhibition calendar, and it may close between exhibitions. Check the official website and book your ticket before heading there.

7. Musée National Eugène-Delacroix

Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12 PM–5:30 PM
Location: 6 Rue de Furstenberg, 6th arrondissement
Nearest metro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés or Mabillon

For a quieter museum experience, consider visiting the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix.

Dedicated to the French Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix, the museum is located in the artist’s former apartment and studio in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Delacroix moved there in 1857, looking for a home close to the Church of Saint-Sulpice, where he was working on one of his important decorative commissions.

Today, visitors can explore rooms connected to his life and work, see paintings and personal objects, and learn more about one of the most influential artists of the French Romantic movement.

Delacroix is best known for works such as Liberty Leading the People, now housed at the Louvre.

His paintings are full of dramatic movement, expressive figures, and rich colors, making him one of the most recognizable names in 19th-century French art.

The museum is relatively small, so it’s an excellent choice if you want to discover something beyond the major Paris attractions.

Its peaceful courtyard and intimate atmosphere also make it feel quite different from the city’s larger museums.

My tip: The museum opens later than most of the others on this list, at noon. You can also check whether a combined Louvre–Delacroix ticket is available for your visit, as the Louvre’s official ticket information includes access to both museums under certain conditions.

Which Paris Museums Are Closed on Mondays?

Before planning your museum itinerary, it’s worth knowing that several famous Paris museums are closed on Mondays.

Here are some popular museums you should avoid scheduling for that day:

• Musée d’Orsay: Closed to regular visitors on Mondays. It’s one of the best places in Paris to admire Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Van Gogh.
• Musée Rodin: Closed on Mondays. The museum is dedicated to sculptor Auguste Rodin and includes both indoor galleries and a beautiful sculpture garden.
• Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac: Closed on Mondays. Its collections explore the arts and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
• Petit Palais: Closed on Mondays. This beautiful museum near the Champs-Élysées houses a collection of fine arts, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects.
• Musée National Picasso-Paris: Closed on Mondays. Located in the historic Hôtel Salé, it is dedicated to the life and work of Pablo Picasso.
• Musée Marmottan Monet: Closed on Mondays. It’s particularly interesting for Impressionist art lovers and has an important collection of Monet’s works.

The Centre Pompidou is another important exception, but for a different reason.

Its iconic building in the Beaubourg district is closed for a major renovation, with reopening planned for 2030.

During this period, the Centre Pompidou continues to organize exhibitions and cultural activities in partner venues, so check its official program if you’re interested in its events.

Remember that some museums may also have exceptional closures for holidays, renovations, or special events. Always confirm the schedule before your visit.

How to Plan a Museum Day in Paris on Monday

Now that you know which museums are open, the next step is deciding how to organize your day.

Paris has so many museums that it’s tempting to visit as many as possible.

However, I recommend choosing two museums at most, especially if you’re visiting some of the larger ones.

You’ll have a much better experience if you leave enough time to enjoy the collections instead of rushing from one attraction to another.

Here are three ideas for organizing your Monday.

Option 1: A Day Around the Louvre and the Tuileries

If this is your first time in Paris, this is probably the easiest itinerary.

• Morning: Start your day at the Louvre. Choose a few collections or masterpieces you really want to see.
• Lunch: Take a break around Rue de Rivoli or near the Palais Royal.
• Afternoon: Visit the Musée de l’Orangerie to admire Monet’s Water Lilies.
• Late afternoon: Enjoy a walk through the Tuileries Garden and continue toward Place de la Concorde.

Both museums are close to each other, so you won’t spend much time traveling between them.

It’s a particularly good option if you want to see two major art collections in one day.

Option 2: French History and Art

For a day focused on French history, architecture, and art, consider combining Les Invalides with the Musée Eugène-Delacroix.

• Morning: Visit the Musée de l’Armée and explore the collections dedicated to French military history.
• Lunch: Stop somewhere around Saint-Germain-des-Prés or the Invalides area.
• Afternoon: Head to the Musée Eugène-Delacroix for a quieter visit.
• Late afternoon: Explore the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, one of the most charming neighborhoods on the Left Bank.

This itinerary is a nice way to combine a large museum with a smaller, more intimate one.

Option 3: Art, Architecture, and a Different Side of Paris

If you’ve already visited the main attractions and want to explore something a little different, combine the Musée Jacquemart-André with the Fondation Louis Vuitton.

• Morning: Visit the Musée Jacquemart-André and admire its collection inside the former private mansion.
• Lunch: Have lunch around Boulevard Haussmann or the Champs-Élysées.
• Afternoon: Head west to the Fondation Louis Vuitton and explore its contemporary art exhibitions and striking architecture.
• Late afternoon: If you have time, enjoy a walk around the Bois de Boulogne.

This option involves more travel than the other two, but it offers a nice contrast between historic interiors and contemporary architecture.

Frequently Asked Questions About Paris Museums on Mondays

Final Thoughts: Visiting Paris Museums on a Monday

A Monday in Paris doesn’t have to mean a day without museums.

Although some of the city’s most famous cultural institutions close at the beginning of the week, there are still plenty of wonderful places to explore.

From the masterpieces of the Louvre and Monet’s Water Lilies at the Orangerie to the military collections at Les Invalides and the beautiful interiors of the Jacquemart-André, you have several options for enjoying Paris’s art and history.

My advice is to check the opening hours before your trip, book popular museums in advance, and choose an itinerary that gives you enough time to enjoy each visit.

After all, one of the best things about Paris is that there’s always something interesting to discover, even on a Monday!

This text was originally written and posted in January 2026 and updated in November 2026. New information has been added, and links have been updated so that it could offer a better experience to the reader.