In 2023, Parisian museums and heritage sites experienced a significant increase in visitors, finally returning to pre-COVID levels. After a gloomy period during the pandemic, cultural institutions are now seeing record-breaking attendance once again.
The Musée d’Orsay and the Orangerie recorded a historic high of over 5.1 million visitors in 2023, surpassing the pre-COVID level of 4.6 million in 2019. This surge in attendance can be attributed to the exciting exhibitions held at both museums, such as the Matisse and Manet et Degas exhibitions. Notably, both museums are seeing a growing number of families and youth visitors, with a 21% increase in school visits in 2022.
While international visitors, especially from the United States and Italy, contributed to the high attendance at the Musée d’Orsay, the return of French visitors of all ages was celebrated by Christophe Leribault, president of the Musée d’Orsay and the Orangerie. He emphasized the importance of making these cultural treasures accessible to everyone, and announced plans for a major overhaul of the museums’ entrance areas to better accommodate visitors.
The Louvre, the world’s largest museum, welcomed 8.9 million visitors in 2023, marking a 14% increase from the previous year. Although it has not yet reached its pre-pandemic level of 9.6 million visitors in 2019, the Louvre is steadily approaching that milestone. The majority of its visitors, at 68%, were from abroad, with the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain being the top contributing countries. Interestingly, visitors from Asia were notably absent, comprising only 2.5% of the total attendance. The museum also announced an increase in ticket prices after eight years without a change, citing rising costs due to inflation.
According to the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, several Parisian landmarks are among the top 5 most visited national monuments, with the Arc de Triomphe leading the way with 1.8 million visitors, followed by the Sainte Chapelle with 1.4 million visitors, and the Panthéon reaching one million entries for the first time.
The 14 sites and museums managed by the City of Paris also experienced a significant increase in attendance, with a total of over 5 million visitors in 2023, marking a 17% increase from 2022. This includes notable successes at the Carnavalet Museum – History of Paris and the Petit Palais, both of which surpassed one million visitors, and the Catacombs, which recorded 600,000 visitors.
Overall, the Parisian cultural scene has rebounded magnificently in 2023, with museums and heritage sites attracting a diverse range of visitors and reclaiming their positions as top attractions in the city. As travel and cultural activities continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic, Paris remains a vibrant and culturally rich destination for locals and tourists alike.
