The Wishlist: An Arty Guide to Paris
Culture Trip brings you The Wishlist – a ready collection of travel ideas inspired by what you love. Discover things to do, where to stay, and the best spots to eat and drink.
It’s the city where Dalí met Picasso; where Matisse studied under Moreau; and where Monet’s Impression, Sunrise gave name to a new movement.
Paris has long been home to a rich artistic heritage, inspiring artists to paint its cobbled streets and meandering River Seine, to sketch the city’s imposing architecture and to try to capture the elusive Parisian twilight, l’heure bleue.
Today, this metropolis offers visitors a blend of world-renowned museums showcasing historic paintings and sculptures, and groundbreaking modern art, as new spaces and galleries exhibit young artists emerging from the city.
Check out Culture Trip’s curated list of Paris’s artiest things to do and most intriguing places to eat and stay – from creating your own sketch of the city to walking in the footsteps of the French capital’s most famous artists-in-residence.
Things to do in Paris
Make your own masterpiece at the Louvre
Museum, Building
For any art enthusiast, no trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Louvre. With 35,000 objects displayed in more than 60,000 square meters, the Louvre is one of the best museums in the world, housing classic works from the Italian Renaissance to Greek and Roman antiquities. However, if you’re looking to do more than queue up to view the Mona Lisa, try this private drawing class inside the Louvre itself – a must-do for any budding artist. Teaching the basics of drawing among the finest works of art in the world, this class offers the chance to see this Paris landmark from a different perspective.
Uncover a gem at the Musée Jacquemart-André
Museum
Explore Impressionism at the Musée d’Orsay
Museum, Train Station
Take a tour of artistic Montmartre
Architectural Landmark
If the Impressionist masterpieces of the Musée d’Orsay have piqued your interest, head over to the beautiful bohemian village of Montmartre – the heart of Paris’s creative landscape. It was once home to some of the most brilliant minds of the 19th and 20th centuries: Picasso, Renoir and Van Gogh all lived here. This tour will take you through Montmartre via windmills, cabarets and monuments including the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Your guide will even pick you up from your hotel!
See classics in a new light at L’Atelier des Lumières
Art Gallery
For a fascinating blend of technology and tradition, you must visit L’Atelier des Lumières on the Rue Saint-Maur. Causing a storm of excitement in the art world, the exhibitions at L’Atelier des Lumières invite you to immerse yourself inside huge digital installations of legendary works by Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt and more. Stroll around the landscape of The Starry Night, which is created using over 120 video projectors across 3,300 square metres, covering the floors, walls and ceilings in colour. It’s a truly unique way to experience these masterpieces (just remember to book online in advance).
Food and drink in Paris
Enjoy the view at Georges
Bar, Patisserie, Restaurant, French
Dine in Picasso’s old haunt, Café de Flore
Cafe, French
Stay up all night at Au Pied de Cochon
Restaurant, French
Where to stay in Paris
Sleep in a painting at Hôtel Le Bellechasse
Hotel
Close to the Musée d’Orsay, Hôtel Le Bellechasse is a four-star hotel full of bohemian, creative character – ideal for art enthusiasts. Its 33 rooms, designed by Christian Lacroix, are bursting with colour and creativity. Each room is different, with one decked out in orange-and-black pinstriped walls and one featuring murals depicting ancient cityscapes. There’s even a relaxing nature-inspired suite that has a ceiling swathed in butterflies.
Dive into creative history at Les Bains
Luxury
Embracing everything from New York-style graffiti in its murals to the architecture of its 19th-century Haussmann building, Les Bains has a rich creative history that flows through the hotel’s aesthetic. First a bathhouse and then a legendary nightclub, which counted David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Jack Nicholson as patrons, Les Bains is now a 39-room, adult-only hotel that houses a variety of artworks. At Les Bains, you’ll discover everything from sculptures to fine art among the flamboyant, opulent interior decor.
Immerse yourself in art at Amastan Paris
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
Centrally located, minutes from the Champs-Élysées, Amastan Paris’s stylish design and creative focus is reflected in its on-site gallery and dedicated pop-up space. Hang out in the jasmine-scented courtyard garden or venture out into the city via the Saint-Philippe-du-Roule Métro station just a three-minute walk away – which is right next to Avenue Montaigne, the designer shopping centre of Paris.
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