Top 5 Impressionist Museums in Paris for Art Lovers in 2025

If you are traveling to France and looking for Impressionist museums in Paris, these 5 will show you the famous impressionist works, the history of impressionism and many less well-known impressionist artists and their work.

Impressionist art is one of the things Paris is famous for and these are the best museums to see Impressionist paintings here. In Paris you can find Monet’s famous wall-size water lilies at l’Orangerie or the vast collection at Musée d’Orsay.

As a lover of Impressionist art (and frequent visitor to Musée d’Orsay) with 30 years of experience traveling in France and Europe, I’m happy to share my top choices for seeing impressionist art with you.

The History of Impressionism in Paris

Impressionism began in 1874 at Atelier Nadar, challenging traditional art with light, color, and everyday scenes.

Paris’s cafes and boulevards inspired artists like Monet, Pissarro, and Morisot, making it the perfect place to explore their legacy.

Museums with Impressionist Paintings in Paris

The Musée d’Orsay has the largest collection of Impressionist art in the world, and the other museums listed here have impressive and varied collections.

The Montmartre Museum was also the home of impressionist artists and you can learn about the history of Montmartre as well.

Location, hours and ticket costs are listed under each and we have included a map of Paris with the museum locations for your convenience. Plus a walking guide between museums and a few other places to see impressionist exhibitions in Paris.

1. Musée d’Orsay – Largest Collection of Impressionist Art

The Musée d’Orsay is one of the most famous museums in Paris – and for good reason. It has a stunning and huge old-world clock and the world’s largest selection of Impressionist art.

I actually prefer the Musée d’Orsay to the Louvre since I love Impressionism and it is smaller and less crowded.

Plus there the beautiful Musee d’Orsay restaurant where you can eat lunch during or after a visit to the museum.

When you arrive, you’ll see that the museum is actually set in a repurposed railway station, the former Gare d’Orsay I recommend picking up a map at the door, heading to the 5th floor, and working your way down from there.

👉 Pro Tip: Most of the Impressionist works, like Manet and Van Gogh, are on the 5th floor.

🕑 Don’t Miss: The Orsay Museum clock on the 5th floor! From the 1900s, it’s a symbol of Paris’s history, provides an awesome backdrop for photos, and has gorgeous views across the Seine.

• Key Artworks: Monet’s “Women in the Garden,” Renoir’s “Danse a la Campagne,” Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”
• Highlights: Housed in a repurposed railway station, features a grand clock and 5th-floor Impressionist gallery.
• Practical Info:
  • Location: 7th Arrondissement, Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
  • Hours: 9:30 AM–6 PM (Thu until 9:45 PM), closed Mondays
  • Price: €16 online/€14 at museum
  • Website: Musée d’Orsay
  • Tour Option: Musée d’Orsay Impressionism Tour
• Pro Tip: Get Skip the Line Tour Tickets or go early in the morning to avoid crowds.

📌 My Recommended TOUR OPTION: 🥇 Check times and book the Musée d’Orsay Skip-the- Line Impressionism Tour for an exceptional experience.

2. Musée de l’Orangerie – Monet’s Water Lillies

Musée de l’Orangerie is located in the Tuileries Gardens, and it’s where you’ll find Monet’s wall-sized paintings of water lilies. These are truly wonderful to see and perhaps the most famous impressionist paintings in Paris.

The paintings were actually donated by Claude Monet in 1922 – as a testament to peace following WWI, as I understood.

While the lilies are definitely the main reason to visit, there is more to see at l’Orangerie. On the lower levels, are paintings by Renoir and Picasso, and other less well-known impressionist painters.

• Key Artworks: Monet’s wall-sized “Water Lilies,” Renoir’s “Young Girls at the Piano.”
• Highlights: Located in Tuileries Gardens, offers an immersive experience.
• Practical Info:
  • Location: Jardin des Tuileries
  • Hours: 9 AM–6 PM (Fri until 9 PM), closed Tuesdays
  • Price: €12.50
  • Website: Musée de l’Orangerie
• Pro Tip: Visit Friday evenings for a quieter experience.

3. Musée Marmottan Monet – Largest Collection of Monet in Paris

Another museum for Impressionism in Paris is the Musée Marmottan Monet in the 16th arrondissement. It’s a must for fellow Monet lovers! And the second largest museum in Paris for Impressionist art.

Here is the largest collection of—you guessed it—Monet’s masterpieces. There are more than 300 pieces here, including his iconic 1872 Impression, Sunrise.

