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Visiting a museum when the urban clamor subsides is one of the capital’s most refined cultural pleasures. Paris’s late-night museum openings allow art lovers, busy professionals, and night owls alike to rediscover masterpieces in an intimate atmosphere: fewer crowds, softer lighting, and sometimes even special programming (concerts, lectures, workshops). In an era where experience matters as much as content, these extended evenings meet a dual need: maximizing the institutions’ visibility and offering visitors a flexible time slot, far from the midday rush.
Paris now boasts over thirty venues – from major national institutions to private foundations – that extend their events each week. To help you plan your next after-work cultural outing, here’s a comprehensive overview, museum by museum, with descriptions, opening hours, and direct links to their official websites. They are listed by arrondissement (district).
Jeu de Paume (1st arrondissement)
Located opposite the Tuileries Garden, the Jeu de Paume is Paris’s leading institution for historical and contemporary photography. Major solo exhibitions are often accompanied by screenings and talks.
🌙 Late opening hours : Tuesdays until 9 pm (during exhibitions).
Official website : https://jeudepaume.org
Louvre Museum (1st arrondissement)
The world’s largest museum, the Louvre, transforms after nightfall: the Pyramid lights up, the crowds thin out, and the Venus de Milo regains almost its intimacy. Two evenings a week offer extended access to the encyclopedic collections.
🌙 Late opening hours : Wednesdays and Fridays until 9 pm.
Official website : https://www.louvre.fr
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MAD Paris – Museum of Decorative Arts (1st arrondissement)
Located in the Rivoli wing of the Louvre, MAD explores design, fashion, and graphic arts. Thursday evening openings perfectly complement the fashion exhibitions, often accompanied by DJ sets.
🌙 Evening opening hours : Thursdays until 9 pm (during exhibitions).
Official website : https://madparis.fr
Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection (1st arrondissement)
This glass cylinder in the 18th-century corn exchange houses the carefully curated displays of the Pinault Collection. On Fridays (and the first Saturday of each month) until 9 pm, the frescoed dome is bathed in cinematic light.
🌙 Late opening hours : Friday and the first Saturday of the month until 9 pm.
Official website : https://www.pinaultcollection.com
Museum of Jewish Art and History (3rd arrondissement)
Housed in the Hôtel de Saint-Aignan, this museum explores two millennia of Jewish culture, from antiquity to the present day, through manuscripts, textiles, ritual objects, and contemporary works. Evening visits are offered at certain times, often combined with talks and discussions.
🌙 Evening hours : Wednesdays until 9 pm (dates vary).
Official website : https://www.mahj.org
Museum of Hunting and Nature (3rd arrondissement)
Combining antique trophies, contemporary installations, and cabinets of curiosities, this baroque museum is a hidden gem in the Marais district. In the evening, the lighting highlights the carved wood and tapestries.
🌙 Late opening hours : Wednesdays until 9:30 pm (except July and August).
Official website : https://www.chassenature.org
Picasso Museum Paris (3rd arrondissement)
Housed in the Hôtel Salé, it boasts the world’s largest public collection of Picasso’s work. A nighttime stroll through his Blue, Rose, and Cubist periods is a rare privilege, especially on the first Wednesday of each month.
🌙 Late opening hours : first Wednesday of the month until 10 pm.
Official website : https://www.museepicasso.paris
Museum of Arts and Crafts (3rd arrondissement)
A former priory transformed into a “cathedral of inventions,” it showcases Foucault, Lumière, and other pioneers. On Friday evenings until 9 p.m., the machines take on an almost spectral quality.
🌙 Late opening hours : Fridays until 9 p.m.
Official website : https://www.arts-et-metiers.net
Shoah Memorial (4th arrondissement)
A place of remembrance and education, the Memorial offers historical exhibitions and audiovisual archives. The Thursday evening opening enhances the solemnity of the site.
🌙 Evening opening hours : Thursdays until 9 p.m.
Official website : https://www.memorialdelashoah.org
Cluny Museum – National Museum of the Middle Ages (5th arrondissement)
Newly renovated, Cluny Museum brings together unicorns, stained glass windows, and Gothic sculptures. The twice-monthly evening openings offer the chance to admire the Lady and the Unicorn almost in private.
🌙 Evening opening times : first and third Thursday until 9 pm.
Official website : https://www.musee-moyenage.fr
Monnaie de Paris (6th arrondissement)
The oldest French institution, the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint), combines a working artisan workshop, contemporary art exhibitions, and a view of the Seine. At night, the courtyards and the medal shop take on an almost theatrical air.
🌙 Late opening hours : Wednesdays until 9 pm.
