Musée d'Orsay

This is simply the best art Museum in Paris. The selection of exhibits is breathtaking! The layout and structure of the museum offers a calm atmosphere for everyone to explore and enjoy. So much to see from sculptures to furniture and above all masterpieces of the art world. If you have experienced the madness of the Louvre before visiting I suggest walking around the ground floor to settle into the flow of the museum before heading to the top and working your way down. Don’t miss the arches where there are some fascinating pieces. There are so many sections to this museum all beautifully laid out. The top floor cafe is really quite good but the service team behind front of house are a little slow and unconnected which is unusual given how good every else is. Do use the cloakroom facilities carrying a rucksack around will detract from the experience. It’s free. Allow 4.30-5hrs if you want to see it all and believe me you will not want to leave. The building is fabulous. Do not leave Paris before visiting this museum.

An absolutely amazing museum and a must-see in Paris! The Musée d’Orsay has a stunning collection of masterpieces by some of the greatest artists in history, including Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas, Manet and Cézanne. Seeing these iconic paintings in person is a truly special experience. The former railway station is also breathtaking, with its magnificent architecture and beautiful glass roof. The museum is well organized, and there is so much to admire in every room. A wonderful experience for anyone who appreciates art and Impressionism. Definitely worth visiting!

Really great museum. Although the stunning impressionist painting takes away all the attention and other exhibits are neglected. They should just make this one for impressionism only. Very crowded. Particularly the Vincent Van Gogh gallery. Most people just snap a photo and move on. Then why come all the way to the museum. Books shops are well stocked. The cafe is very crowded. They should provide more seating space in the galleries, it's very tiring, particularly for an old person like me. Go early. There is way too much to see. The museum is very nice, nice decor, convenient location. A must visit in Paris.

Visited Musée d'Orsay and honestly one of the best museums I've been to — the building itself (an old Beaux-Arts train station) is stunning, and what really makes it special is that you can walk through it in art-historical order, essentially watching modern art evolve room by room. You start with the academic/official painting style of the mid-1800s — polished, historical/mythological subjects by artists like Meissonier and Winterhalter. Then Realism kicks in as a reaction to that, with Courbet leading the charge (his "A Burial at Ornans" is here, along with the famously controversial "The Origin of the World"). Manet acts as the bridge into modern life painting — his "Olympia" and "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe" scandalized people at the time for putting modern subjects into classical poses. Then you hit the Impressionism section, which is really the heart of the museum. Monet's Water Lilies and his train station painting are here, along with Degas' ballet dancers and his bronze "Petite Danseuse de quatorze ans," Renoir's "Bal du moulin de la Galette," plus Pissarro and Berthe Morisot rounding out the movement. From there it moves into Post-Impressionism — Van Gogh's self-portrait, "Starry Night Over the Rhône," and "Bedroom in Arles" are incredible in person, the brushwork is just different up close. Cézanne's still lifes and Mont Sainte-Victoire paintings show how he was already pushing toward what would become Cubism. Gauguin's Tahitian work and Seurat's pointillism are also here. Sculpture-wise, Rodin's "Gates of Hell" and studies for "The Thinker" are worth seeking out, and Camille Claudel's work deserves way more attention than it usually gets — she was historically overshadowed by her ties to Rodin but her pieces are genuinely powerful. The museum wraps up with early Modernism — Bonnard's cozy, colorful interior scenes from the Nabis movement, and Delaunay's early color experiments heading toward abstraction. Walking it in this order really helped me understand how one movement grew directly out of the last, instead of just seeing famous paintings in isolation. Highly recommend budgeting a few hours minimum — there's a lot to take in.

Visited Musée d’Orsay during the evening opening at around 6:30 PM. The museum offers extended opening hours on Thursdays, which is a great option for visitors who prefer a less crowded experience. The crowd was very manageable, allowing us to enjoy the exhibits comfortably. It is a large museum with an impressive collection of artworks. We headed to Level 5 to see the famous works of Vincent van Gogh and other renowned artists, which was definitely one of the highlights of our visit. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience. The museum is well worth visiting, especially during the Thursday evening opening when the atmosphere is more relaxed.