Location: 16th arrondissement – 2 Rue Louis Boilly

• Key Artworks: Monet’s “Impression, Sunrise” (1872), over 300 Monet works.
• Highlights: Intimate setting in the 16th arrondissement, dedicated to Monet.
• Practical Info:
  • Location: 2 Rue Louis Boilly
  • Hours: 10 AM–6 PM (Thu until 9 PM), closed Mondays
  • Price: €14/€9 concessions
  • Website: Musee Marmottan Monet
• Pro Tip: Book tickets online to skip lines.

4. Petit Palais – Free Impressionist Art

Now we have a museum with impressionist art that is both underrated and free to visit. The gallery of the Petit Palais has paintings from Delacroix, Cézanne, Courbet and, of course, Monet.

The entire building is beautifully designed with marble floorings and tall arched ceilings and tons of detail.

The Petit Palais is worth a visit both for impressionist art in Paris and for its beautiful interior.

• Key Artworks: Cézanne’s landscapes, Morisot’s “Dans le parc.”
• Highlights: Free entry, stunning art nouveau architecture.
• Practical Info:
  • Location: Av. Winston Churchill
  • Hours: 10 AM–6 PM, closed Mondays
  • Price: Free for permanent collections
  • Website: Petit Palais
• Pro Tip: Check the website for temporary Impressionist exhibitions.

5. Musée de Montmartre – Home to Renoir/History

Musée de Montmartre is one of the smaller museums in Paris; it has an art gallery, gardens dedicated to Renoir and a charming cafe. The museum overlooks Montmartre’s only remaining vineyard, the Clos Montmartre, one of the hidden gems of Paris.

Here you discover the history of Montmartre and learn about the lives of artists living and working here.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir and other Impressionist painters actually lived in this house, and it’s the oldest building in Montmartre, built in the 17th century.

The sweet indoor/outdoor cafe, Cafe Renoir, serves food boards, sandwiches, salads, pastries, and more.

You can sit outside overlooking the gardens inspired by Renoir’s paintings.

• Key Artworks: Works by Renoir, Valadon; features Renoir’s former studio.
• Highlights: Historic 17th-century house, Café Renoir, Montmartre vineyard view.
• Practical Info:
  • Location: 12 Rue Corto
  • Hours: 10 AM–6 PM daily
  • Price: €15/€10 concessions
  • Website: Musée de Montmartre
• Pro Tip: Enjoy a coffee at Café Renoir overlooking the gardens

Map of Impressionist Museums In Paris

Other Places to See Impressionist Art in Paris

You can see impressionist art at exhibitions at Grand Palais or Fondation Louis Vuitton, (a fashion museum in Paris) or visit smaller galleries like Galerie Maeght for rare Impressionist works.

Self-Guided Impressionist Walking Route

Try this walking tour to combine visits:

• Start at Musée d’Orsay, cross the Seine to Musée de l’Orangerie (10 min)
• Then walk to Petit Palais (15 min)
• Then take the metro to Musée de Montmartre, stopping at La Maison Rose for an art-inspired meal. (30 min metro ride from Place de la Concorde to Lamark stations). 10 min walk to Place de la Concorde Metro, 30 min metro ride to Lamark Metro then 8 min walk to the museum).

FAQs – Impressionist Museums and Art in Paris

Below are some of the most common questions and answers about Impressionist art museums in Paris.

What Paris museum has the most Impressionist paintings?

Musée d’Orsay is known to have the largest collection of Impressionist paintings in the world.

Is the Musée Marmottan Monet worth it?

It is worth it if you love Monet and want to see many different examples of his work. It has the largest collection of Monet’s masterpieces – 300.

What museum has the best Impressionist paintings?

Most people like the Musée d’Orsay for famous and best-loved impressionist paintings.

Where can I see Claude Monet paintings in Paris?

Musée d’Orsay, Musée Marmottan Monet , Musée de l’Organgerie and Petit Palais.

Are there any Impressionist paintings in the Louvre?

No. The bulk of Impressionist paintings were moved to Musée d’Orsay in the 1980s.

What museum in Paris has large Monet paintings?

Musée de l’Orangerie is home to the wall-size paintings of water lilies, covering over 100 linear meters (328 linear feet).

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Summary:  Impressionism Museums – Paris

Art is at the top of the list of things Paris is known for. The city is known especially for being a center for Impressionism and housing the most famous pieces in the world.

Visit l’Orangerie for the uniquewall -sized Water Lilies display, Musée d’Orsay for the largest collection of Impressio nist art, and Musée Marmottan Monet for the greatest collection of Monet.

And don’t forget about Petit Palais for a free art museum and Musée de Montmartre to see a historic home and Impressionist art, including a garden.

Even if you have only a weekend in Paris, you would able to squeeze in one or more of these impressionist museums in Paris. With a longer visit to Paris, you could easily visit most of them.

Enjoy!

Related Reading:

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