Visiting the Centre Pompidou (Paris): Is It Worth It?

The Centre Pompidou is an art museum and a cultural center which opened in 1977. It is the second most visited museum in Paris -after the Louvre- and has many different shops and buildings in addition to the museum itself. Here, we will give you all the information necessary to fully enjoy your visit!

 

Our opinion

We Loved

•  The original architecture of the building
•  The temple of contemporary art
•  The different activities for all ages and tastes
•  The accessibility for disabled people
•  The stunning view over Paris on the 6th floor
•  The free cloakroom

We Didn’t Quite Like

• The variety of prices to access the different parts of the Centre Pompidou
• The long queues at peak times

The Centre Pompidou is the perfect place to spend the afternoon with your family.

The multiple offers of activities for children and adults will satisfy everyone in the family.

The art museum is impressive, easy to access, making it perfect for art lovers.

 

What Is the Centre Pompidou (Beaubourg)?

The creation of the Centre Pompidou was ordered by French president Pompidou, whose aim was to give modern and contemporary art a place in Paris. The Centre, also called “Beaubourg” because of the district in which it is located, was inaugurated in 1977.

Built by the architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, this industrial building aroused many polemics before becoming one of Paris’ major symbols.

Today, on top of being a modern art museum, the Centre Pompidou offers many more things, such as a cinema, the BPI library, different places dedicated to painters or sculptors such as the Studio Brancusi, and even a large range of shops.

 

How to Get to the Centre Pompidou?

Location: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris

The Centre Pompidou doesn’t have private parking and is situated on a square where there are only a few parking spots. We recommend you to use the public transports to go there:

•  From the metro station Rambuteau (line 11)
•  From the bus station Centre Georges Pompidou (lines 38, 75)
•  From the RER train station Châtelet-Les Halles (lines A, B and D)

Warning: because of maintenance works, the entrance of the Centre Pompidou is at the back of the building until September 2020.

 

When should you visit the Centre Pompidou?

For the museum:

•  Open every day except Tuesday: from 11am to 9pm
•  Closed on Tuesdays, and the 1st of May
•  On Thursdays: night visits until 11pm

For the Atelier Brancusi:

•  Open every day from 2pm to 6pm
•  Closed on Tuesdays, and the 1st of May

For the BPI library:

•  Open from Monday to Friday: 12am to 10pm
•  Open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 11am to 10pm
•  Closed on Tuesdays and the 1st of May

As for most of the Parisian monuments, the Centre Pompidou is crowded during school holidays and summer holidays, and during the weekends. At peak times (in the mornings), the queues to access the different parts of the Centre Pompidou can be pretty long and it can last up to 2 hours.

We advise you to visit during the week, particularly after 3pm.

The visit of the whole Centre Pompidou will probably take you around 2 hours.

 

Is There any Particular Restriction to Enter the Museum?

Access to the Centre Pompidou is prohibited to visitors with large items or luggage.

The following objects must be left in the cloakroom before entering the museum or the exhibitions:

• Suitcases, backpacks, umbrellas, baby carriers, helmets and luggage
• Tripods and flash devices for film and photo cameras
• Selfie sticks

A positive point: the cloakroom is charge-free!

 

How to Visit the Centre Pompidou?

The Different Parts of the Centre Pompidou

National Museum of Modern Art

The Centre Pompidou’s main attraction is, of course, the National Museum of Modern Art and its important permanent exhibit.

Here, you can admire some of the works of the most famous painters and sculptors, such as Picasso, Dali, Kandinsky, Chagall and others.

 

Library BPI (Bibliothèque Publique d’Information / Public Information Library)

The concept of a big public library in the center of Paris arose in 1960.

When Georges Pompidou suggested the creation of a modern art museum in the Beaubourg district, the association with a big library was evident.

This is how the Public Information Library (BPI) was born. You can access it for free.

Here, you can choose between a wide selection of books. The place is perfect to study, work, research or just read in an exceptional place.

 

6th Level

The 6th level of the Centre Pompidou is reserved for temporary exhibits which are often renewed.

By using the famous escalator (or by taking the elevator) you can access this part of the Centre Pompidou where you can admire a stunning view over the roofs of Paris.

 

Accessibility for Disabled People

The visits are accessible for disabled people.

Disabled people have free priority access to the National Museum of Modern Art on presentation of valid evidence.

All the information on accessibility

 

Is it Possible to Visit it With Little Children?

The Cosy Visit, for Children from 0 to 2 years old

During the cosy visit, parents and children can discover a single work of art of the museum.

At each session, small groups of visitors learn about the history of work through a multisensory discovery.

Warning: these visits are available only for a few days each year.

