Last Updated on October 31, 2025 by Dee
There’s something about Paris that makes you want to sketch everything. The light, the architecture, the way people sit in cafés like they’re posing for a painting—it’s all ridiculously inspiring.
I spent years teaching art, and Paris was always that place students dreamed about. The Louvre. The Musée d’Orsay. Montmartre. But here’s the thing: you don’t need a week to experience Paris as an art lover. A weekend is enough if you know where to go.
This isn’t about rushing through the Mona Lisa crowd (though we’ll talk about that). It’s about slow travel—wandering through galleries, sitting in sculpture gardens, and actually feeling the art instead of just ticking boxes.
So grab your sketchbook (or your phone—no judgment), and let’s map out the perfect creative weekend in Paris.
Art Lover’s Guide to Paris Itinery
Friday Evening: Arrive & Ease Into the Art Scene
You’ll probably land in Paris late afternoon or early evening. Don’t try to cram in a museum visit. Instead, head to Le Marais and wander.
This neighborhood is packed with small, independent galleries. Pop into a few—most are free. My favorite? Galerie Perrotin on Rue de Turenne. It’s contemporary, bold, and always surprising.
Grab dinner somewhere cozy (I love Breizh Café for savory crêpes), then take an evening stroll along the Seine. The street artists near Notre-Dame are out in full force, and there’s something magical about watching someone paint the city by lamplight.
Where to Stay:
Find accomodations in Le Marais or the Latin Quarter—both are walkable to most galleries and museums. You’ll want to be central so you’re not wasting time on the Métro.
Saturday: The Big Hitters (But Make It Intentional)
Morning: Musée d’Orsay (8:30 AM)
Get there early. Like, really early. The Musée d’Orsay opens at 9:30 AM, but if you book a timed ticket for the first slot, you’ll beat the crowds.
This is where Impressionism comes alive. Monet’s water lilies. Renoir’s dancers. Van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhône. It’s housed in an old railway station, so even the building is art.
Don’t rush. Sit in front of a painting that speaks to you. Sketch it if you want. That’s the whole point of slow travel—you’re not here to check boxes.
Pro tip: The café on the fifth floor has a giant clock window overlooking the city. Grab a coffee and soak it in.
Book your Musée d’Orsay ticket here via GetYourGuide—skip-the-line tickets are worth every penny.
Lunch: Rue Cler Market
Head to the 7th arrondissement and grab lunch at the Rue Cler Market. It’s not touristy (well, not too touristy), and you can pick up fresh bread, cheese, and fruit for a picnic.
Take it to the Rodin Museum gardens. Yes, the museum itself is stunning (hello, The Thinker), but the gardens are where you’ll want to linger. Sculptures tucked between rose bushes. Quiet corners to sit and sketch.
Entrance to the gardens is only a few euros, or free if you have a museum pass.
Afternoon: Musée de l’Orangerie
If you only see one thing in Paris, make it Monet’s Water Lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie. Two oval rooms, floor-to-ceiling paintings, natural light pouring in. It’s meditative.
This museum is small, so you won’t feel overwhelmed. Spend an hour here, then walk through the Tuileries Garden toward Place de la Concorde.
Book your Orangerie ticket here.
Evening: Montmartre
Take the Métro to Abbesses and walk up to Montmartre. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, Sacré-Cœur will be crowded. But the side streets? Pure magic.
Stop at Place du Tertre, where street artists paint portraits and sell watercolors. It’s kitschy, sure, but it’s also Paris at its most romantic.
Have dinner at La Maison Rose (the pink café you’ve seen on Pinterest a thousand times) or grab a bottle of wine and sit on the steps of Sacré-Cœur at sunset.
Sunday: Hidden Gems & Slow Mornings
Morning: Musée Rodin (Quieter Sunday Slot)
If you didn’t make it to the Rodin Museum on Saturday, Sunday morning is perfect. It’s quieter than the big museums, and the gardens are even more peaceful.
Bring a sketchbook. Seriously. The sculptures are begging to be drawn.
Late Morning: Musée Marmottan Monet
This one’s off the tourist trail, and that’s exactly why you should go. It’s in the 16th arrondissement (a quick Métro ride), and it holds the largest collection of Monet paintings in the world.
Impression, Sunrise—the painting that gave Impressionism its name—is here. The crowds are thinner, the pace is slower, and you’ll actually have space to breathe.
Lunch: Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots
Okay, these are touristy. But they’re also iconic. Hemingway wrote here. Picasso sketched here. You’re allowed to indulge.
Order a croque monsieur and people-watch. That’s art in itself.
Afternoon: Shakespeare and Company
Not a gallery, but every art lover should visit this bookshop. It’s crammed with poetry, novels, and art books. Upstairs, there’s a library where writers used to sleep in exchange for shelving books.
Grab a book (I always leave with something), then walk along the Seine toward Île de la Cité.
Final Stop: Centre Pompidou (If You Have Energy Left)
The Centre Pompidou is modern art heaven. It’s bold, weird, and colorful—basically the opposite of the Louvre.
If you’re museumed-out, just grab a drink at the rooftop bar. The view over Paris is unbeatable.
Get your Centre Pompidou tickets here.
Practical Info: Paris Art Weekend Essentials
Getting Around:
The Métro is your best friend. Buy a carnet (10-ticket booklet) at any station. It’s cheaper than buying single tickets.
Where to Stay:
I’d recommend Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, or the Latin Quarter—all walkable to major galleries.
Museum Pass:
If you’re hitting more than three museums, get the Paris Museum Pass. It covers most major spots and includes skip-the-line access. Grab it here.
Best Time to Visit:
Spring (April-May) or fall (September-October). Summer is packed, winter is gray.
Final Thoughts
Paris doesn’t need to be rushed. You don’t need a week to fall in love with it. A weekend is enough if you slow down, pay attention, and let the art sink in.
Sketch something. Sit in a garden. Order the wine. That’s the kind of travel that sticks with you.
Ready to plan your Paris art weekend? Download my free Paris Art Lover’s Checklist—it’s got all the museums, hidden gems, and a suggested itinerary in one printable PDF.