I like to purchase tickets for temporary art exhibitions in advance because on my last trip I went to see the  Turner, Whistler, Monet exhibit at the Grand Palais without purchasing a ticket in advance and what a mistake that was. I arrived in the morning and could not get in because the morning was reserved for advanced tickets holders only. The exhibition did not open to the general public until 1:00 pm. It wasn’t too bad because it was a bright sunny day and I decided to go for a walk along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower and walk back through the sides streets between the Palais de Chaillot and the Grand Palais. When I returned  had to stand in line for about 35 minutes before I actually entered the building. If I had to do it over again I would most definitely purchase a ticket in advance. The exhibit probably would have been less crowded too because it appears that for reserve ticket holders they only let so many people in each hour. I noticed separate lines for 10:00am  admission , 11:00am admission and so fourth.

The Paris Museum Pass is a good deal. Available in 2, 4 or 6 day cards. Some 60 museums and monuments participate including the Arc de Triomphe, Centre Pompidou, Musee  d’Orsay, The Lourve, Musee Gustave Moreau and Musee National Moyen Age, just to name a few. Basically for one set price you have access to all these places. Its a good value for those planning on seeing a lot during their stay. The cost to get into museums and other attractions can add up to a tidy sum. You can purchase the card in a number of places including at the indvidual museum/monument, major metro stations and the lld de France Tourist information desk at the Carousel du Lourve. For more information go to           www.intermusees.com (in French and English). If you are leaving from JFK in New York City you can purchase the pass at the Metropole Facile in Terminal 1.

Below  are just some of my favorite museums and the reasons why.  

Centre Georges-Pompidou is a “must see” just for the building itself. The premier venue for contemporary/modern art in Paris. The museum is open everyday except Tuesday until 9:00pm. There is also a rooftop restaurant. The Stravinski Fountain between the Pompidou and St.-Merri church is quite fascinating and highly original. The modern sculptors in the fountain illustrate the works of great composers.

The Louvre is one of the world largest museums with a priceless and diverse collection; from paintings to sculpture to decorative arts. It could literally take days or even weeks or even months to really see everything. The quality and quantity of the art works explain the popularity of the museum.  I usually purchase my ticket (if I don’t go with the Musees et Monuments Card) in advance. You do pay a surcharge, but I find its worth it to be able to use the Passage Richelieu entrance if the line at main entrance (The Pyramid) is too long. I have also found getting to the museum first thing the morning helps (somewhat) to avoid the long lines. One other thing to remember is some of the rooms are closed on a rotating basis. On my last trip in the Spring I forget to check to see what rooms were closed on the day I was planning on visiting. One of the rooms with paintings by Canneletto (one of my favorite artists) was closed that day, so it’s a good idea to check to see what rooms are closed before your visit. I did not do this, but the Rough Guide to Paris recommends visiting the Denon Wing (this is where the Mona Lisa is located) either Monday or Wednesday in the evening.  The museum is open till 9:45pm on these two days. One other thing I would like to mention you can leave the museum and come back later on that same day. I like spend at least two days visiting the museum and prefer going in the morning. The disadvantage to during it this way is the cost of an extra admission ticket.

Musee Carnavalet chronicles the history of Paris from  pre-Roman times to the 20th century . Located in  palatial hotel (mansion) in the historic Marais district. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and has a beautiful garden. Well worth a visit. The courtyard is quite lovely in Spring and Summer. A great place to stop by just to relax for a bit. Below is a photo of the courtyard.

Musee de la Magie (Magic Museum) in the Marais is fun and fascinating place to visit for those who are interested in the world of magic and illusions. You can purchase a booklet in English that gives an overview of the collection. The website is in French.

Musee Grevin is a cool wax museum and not just for kids.

Musee Gustave-Moreau was the home and studio of the Symbolist artist  Gustave Moreau. When the artist died in 1898 he left the house and its contents to the nation with instructions that nothing was to be altered, so what you see today is the way he left it (including unfinished works of art) when he kicked the bucket over 100 years ago. I find museums like this especially interesting because you get to see how the artist lived and worked.

