Top 5 Impressionist Museums in Paris – Monet to Renoir and More

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 of many impriessionist artists at Musee d’Orsay.
A s 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 picks of Impressionism museums with you.
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.
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.

- Location: 7th Arrondissement – Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
- Hours: 9:30 AM – 6 PM most days, 9:30 AM – 9:45 PM Thursdays, Closed on Mondays
- Price: €16 online, €14 at museum
- Musée d’Orsay Website
👉 TOUR OPTION: 🥇 Check times and book the Musée d’Orsay Impressionism Tour for an exceptional experience.
2. Musée de l’Orangerie – Grand Panels by Monet

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.
- Location: Jardin des Tuileries, Paris
- Price: General admission €12.50
- Hours: 9 AM – 6 PM most days, 9 AM – 9 PM Fridays, closed on Tuesdays
- Musée de l’Orangerie Website
3. Musée Marmottan Monet – Largest Collection of Monet

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
- Price: €14, €9 concessions (students under 25, teachers, under 18)
- Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM most days, 10 AM – 9 PM Thursdays, closed on Mondays
- Musee Marmottan Monet Website
4. Petit Palais – Elegant Interior and Free Entrance

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.
- Location: 8th arrondissement – Av. Winston Churchill, Paris
- Price: FREE for permanent collections
- Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM, closed on Mondays
- Petit Palais hosts temporary exhibits, check here for the schedule.
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 wonderful little indoor/outdoor cafe, Cafe Renoir, is perfect to visit during a Paris summer. They serve food boards, sandwiches, salads, pastries, and more. Yul can sit outside overlooking the gardens inspired by Renoir’s paintings.
- Location: Montmartre – 12 Rue Corto, Paris
- Price: €15, €10 for students, teachers, disabled
- Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM daily
- Musée de Montmartre Website
Map of Impressionist Museums In Paris
FAQs – Impressionist Museums and Art in Paris

Below are some of the most common questions and answers about Impressionist art museums in Paris.
What museum in Paris has Impressionist art?
The Musée d’Orsay is the most well-known for Impressionist art, however you can find Impressionism at numerous museums in the city.
Which museum has the most Impressionist art?
Musée d’Orsay is known to have the largest collection of Impressionist art in the world.
Does Musée d’Orsay have Impressionist paintings?
Yes, Musée d’Orsay is full of Impressionist works from prominent French painters like Monet, Manet, Pissarro, Morisot, and Renoir.
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).
Which Paris museum has Van Gogh?
Musée d’Orsay has the famous Starry Night painting and more than 24 other works by Vincent Van Gogh.
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 its unique wall -sized Water Lilies display, Musée d’Orsay for the largest collection of Impressionist 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!
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