Prices: Adults 10€ / Reduced price and subscribers 8€ / Children 8€

 

Workshops and Visits for Children from 2 to 10 years old

At the Centre Pompidou, everyone can find something to their liking. Many museum tours and workshops for families are organized all along the year.

Check the agenda for the children workshops here.

 

Do We Recommend the Guided Tour?

Different types of guided tours are offered by the Centre Pompidou:

• Guided tours in French and English are organized every day to discover the modern and contemporary art collections.
• The Centre Pompidou also organizes guided tours of the temporary exhibitions, during which the guide will make enlighten you on the art creation and help you discover the exhibitions through an aesthetic and historical perspective.
• The “Facing the Art pieces” option offers a thematic and in-depth interpretation of the museum’s collection in the company of the Centre Pompidou’s lecturers. You can choose between a single session or the complete cycle of three sessions.
• Finally, on the first Sunday of each month, a lecturer will be there in order for you to discover the collections of the Centre Pompidou through a free tour. You do not need to book this guided tour in advance.

Click here to see the agenda of the guided tours.

You can book online or directly in the Centre Pompidou.

The meeting point for groups is situated on the ground floor, according to the chosen time.

Visits last around 2 hours, with small groups of visitors.

 

Prices:

• Ticket for a “guided tour”: 4.5€
• Ticket for the “Face to Face with the Works” cycle: full price 24€ for 3 sessions, 10€ for one / reduced price 9€ each session

In short, we highly recommend the guided tours. Even though you can discover the museum by yourself and admire the works of art as you want to, it is always interesting to be provided with explanations and an expert’s point of view in order to fully enjoy the collections and learn more about art.

 

Where and how to Buy Tickets for the Centre Pompidou?

Prices

• Ticket for the access to the museum, the Galleries 3 and 4, the Kids’ Gallery and the View of Paris: 14€ at full price and 11€ for a reduced price. Same prices can be accounted for access to temporary exhibitions, but the time should be chosen in advance.
• “View of Paris” ticket: 5€
• “Show and concert” ticket: 18€, 14€ or 10€ at full price, depending on the show. 14€, 9€ or 10€ at a reduced price, depending on the show.
• “Cinema” ticket: 5€ at full price, 3€ for a reduced price.

Free access

On the first Sunday of each month, the access to the museum, the View of Paris and the Kids Gallery are free for everyone.

Free access includes people under 25 years old.

Free access also includes the BPI library.

For more information about reduced prices, free access and general terms and conditions, click here.

 

Paris Museum Pass and Memberships

You can buy the Paris Museum Pass, which can be used in 60 museums and monuments of Paris and Ile-de-France, among which the collections of the Centre Pompidou.

For 2 days: 52€; for 4 days: 66€; for 6 days: 78€.

You can also subscribe to the membership program of the Centre Pompidou, the POP. It offers many advantages, such as exclusive invitations, unlimited priority access to the museum and the exhibitions, free access to the cinema, reduced prices for the shows and much more.

Prices:

•  For 1 year: 49€ at full price / 27 to 24€ for reduced prices
•  For 2 years: 74€
•  For 2 people and for 1 year: 76€ at full price / 39€ for reduced prices (young people)
•  For 2 people and for 2 years: 125€

You can subscribe online, in-person in the Pass area on level 0 (opened every day except Tuesdays from 11.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.), or by phone (Mondays to Saturdays except public holidays from 9 am to 7 pm.) by calling the +33 (0)1 44 78 14 63.

For more information on the advantages and prices of the POP, click here.

 

Where to Eat in the Centre Pompidou?

The Brasserie Georges

The Centre Pompidou has its own restaurant situated on the 6th floor. Behind the windows, the Brasserie Georges offers a stunning view over the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Nonetheless, the prices are high and not affordable for everyone. Dishes go from 16.5€ to 47€. A sandwich costs 19€ and a salad 24€. It is mandatory to book in advance.

 

Café Le Central

If you only want to take a short break between two visits, the Café Le Central is a small cafeteria, like a snack-bar. Here you can choose between pies, salads, quiches, pastries, and a cold or hot drink.

This cafeteria and “oasis design” over the Forum was created by the Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon.

 

The Shops of the Centre Pompidou

There are different shops and bookshops in the Centre Pompidou.

Flammarion bookshops are situated on different floors of the Centre Pompidou, on the first, fifth and seventh floors. Here you will be able to find art, design, architecture and photography book: a good way to keep yourself entertained and learn more at the same time!

The shop of the Centre Pompidou also offers a selection of design items, souvenirs and stationery items. You can keep a nice souvenir of your visit, but as is the case in every museum shop, the prices can be quite high, depending on the article.

Finally, here are some images of the Centre Pompidou which will undoubtedly make you want to visit it (videos in French) :