Official website : https://www.monnaiedeparis.fr
Luxembourg Museum (6th arrondissement)
Housed within the verdant grounds of the garden of the same name, this museum was the first in France to exhibit living artists; today, it presents two major exhibitions a year, often dedicated to the masters of European painting or avant-garde movements. The Second Empire décor and understated design create an ideal setting for an evening visit.
🌙 Late opening hours : Mondays until 10 pm (during exhibitions) .
Official website : https://museeduluxembourg.fr
Delacroix Museum (6th arrondissement)
Nestled in the painter’s former studio, this intimate space showcases canvases, sketches, and souvenirs from his travels in Morocco. One Thursday evening a month, the garden suspends its murmur until 9 pm.
🌙 Late opening hours : first Thursday of the month (except August) until 9 pm.
Official website : https://www.musee-delacroix.fr
Beaux-Arts de Paris (6th arrondissement)
The magnificent studios of this two-hundred-year-old institution regularly host exhibitions by students and master artists. The late-night opening on Thursdays offers a unique opportunity to discover the chapel or the Bonaparte courtyard from a fresh perspective.
🌙 Late-night opening hours : Thursdays until 9 pm (during exhibitions).
Official website : https://www.beauxartsparis.fr
Maillol Museum (7th arrondissement)
Completely renovated, this museum presents a dialogue between the sensual sculptures of Aristide Maillol and major temporary exhibitions (Pop Art, Naïve art, etc.). Evening openings highlight the delicate chiaroscuro effect of the bronzes.
🌙 Evening opening hours : Wednesdays until 10 pm.
Official website : https://museemaillol.com
Army Museum – Invalides (7th arrondissement)
From the armor of Francis I to uniforms from 1944, the museum traces fifteen centuries of military history. On the first Friday evening, you can even admire Napoleon’s illuminated Golden Dome.
🌙 Late opening hours : first Friday of the month until 10 pm.
Official website : https://www.musee-armee.fr
Musée d’Orsay (7th arrondissement)
In the former Orléans train station, Impressionist masterpieces gain a poetic quality under the darkened glass roof. On Thursdays, the museum stays open until 9:45 pm: a perfect opportunity to admire Monet and Van Gogh without the crowds.
🌙 Late opening hours : Thursdays until 9:45 pm.
Official website : https://www.musee-orsay.fr
Quai Branly Museum – Jacques Chirac (7th arrondissement)
At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the collections of tribal art are adorned with fascinating plays of shadow after nightfall. Extended Thursdays also offer the opportunity to enjoy the lush, illuminated garden.
🌙 Evening hours : Thursdays until 10 pm.
Official website : https://www.quaibranly.fr
Hôtel de la Marine (8th arrondissement)
The latest jewel on the Place de la Concorde to reopen to the public, it unveils restored 18th-century apartments, a loggia overlooking Paris, and a treasure trove of decorative arts. Open until 9:30 pm on Fridays, the magic of the gilded woodwork is extended.
🌙 Late opening hours : Fridays until 9:30 pm.
Official website : https://hotel-de-la-marine.paris
Jacquemart-André Museum (8th arrondissement)
This Belle Époque palace houses the private collection of a couple of avid travelers. During temporary exhibitions, it stays open until 10 pm on Fridays: the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in its wood-paneled salons.
🌙 Late opening hours : Fridays until 10 pm (during exhibitions).
Official website : https://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com
Pernod Ricard Foundation (8th arrondissement)
A vibrant platform dedicated to emerging French artists, the foundation organizes exhibitions, performances, and lecture series in a flexible space. Wednesday evenings offer opportunities to engage with the artists.
🌙 Evening hours : Wednesdays until 9 pm.
Official website : https://www.fondation-pernod-ricard.com
Atelier des Lumières (11th arrondissement)
A pioneer of immersive digital art in Paris, Atelier-Lumieres projects works by Klimt, Van Gogh, and Gaudí onto 3,300 square meters of walls. On Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m., the hall literally bursts into a riot of pixels.
🌙 Late-night opening hours : Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.
Official website : https://www.atelier-lumieres.com
French Cinematheque – Méliès Museum (12th arrondissement)
In addition to its film retrospectives, the Cinémathèque houses the delightful Méliès Museum, dedicated to pioneering special effects. Every second Thursday (and Saturday), the film set-style lighting truly comes to life.
Late-night opening hours : second Thursday and Saturday until 9 pm (Thursday reserved for those under 26/students).
Official website : https://www.cinematheque.fr
Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art (14th arrondissement)
Housed in a glass structure designed by Jean Nouvel, the Fondation Cartier blends major international names with emerging young artists. At night, the building’s transparency enhances the garden’s lush vegetation, visible from the galleries.
🌙 Late opening hours : Tuesdays until 10 pm (during exhibitions).
