Musée d'Orsay
"Musée d'Orsay is housed in a stunning Beaux-Arts former railway station (Gare d'Orsay, built 1900). It's the world's premier collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin. The top floor galleries feature Water Lilies, Starry Night Over the Rhone, and Ballet Dancers. The building itself—with its massive ornate clock and glass roof—is an artwork. Smaller and more manageable than the Louvre."
Logistics
Moderate
Vibe
Light-filled, elegant
Duration
2-3 hours
Best For
Impressionist art fans
The Backstory
Built as Gare d'Orsay railway station for the 1900 World's Fair. Trains stopped using it in 1939 (platforms too short for modern trains). Nearly demolished in the 1970s, it was saved and converted into a museum, opening in 1986. The conversion preserved the industrial architecture while creating intimate gallery spaces. It bridges the Louvre (ancient-1848) and Pompidou (modern) chronologically, covering 1848-1914.
Local Secret
"Book timed tickets online 3-5 days ahead. Enter via the side entrance (less crowded than main). Go directly to the top floor (Level 5) for Impressionists—most visitors start at ground level, so top floor is quieter early. The giant clock window offers stunning Seine views. Wednesday/Friday evenings (open until 9:45pm) are magical and less crowded. Allow 2-3 hours minimum. Skip the gift shop—it's overpriced."