Okay, so I’m hardly the most objective person when I shout from the slanted slate rooftops that Paris is the best city in the world for culture. But hey, Time Out experts and plenty of locals agree with me, so that says something, right?
No matter how far I roam, I always end up back in Paris, for its late-night restaurants, its spontaneous nights out, its shabby but efficient metro, its winding, pretty streets, and of course, its pastries.
But mostly, walking around Paris feels like strolling through a world-class museum, and that’s something you can never really tire of. Tilt your head up and scan for hidden frescos or sneaky caryatids. Lounge in the Jardin de Tuileries, pop down to the Musée d’Orsay, or crash a Rue de Seine art opening, wine in one hand, cigarette in the other.
Before it was the capital of fashion, food, or parties, Paris was – and always will be – the capital of beauty. And we Parisians? Self-proclaimed aesthetes, living in the world’s most elegant open-air gallery.
With more than 200 museums, plus thousands of galleries and pop-up art spaces, navigating Paris’s cultural scene can be a beautiful kind of chaos. Sure, the Louvre and Pompidou Centre are legendary, but there’s so much more to see. Here are some of my favourite spots.
Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD)
If you’re already near the Louvre, sidestep the sea of tourists and duck into this sleek neighbour, tucked into the Marsan wing of the palace. Rebranded as MAD in 2018, the museum blends rich permanent collections with trendsetting temporary shows.
World-famous fashion houses Dior, Mugler, Iris Van Herpen and Schiaparelli have showcased their work here, framed by boundary-pushing scenography and flawless curation. My tip? Don’t skip the gift shop – it’s packed with design gems to upgrade your home aesthetic or keep the exhibition buzz going.
What’s on? From June 25, 2025 to January 11, 2026, MAD will host its first major retrospective on Paul Poiret—the original fashion disruptor.
Palais de Tokyo
This place is a temple to contemporary art that somehow still flies under the radar for tourists. Perched across from the Seine in Trocadéro, this gargantuan gallery is the largest contemporary art centre in Europe – and arguably the coolest.
The plaza outside is as gram-worthy as it gets (hello Eiffel Tower backdrop), and the exhibitions inside? Always bold, often political, never drab. There’s no permanent collection, just ever-evolving weirdness and immersion, and downstairs, there’s a street-art cave. Upstairs? You’ll find swish restaurants and one of the city’s top art bookshops. Stay late and you can even hit YOYO, the in-house club. It’s spenny, but it’s worth it.
La Gaîté Lyrique
Once a theatre, now a wonderland of artwork for the post-Internet generation. Seven floors of digital art, gaming, music, fashion, and radical creativity are all packed into a Marais building that’s as socially conscious as it is cool.
Last winter, La Gaîté opened its doors to unaccompanied minors seeking shelter, hosting them for four months while pressuring the city to act.
Threatened with closure, this cultural gem deserves all the love. Pop in for an exhibition, sip coffee, take a voguing class, record a podcast, or learn how to fix your broken blender. Yes, really.
Chapelle XVI
Forget the Marais, Saint-Germain, or even Trocadéro. If you want raw, real, unexpected culture, head to the north of Paris. In the often-overlooked 18th arrondissement, Chapelle XVI is part café, part record shop, part art gallery, part concept store, and it’s the total opposite of Paris’s grandiose galleries.
Loud, proud, and effortlessly cool, this place proves that art doesn’t need to be elite (or quiet) to be powerful. You don’t browse here. You dive in, speakers blasting.
Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac – Pantin
Yes, I’m telling you to cross the périphérique – take a deep breath. Pantin is basically Paris’s answer to Brooklyn, and this mega-gallery is proof.
Thaddaeus Ropac took a risk by setting up shop in this sprawling old factory back in 2012, but now, it’s a sprawling cathedral of contemporary art: huge and tailor-made for gigantic works by Baselitz, Kiefer, and other heavyweights. If you think galleries are all sterile white cubes, this one will change your mind.
Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP)
Even as a painting purist, I’ve never had a dull visit to the MEP. Nestled in a Marais mansion, it’s been showcasing photography’s biggest names since 1996, from Larry Clark to Zanele Muholi.
The shows are tight, the curation razor-sharp, and the pace fast enough to keep you coming back. I love the architecture of the place, with its creaky parquet floor and period staircase, and never leave without browsing through the upstairs library, stacked with rare photography books.
Le BAL
If the MEP is the headline act, Le BAL is the underground hit. Tucked behind Place de Clichy, this small-but-mighty space is all about the image – still or moving, political or poetic.
It punches well above its weight in terms of programming and is never swamped with people, meaning you can take your time, sip coffee in its sunny café – the Sunday brunch is a must – or nab a book from its bookstore. Le BAL is, first and foremost, a publishing house, so you’re sure to find some real treasures.
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Yes, it’s expensive, and yes, it’s a trek. But once you reach this striking glass-and-steel masterpiece by Frank Gehry, you’ll forgive it all. Built in 2014 by LVMH’s cultural arm, the Fondation hosts blockbuster shows that rival anything in New York or London. Think Basquiat, Hockney, Cindy Sherman, Charlotte Perriand – the big names love it here.
J'adore Paris!
Headed to the French capital for a weekend dripping in arts and culture? Here are the best museums, best art galleries and most outstanding artworks on display in Paris, and here’s our comprehensive guide on where to stay.
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