Can you imagine walking through any of the museums in Paris at night without crowds? Well, on 17 May, Museum Night in Paris is organised, one of the most important cultural events in the city. Ready for an unforgettable experience? It’s free!
In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to enjoy it to the fullest, without queues and stress-free. That night is the perfect moment to hire one of our lockers in Paris so you can move freely around the great Parisian museums. We are open 24 hours a day and also offer USB chargers in case your mobile phone runs out of battery.
What is Museum Night in Paris?
Museum Night in Paris is celebrated every year; it is an unmissable event for all art and culture lovers.
Since 2005, thousands of European museums open their doors at night completely free, with extended hours and numerous special activities. A total of 30 European countries participate in this initiative, and, naturally, France is one of them.
During that night, you can explore museums for free in Paris and also take part in guided visits, interactive workshops, concerts, and film screenings. However, the best part is the atmosphere, as tourists, families, and students alike enjoy this event. We’d like to highlight that approximately 2 million people visit museums that night.
When is it celebrated?
Museum Night in Paris this year will be celebrated on Saturday, 17 May.
Regarding the timetable, each museum has its own schedule; nevertheless, most museums open their doors from 6pm or 7pm until midnight or even later.
Most activities (including entry) are free, and, likewise, do not require prior booking. However, some more exclusive experiences may have limited capacity.
We would like to highlight that this cultural event is for everyone, characterised by its inclusiveness, diversity, and accessibility. Therefore, many museums offer activities for children and materials in different languages.
Ideas for a cultural route
At LOCK & enjoy! we recommend you plan a route around the museums you want to see to make the most of your time; however, here are some ideas:
1. Route through the great museums
Can you imagine seeing the Mona Lisa at night? We are sure that visiting the Louvre Museum at night will be a unique experience. Near this museum, you have our new lockers at Notre-Dame so you can conveniently leave your belongings and start your route.
The Musée d’Orsay is also an excellent choice, as its modernist building is fully illuminated at night.
The Centre Pompidou also opens its doors on this special night. Make sure to head up to its terrace and admire the wonderful night views. Moreover, once you finish your visit to this centre, just a 10-minute walk away you’ll find our lockers at Châtelet-Les Halles, allowing you to freely enjoy dinner or Paris’s nightlife.
2. More intimate experiences
Another route idea is to visit a selection of museums that are not so well-known but worth visiting, such as the Musée Rodin, which lights up its gardens at night.
Afterwards, head to the Musée de la Vie Romantique, and finally, Victor Hugo’s House, as they hold theatrical guided visits.
3. Original suggestions
If you want a more dynamic route, we recommend visiting the Musée de la Magie, the Musée Curie, or the Musée de l’Homme. The latter is very close to our lockers near the Eiffel Tower.
Which museums participate in the event?
Most museums in Paris participate in this event, both the famous ones and those not so well-known. Although the official list is not yet available, take note of the following:
- Louvre
- Orsay
- Centre Pompidou
- Petit Palais
- Carnavalet
- Musée d’Art Moderne
- Zadkine
- Bourdelle
Practical tips to fully enjoy the night
For Museum Night in Paris to be a complete success during your visit to the city, we recommend you consider the practical advice we provide in this article.
Before starting, plan in advance what you will do. To do this, check the full programme a few days beforehand to verify which museums are participating and what activities they offer.
Additionally, choose a specific area to group museums by neighbourhood (Marais, Rive Gauche, Montmartre, etc.) to minimise travel. Nevertheless, you also have the Paris metro, considered one of the best in the world, as it stops near virtually all points of interest.
Remember this is an important cultural event, both for Parisians and tourists, so queues are very common, especially at the most popular museums. We advise you to arrive early or, alternatively, choose other less crowded options.
Lastly, become part of the European cultural movement and share your experience on social media with the official hashtag #NuitDesMusées.
Experience the city like never before with Museum Night in Paris! If you stay longer, there are numerous tourist activities in Paris to continue exploring one of the most beautiful and important cities in the world.
Sevilla