Musée Picasso Paris
Quick answer
Musée Picasso Paris in Paris, France — after Picasso's death in 1973 his heirs paid France's inheritance taxes with works from his personal collection. Open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM; closed Mondays. Admission: €14 standard admission. Allow 2–3 hours and book a timed ticket ahead.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Musée Picasso Paris at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | Mondays |
| Admission | €14 standard admission |
| Booking | Book a timed ticket in advance — peak slots sell out |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Tuesday or Wednesday at 10:30 AM opening — timed entry means controlled crowds. |
| Getting there | Metro: Saint-Paul (Line 1) or Saint-Sébastien–Froissart (Line 8) — 5-minute walk |
| Address | 5 Rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris, France |
| Official website | museepicassoparis.fr |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Musée Picasso Paris known for?
The Musée Picasso Paris holds the world's most comprehensive collection of Pablo Picasso's work, housed in the Hôtel Salé — a grand seventeenth-century mansion in the Marais. The collection was formed from the artist's personal holdings, donated by his heirs to settle inheritance taxes in 1979.
Picasso kept an extraordinary archive of his own work — paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, and prints spanning every period from Blue and Rose to Cubism, Neoclassicism, and late expressionism. The museum also holds his collection of works by Cézanne, Matisse, Rousseau, and other artists he admired.
The Hôtel Salé was restored specifically for the collection, with galleries arranged chronologically across the mansion's floors. The Marais setting, near where Picasso lived and worked in Paris, adds resonance to the visit.
Renovated and expanded in 2014, the museum now displays more of the collection than ever before, with rotating exhibitions exploring specific periods and themes in Picasso's prolific career.
Best for: Modern Art Lovers · Picasso Enthusiasts · Art Lovers
How long do you need at Musée Picasso Paris?
Allow 2–3 hours. A focused route through 5 must-see highlights at Musée Picasso Paris without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Self-Portrait
📍 Blue Period Gallery
A Blue Period self-portrait from Picasso's early Paris years, painted when he was just 20 and struggling in the city.
- 2
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (preparatory studies)
📍 Cubism Gallery
Studies and related works surrounding Picasso's revolutionary Cubist masterpiece, which hangs at MoMA in New York.
- 3
The Embrace
📍 Neoclassical Gallery
A Neoclassical period painting of two figures in passionate embrace, showing Picasso's return to monumental figuration.
- 4
Large Still Life with a Pedestal Table
📍 Surrealist Gallery
A biomorphic still life from Picasso's Surrealist period, with distorted forms and vivid colour.
- 5
The Death of Casagemas
📍 Blue Period Gallery
Picasso's memorial to his close friend Carlos Casagemas, a foundational work of the Blue Period.
What are the must-see works at Musée Picasso Paris?
5 highlights that define the collection: Self-Portrait, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (preparatory studies), The Embrace and more.
Self-Portrait
Pablo Picasso · 1901
📍 Blue Period Gallery
A Blue Period self-portrait from Picasso's early Paris years, painted when he was just 20 and struggling in the city.
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (preparatory studies)
Pablo Picasso · 1907
📍 Cubism Gallery
Studies and related works surrounding Picasso's revolutionary Cubist masterpiece, which hangs at MoMA in New York.
The Embrace
Pablo Picasso · 1925
📍 Neoclassical Gallery
A Neoclassical period painting of two figures in passionate embrace, showing Picasso's return to monumental figuration.
Large Still Life with a Pedestal Table
Pablo Picasso · 1931
📍 Surrealist Gallery
A biomorphic still life from Picasso's Surrealist period, with distorted forms and vivid colour.
The Death of Casagemas
Pablo Picasso · 1901
📍 Blue Period Gallery
Picasso's memorial to his close friend Carlos Casagemas, a foundational work of the Blue Period.
Collections and highlights
- • Picasso paintings — all periods
- • Cubist and Neoclassical works
- • Sculpture and ceramics
- • Drawings and prints — 5,000+ works
- • Picasso's personal art collection (Cézanne, Matisse)
- • Blue and Rose Period paintings
- • Late expressionist works
- • Temporary thematic exhibitions
Tips for visiting Musée Picasso Paris
- 1.
Best time to visit
Tuesday or Wednesday at 10:30 AM opening — timed entry means controlled crowds.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
Very popular; timed tickets manage flow but expect full galleries.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
Around €14 standard admission; timed booking essential online.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
Marais restaurants and falafel on Rue des Rosiers.
- 5.
Accessibility
Historic mansion with lift access to all floors after 2014 renovation.
How do you get to Musée Picasso Paris?
- metro Saint-Paul (Line 1) or Saint-Sébastien–Froissart (Line 8) — 5-minute walk
- walk Marais location on Rue de Thorigny, near Place des Vosges
- bus Multiple buses along Rue de Rivoli and Boulevard Beaumarchais
Address: 5 Rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris, France
Musée Picasso Paris: frequently asked questions
Where is the museum?
It is in the Marais district, a short walk from the Centre Pompidou.
Are tickets timed?
Yes, advance booking with a time slot is strongly recommended.
How long should I spend at Musée Picasso Paris?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights of Musée Picasso Paris. Our 5-stop route — Self-Portrait, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (preparatory studies), The Embrace and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is Musée Picasso Paris best known for?
After Picasso's death in 1973 his heirs paid France's inheritance taxes with works from his personal collection. That extraordinary trove formed the foundation of the Musée Picasso, which opened in the restored Hôtel Salé in 1985. Key highlights include Self-Portrait, 1901, The Two Brothers, La Célestine.
How do I get tickets for Musée Picasso Paris?
Admission: €14 standard admission. Book a timed-entry ticket on the official website before you go — popular slots sell out in peak season. Official site: https://www.museepicassoparis.fr/en
Is Les Demoiselles d'Avignon here?
The finished painting is at MoMA in New York, but the Picasso Museum holds preparatory studies and related works from the Demoiselles period.
Are timed tickets mandatory?
Yes — the museum operates timed entry. Book online in advance, especially in summer and on weekends.
Does the museum show Picasso's ceramics?
Yes — the collection includes hundreds of ceramic plates, vases, and sculptures from Picasso's Vallauris period.
Is Musée Picasso Paris open on Mondays?
No — Musée Picasso Paris is closed every Monday. It is open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM. Plan a different museum for that day, and check the official website for holiday changes.
What are Musée Picasso Paris's opening hours?
Musée Picasso Paris is open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM, and closed Mondays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is Musée Picasso Paris free to visit?
No — standard admission is €14 standard admission.
