Which museums are free in Paris?

Permanent collections at City of Paris museums, including Carnavalet, Petit Palais and Maison de Victor Hugo, are free daily; only temporary exhibitions charge admission.

Is Notre-Dame free to visit?

Yes, entry to the cathedral itself is free; only separate elements like tower access are ticketed, so arriving outside peak hours helps avoid queues.

Free Things to Do in Paris: Museums, Views & Parks

Q: Where can I find free viewpoints over Paris?

The Sacré-Cœur steps, Parc de Belleville, and the rooftop terraces of the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores all offer free panoramic views.

Paris has a reputation for being expensive, yet many of its most memorable experiences cost nothing. Permanent collections at municipal museums require no ticket, and several of the best viewpoints and parks are free to enjoy any day.

Museums with free permanent collections

The City of Paris museums — among them the Musée Carnavalet, Petit Palais, Musée d'Art Moderne and Maison de Victor Hugo — charge nothing for their permanent collections, only for temporary exhibitions. Together they offer a genuine introduction to art and the city's history without a single ticket.

Churches and monuments open at no cost

Notre-Dame and most other churches, including Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Eustache, are free to enter, as is the exterior square of the Panthéon and the Sacré-Cœur basilica itself, with only its dome charging a fee. Père-Lachaise cemetery functions as an open-air sculpture park, also free to wander.

Viewpoints without an entry fee

The steps of Sacré-Cœur and the quieter Parc de Belleville both offer sweeping views over the city at no cost, while the rooftop terraces of the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores overlook the Opéra district for free. The Institut du Monde Arabe's terrace adds a view over the Seine and Notre-Dame.

All free

Keep it handy while in Paris

Add it to your home screen: works offline too
Save your favourite spots
Turn on ZFE Crit'Air alerts (free)

My favourites

Parks, fountains and everyday free Paris

Public drinking fountains are found throughout the city, including the historic green Wallace fountains, making it easy to refill a bottle at no cost. The major parks — Luxembourg, Tuileries, Buttes-Chaumont and Vincennes among them — are free, have public toilets, and are where much of the city actually spends its free time.