Are you depressed by the greyness and concrete of Paris? The next vacations are still a long way off, but you need to get away now? Don't worry, we've got the solution! Forget planes, trains or hitchhiking: you don't have to leave Paris to travel and discover new cultures. The capital's museums and art galleries are brimming with magnificentexhibitions that take us from one end of the world to the other.
To escape from the gloom and doom that's setting in, there's nothing like a short trip for a change of scenery. The great thing about Paris is that you can immerse yourself in a wide range of cultures, and even change continents, just by taking a stroll or a ride on the metro. And sometimes, you can even cross the centuries to discover ancient foreign civilizations! Better than magic, it's art.
You don't need a passport or any special vaccinations: all you need to travel thanks to museums is a curious mind and wide-open eyes! Let us take you on a journey of discovery, according to the programming of the art venues, and prepare to be amazed. It's even said that some museums offer us journeys beyond our Earth, to the stars... Dare you try it?
Paintings, photos, sculptures, installations...Art transports us through the ages and across the globe, and we travel on a budget! Treat yourself to a cultural world tour, thanks to the museums, art galleries and cultural institutions in Paris and the Île-de-France region. Choose your next destination with this guide, and embark on an artistic world tour.
Discover the exhibitions on view right now:
10,000 years of culinary travel: the free exhibition at the Chinese Cultural Centre
From September 11 to November 10, 2026, the Chinese Cultural Center presents the free exhibition “10,000 Years of Culinary Journey.” Through an immersive journey that blends historical artifacts and technology, discover the secrets, rituals, and millennia‑old history of Chinese cuisine in the 7th arrondissement. [Read more]
WILD NATURE: an exhibition of naturalist and symbolic painting
Sponsored - Between shadows and instincts, a naturalist and symbolic painting exhibition: 'Nature Sauvage' by artist Sailev at Espace Saint-Martin. Opening on September 3 from 6 p.m. [Read more]
Gulahallat: the Sami contemporary art exhibition at the Finnish Institute for Paris Design Week
L Sami contemporary art makes its way to the Finnish Institute as part of Paris Design Week. Meet at the Nordic Cultural Center from September 11 to October 24, 2026 to discover the free new exhibition, "Gulahallat," and to view the works and crafts of about ten Sami artists, including Hildá Länsman, Outi Pieski, and Marja Helander. [Read more]
Sumo, Sacred Forces: a photo exhibition worth seeing at the Maison de la culture du Japon
As the capital welcomed the Paris Sumo Tournament, the Maison de la Culture du Japon is hosting a free exhibition dedicated to this ancient martial art. Be sure to visit through September 26, 2026 to discover "Sumo, Sacred Forces", a photographic installation by Bruno Aveillan. [Read more]
Knowledge in trompe-l'œil: the Korean art exhibition at the Guimet Museum
The Guimet Museum delves into the art and significance of trompe-l'œil in 18th-century Korea with the exhibition "Le savoir en trompe-l'œil," on view from September 16, 2026, to January 4, 2027. [Read more]
Dreamed Japan, images of the floating world: the immersive exhibition transports us to the Atelier des Lumières.
Travel to the artists’ dream Japan with Atelier des Lumières’ immersive exhibition, on view every Monday, Thursday and Friday, from July 3 to September 13, 2026. [Read more]
Paradise Feathers: An Invitation to Travel to Papua New Guinea, from the Quai Branly
The Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum in Paris is hosting the exhibition Feathers of Paradise from May 12 to November 8, 2026. Dedicated to the birds of paradise from New Guinea, this showcase features nearly 190 items—including adornments, paintings, preserved specimens, fashion objects, and illustrated books. The exhibit takes visitors on a journey through five centuries of fascination with these spectacular creatures, weaving together perspectives from art, science, ethnology, and ecology. [Read more]
Heritage in Resistance: From Timbuktu to Odessa, an Exhibition at the City of Architecture.
