This post is all about the best museums and attractions in the 16th arrondissement of Paris!

Paris is one of the most popular touristic destinations in the world. The city is full of beautiful attractions and museums and there is always something to do.

The French capital is broken up into 20 different neighborhoods called “arrondissements”. Today we’re going to have a closer look at the 16th arrondissement of Paris and all the wonderful museums you could visit there! Museums can be the perfect place to explore, especially on a cold rainy day.

There is such a high concentration of museums in this arrondissement, that you are sure to find special exhibitions or temporary exhibitions you will love.

The 16th Arrondissement is the most prestigious residential area in Paris, with the highest concentration of embassies. You also have the Bois de Boulogne and its lakes located in the western part of this arrondissement. You might also have heard of the parc des princes, where all the major soccer matches take place.

Here is the list of all the best museums and attractions in the 16th arrondissement of Paris!

 

Museums

Here is the list of all the great museums for all art lovers!

 

Musée Guimet

First up is the Guimet museum!

This place is specialized in the Asian arts. The founder of this museum traveled during the 19th century to Japan, China, and India. He acquired many pieces during this time that he wanted to share upon his return to France.

With time, the collection grew further to include pieces from Cambodia, Thailand, Korea, and Afghanistan.

The permanent collections of the museum have beautiful pieces from all these regions. You can access them all year round and navigate between all of them. In addition, you have all the temporary exhibits which are listed on their site. Those are included in the price of the ticket.

The museum is in a beautiful Haussmanian building, quite close to the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe (only 20min by foot). If you are going by metro, the nearest station is “Iena” on metro line 9.

The Guimet museum is included in the Paris museum pass. Otherwise, the entry is free every 1st Sunday of each month.

Be careful, the museum is closed every Tuesday!

Pro tip:

If you’re wanting to further explore the secrets of this museum, you should definitely check out the Heidelbach private residence and its wonderful Japanese garden. This private residence is also managed by the Guimet museum and is just a few houses down from the museum. This place focuses mainly on Japanese furniture and tea. If this is not your thing, you should still go just to visit the gardens, which are freely accessible!

You can find the Heidelbach private hotel at 19 Av. d’Iéna, 75116 Paris.

 

Musée Marmottan Monet

Are you a fan of the impressionist movement? Do you like Claude Monet’s paintings? You’re in the right place!

You might remember that we discussed this museum when we were visiting Monet’s house at Giverny. If Giverny is a bit far for you, you can give this museum a go! Besides Monet, you’ll find other French impressionist painters such as Degas, Pissarro, Renoir, and Rodin (more on him in the Rodin museum near the Invalides in the 7th arrondissement of Paris). You’ll also find other masters such as Boudin (which we met in Honfleur!) and Delacroix or Gaugin and Chagal.

A high concentration of beauty per square meter!

If you want to see even more impressionist paintings, head out to the Musée d’Orsay. You’ll be able to enjoy some beautiful Van Gogh pieces and other masters.

Besides impressionism, the Musée Marmottan Monet has a wonderful collection of middle ages art (which was in fact the starting point of the collection of this museum). In addition, you’ll have some Empire pieces (both painting and furniture), that you’ll be able to enjoy.

These are all the pieces of the permanent collection. This museum also has some temporary exhibits. Go on their website to find out what is going on at the time of your visit!

The museum is closed every Monday and is open until 9 pm on Thursdays.

To get there get off at the metro station “La Muette” or “Ranelagh” on line 9.

 

Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris

This is the museum of modern art of the city. It’s in a beautiful modern building, with high ceilings and lots of windows. The great news is that entry to this museum is free! You can make a donation (they recommend 5€). You only have to pay for the temporary exposition you want to visit. There are indeed several exhibits going on at the same time, so make sure you get the right ticket.

In the permanent collection, you’ll find photographs, sculptures, paintings, and engravings. Here are some of the artists represented here: Picasso, Dufy, Modigliani, Derain, and Chagall. If you want more about Picasso, do not hesitate to have a look at the Picasso museum in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris.

If you are looking for even more modern art, you should go to the Centre Pompidou! It’s in the center of Paris, you cannot miss it if you are a modern art lover!

Visit the Modern Art museum of the city of Paris website to discover the various contemporary art temporary exhibits going on.

The surroundings of the museum are quite beautiful. You’ll find a fountain at the center and the museum is overlooking the Seine river. You’ll even have a view of the Eiffel Tower, so a great picture spot!

The museum is located between the avenue du Président Wilson and the avenue de New York. The crossing is sadly known for being the place of death of Lady Diana. You’ll find a memorial in the form of a golden flame.

If you’re getting there by metro, get off at station “Alma-Marceau” on line 9.

 

Palais de Tokyo

Just adjacent to the Musée d’Art Modern de Paris, you’ll find the Palais de Tokyo. In fact, they are so close that they share the same building. The prior is located in the east wing of the Palace of Tokyo is in the west wing of that same 1930s building.

Since the creation of the space, it has always been intended to host contemporary art. It’s now one of the largest contemporary art centers in Europe.

The exhibits are always very different from anything you’ll find in other museums in Paris. If classical art and painting are not your things, you should absolutely check this place out!

The opening hours are quite wider than any other cultural sites in the city: from noon until 9 pm. It’s closed however every Tuesday.

When you purchase a ticket to the Tokyo palace, it will give you access to the permanent and all temporary collections with many international artists.

If you’re not sure you’ll get the full effect by visiting this place on your own, you could definitely get a tour guide to help you navigate the place and all the art. Send them an email or give them a quick call to get this set up!

Get off at station “Alma-Marceau” on metro line 9.

