Yes, everybody knows the Louvre and the D’Orsay.  I won’t bore you with yet another blog post on them.  They are fabulous, without a doubt, as well as very crowded and expensive.  Before I introduce you to some other wonderul museums in Paris I do want to remind you that the great museums of Paris are free on the first Sunday of every month.  They are even more crowded, but it saves you some €.  The Louvre, Musee Rodin, The D’Orsay and Musee Picasso are among those that are free on the first Sunday of the month.

Two of my favorite museums where you can avoid the crowds and soak up the culture are the Marmottan  http://www.marmottan.fr and the  Jacquemart-andre https://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en.  The Marmottan is in the much less touristy 15th arr. and the Jacquemart-andre is in the 8th arr.  The Marmottan has an ourstanding collection of Monet’s and you can see them when th a lot less people in the gallery.  The Jacquemart-Andre is set in a stunning mansion, once a private home.  It has an impressive collection that includes works by Rembrandt, Boucher, Canaletto and Van Dyck to name a few.

Another favorite of mine is the Musee de Cluny, the Middle Age Museum.  http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/en/home.html At only €5 admission if you just need one reason to go there I will give you that word: Tapestries.  They are mystical and magical at the same time and have to be seen in person as pictures do not do them justice.