Musée Guimet
Quick answer
Musée Guimet in Paris, France — the Musée Guimet holds the finest collection of Asian art in Europe — 45,000 objects spanning India, China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Himalayan region. Open Daily except Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; closed Tuesdays. Admission: €14 standard admission. Allow 2 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Musée Guimet at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Daily except Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | Tuesday |
| Admission | €14 standard admission |
| Free or reduced entry | Free first Sunday of each month · Under 18 EU free |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 2 hours |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings at 10 AM — the Khmer and Indian galleries are virtually empty. |
| Getting there | Metro: M9 to Iéna — exits on Place d'Iéna directly beside the museum; M6 to Trocadéro — 5-minute walk |
| Address | 6 Place d'Iéna, 75116 Paris, France |
| Official website | guimet.fr |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Musée Guimet known for?
The Musée Guimet holds the finest collection of Asian art in Europe — 45,000 objects spanning India, China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Himalayan region. Founded in 1889 by industrialist Émile Guimet, the museum moved to its present neoclassical building on Place d'Iéna in 1945 when France's Asian collections were consolidated under one roof.
The Khmer sculpture gallery is the museum's crown jewel — stone deities and relief fragments from Angkor Wat and Bayon that rival the collections of Phnom Penh. Chinese galleries range from ancient jade and bronze ritual vessels to Buddhist cave-temple frescoes and Tang dynasty ceramics. Japanese rooms display screens, prints, and lacquerware with exceptional quality.
Renovated in 2001 by architect Henri Gourdin, the museum added a modern glass pavilion for temporary exhibitions and a serene Japanese garden on the rooftop. The library holds 100,000 volumes on Asian art and archaeology, making it a research destination as well as a public museum.
Tucked in the 16th arrondissement near the Trocadéro, the Guimet sees a fraction of the Louvre's crowds — making it one of Paris's most rewarding and peaceful museum experiences. The first Sunday of each month is free, and the surrounding Passy neighbourhood offers excellent dining.
Best for: Art Lovers · History Enthusiasts
How long do you need at Musée Guimet?
Allow 2 hours. A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at Musée Guimet without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Shiva Nataraja (Dancing Shiva)
📍 Ground Floor, Indian Sculpture
A bronze Shiva as Lord of the Dance — the cosmic dancer whose movement creates and destroys the universe.
- 2
Bodhisattva from Mathura
📍 Ground Floor, Indian Sculpture
A red sandstone bodhisattva from the Gandharan-Mathura tradition that bridged Greco-Roman and Indian artistic traditions.
- 3
Chinese Buddhist Stele
📍 First Floor, Chinese Art
A limestone stele carved with Buddhist triads in high relief — an example of the cave-temple aesthetic transferred to freestanding stone.
- 4
Khmer Vishnu
📍 Ground Floor, Khmer Gallery
A sandstone figure of Vishnu from the Angkor Wat period — serene, monumental, and carved with the characteristic Khmer blend of spiritual calm and physical presence.
What are the must-see works at Musée Guimet?
4 highlights that define the collection: Shiva Nataraja (Dancing Shiva), Bodhisattva from Mathura, Chinese Buddhist Stele and more.
Shiva Nataraja (Dancing Shiva)
Chola dynasty · c. 1100
📍 Ground Floor, Indian Sculpture
A bronze Shiva as Lord of the Dance — the cosmic dancer whose movement creates and destroys the universe. Chola bronzes are among the supreme achievements of Indian metal casting, and this example shows the god's ring of fire and lifted leg in perfect balance.
Bodhisattva from Mathura
Kushan period · c. 2nd century
📍 Ground Floor, Indian Sculpture
A red sandstone bodhisattva from the Gandharan-Mathura tradition that bridged Greco-Roman and Indian artistic traditions. The figure's draped robes and meditative expression show the fusion of Hellenistic and Buddhist iconography.
Chinese Buddhist Stele
Northern Wei · c. 500
📍 First Floor, Chinese Art
A limestone stele carved with Buddhist triads in high relief — an example of the cave-temple aesthetic transferred to freestanding stone. The delicate carving and surviving polychrome traces reveal the sophistication of Northern Wei Buddhist art.
