One of the best free attractions in Paris, the Petit Palais is a beautiful Belle Époque palace housing the City of Paris’s Museum of Fine Arts — and admission to its permanent collection is completely free. With its gorgeous architecture, a peaceful garden courtyard, and a rich collection of art spanning antiquity to 1900, it’s a wonderful, often overlooked gem. For art lovers on a budget, or anyone seeking a quieter museum, it’s a delight.
A Belle Epoque Palace
The Petit Palais was built, along with its larger neighbor the Grand Palais, for the 1900 World’s Fair. A jewel of Belle Époque design, it features a grand domed entrance, sweeping staircases, and richly decorated interiors with painted ceilings and mosaics. The building wraps around a charming semicircular garden courtyard with a café — a peaceful oasis at the heart of the museum and lovely in fine weather.
The Art Collection
The museum’s permanent collection is impressively wide-ranging and free to enjoy. It spans ancient Greek and Roman art, medieval and Renaissance works, and a strong selection of 18th- and 19th-century French painting and decorative arts. You’ll find pieces by artists such as Rembrandt, Courbet, Monet, and Cézanne, alongside beautiful furniture, ceramics, and sculpture — a satisfying overview without the overwhelming scale of the Louvre.
The Garden Courtyard
One of the Petit Palais’s loveliest features is its inner garden, an elegant semicircular courtyard with palm trees, a pond, and ornate arcades. The on-site café spills out into this tranquil space, making it a perfect spot to pause for a coffee or light lunch surrounded by beauty. It’s a hidden, restful corner that many visitors to the area never discover.
A Grand Setting
The Petit Palais sits in one of the grandest parts of Paris, just off the Champs-Élysées and beside the magnificent Pont Alexandre III. Its location, architecture, and free entry make it an easy and rewarding stop. Across the avenue stands the Grand Palais, with its enormous glass roof, which hosts major temporary exhibitions and events (check its current status, as it has undergone renovation).
Planning Your Visit
Entry to the Petit Palais’s permanent collection is free, with charges only for special temporary exhibitions. It’s closed on Mondays. The nearest station is Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau. Allow an hour or two, and leave time for a coffee in the garden courtyard. It pairs perfectly with a stroll across the Pont Alexandre III and along the Champs-Élysées.
More Paris guides: explore the full Paris Travel Guides series.
