Petit Palais: a free museum with a secret garden in the 8th
By Rédaction My Sweet Paris · Published 20 October 2026
The Petit Palais, the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts on avenue Winston-Churchill in the 8th arrondissement, offers free entry to its permanent collections, with no booking. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm and is about fifteen minutes' walk from Hôtel Concortel (estimate).
What is the Petit Palais?
Built by the architect Charles Girault for the 1900 World's Fair, opposite the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais became the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts in 1902. Its monumental entrance, domes and painted decoration make it a landmark in its own right.
What can you see?
- The permanent collections, free: paintings, sculptures and art objects from Antiquity to the early 20th century.
- The semicircular inner garden, ringed by a colonnade, with its café: a rare break in the heart of the 8th.
- The galleries and painted ceilings of the building itself.
- Temporary exhibitions, ticketed: check the museum website.
When should you go and how do you get there?
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm; it is closed on Mondays and some public holidays. The permanent collections are free with no booking. From the Concortel, walk down to Concorde then up through the Champs-Élysées gardens: about 15 minutes (estimate). By metro, Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau station (lines 1 and 13) is right next door.
For another free museum nearby, discover the Cernuschi Museum. More ideas in Discover Paris.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Petit Palais free?
Yes, the permanent collections are free with no booking. Temporary exhibitions are ticketed.
What are the Petit Palais opening hours?
Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. It is closed on Mondays and some public holidays.
Is there a café at the Petit Palais?
Yes, a café-restaurant opens onto the inner garden; check its hours on the museum website.
When was the Petit Palais built?
For the 1900 World’s Fair, by the architect Charles Girault; it became a museum in 1902.
Practical information
- Petit Palais, avenue Winston-Churchill, 75008 Paris — about 15 minutes on foot from the hotel (estimate).
- Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm; closed Mondays and some public holidays.
- Permanent collections free, no booking; temporary exhibitions ticketed.
- Metro: Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau (lines 1 and 13).
Read next
Sources
- Sortiraparis — Le Petit Palais, musée gratuit : horaires et expositions — 20 October 2026
- Paris je t’aime — Petit Palais, musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris — 20 October 2026
- L’Officiel des spectacles — Musée du Petit Palais — 20 October 2026