Half the big museums close on Monday and the other half on Tuesday. Here is the list, and how to plan around it.
The short version
- Monday is the Orsay, Versailles, Rodin, Picasso, Marmottan, Carnavalet and the Catacombs. Do the Louvre on Monday.
- Tuesday is the Louvre and the Orangerie. Do the Orsay and Versailles on Tuesday.
- The monuments run by the national monuments service open every day: the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie and the Panthéon. So do Les Invalides, Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
- The Louvre and the Orsay are a pair: one shuts Tuesday, the other Monday. Never plan them for the same day off.
- January 1, May 1 and December 25 close almost everything. Other public holidays mostly keep the normal schedule.
- Markets close on Monday too: the Aligre market and its Beauvau hall are both shut.
Closed on Monday
- Musée d’Orsay. Closed Monday; the Orangerie across the river is open.
- Versailles. The palace and Trianon are closed Monday. The gardens and park are usually open.
- Musée Rodin, Musée Picasso, Marmottan Monet and Carnavalet. All closed Monday.
- The Catacombs. Closed Monday.
- The Musée d’Art Moderne and the Grand Palais. Closed Monday.
Monday is the day for the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, a neighborhood walk or a day trip out of Paris. It is also the best day for a guided city day: our private Paris in a Day covers the Louvre, Montmartre and Notre-Dame, all open on Monday.
Closed on Tuesday
- The Louvre. Closed Tuesday, every Tuesday.
- Musée de l’Orangerie. Closed Tuesday.
- Arc de Triomphe. Open Tuesday, but from 11:00 instead of 10:00.
Tuesday is the day for the Orsay and Versailles. Both close on Monday, so expect them to be busy on Tuesday and book the first slot. Our private Versailles trip is four and a half hours from your hotel and back.
Open every day
- Eiffel Tower, 9:30 to 23:00.
- Notre-Dame, free, every day.
- Les Invalides and Napoleon’s tomb.
- Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie.
- The Panthéon, from 12:00 on the first working Monday of the month.
- Sacré-Cœur and Père Lachaise.
Some of these close on January 1, May 1 or December 25. Check the page for the place before a holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Louvre open on Monday?
Yes. The Louvre closes on Tuesday, not Monday, and Monday is one of its busier days because the Orsay is shut. Book a timed slot.
What is open in Paris on a Monday?
The Louvre, the Orangerie, the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, Les Invalides, the Panthéon, Sacré-Cœur and the parks. Versailles’ gardens are usually open; the palace is not.
What is open in Paris on a Tuesday?
Everything on the Monday-closed list: the Orsay, Versailles, Rodin, Picasso, the Marmottan, the Carnavalet and the Catacombs. Only the Louvre and the Orangerie are shut.
Are museums open on public holidays?
Most keep their normal weekly schedule, except on January 1, May 1 and December 25, when almost everything closes. July 14 is open at most museums, and the Louvre is free that day.
Is there a tour that works on a Monday?
Yes. Our private Paris in a Day is eight hours with a driver-guide, the Louvre, Montmartre and Notre-Dame, and all three are open on Monday.
Our Most Popular Day Trips From Paris
Louvre, Montmartre and Notre Dame in eight hours with a private driver-guide.
