Visiting Rome or Paris without paying museum entry fees is possible... with a catch! Established in 1956, the exclusive twinning arrangement between Paris and Rome is based on the famous saying: "Solo Parigi è degna di Roma, solo Roma è degna di Parigi" ("Only Paris is worthy of Rome; only Rome is worthy of Paris"). This agreement between the two cities, renewed and strengthened in 2022 by their mayors, aims to foster long-term cultural ties. Today, Paris residents can enjoy free access to several municipal museums in Rome simply by showing proof of residence. Conversely, Rome inhabitants can visit temporary paid exhibitions at Museums of the City of Paris free of charge.
The program spans a wide range of cultural institutions. In Rome, Parisians can enjoy free visits to the Capitoline Museums, the Museum of Rome, the Napoleonic Museum, the Trajan Market, the Modern Art Gallery, the Montemartini Power Plant Museum, and even the Roman Republic and Garibaldi Memory Museum, among others. This initiative grants free tickets issued on-site, provided visitors can prove they reside in Paris. Conversely, in Paris, residents of Rome can access temporary exhibitions at municipal museums without charge (Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, Bourdelle Museum, Carnavalet Museum, Cernuschi Museum, Petit Palais, Galliera Palace or the Museum of Romantic Life). This complements the existing free access to permanent collections—a privilege that, as a reminder, does not include the Notre-Dame Crypt or the Paris Catacombs, which remain ticketed.
This program is exclusively available to official residents of Paris and Rome during their stay in the partner city. It is not a benefit connected to nationality, but rather to administrative residence: a identity card or a recent proof of address is therefore required to take advantage of it. This clarification is important to prevent any misunderstandings on-site. The scheme may thus appeal to individuals traveling for personal reasons, work, or cultural exchange programs between the two capitals.
The free admission offer is not available to casual visitors without a residency connection to Paris or Rome. For example, a French tourist living in Lyon or an Italian tourist residing in Milan cannot take advantage of this benefit. Additionally, certain exceptions apply at partner museums: free entry does not include specific areas in Rome, such as the Planetarium, the Villa Caffarelli at the Musei Capitolini, the immersive Circo Maximo Experience, or particular floors of the museums, like those at the Museo di Roma.
It’s also important to note that the free ticket issued to Parisians for Rome’s museums only grants access to the permanent collections and spaces covered by the agreement. It does not include entry to special temporary exhibitions or exceptional events not covered by the arrangement. Visitors are advised to check in advance with the museums’ front desks for details. In Paris, the free exhibitions available to Romans vary depending on the current programming at each museum.
Ultimately, this cultural partnership between the two cities is driven by a shared goal to make public institutions more accessible and to foster stronger dialogue between the two European capitals. For museum enthusiasts, this agreement offers a real chance to explore municipal collections in a new way during a visit to the sister city. The connection between Paris and Rome remains lively and active year-round.
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