Khmer Vishnu
Angkor period · c. 12th century
📍 Ground Floor, Khmer Gallery
A sandstone figure of Vishnu from the Angkor Wat period — serene, monumental, and carved with the characteristic Khmer blend of spiritual calm and physical presence. Among the finest Khmer sculpture outside Cambodia.
Collections and highlights
- • Khmer sculpture from Angkor — stone deities and temple fragments
- • Indian art — bronzes, sculpture, and miniature painting
- • Chinese art — jade, bronze, ceramics, and Buddhist art
- • Japanese art — screens, prints, lacquerware, and netsuke
- • Central Asian and Afghan art — Gandharan sculpture
- • Korean ceramics and Buddhist painting
- • Himalayan art — Tibetan thangkas and Nepalese bronzes
- • Southeast Asian art — Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian objects
Tips for visiting Musée Guimet
- 1.
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings at 10 AM — the Khmer and Indian galleries are virtually empty. First Sunday of each month is free but busier from 11 AM.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
One of the least crowded major museums in Paris. Even on weekends, the spacious galleries never feel overwhelmed. Temporary exhibitions in the pavilion draw modest crowds.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
€14 standard admission; free first Sunday of month. Under-18 EU residents free. No timed entry required — buy at the door or online at guimet.fr.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
Restaurant inside the museum with Asian-inspired menu; excellent bistros in Passy and on Rue de Passy (5 minutes). Rooftop Japanese garden has a tea pavilion.
- 5.
Accessibility
Fully accessible with elevators. Wheelchair loan available. Large-print and audio guides for key galleries.
How do you get to Musée Guimet?
- metro M9 to Iéna — exits on Place d'Iéna directly beside the museum; M6 to Trocadéro — 5-minute walk
- bus Routes 22, 30, 32, and 63 stop on Avenue d'Iéna at the museum entrance
- walk 10 minutes from the Eiffel Tower across the Pont d'Iéna; 15 minutes from the Trocadéro gardens
Address: 6 Place d'Iéna, 75116 Paris, France
Musée Guimet: frequently asked questions
What is Musée Guimet famous for?
The finest collection of Asian art in Europe — Khmer sculpture from Angkor, Chinese Buddhist art, Japanese screens, and Indian bronzes. Less crowded than the Louvre and essential for Asian art lovers.
How long should I spend at Musée Guimet?
Plan 2 hours for the highlights of Musée Guimet. Our 4-stop route — Shiva Nataraja (Dancing Shiva), Bodhisattva from Mathura, Chinese Buddhist Stele and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is Musée Guimet best known for?
The world's finest museum of Asian art outside Asia — 45,000 objects from India, China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia in a neoclassical building in the 16th arrondissement. Key highlights include Khmer sculpture from Angkor — stone deities and temple fragments, Indian art — bronzes, sculpture, and miniature painting, Chinese art — jade, bronze, ceramics, and Buddhist art.
How do I get tickets for Musée Guimet?
Admission: €14 standard admission. Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. Official site: https://www.guimet.fr/en
How does the Musée Guimet compare to the Musée Cernuschi?
The Guimet is vastly larger and more comprehensive — 45,000 objects versus Cernuschi's 12,000, with superior Khmer and Indian collections. The Cernuschi, near Parc Monceau, specialises in Chinese art in an intimate mansion setting. Visit Guimet first; Cernuschi is a pleasant supplement for Chinese art lovers.
Is the Musée Guimet good for a first visit to Asian art?
Excellent — the chronological and geographic layout provides a clear introduction to Asian art history. Start on the ground floor with Indian and Khmer sculpture, then move to Chinese and Japanese galleries upstairs. Allow 2 hours for a meaningful overview; specialists can spend a full day.
Can I visit the rooftop Japanese garden without a ticket?
No — the Japanese garden and tea pavilion on the rooftop are inside the museum and require admission. They are included with the standard ticket and provide a serene break between gallery floors.
Is Musée Guimet open on Tuesdays?
No — Musée Guimet is closed every Tuesday (closing days: Tuesday). It is open Daily except Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Plan a different museum for that day, and check the official website for holiday changes.
What are Musée Guimet's opening hours?
Musée Guimet is open Daily except Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, and closed Tuesday. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is Musée Guimet free to visit?
Not for everyone. Standard admission: €14 standard admission. Free or reduced entry: Free first Sunday of each month; Under 18 EU free.