Musee Jacquemart-Andre is a small delightful museum. Originally this rather opulent townhouse off of the  Boulevard Haussmann was the home of husband and wife art collectors Edouard Andre and Nelie Jacquemart. They spent a good deal of time traveling purchasing art work for their Parisian home.  Today you see the collection they assembled over their respective lifetimes. The museum’s cafe is in the original dining room. You  can enjoy a superb lunch (the food really is quite good) under a ceiling painted by Tiepolo. Included in admission is an audio guide. Sadly lunch will cost you extra, but worth every penny.

Musee National du Moyen Age houses a collection of medieval artifacts and the beautiful “Lady and the Unicorn” tapestry  cycle.  The six late 15th century Flemish mille-fluers tapestries are exquisite. Rich with color the tapestries are quite beautiful. The building itself is perfect for housing the collection because it was originally the home of the medieval abbots of Cluny. The remains of an ancient Roman Bath have been incorporated into the museum.

Musee de l’Orangerie in the Jardin des Tuileries is home to Monet’s famous Nmpheas (water lilies) series. In addition to the water lilies there is an permanent collection on the lower level from the private collections of Paul Guillaume and Jean Walter. Both of who amassed their collections in the early 20th century and the collection includes works by Picasso, Modigliani, Matisse and so on. Definitely worth a visit and quite popular so try and go early.

Musee d’Orsav is one of the most the loveliest  museums in the world and definitely warrants a visit. The building is a former railway station. The vast train shed is ideal for displaying works of art especially sculpture. As with the Lourve the d’Orsay is very popular, so its best to arrive early. On the 2nd floor there the restaurant. The food is quite good and the prices are reasonable. After spending a couple of hours walking around the museum it’s nice to be able to sit down in a elegant setting and really enjoy a nice lunch and not have to rush about looking for a restaurant. Try to get to the restaurant around 12:00 or 12:30 because I believe they stop serving around 2:00 or 3:00ish. The website has more information including photos, pricing and hours.

Musee Picasso along with the Musee Carnavalet are housed in palatial hotels (townhouses) in the Marais, which were built by the rich merchants and the aristocracy back in the 17th century. However,  in no time at all the area became unfashionable and everyone fled to more fashionable accommodations elsewhere in the city. Today many of the grand residences have been restored and converted into museums, offices and apartments. The Musee Picasso is one of these townhouses. The collection is one of the largest in a single museum and includes paintings, sculptures and drawings.

Musee Nissim de Camondo was built in the early 20th century to house the collection of mostly 18th century art, tapestries, furniture and objets d’art and so on of Moise de Camondo. No expense was spared to build this grand and palatial residence. The back garden of the house backs onto the Parc de Monceau. Museums like this fascinate me because usually they are left as if the owner had just stepped out for a moment. Even if 18th century decorative arts are not your cup of tea, you may still find this  museum interesting in that it displays how a wealthy Parisian family lived at the turn of the century. If the weather is pleasant it is nice to take a stroll through the Parc de Monceau.

Musee Rodin is fun to visit even if you are not a fan of sculptor because the garden is sublime and the perfect setting for some of Rodin’s most famous sculptors including The Kiss, The Thinker and The Burghers. Perhaps after your visit you will come away with a new appreciation of Rodin’s work. Of course the best time to visit is in Spring when the flower beds are filled with flowers. I could spend hours just wondering around the garden. It might even be nice to sit down for awhile and take out a book and read. Below is a photo of part of the garden taken from the window on the 2nd floor of the house. The gardens extend all around the house. This is only part of the garden looking towards the fountain.

Musee Bourdelle was the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle’s home and studio. He was a pupil of Rodin who later went on to become a famous artist in his own right. He was the one who made the Modern frieze for the beautiful Theatre des Champ Elysees. One of the loveliest art nouveau theaters in the world. If you have a chance you should see a performance, but be sure to book well in advance. However, getting back to the Musee Bourdelle. I am one of those people who really enjoy seeing were an artist worked or lived. I find it fascinating. On display are some of Bourdelle’s creations including a rather large man on a horse in the back garden. The sculptor is massive. The museum is a little out of the way, but well worth the trek. Below is one of Bourdelle’s sculptors called “The Archer”. There is another copy  in Rome at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna. 

There are a number of venues that host temporary art exhibitions including the The Grand Palais and the Musee National du Luxembourg. Check out their respective websites for a schedule of current and upcoming exhibitions or to purchase tickets.

Web www.goingeuro.com