Museum Night 2026: our tips for a successful evening Plan your travel for a free cultural evening in Paris and the Île-de-France region

On Saturday, May 23, 2026, many museums in the Île-de-France region will open their doors free of charge until late at night! A unique opportunity to (re)discover the cultural treasures of the capital and the Île-de-France region in a festive and friendly atmosphere. Here are some tips for preparing your visit.

🌙 Good to know: European Museum Night is an event organized every year throughout Europe. In Paris, dozens of museums take part, from the most iconic to the most confidential.

📆 Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
🕒 Times : in the evening, until midnight (or even later depending on the venues)
🎟️ Price: free in all participating museums (list available on the official website)
📍 Where: Paris and the entire Île-de-France region

To make the most of the evening and get from one museum to another, public transport is your best ally!

Tip: the route planner in the Bonjour RATP app will help you find the best route in just a few clicks, while taking into account current or upcoming disruptions.

Stations to prioritize for Paris's iconic museums

Museum / Venue	Recommended stations
Grand Palais	Franklin D. Roosevelt Champs Élysées Clemenceau Invalides
Petit Palais	Franklin D. Roosevelt Champs Élysées Clemenceau Invalides
Palais de Tokyo	Iéna / Alma Marceau Pont de l'Alma
Musée des Arts décoratifs	Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre Tuileries Pyramides
Cité des sciences et de l'industrie	Porte de la Villette Porte de la Villette
Musée de la Marine	Trocadéro
Musée des Arts et Métiers	Arts-et-Métiers Réaumur-Sébastopol Station
Musée du Luxembourg	Saint Sulpice Mabillon Rennes Luxembourg
Fondation Louis Vuitton	Les sablons
Musée de l'Orangerie des Tuileries	Concorde
Musée d'Orsay	Solférino Musée d'Orsay
Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac	Alma-Marceau / Iéna Ecole Militaire Bir Hakeim Pont de l'Alma / Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel
Hôtel des invalides - Musée de l'Armée	La Tour Maubourg Varenne Invalides
Palais de la Porte Dorée	Porte Dorée Porte Dorée
Institut du monde arabe	Jussieu Cardinal Lemoine
Musée de l'homme	Trocadéro
La Monnaie de Paris	Pont Neuf Odéon Saint-Michel Châtelet Saint-Michel Notre-Dame
Musée Rodin	Varenne Invalides Invalides
Palais Galliera	Iéna / Alma-Marceau Pont de l'Alma
Musée de la Vie romantique	Saint-Georges Pigalle Blanche
Musée de Montmartre	Lamarck-Caulaincourt Anvers

Stations to prioritize for the Île-de-France region's iconic museums

Museum / Venue	Recommended stations
Château de Versailles	Versailles Château - Rive Gauche
Château de Sceaux	Sceaux / Bourg-la-Reine / Parc de Sceaux / Croix de Berny
MAC VAL	Porte de Choisy then MAC VAL

Cycling

Renting a bike can be the perfect option in certain situations: when stations are too crowded, for short trips between museums, or if you missed the last service on your line.
With the Bonjour RATP app, you can rent a Dott, Lime, Voi or Vélib bike near you in just a few clicks and without leaving the app. Find more info and a demo in this article.

Here are some tips to make the most of the evening.

1. Anticipate peak crowds
Heavy crowds are expected between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. in tourist areas. If possible, favor the early hours of the evening or shift your visits to later at night.

2. Mix it up… and the museums too!
Museum Night is also an opportunity to discover lesser-known and therefore less crowded places. Think about neighborhood museums!

3. Prepare your transport ticket in advance
Avoid waiting in line at ticket machines by buying your tickets directly in the Bonjour RATP app.

4. Keep an eye on traffic updates
Heavy crowds are expected especially around Châtelet – Les Halles, Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame, Louvre – Rivoli, Trocadéro, Invalides, Bastille and République.

5. Plan your journey back
Check the times of your last metro, train, bus, tram and RER services in advance so you can get home with peace of mind.