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Average/ Reccomended Times Spent at Paris Attractions and Museums?

Obviously this is a personal decision for people and it varies depending on tastes, but while I am trying to lay out my itinerary I don't want to put too few or too many attractions/ museums into each day. We're doing a BOE My Way trip this fall, we're in our early 30s, we move quickly and efficently when we're trying to get the best bang for our buck. This being our first trip to Paris (and Europe) it's more about checking some things off the bucket list and exploring a bit to come back next time to our favorites. We are interested and know about some art/ history but are in no way "buffs" in either subject matter.

The feedback/ advice I'm looking for is mostly in regards to do you think visiting ___( D'Orsay, l'Orangerie, Pompidou etc) museum is doable in 2 hours each? Or is half a day at Versailles enough or too much? While I've heard you can't even see the whole Louvre in a one full day day, is 3 hours good enough to get a feel for the place and see some highlights?

What do you wish you hadn't rushed through, or what do you wish you'd slowed down for. I have lots of slow time planned, but planning for the attractions, I'm a bit lost.

Posted by
776 posts

We went to Paris last November for our first trip and you sound in much better shape than us...LOL

We visited the Pompidou Center and it took us a good 2 1/2 hrs just to get a feel for it. We had my 70 year old Mom with us and she is not a ART fan at all. With the 2 1/2 hours we saw the highlights, went out onto the terrace to take pics of the Skyline and spent some time taking pictures outside and the Stravinsky Fountains. I picked Pompidou cause I needed to see a Kandinsky painting as I am a fan. OMG it was so worth it. With 3 hours you will get a good feel.

We spent 4 hours total at the Louvre in a non busy time. That was getting there, getting tickets (15 minutes) visiting the Denon wing and the greek antiquities and even having a quick lunch along with the Pyramid pictures and a quick look outside. We feel like it was a nice HIGHLIGHT tour. My mom was only excited to see the Mona Lisa and a few other paintings that she had heard of but she liked the statues. My fav was Cupid and Psyche statue......It was beautiful.

We were supposed to see the Orsay and Versailles but the attacks in Paris put a halt to our plans. We took a boat tour instead. I hope you have a marvelous time.

Posted by
13809 posts

Will you have a Museum Pass? One of the things that can take some time is getting in, thru security, getting a map and heading for the rooms you want to see. It will be better if you have target areas for each museum.

You can probably do l'Orangerie in 2 hours. Spend the most time in the 2 rooms on the entrance level which are Monet's Waterlilies, then go downstairs to the lower level and take a spin thru there. Bathrooms are on this level.

D'Orsay may take longer especially if you don't have a Museum Pass and have to stand in line. Are you interested in the Impressionist galleries there? If so walk directly to the far end of the building and take the escalators up to the top floor. Start on those rooms and then work your way down the floors. The first time I went to the D'Orsay I did not know about the escalators and apparently did not see them on the map so I spent a lot of time walking up and trying to find my way to the next level. If you just want to see those galleries you can probably do it in 2 hours but if you want to see the other works on the lower floors probably 3 or 4. This is one of the museums I always need to stop for a beverage of some sort just so I can sit down for a bit.

Versailles is going to take 2 hours for your commute there and back plus walking from the train station to the Chateau. I, personally think you need more time there than 1/2 a day. To me the neatest parts are the Petite Trianon and the farm area which I spent a lot of time in. They are a hike from the main entrance.

The Pompidou you can probably do in 2-3 hours depending on how much you like that period of art. I went because I was near it and had the Museum Pass. The escalators were sort of a PIA to get up to the top gallery floor but I'm not good with heights and didn't realize they had a view of the outside. My goof!

Last visit I was determined to find my way around the Louvre so I started near the rooms with the Code of Hammurabi and worked my way up thru Napoleon III's apartments and other rooms for day 1. I spent a lot of time there, again because of the Museum Pass, I felt comfortable leaving after 4-5 hours and coming back another day. Again, if you have a plan for what you want to see you can probably do a lightening visit in 3 hours.

I particularly like the Cluny Museum, the National Museum of the Middle Ages. The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries are here as well as the original statues from the front of Notre Dame.

You'll need to figure in time to get from one to another as well.

