Paris turns inward in December. When the light fades early, the museums light up, with fall blockbusters running through winter and permanent galleries that feel almost private on cold weekdays. This guide pinpoints where to go first, how to time a visit and what passes or free entries change the game.
The essentials come fast. The Louvre stays open late on Friday until 21:00 and requires a timed reservation for all visitors according to the museum website. The Musée d’Orsay opens late on Thursday until 21:45 and many national museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month, a Ministry of Culture policy that applies in December. That already shapes an efficient, warm and art filled day.
December exhibitions in Paris to prioritise right now
Most major temporary shows launched in autumn continue through December, while permanent displays remain a sure bet. That means Impressionism at the Musée d’Orsay, the Water Lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie, Renaissance and Antiquities at the Louvre, plus rotating contemporary art seasons at the Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection and Fondation Louis Vuitton.
For a guaranteed December wow, the Orangerie’s vast Claude Monet cycle is permanent and always on. The museum confirms late opening on Friday until 21:00 and closure on Tuesday, a practical detail that helps plan evenings around the Tuileries.
Fashion often peaks in winter. Check the Palais Galliera for its current exhibition calendar and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris for seasonal couture shows. Photography lovers gravitate to the Jeu de Paume on Place de la Concorde, which runs several exhibitions in parallel and closes on Monday according to its visitor information.
Key hours, prices and simple rules that save a visit
The Louvre: closed on Tuesday, late opening Friday until 21:00, and a standard online ticket priced at 22 euros per the official site. The museum states that all visitors including those eligible for free admission must book a time slot in advance.
Musée d’Orsay: closed on Monday, late opening Thursday until 21:45. The museum confirms free entry on the first Sunday of each month for everyone, which in winter can feel surprisingly calm in the morning.
Musée de l’Orangerie: closed on Tuesday, late opening Friday until 21:00, with the permanent Water Lilies and a rotating program downstairs. Twin planning with Orsay works well because both sit on opposite banks of the Seine with a ten to fifteen minute walk between them.
National policy that helps December budgets: the Ministry of Culture indicates free admission to national museums on the first Sunday of the month and free year round for residents of the European Union aged 18 to 25. The Paris Museum Pass covers more than 50 museums and monuments and is available for 2, 4 or 6 consecutive days via the official pass website, which is useful when stacking multiple entries into shorter daylight.
A ready made winter art route without backtracking
Start at the Musée d’Orsay in the late morning to catch the galleries in full light. Take the pedestrian bridge to the Tuileries, warm up at the Musée de l’Orangerie for Monet, then cross to the Louvre courtyard by mid afternoon. With a timed ticket on Friday, the Louvre evening session stretches to 21:00 and feels less compressed.
Prefer contemporary art. Swap the Louvre for the Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection near Les Halles. Its seasonal program changes regularly and the circular galleries accomodate winter schedules well, especially with cafes close by inside the canopy of the Forum des Halles.
For fashion and photography, pair the Palais Galliera near Trocadéro with the nearby Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, or link the Jeu de Paume with the Orangerie across the gardens. Distances stay walkable and the routes remain sheltered enough for December weather.
Practical tips for December exhibitions in Paris
December brings shorter days and variable crowds. The week before Christmas and the days between Christmas and New Year tend to be busier, while early December weekdays are often quieter. A few concrete, sourced moves help lock in a smooth visit.
- Reserve time slots where required. The Louvre explicitly requires booking for all visitors, including free categories, and publishes hours and closures on its site.
- Use late nights. Orsay on Thursday until 21:45 and Orangerie on Friday until 21:00 open up calm evening windows, with details listed on each museum’s visitor information page.
- Leverage free Sundays. The Ministry of Culture confirms first Sunday free entry in national museums and free year round for EU residents aged 18 to 25.
- Cluster by neighborhood. Orsay, Orangerie, Louvre line the Seine. Bourse de Commerce sits by Les Halles. This reduces transit and maximizes time in galleries.
- Consider the Paris Museum Pass. The official pass covers more than 50 sites with 2, 4 and 6 day options, useful when stacking two or three entries per day.
Numbers matter for timing. The Louvre’s late Friday to 21:00 is published by the museum, Orsay confirms 21:45 on Thursdays, and Orangerie states 21:00 on Fridays. National free Sunday policy appears on the Ministry of Culture portal and does apply in December. When a specific temporary exhibition is on your list, always verify its end date on the museum page, because several fall blockbusters run into January and a few close before the holidays.
Where to check official details in one click. Louvre hours and ticketing sit on louvre.fr. Orsay and Orangerie publish daily calendars on musee-orsay.fr and musee-orangerie.fr. The Bourse de Commerce program appears on pinaultcollection.com and Fondation Louis Vuitton updates its agenda on fondationlouisvuitton.fr. Fashion schedules live on palaisgalliera.paris.fr and museeyslparis.com, while photography is listed on jeudepaume.org.