Musée d'Orsay

Located in a former Beaux-Arts railway station, the opulent Musée d’Orsay would be worth a visit even if there was nothing in it. But happily, it’s also home to a rather splendid collection of art…

Perched on the Left Bank of the Seine, the site, once slated for demolition, has only been open as a museum since 1986. However, it is now an essential part of the Parisian art scene, filling the gap between the older works found in the Louvre, and the newer pieces on display in the Musée National d’Art Moderne.

Largely focusing on French works created between 1848–1914, the Orsay is famous for its world-beating spread of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including works by Monet, Cézanne, and van Gogh.

The gallery also features sculptures by the likes of Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel, while for budding influencers, the huge old clock on the fifth floor must be one of the most Instagrammable spots in the entire city.