Paris first Sunday of month

Posted by Ruth (Ithaca, NY, USA) on 08/13/25 04:28 PM

We’ll be in Paris the first Sunday of the month (next June). Is it possible to book advance no cost reservations for any of the “first Sunday free” attractions or is it literally a free for all?

If we can’t book ahead, I’d love suggestions on how to plan for this day. We were in Rome in 2024 on a first Sunday free and some of the lesser attractions (victor emanuel elevator to the rooftop; capitoline museum) were not at all crowded early in the morning. Which places might we luck out and encounter smaller crowds early Sunday morning despite the first Sunday free status?

Thanks!

Posted by Laurie Ann

Chicago, IL, USA

08/13/25 04:44 PM

602 posts

A couple of things we enjoyed on our last visit to Paris (and with free first Sundays):

Delacroix studio and musee https://www.musee-delacroix.fr/en/ You can also see nearby his murals https://smarthistory.org/delacroix-sulpice/

Musee Quai Branly with cultural exhibits from all over the French speaking world https://www.quaibranly.fr/en/useful-information/come/schedules-rates-and-access/tariffs

Posted by phred

Los Angeles

08/13/25 04:54 PM

5297 posts

In Rick's guide he has a very useful chart showing what is open on what day of the week, which in Paris turns out to be pretty important for scheduling purposes

Posted by Kate

Minnesota 🎒

08/13/25 05:30 PM

17523 posts

The OP wants to know which museums, if any, offer no-fee advance bookings for free Sundays in addition to which are open and which may have smaller crowds. Obviously, those that mandate timed-entry bookings will likely not have heavier crowds than on an ordinary day.

Just for starters, the D'orsay requires advance Free Sunday reservations (must choose a time slot) but at no cost:
https://billetterie.musee-orsay.fr/en-GB/home

Same with Musée de l'Orangerie:
https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en/whats-on/tours-and-workshops/1st-sunday-month-free-all-online-time-slot-booking-mandatory

Musée de Cluny is open and free on all first Sundays, and no reservation required:
https://www.musee-moyenage.fr/en/visiter/practical-information.html
This one MAY have lighter crowds, and we enjoyed it very much.

The best thing you can do is check the entry requirements for each museum you're interested in as booking requirements and months that free Sundays are observed can vary per attraction. For instance, Musée Rodin only observes Free Sundays from October to March; not high season.