Official website : https://fondationcartier.com
Palais de Tokyo (16th arrondissement)
A temple of contemporary art on a grand scale, the Palais de Tokyo is distinguished by its immersive installations and experimental spirit. Its fast-paced programming lends itself particularly well to evening strolls, extended by the late opening of the restaurant Les Grands Verres and the bookstore.
🌙 Evening hours : Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until 10 p.m.; Thursday until midnight (during exhibitions).
Official website : https://palaisdetokyo.com
Marmottan-Monet Museum (16th arrondissement)
The birthplace of Impressionism ( Impression, Sunrise is on display here ), this cozy museum extends its opening hours until 9 pm on Thursdays, perfect for admiring Water Lilies and Berthe Morisot without the crowds.
🌙 Late opening hours : Thursdays until 9 pm.
Official website : https://www.marmottan.fr
City of Architecture and Heritage (16th arrondissement)
Between life-size casts and galleries of contemporary architecture, the Cité offers a journey from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. Evening openings also provide easy access to its panoramic terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
🌙 Evening opening hours : Thursdays until 9 pm.
Official website : https://www.citedelarchitecture.fr
Yves Saint Laurent Museum Paris (16th arrondissement)
In the former fashion house, the designer’s legacy is revealed: sketches, prototypes, and a fitting room. Extended Thursdays evoke the excitement of fashion shows of yesteryear.
🌙 Late opening hours : Thursdays until 9 pm.
Official website : https://museeyslparis.com
Museum of Modern Art of Paris (16th arrondissement)
Designed for Expo 1937, the MAM houses works by Delaunay, Matisse, and Dufy’s monumental “Fairy Electricity .” Its Thursday evening opening (for temporary exhibitions) offers a nighttime view of the Seine through its panoramic windows.
🌙 Evening opening hours : Thursdays until 9:30 pm (temporary exhibitions).
Official website : https://mam.paris.fr
Palais Galliera – Fashion Museum of the City of Paris (16th arrondissement)
Following its renovation, the museum offers thematic explorations into the history of clothing. Rare mannequins and textiles are revealed under the soft lighting of Friday evening openings.
🌙 Evening opening hours : Fridays until 9 pm (during exhibitions).
Official website : https://palaisgalliera.paris.fr
National Maritime Museum (16th arrondissement)
Renovated in 2023, the museum takes visitors on a journey from La Rochelle to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands through models, figureheads, and immersive displays. The Thursday evening opening extends the experience until 10 pm.
🌙 Evening opening hours : Thursdays until 10 pm.
Official website : https://musee-marine.fr
Louis Vuitton Foundation (16th arrondissement)
Frank Gehry’s glass ship hosts blockbuster shows (Basquiat, Warhol) and concerts. Depending on the program, Fridays end at 9 pm or 11 pm: check before you set sail!
🌙 Late-night hours : Fridays until 9 pm or 11 pm (times may vary).
Official website : https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr
Jean-Jacques Henner Museum (17th arrondissement)
Dedicated to the Alsatian portraitist, the mansion displays frescoes, photographs, and Symbolist works. Thursdays during the season add a subdued touch to the vibrant reds of his canvases.
🌙 Late opening hours : second Thursday of the month until 9 pm (except during the summer).
Official website : https://musee-henner.fr
Citéco – City of Economics (17th arrondissement)
Located in the Hôtel Gaillard, Citéco is revitalizing economics through interactive exhibits. Young people (and others) can explore virtual markets and role-playing games there, until late on the first Thursday of the month.
🌙 Late opening hours : first Thursday of the month until 10 pm.
Official website : https://www.citeco.fr
Montmartre Museum (18th arrondissement)
On sunny days, the museum extends your stroll through the Renoir gardens until the last rays of sunlight on the hill. The exhibitions trace the artistic history of Montmartre, from its bohemian beginnings to modernity.
🌙 Late opening hours : Wednesdays in July and August until 10 pm.
Official website : https://museedemontmartre.fr
Le Plateau / Frac Île-de-France (19th arrondissement)
Born from a former EDF warehouse, Le Plateau is one of the three sites of the Frac Île-de-France. The curatorial programs there are experimental and often free.
🌙 Late opening hours : 1st Wednesday of the month until 9 pm (during exhibitions).
Official website : https://www.fraciledefrance.com
Practical advices
- Always check the official calendars before your visit: some time slots are suspended in summer or subject to a temporary exhibition.
- Consider booking online: more and more establishments require a time slot, even at night.
- Take advantage of the adjoining bars/rooftops (Musée du Quai Branly, MAD Paris, etc.) to extend the experience.
Whether you’re looking for masterpieces, architecture, or daring installations, the late-night openings of museums in Paris offer a timeless and intimate experience. So, mark your calendars!