Palais Galliera

About the museum

The palace was built for the Duchess of Galliera, who wanted to display her art collection there. The architect Paul-René-Léon Ginain designed the building; construction began in 1879 and was completed in 1894. The duchess ultimately bequeathed her works to Genoa, but she had financed the building and handed it over to the City of Paris. The palace opened in 1895 as a museum of decorative arts; it then hosted salons and auctions.

The Musée de la Mode grew out of donations from the Société de l’Histoire du costume, founded in 1907, including a major gift to the City of Paris in 1920. The collections were first shown at the Musée Carnavalet and then in an annex of the Musée d’Art moderne. In 1977 the City of Paris dedicated the Palais Galliera to fashion and costume. In 1997 the museum took the name Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris, and a 2010 renovation restored the name Palais Galliera.

After two years of extension work, the museum reopened in 2020 with roughly double the exhibition space, including underground galleries. It is run by Paris Musées and holds clothing, accessories and drawings that tell the story of Parisian fashion from the 18th century to the present. Exhibitions change regularly; the building itself, with its colonnaded courtyard and garden, is also worth a visit.

Highlights

• Neo-Renaissance palace facing the Eiffel Tower
• Clothing and accessories from the 18th century to today
• Underground galleries expanded in 2020
• Colonnaded courtyard and Galliera garden
• “Tourisme et Handicap” label since 2022

Founded

1977

Operated by

Ville de Paris (Paris Musées)

Director

Émilie Hammen

Visitors per year

approx. 285,618 (2025)

Admission & discounts

Individual ticket: €14 full price, €12 reduced rate. Also free, with recent proof, for job seekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, professional visual artists, tour guides and Paris Musées members.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The museum is fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. An elevator serves the exhibition spaces and the level -1 toilets, including an accessible cubicle. Two wheelchairs are lent at the front desk (phone reservation possible on weekdays), and walking-stick seats are available on request. Two accessible parking spaces are near the entrance, with a drop-off zone in front of the main entrance. The reception, ticket desk and shop have induction loops; magnifiers are available to read wall texts. An easy-read booklet is available as a PDF. The museum has held the “Tourisme et Handicap” label since 2022.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Creative visits and workshops led by an artist for children aged 4 to 6, aged 8 to 12, and for families; sessions last 2 to 4 hours. Free family weekends are held throughout the year. The universal wall texts of some exhibitions use plain language and offer tactile samples to touch. Strollers are welcome, an elevator serves both exhibition levels, and a baby-changing table is located in the level -1 toilets.

Getting there & parking

Vélib’ stations at 4 rue de Longchamp, 1 rue Bassano and 2 avenue Marceau; 32 bicycle spaces in front of the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

The bookshop and museum shop are on the ground floor and open during museum hours (catalogues, postcards, posters, products for adults and children). Lockers are located on the ground floor and garden level; bags larger than 40 x 30 x 20 cm are not allowed, and staff do not look after personal belongings.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 400 guests.

Colonnaded courtyard, south gallery and reception hall (between exhibitions), garden-side rooms and rooftop terrace available for filming. Private visit, breakfast, cocktail or dinner packages (up to 400 guests for a cocktail, 180 for a dinner).

Plan your visit