Musée d'Orsay in Paris 2023-2024

Some of the best of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art is collected at one neat place on Seine's left bank

Best time: November–March (all year round)

Musée d'Orsay houses one of the largest art collections in Europe and is one of the world's most popular museums. Several millions of visitors come yearly to observe masterpieces by world-known art celebrities such as Monet, Renoir, Manet, Degas, Cézanne, Gauguin, Sisley, Seurat, and Van Gogh. The most prominent pieces include Renoir's Dance at le Moulin de la Galette, Cézanne's Apples and Oranges, and self-portraits by Van Gogh.

You'll find the museum on the Left Bank of the Seine. This place served as the Gare d'Orsay railway station before the museum was established here in 1986.

The galleries feature mainly French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, created between 1848 to 1914. Along with the paintings, you will admire sculptures, as well as some furniture and photography. Besides, you can also benefit from temporary exhibitions.

Musée d'Orsay is open to visitors all year round, except Mondays, May 1st and December 25th. The opening hours are 9.30 am to 6 pm. Thursdays are special due to late nights when the museum operates until 9.45 pm. The least busy days with average queueing time are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Fewer visitors come in the low season that is November to March. If you go in the high season, make sure to either buy a ticket online or book a guided tour for an ultimate art experience.