Tickets for Musée d'Orsay: Private Guided Tour

One of the world's largest and most authoritative museums, the Louvre's magnificent classical silhouette (and funky glass pyramid) are well-known attractions in the center of Paris. But as nice as the Louvre is from the outside, its real magic is in the inside. The Louvre's collection ranges from Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Greek antiquities, with masterpieces by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt. With 35,000 works of art (all created before 1848), it's a big, and worthwhile, commitment. The Louvre is one of Paris's Big Three museums; the other two are the Museé d'Orsay (with Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art from the years 1848-1914) and the Centre Pompidou (with 20th-century works created after 1914).

Europe's largest collection of modern and contemporary art (oh yes, there is a difference!) is housed in a building that was deemed to be architecturally daring in the 20th century. The building features plumbing and piping on the outside and Picasso and Pollock on the inside. And to top it all off, from the rooftop you'll find gorgeous views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. The Centre Pompidou is one of Paris's 'Big Three' museums – the other two being the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay. The Louvre holds art and artifacts from up until 1848. The Musée d'Orsay contains the world's greatest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, all produced between the years 1848-1914. The Centre Pompidou holds 20th and 21st-century works (created after 1914). Altogether, the three museums house a complete timeline of Western art history.

This luxurious 17th-century French palace is a masterclass in excess. It has hundreds of acres of magnificently landscaped gardens, more than 700 rooms, a large collection of French Renaissance art, an opera house, and a 75-meter long hall of mirrors lined with priceless statues and busts. There are no half-measures in its conception or execution – it has more than 1,200 fireplaces! It's one of the most visited attractions in France, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.