 

Maison de Balzac

Honoré de Balzac is a very famous French author, most famous for his saga entitled “La Comédie Humaine”. It’s a series of intertwined stories taking place in the post-Napoléon era and depicting French society at all levels. He is part of the realism movement, where the whole focus is put on describing things as they really are and not embellishing them for literary purposes.

The House of Balzac is one of the apartments that the author occupied whilst living in Paris. It’s right here that he reviewed and finalized his life’s work: la Comédie Humaine from 1840 to 1847.

The museum is specialized in Honoré de Balzac’s work, but over the years it has expanded its collection to include other major artists and writers, such as Théophile Gauthier.

In comparison to other places in the city, this is quite a small museum. Besides the house, there is also a small garden from which you’ll have a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower.

Do you want another great news? This place has no admission fee, totally free for you to visit and enjoy!

The House of Balzac is located very close to the metro station “Passy” on metro line 6 in rue Raynouard.

Palais Galliera

Maybe you are interested in another aspect of the city of light. Maybe you’re more into fashion. In this case, the Palais Galliera is the place you need to visit!

It’s a beautiful palace built in 1894, is surrounded by a lovely garden, and is very close to the Palais de Tokyo and the museum of modern art. The metallic structure supporting the building is the work of a certain Gustave Eiffel. The intention for this building was for Marie Brignole-Sale, Duchess of Galliera, to house her rich art collection.

It’s only since 1977 that this palace has been turned into the Fashion museum it is today.

The permanent collection of the museum is constituted of costumes from the 18th century all the way to the 20th century, haute couture pieces, and photographs.

The museum has its own app to guide through the various collections. That way you’ll be sure to get the most out of your visit. The app is available for both Android and IOS phones and is free to download.

They also have temporary collections, so make sure to check out their website prior to your visit! Some exhibits are very successful, so it’s best to book your tickets in advance.

The museum is closed on Mondays but has longer opening hours on Thursdays and Fridays (until 9 pm).

If you’re getting there by metro, get off at station “Alma-Marceau” on line 9.

 

 

Fondation Louis Vuitton

The Louis Vuitton foundation has a very particular and beautiful building. The architect Frank Gehry finished the build in 2014. Make sure you take a moment to appreciate the exterior before going in.

The main purpose of the foundation is to make international and national art accessible to all.

There is a mix of modern and classical artists represented in this space. There are constantly several exhibits going on in the space. A great thing is the free guides that you’ll find on the various floors of the building. They’ll give you further details on what you are seeing. They propose those in English and in French.

They also have their own app to guide you through the foundation that you can download for IOS and Android devices.

The great thing is that there is a shuttle departing from the Arc de Triomphe that can bring you there. This is a great point in making this space even more accessible to the wider public.

If you prefer to get there on your own, you can get off at the metro station “Les Sablons” on line 1. You’ll have to walk for around 12 minutes from the station.

Once you’re done with your visit you can get out in the Jardin d’acclimation to continue exploring (more on this place below).

 

 

Le Corbusier

Maybe you’re more into architecture. Le Corbusier is a very famous architect of the 20th century. The mission of the foundation is to make his work known to the wider public. There are several houses and apartments that the architect worked on in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Here are the main ones you can visit:

• La Roche house, located at 10, square du Docteur Blanche. This house is such a big deal that it’s on the UNESCO world heritage list! The house was designed and built between 1923 and 1925 by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. the very pure design of the place contributed to the reputation of the architect. He is known as the master of modernity in architecture.

It’s closed on Mondays and Sundays. Get off at the metro station “Jasmin” on line 9.

• The immeuble Molitor, located at 24, rue Nungesser et Coli. It was built between 1931 and 1934. The innovation here is the fact that this is the first glass apartment building in the history of architecture. Since 2016 it’s also been added to the UNESCO world heritage list.

The space is open from Thursday to Saturday. Get off at the metro station “Michel-Ange Molitor” on line 9.

 

Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris

Yves Saint Laurent was a very famous French Haute Couture designer of the 20th century. The purpose of the museum is to showcase the genius and beauty of his creation, and his creative process. To immerse you even further into his world, the museum is located in the historic mansion where the creator worked from 1974 to 2002.

You’ll be able to admire some of his most stunning dresses, and coats, as well as some of his drawings. This place will give you a glimpse into the life of a fashion designer.

If you’re already visiting the Galliera museum this is the perfect next visit on your list!

The museum is closed on Mondays, and you can enjoy a late closing on Thursdays (9 pm). Take metro line 9 and get off at station “Alma Marceau” to visit this museum full of works of art!

 

Attractions

Let’s have a look at one of the main attractions in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.

If you’re going to Paris during the Christmas season, be sure to check out the list of attractions you must experience! You’ll have the best time ever and feel very Christmassy.

 

Jardin d’acclimatation

The Jardin d’acclimatation is a kids heaven: 47 acres of gardens, children’s rides and shows, a vegetable garden, bird watching and so much more! In 2017 LVMH (the conglomerate behind the Louis Vuitton foundation) completely remodeled the park. LVMH invested in the park and restores the historical buildings.

This park first opened in 1860 as a zoo. Its purpose evolved over the years following various historic events. From a zoo, it turned into a garden and children and family amusement park in the city. This is a great place to visit over the weekend.

It might be a bit crowded though. So if you’re able to visit during the week, be sure to check it out. If you need a break, you’ll find plenty of cafés, ice cream shops, crêpes stands, and restaurants.

The park is open every day and you can book your ticket online: either a day pass or a family pass (2 adults and 2 kids).

You can get there with metro line 1 (get off at the “Les Sablons” station). You’ll need an entry ticket to enjoy the space. The good news however is that you can also visit the Louis Vuitton Foundation freely with your entry ticket (or the other way around).

 

This post is all about the best museums and attractions in the 16th arrondissement of Paris!

 

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