How To Get Around Paris
When you use a Paris museum pass, youll be visiting several museums each day. Youll find yourself having to move around the city a lot, getting from one museum to the next, sometimes on a tight schedule.
Some museums are within walking distance from each other, so I recommend you plan your itinerary to include some walkable distances.
Otherwise, public transport in Paris is quite convenient, if you use the metro in the city centre. Buses can get pretty crowded and their timetables are less reliable in my experience.
I used Google Maps to plan my routes in Paris, but you can also use other transport apps, like Citymapper or Moovit.
To find details in English on the travel tickets and passes currently available in Paris, have a look at the official RATP website.
How Do I Visit The Museums
Please check each museum’s website for getting in information with the Paris Museum Pass, as each one may be different. Some museums may have fast-track or separate lines for Paris Museum Pass holders. You will not have to wait in ticket lines with the pass, but you may have to reserve a time slot to visit.
Where To Get The Paris Museum Pass
Travellers can purchase the Paris Museum Pass once they land in Paris. Both Charles de Gaulle and Orly have tourist information centres where this Pass is available. Visitors can also get this tourist card in any tourist information centre in the city or in the monuments and museums that are listed in this Pass.
Tourists can also buy the Pass online. However, there are no discounts if you buy it online and you will have to pay extra shipping costs.
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How To Buy The Paris Museum Pass
If you plan to buy a Paris Museum Pass, you can either purchase it online or in person once you are in Paris. You can also purchase it as part of the Paris Pass or Paris Passlib.
In Person: You can buy the Paris Museum Pass at a number of locations, including at many of the museums and monuments that accept the pass, several visitors centers in Paris, and the tourist information desks at both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports.
If you plan to purchase the Paris Museum Pass at either of the Paris airports, you can look up tourist desk location information and hours here.
If you are planning to buy it in person, I would suggest purchasing the passes at a place where you wonât have to stand in line for long such as a tourist information center, a smaller museum, or airport information desk. If you try to get them at a place like the Louvre or Musée dâOrsay, youâll likely end up waiting in a long line.
Online with Hotel or Home Delivery: You can purchase the Paris Museum Pass from the Paris Tourist Office online here, and have them delivered before your trip or have them delivered to your hotel in Paris. However, you will have to pay shipping costs that will likely decrease the cost savings of the pass, so I would suggest just buying it in-person once you get to Paris or doing the voucher option below unless you need it in advance.
- As of July 2022 this service is currently only available via the official site here
The Paris Museum Pass List Of What To See And How To Buy It
Im a big fan of city passes. I used one in Rome, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, and am planning to use one this summer. When I was in Paris a few years ago, the Paris Museum Pass was a great way to see a lot of things. It helps to make the most of your trip, saving both time and money. It also helped to relieve some stress as my French wasnt aces so I was able to show the pass and avoid doing the awkward dance of buying a ticket at each place.
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Paris Museum Pass Attractions: What’s Included
The Paris Museum Pass gives you free admission to 50+ cultural attractions. During the days when your pass is valid, you can visit as many attractions, tours, and museums as you want.
To help you plan your visits, here are lists of the Paris Museum Pass attractions in three categories:
Following the lists of attractions, you’ll see a map showing locations of all Paris Museum Pass sites.
What Did You See In Your 2 Days In Paris Was The Paris Museum Pass Worth It For 2 Days
Here is where we used our Paris Museum Pass in 2 days in Paris, and the comparative cost if we had purchased admission individually:
The Louvre: 17
The iconic Louvre, one of the most famous and acclaimed art museums in the world, is definitely a must-see on your Paris itinerary! The Louvre houses some of the most famous works in the world, including Leonardo Da Vincis Mona Lisa, which almost everyone makes a beeline for.
You can literally spend all day here, but even if youre limited on time , definitely spend at least a few hours here. I would plan out the things you want to see ahead of time to maximize your visit!
Musee dOrsay: 16
Another one of Pariss most iconic museums, the Musee dOrsay is also a must on any Paris itinerary. The highlight here is definitely the Impressionist collection, which feature and impressive array of works from masters such as Monet, Cezanne, van Gogh, Manet, Renoir, and more.
The museum is also housed in an old train station, and the building itself is a beauty to take in as well be sure to not miss the giant clock tower on the top floor.
Musee lOrangerie: 12
The most famous work at the Musee lOrangerie is definitely Monets massive water lily paintings, which is also definitely the highlight. You should definitely sit and soak in the giant paintings, which depict scenes his garden in Giverny as it turns from light to dark.
