Free museum, paid exhibition? A useful distinction.

A museum’s permanent collection and its temporary exhibitions can have different admission rules. At the Petit Palais, the permanent collection and garden are free. At the Musée d’Art Moderne and Bourdelle, individual visitors can also enter the permanent collections without paying. A ticketed exhibition inside any of these museums is a separate outing with its own conditions.

Start by choosing what you actually want to see. If a particular exhibition is the reason for going, read that exhibition’s price and dates. If the permanent collection is the plan, use the museum’s visitor information. Guided tours, group visits and café purchases can add costs even where the collection is free.

Hours deserve the same attention. A late exhibition opening does not necessarily extend access to every room in the building. And free admission is not the same as a guaranteed place: capacity limits and exceptional closures still matter.

On our discovery pages, Place identifies the venue and Event identifies a dated programme. Their prices are recorded separately. That is why a free museum can appear in Free while a paid exhibition at the same address does not. Follow the linked official sources for eligibility rules and changes before travelling.