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Musée National Picasso-Paris
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One of 178 Things to Do in France
In short
More than 5,000 works by Pablo Picasso fill the Hôtel Salé, a 17th-century mansion in the Marais, given to the state by his heirs. A full-price ticket is €16, and under-18s and EU residents under 26 enter free. The museum opens 9:30 AM to 6 PM except Mondays, with last entry at 5:15 PM. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours.
The Musée National Picasso-Paris is the museum dedicated to Pablo Picasso in the Hôtel Salé, a 17th-century mansion at 5 Rue de Thorigny in the Marais (3rd arrondissement). It holds more than 5,000 works from every period of his career, one of the largest Picasso collections in the world, and suits art lovers and anyone exploring the Marais.
Hôtel Salé and the royal salt tax
The Hôtel Salé was built between 1656 and 1659 for Pierre Aubert, seigneur de Fontenay, a tax farmer who made his fortune collecting the gabelle, the royal tax on salt. Parisians nicknamed it the salted mansion, and the name stuck. Its grand staircase and courtyard garden survive.
Paid in art: the dation after Picasso's death
After Picasso's death in 1973, his heirs paid part of the inheritance tax by giving works of art to the state, a procedure called dation. The first selection was allocated in 1979, and a second followed through the heirs of his widow Jacqueline in 1990. The architect Roland Simounet adapted the mansion between 1979 and 1985, and the museum opened in 1985. After a five-year closure for renovation, it reopened on 25 October 2014 with more space and the original staircase and rooms restored.
Sculpture, ceramics and Picasso's own Cézannes
The collection spans paintings, sculptures, drawings, ceramics, prints and notebooks, plus tens of thousands of archive items, and it is especially strong in sculpture. Picasso's own art collection, with works by Cézanne, Renoir, Degas and Matisse, is also kept here and shown at times. Displays rotate, so not every piece is on view.
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Key information
🏛️Building: Hôtel Salé, a 17th-century Marais mansion
📅Opened: 1985
🖼️Collection: One of the largest Picasso collections in the world, from the artist's estate
📍Address: 5 rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris
💰Currency: Euro (€ EUR)
🕕Time Zone: Central European Time (UTC+1; UTC+2 in summer)
🎧Audio guide: 2 languages
Explore the area
Place des Vosges 700 m
Musée Carnavalet 400 m
Musée Cognacq-Jay 400 m
Centre Pompidou 1.2 km
Saint-Paul metro (Line 1) 700 m
✦
Plan your visit to Musée National Picasso-Paris
Dates, opening hours and how to get there are below. Booking ahead secures your preferred day.
Highlights Include:
Picasso
- Paintings from every period
- Sculpture, ceramics and drawings
- Personal archives
Picasso's collection
- Works by artists Picasso owned, such as Cézanne and Matisse (displayed at times)
Building
- Grand staircase of the Hôtel Salé
- Marais courtyard and garden
What They Offer
Audio guide
€5 full, €4 reduced
Cloakroom
Free cloakroom on level –1
Café
Café in the museum garden
Visit duration
1.5–2 hours
Timed entry required No
Audio guide
Follow Picasso's career room by room with the audio guide.
Marais walk
Combine with Place des Vosges and the Musée Carnavalet nearby.
Accessibility
Lifts serve the floors; contact the museum for accessibility services.
Age limits
None.
What to pack
Booking confirmation, ID for free entry
What to wear
Comfortable shoes
Not allowed
Suitcases, travel bags and large backpacks, touching the works, flash photography
Amenities
Free cloakroom, café, bookshop, restrooms; rooftop café and shop keep the museum's hours
Tips for visiting Musée National Picasso-Paris
- Book a time slot online for priority access.
- Visit on a weekday morning for quieter rooms.
- Explore the Marais streets and Place des Vosges nearby.
- Check what temporary exhibitions are on, as displays change often.
- Come on the first Sunday of the month for free entry, but expect queues.
Driving
Limited parking in the Marais; use the metro.
Public transportation
Metro Line 1 (Saint-Paul, about 700 m away) or Line 8 (Saint-Sébastien – Froissart or Chemin Vert).
Address
The Musée Picasso is at 5 rue de Thorigny in the Marais, 3rd arrondissement. The Musée Carnavalet and Musée Cognacq-Jay are each about 400 m away, Place des Vosges 700 m and the Centre Pompidou 1.2 km.
Opening Hours
- MondayClosed
- Tuesday09:30-18:00
- Wednesday09:30-18:00
- Thursday09:30-18:00
- Friday09:30-18:00
- Saturday09:30-18:00
- Sunday09:30-18:00
Last entry: 5:15 PM
Closed on Mondays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; closes at 5:00 PM on 24 and 31 December.
Rooms are cleared 20 minutes before closing. On 24 and 31 December last entry is at 4:15 PM.
Special events
Free admission on the first Sunday of each month, without reservation.
Best times to visit
Opening time on weekdays.
Best days to visit
Tuesday to Friday.
Best months to visit
Any time.
Admission tickets
Prices and how to get tickets.
Musée Picasso Paris: Timed Ticket
Official ticket with priority entry for your time slot.
- Permanent collection and exhibitions
Ticket prices
€16 full price; €12 per adult on the family rate; free for under 18s, EU residents under 26 and on the first Sunday of each month
Visitor policy
Cancellation and prepayment
Tickets are generally non-refundable; check the museum's booking terms.
Children and admission
Under 18s enter free.
Groups
Groups of 7 or more must reserve.
Pets
Only assistance dogs are admitted.
Photography
Personal photography without flash is generally allowed in the permanent collection; some temporary exhibitions forbid it.
Bags
Large bags and suitcases must be left in the cloakroom or are refused; bags are checked at the entrance.
Smoking
Not permitted inside the museum.
Accepted payment
Online or at the ticket office by card. VISAMasterCard
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Travelers are asking
Only the first Sunday of the month. No bookings are taken that day, so arrive early and expect a queue at the door.
Large backpacks and travel bags are not allowed; use the free cloakroom for smaller items and check with the museum.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers based on the Musée Picasso Paris official information.
Prices & payment
A full price ticket costs about 16 euros (roughly USD 18) in 2026. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month, for visitors under 18 and for EU residents under 26 with ID.
Timing & weather
It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 am to 6 pm, with last admission at 5.15 pm. It is closed on Mondays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
It reopened on 25 October 2014 after a five-year closure.
Most visitors spend 1.5–2 hours at Musée National Picasso-Paris.
General
The mansion was built in the 1650s for Pierre Aubert, who grew rich collecting the salt tax. Parisians nicknamed it salé, meaning salted, and the name stuck.
No. France has other Picasso museums, including one in Antibes on the Riviera. The Paris museum in the Marais holds the largest collection, based on the Dation Picasso.
Yes. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month, without reservation.
Yes. There is a café, a bookshop and a free cloakroom.
The Musée Carnavalet and Musée Cognacq-Jay are about 400 metres away, Place des Vosges 700 metres and the Centre Pompidou 1.2 km.
Yes. It costs €5 (€4 reduced) and covers the permanent collection in six languages, including English.
Yes. The museum accepts the Paris Museum Pass.
Musée National Picasso-Paris is in France. The street address and directions are under How to get there on this page.
Booking
The museum holds more than 5,000 works by Picasso across all media, plus tens of thousands of archive items. Only a selection is shown at any one time, and displays rotate.
Getting there
Saint-Paul on line 1 is about 700 metres away. Saint-Sébastien – Froissart and Chemin Vert on line 8 are also close.
You can reach Musée National Picasso-Paris by public transport or by car. Both routes are described under How to get there on this page.