Arc de Triomphe: 13
Sainte Chapelle: 11.50
Versailles: 20
Musee Picasso Paris: 14
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What Museum Passes Are Available In Paris
There are several museums passes available in Paris.
Personally, I find it helpful to make a list of the museums I want to visit the most, and then see which pass gives me the best value.
Here are your options:
This museum pass gives you unlimited access to 60 museums and monuments in Paris and in the Paris region.
It is valid for 2, 4, or 6 days.
A partial list of the museums includes:
- The Louvre Museum
- Find the full list here
At some of the museums, youll get priority access . Its a huge time saver in Paris.
Is it right for you? This Paris museum pass is great value if youre visiting for a few days and want to save both time and money.
Have a look at the museum list to make sure it includes the ones you want to visit.
Prices change according to the number of days . You can see the current prices here.
This Paris museum gives you free access to 50 museums and monuments in Paris and in the Paris region.
It is valid for 4 days.
A partial list of the museums includes:
- Centre Pompidou
I personally dont miss out on any of them when I visit Paris.
For art lovers, these are the ultimate Paris art museums to visit, covering a range of styles and periods.
They have world-famous, iconic permanent collections and first-rate temporary exhibitions.
The Louvre is massive and you cant see everything in one visit, so dont expect to. Its best to plan your visit, read about the works of art you want to see and avoid the FOMO.
Why Buy Paris Museum Pass
Designed for museum lovers, the Paris Museum Pass gives you access to 50+ museums and monuments in Paris and its surrounding area.
Paris is full of the worlds best museums and iconic monuments. When used wisely, Paris Museum Pass can significantly help you cut down the travel budget. More money for gourmet French pastries!
In tourist-crowded cities like Paris, the true value of the Museum Pass is a skip-the-line privilege. The lines at popular attractions such as Louvre and Notre Dame are no joke. Many of these sites recently require booking a time slot in advance it deters more people from lining up at the ticket office to a certain degree. Nevertheless, the no-queue privilege still provides significant time-saving value compared to booking individual tickets separately, whether in advance or at the ticket office.
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How To Use The Paris Museum Pass
The Paris Museum Pass is very easy to use. To activate your pass, simply show it at the first museum you visit. Upon admission your pass will then be activated for 48, 96 or 144 consecutive hours . For example, if you bought a 2 day pass and activated it/used it for the first time on Wednesday at 10:00 am, then the card would be valid until Friday at 10:00 am.
Once your pass it activated, all you need to do is show it at museum entrances to gain free entry and avoid the lines at the cash desk.
Note About Reservations: Many places now require Paris Museum Pass holders to reserve a time for their visit. The list of attractions that require reservations can be seen here. The Louvre has made it mandatory for Paris Museum Pass holders to reserve an entry time to the museum. You will need to enter your name and the serial number on your pass when reserving your entrance time here.
Note About Privileged Access: There are a few places where privileged access is not allowed, the bell towers at Notre Dame being one. The pass also does not allow you to skip security lineups.
Who Should Buy Paris Museum Pass
Budget Travelers. You want to maximize your saving.
Museum lovers. You have many Paris museums on your bucket list.
First-time visitors. You want to visit all the famous and iconic Paris places.
Time crunchers. You want to hit as many places as possible within a limited time.
Last-minute Planners. You dont have time to research and make plans. Most likely, you will want to visit museums and historical places. And Paris Museum Pass will give you savings, flexibility and convenience. No headache!
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Popular Attractions Not Included By The Paris Museum Pass
Although the Pass gives you free entry to many famous Paris cultural attractions, it does not include a few places you may want to visit. Fortunately, you can get tickets with skip-the-line admission before you travel:
- Eiffel Tower – Choose from many different choices ranging from climbing the stairs on your own to visiting all levels with a guide who will whisk you through the crowds – Ticket options
- Paris Catacombs – Lines to explore Paris’s underground City of the Dead are always long due to restrictions on how many people can be inside at once, so always get an advance ticket – Ticket options
- Atelier des Lumières – Tickets for this spectacular art and music immersive experience are sold only online
- Palais Garnier – Phantom of the Opera fans will not want to miss the gorgeous Paris Opera House – Explore on your own, or best of all, attend an unforgettable opera or ballet
- Grevin Wax Museum – A fun experience with 200+ wax figures, historical re-creations, and a dazzling light-and-mirrors show – Skip-the-line tickets
How Do I Decide If The Paris Museum Pass Will Save Me Money
First, you should make a list of all the attractions you want to visit during your time in Paris. Try to come up with a realistic list based on the amount of time youâll be in Paris as you donât want to spend your entire trip going from museum to museum.