Sponsored - In Paris, the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine presents the exhibition Patrimoines en résistance : de Tombouctou à Odessa, running from May 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, a look at heritage in wartime, where destruction, safeguarding, and rebuilding come into play. [Read more]
All-Inclusive Exhibition: Photographer Kourtney Roy and Citéco question tourism through our photos
With her vintage aesthetic and striking photographs, artist Kourtney Roy humorously highlights the contradictions of global tourism. Don't miss the exhibition All Inclusive, running from February 20 to September 20, 2026, at the City of Economy. [Read more]
Gallery of the Five Continents: opening of a new exhibition space at the Louvre Museum
From December 3, 2025, the Gallery of the Five Continents will be open to visitors at the Louvre Museum, offering an opportunity to admire works from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, in a journey that reveals the diversity and dialogue of human creativity across the globe. [Read more]
MIDAN, a naive art museum nestled in a country house in Vicq (78)
The Musée international d'art naïf d'île-de-France (MIDAN) is located in Vicq, a small town in the Yvelines department of France, a cultural venue dedicated to a little-known yet very rich artistic movement. [Read more]
Mission spatiale, the new permanent exhibition in the stars at the Cité des sciences
Take a trip into space from October 23, 2023 at the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie, with a new permanent exhibition on the conquest of space. [Read more]
First Nations: An exhibition exploring the arts and cultures of North America at the Quai Branly Museum
The Quai Branly Museum invites visitors to meet the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest with an exhibition running from September 29, 2026 to January 10, 2027. [Read more]
Japanese photography since 1945 on display at the BnF François-Mitterrand site
From September 30, 2026 to January 31, 2027, the BnF François-Mitterrand site highlights Japanese photography since 1945, presenting the work of around a hundred artists, including Hiromi Tsuchida, Shigeo Gocho, Yoshi Takata, Mamoru Sakamoto, and Kazuo Amemiya. [Read more]
The Call of the Deep: the exhibition in the abyss at the National Maritime Museum
From October 14, 2026, to February 14, 2027, the National Maritime Museum explores the depths at the Trocadéro. Nearly 240 works retrace the history of underwater exploration, from innovations and myths to scientific discoveries. [Read more]
Tropical autumn, palms, treasures and secrets: the Nature Exhibition returns to the Jardin des Plantes
The National Museum of Natural History invites you to an immersive nature experience, set amid the Grandes Serres at the Jardin des Plantes, from October 15 to November 23, 2026. This exhibition, titled "Autumn Tropical: Palms, Treasures and Secrets," invites you to discover Paris this fall. [Read more]
Shunga: Masterpieces of erotic art from the Edo period on display at the Maison de la culture du japon in Paris
For its upcoming exhibition, the Maison de la Culture du Japon in Paris spotlights Japanese erotic paintings and prints from the Edo period. Entitled "Shunga," the installation will showcase a number of genre masterpieces from November 12, 2026 to February 13, 2027, including works by Utamaro and Hokusai. [Read more]
Korea, the kingdom of the scholars: a historic and immersive exhibition at the Cernuschi Museum
The Cernuschi Museum invites us to Korea for its upcoming exhibition on the yangban, the kingdom’s literati across the centuries, opening on 20 November 2026, featuring ancient masterpieces, period furniture, and costumes. [Read more]
The Hidden Treasures of the Nasrid Alhambra: An Exhibition in the Heart of Granada at the Arab World Institute
From November 24, 2026, to May 16, 2027, the Arab World Institute will take you on a journey to the Alhambra of the Nasrid sultans. Through an immersive experience and the display of extraordinary works of art, the exhibition revives the lost grandeur of Muhammad V's reign. [Read more]
A free, immersive exhibit explores the 1867 Universal Exhibition and the evolution of photography in Paris
Dive into the heart of the 1867 World's Fair through the lens of photography, from November 25, 2026, to February 22, 2027. Experience this engaging and free exhibit at the National Archives, offering an immersive journey into this historic event. [Read more]
No need for a passport, you can leave immediately for the most beautiful of journeys. So, where do you start? What's your next destination?
Dates and Opening Time
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