Paris: Museums: Stunning Exhibits and Gorgeous Architecture

The best way to take in the city’s celebrated art is to purchase the Museums and Monuments Card, which admits one person to 70 attractions for a single price; such hot spots as the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower, are all included. When you’re exhausted from braving the crowds at these typical destinations, explore some of the city’s less known but equally interesting museums, most of which are located within walking distance of each other and provide access to Métro stations, parks, and cafes.

The Cluny Museum, for instance, displays a fascinating tapestry from the Middle Ages, "The Lady and the Unicorn." This lush series of panels portrays a woman flanked by a unicorn and a lion in a fantastic garden; the rich symbolism holds the attention of the medieval buff and the merely curious alike. Although the Museums and Monuments Card does not pertain to the Marmottan Museum, it’s worth the admission fee for fans of Impressionism. Here, over 100 Monet paintings illuminate the walls with soft color. For those who prefer art with an edge, the City Museum of Modern Art provides a refreshing and more manageable alternative to the Centre Pompidou, Paris’s massive (and massively crowded) modern art gallery.

The Style and Costume Museum across the street reminds visitors of Paris’s sartorial sway even in centuries past, with exhibits that include selections from Marie Antoinette’s wardrobe. To appreciate French enthusiasm for Eastern culture, visit the Guimet, Europe’s best collection of Buddhist art, and the ultra-modern Arab World Museum, focusing on Arabic civilization. And after a long day of museum going, treat yourself to a steam bath and massage at the Paris Mosque.