Next, check the entrance fee cost for each online or using a recent guidebook. Add up the costs to come up with a total.
NOTE: This example uses current prices as of July 2022.
Example: I want to visit the Louvre , Sainte-Chapelle , Musée Rodin , Conciergerie , Versailles with access to Trianon and gardens , Musée de lArmée and Napoleonâs tomb , and the Musee dOrsay = â¬103
Next, youâll need to decide how many days it will likely take you to visit all the attractions. Remember it can be easy to be too ambitious and think youll take in three art museums and two churches in one day, but that will simply leave you exhausted and overwhelmed. Try to be realistic.
Example: Day 1: Spend a full day at Versailles. Day 2: Combine Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, and the Louvre. Day 3: Visit the Rodin Museum, see Napoleonâs tomb at the Army Museum, and visit the Musee dOrsay. This means I would need 3 days.
Further, buying the 4-day pass gives me more time to visit these attractions without trying to squash them into 3 days which may end up being too rushed.
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Tips On Getting The Most Out Of Your Paris Museum Pass
Here are some tips for using your Paris Museum Pass and getting the most out of your time in Paris with the pass.
- Plan ahead. Do a little research and figure out what attractions are included with the pass and which ones you plan to visit so you can make an informed choice of whether the pass makes sense for you or not.
- Remember that once you first use the pass, the time begins and it will only remain valid for the next 48 consecutive hours , 96 consecutive hours or 144 consecutive hours , depending on the option chosen. NOTE: In the past , the pass was valid for consecutive days and not hours. It is now valid for consecutive hours, not days.
- If you are in Paris for longer than the length of your pass, it is good to plan out which days you want to use the pass. When we had the pass, we thought about our days in Paris as either Pass days or non-Pass days .
- If you get to a museum and are not sure if you are in the correct line for pass holders, ask a security guard or museum personnel. We witnessed countless people with museum passes who were standing in the regular lines. While sometimes a museum wonât have any priority access lines open, it never hurts to ask as it may save you an hour!
- Many museums and monuments are free for disabled people and their companion so the Paris Museum Pass isnât necessary. Just be sure to bring along ID and proof of disability.
List Of Museums And Attractions Included In Paris
The Paris Museum Pass is a pass that offers free entry without queuing to more than 50 museums and monuments in and around Paris. The Paris Museum Pass does not provide access to the museums temporary exhibitions. Most museums charge a little extra for those exhibitions. The Paris Museum Pass is available for 2, 4 or 6 consecutive days and will be activated the first date of use.
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Where At Cdg Can I Buy Paris Museum Passes
I’m arriving at CDG on Sat at 9am. Should i buy the museum pass at CDG or should I go to a less popular museum to buy the pass ?
Thanks!
You can but the museum pass at the tourist information centres in CDG. I know there is one at terminal 2D, but if you are coming to another terminal the information desk will tell you where the Tourist information desk is near you. Sometimes there is a queue there.
You can also buy them from the American express office near the opera Garnier where the Roissybus stops.
Any FNAC store. This is where I get mine from. Google it to find the nearest store to your accommodation.
On line and pick up at FNAC store or have them mailed to you….at a cost.
Here is the page from the official website of museums, just avoid the very popular museums like the Louvre, d’Orsay, Pompidu, St Chappelle Orangerie.or anywhere with a long queue. They don’t always have long queues
But for example you could go to the Conciergerie, near St Chappelle, which rarely has a line. Depends where you are staying. If you are ina hotel you could ask the receptionist which is the nearest place.
Denise
I have the a similar question about purchasing the Museum Pass at CDG. I see the list of locations on their website:
Does anyone know if these info desks are before or after security in the terminals? If I arrive at one terminal , can I walk over to another terminal to find the info desk and purchase the pass?
What Attractions Are Included In The Paris Museum Pass
Some of the most popular attractions included in the Paris Museum Pass is below:
- Arc de Triomphe
- Châteaux de Versailles
and many more! You can see the complete list of what is included here.
As I mentioned earlier, being one of the main benefits that make the Paris Museum worth it is access to a special expedited line at many of these attractions. I found this to be especially beneficial at some of the more popular spots, such as the Louvre and Versailles.
This list is comprised of many of the most iconic tourist sights in Paris if these are on your list, then the Paris Museum Pass could be worth it for you!
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