Pompidou Center in Paris: Tickets and Tours

While the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay focus on classical art, the Centre Pompidou is geared towards modern and contemporary art. The museum houses works by Joan Miró, Brancusi, Matisse, Francis Bacon and other renowned painters and sculptors.

If you're looking for things to see and do in Paris, you should include it in your itinerary. The Pompidou Centre is a striking building that adds a futuristic touch to the centre of the capital.

You can enter the Pompidou Museum in several ways. You will find the options below:

• Entrance to the museum + exhibitions: usually costs £14
• Admission to the museum + exhibitions in galleries 3 and 4: this also costs around £14
• Shows and concerts: these are special events and tickets are slightly more expensive. The price is usually around £18 and there are special rates for under-26s
• Cinema: to see films and documentaries, you will have to pay around £5

Of course! If you want to visit for free, you'll need to book the Paris Museum Pass (choosing between 2, 4 and 6 days) or the Paris Pass, the official tourist card.

Both cards include access to the Pompidou Museum among more than 60 attractions in Paris, making them a very practical option if you plan to visit several museums and monuments. They also save you time and money, as they include skip-the-line entry to many attractions. If you plan to spend several days in the city and don't want to miss the most important sights, these cards will make your trip much easier to organise.

Good news! Admission is free for visitors under 18. You only have to pay if you want to take part in a workshop or special tour. Keep in mind that the museum has endless activities for all ages, from babies to 16-year-olds.

The French capital is a perfect destination for travelling with the little ones. The most famous museums have guided tours designed for children, and the main parks have incredible playgrounds. For more ideas, I recommend reading the post that explains what to see and do in Paris with children.

The Pompidou is the second most visited museum in the city after the Louvre. Queues in front of the ticket office are long and frequent, so I recommend booking your tickets in advance. That way, you won't have to wait outside in the cold or heat.

If you still prefer to buy your tickets there, you should go to the Pompidou Centre ticket office inside the museum. Please note that last admission is one hour before closing time.

The cultural institution in Place Georges Pompidou certainly doesn't go unnoticed. This unique building with exposed pipes houses an unrivalled collection of modern and contemporary art. Here is my personal selection of the best works:

• "Fountain" by Marcel Duchamp, the urinal that changed the way we think. It is an icon of ready-made art: an everyday object removed from its original purpose and elevated to a work of art.
• "The Frame" by Frida Kahlo, a self-portrait of the famous painter. In addition to her iconic face, it features two elements typical of Mexican art: flowers and colourful birds.
• "Made in Japan – La grande odalisque" by Martial Raysse, the pop version of the painting "La Grande Odalisque" by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres in 1815
• "Le jardin d'hiver" by Jean Dubuffet, a white "cave" decorated with black lines and silhouettes. The atmosphere is very evocative, ideal for taking photos that will be a hit on Instagram
• "Les mariés de la Tour Eiffel" by Marc Chagall, an oil painting that combines symbolism and cubism. It depicts a large white rooster with the painter and his wife on its back

A full visit usually takes about two hours. However, if you are passionate about contemporary art, you could spend up to six hours there.

If you are travelling to Paris in summer, I recommend enjoying a refreshing ice cream at Amorino, located in the same square as the museum, before or after your visit.

In other museums, mornings are usually quieter than afternoons. At the Pompidou Centre, it's the other way around. Queues tend to form before the centre opens, so it's best to visit in the afternoon (if possible, after 3 pm).

The French capital is a very popular tourist destination and queues are common. However, there are fewer tourists during certain months. If you visit Paris in October or April, you will not find such large crowds in front of the museum.

The cultural institution is located in Georges Pompidou Square, in the heart of the city. Its futuristic appearance contrasts with the classic buildings that surround it. It does not go unnoticed and will be easy to spot once you arrive at the stop. You have three options to get there:

• Metro, Châtelet stations (lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14), Hôtel de Ville (lines 1 and 11) and Rambuteau (line 1)
• Bus: lines 29, 38, 47 and 75 stop a few metres away. You can also book one of the best tourist buses in Paris. Thanks to the hop-on/hop-off formula, you can get on and off wherever you want.
• RER, the regional trains. The nearest station is Châtelet Les Halles (lines A, B and D).

Around the cultural institution, there are several restaurants specialising in French cuisine and dishes from other parts of the world. The list below lists some options just a few minutes from the Pompidou Centre:

• Georges, unbeatable views and signature cuisine. Located on the museum's rooftop, it also hosts DJ sets. Advance booking is recommended.
• Pain Vin Fromages, the ideal destination for cheese lovers. If you visit Paris in winter, it is worth trying their fondues and raclettes accompanied by freshly baked bread (Rue Geoffroy-l'Angevin 3).
• Quick, a fast food chain specialising in hamburgers. It's a cheap option just a few metres from the museum. Being French, it uses typical cheeses such as Brie and Camembert (Boulevard de Sébastopol 25).
• Crêperie Auguste, if you want to satisfy your hunger with a local speciality. You can also order crepes to take away and eat them in the nearby Igor Stravinsky Square (Rue Saint-Martin 88).
• Olive & Thym - Par Man'ouché, Lebanese cuisine with a modern twist. They are famous for their bowls with typical Middle Eastern products. They also have vegetarian options (Rue Quincampoix 60).

When you have more time, you can take a food tour of Paris. These tours usually include stops in the Latin Quarter, Le Marais, Montmartre and other areas of the capital.

In this article, I have detailed all the relevant information. To round off the task, here are a few more tips:

• Take your time to admire the Stravinsky Fountain, dedicated to the Russian composer. It is the result of a collaboration between sculptor Jean Tinguely and painter Niki de Saint Phalle. It is in the Dadaist style and is located in the Georges Pompidou Square.
• If you are travelling with a newborn baby, you will be pleased to know that there are baby changing facilities on floors 0, 4, 5 and 6. I would also like to take this opportunity to recommend reading the post about visiting Versailles with children.
• The museum is open every day except Tuesdays and 1 May. Keep this in mind when planning your holiday.
• The Pompidou Centre stands out from the old town and is one of the best viewpoints in Paris. There is a ticket that only allows you to go up to the roof without visiting the museum. The price is around £5.
• You cannot enter with backpacks, helmets, umbrellas, baby carriers, camera flash devices or selfie sticks. However, you can leave them free of charge in the cloakroom

The cultural institution is located a few minutes' walk from the Île de la Cité, the original core of the city. Before or after visiting the museum, you can visit Notre-Dame Cathedral or enter the Sainte-Chapelle, a magnificent example of radiant Gothic architecture.

If you want to go shopping, I recommend heading to the Westfield Forum des Halles shopping centre. It occupies the site of a former central market and is one of the most visited malls in France. It is just a few minutes' walk from the museum (Porte Berger 101).