Musee d'Orsay

Housed in a Belle Époque railway station along the Left Bank, the Musée d'Orsay boasts the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. You'll see paintings by French artists like Degas, Monet, Cezanne, and and Van Gogh, among many, many others. And if you climb to the museum's top balcony, you can catch a breathtaking view of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica.

Although the extensive Louvre may appear to get most of the Parisian limelight, recent travelers seem to enjoy the Musée d'Orsay better. One TripAdvisor user says, "I personally found it more insteresting than the Louvre and less overwhelming [...] If you don't have too much time to visit museums go to D'Orsay." Others call it their favorite museum.

There's normally a crowd; save some time and book tickets in advance on the the museum's website, or purchase a Paris Museum pass. General admission is €9 EUR (around $12 USD) per person. Doors are open every day except Monday from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., though many recent visitors recommend exploring on Thursday evening when Musée d'Orsay is open late (until 9:45 p.m.).