Posted by
16893 posts

L'Orangerie is a relatively small museum, so two hours is plenty, including time to just sit and commune with the water lilies. In Rick's Paris book (not in France or Best of Europe books), his self-guided museum tour description says to allow one hour, unless there are special exhibits offered.

Similarly, Rick's tour of the Musee d'Orsay says to allow two hours, and I've done it in about that amount of time with my Dad, who preferred car museums to art museums. I'm sure I spent longer on my first visit.

The style of art in the Pompidou is not to my taste and therefore I probably didn't spend more than two hours breezing past it all. Rick's tour allows one hour but this place gets a lot of special exhibits that he hasn't covered.

A half-day at Versailles sounds about right and not too much. Le Hammeau is one of my favorite parts, but it's quite a walk from the palace.

Many people do only spend three hours in the Louvre to avoid overload. Rick suggests a highlights tour, or you can pick out areas of special interest. This is one where I like to "get my money's worth" by staying as long as possible. My feet will be the first part of me to give up, therefore moving on to a different museum or on-your-feet activity is not an incentive to cut this one short.

If you haven't already, download free audio tours and maps at https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/paris.

Posted by
16 posts

Y'all are fantastic! This is exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for!!

And yes, we do plan on having the PMP. I clearly have no patience, so lines are not for me ;)

Posted by
1976 posts

I've been to the Pompidou twice and for me, the length of time I spend there depends on what the exhibits are. The first time I went, I liked the art a lot. This last time, in April, I was bored with everything. Two hours is a good amount of time to plan for it. My favorite part of the museum is the exterior escalators and the views from the top.

With regard to the D'Orsay, the Impressionist rooms at the top are the best part. I was bored with most of the rest of the art. Another poster gave you great advice of starting at the top and then seeing how much energy/ interest you have for the rest of the exhibits.

The Louvre can be frustrating to navigate. I've been there twice as well and I think I was more confused the second time! Everything is very spread out. It can take a long time to find your way from one section to another. Some stairways only go down from where you are, and some only go up. Three to four hours is a good amount of time. Prioritize what you want to see and go to those artworks first.

And finally, I'd plan a whole day for Versailles. We were at the palace complex for at least half a day. It took a while to go through the palace, and then another while to walk through the gardens. We got as far as the Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette's hamlet before our energy ran out.

Posted by
13809 posts

Sarah brought up a good point about trying to navigate within the Louvre. Half the time I wound up having to go back down to the main reception area to cross over to the next wing I was interested in.

Also, don't take big daypacks with you so you don't have to waste time checking a bag at some of the museums or slow you thru security.

Posted by
7175 posts

I note that your tour begins in Paris with 2 nights, Monday and Tuesday, and it's usual that all museums close on either one of these days. Make sure you take that into account when planning.

Closed on Monday
Musée d'Orsay
Musée Carnavalet
Musée du quai Branly
Musée Rodin
Musée Marmottan
Musée Picasso
Musee Nissim de Camondo
Versailles

Closed on Tuesday
Musée Eugène Delacroix
Musée du Moyen-Age (Cluny)
Musée de l’Orangerie
Centre Pompidou
Musée du Louvre
Musee Nissim de Camondo
Fontainebleau

Save for Monday and Tuesday, things like the following ...
Eiffel Tower
Notre Dame
St Chapelle
Pantheon
Invalides
Arc de Triomphe
Sacre Coeur & Montmartre
Seine River Cruise

Posted by
11507 posts

Numerous visits to versailles, i always allow most of a day. Many peole try to cram it in 1/2 day and then find they had to skip many parts of large estate .

Numerous visits to Louvre. I find i can comfortabky enjoy no kore then 3 or 3.5 hours in ine vidit, then i leave for lunch, or return another day( museum pass makes this easiky possible)

Orsay, i am not a fan of impressionist art , but love the other floors best, 3 hours at least.

Pomidou, ha, twice in last year, and i am not a fan at all. Last august enjoyed a special exhibit that ( and i kid you not) a huge cheese grater, and a wooden chair in a corner with a triangle of cut pubic hair piled on it, lovely. It has some curiosities i enjoy, but 2 hours there is more then enough for me.

As you say personal tastes will be different for everyone, but i urge you to allow more time then you think because rushing through something is a sure way to raise your " tourist stress" levels.

Posted by
26840 posts

Using an audio guide in any museum will almost certainly slow you down.

Posted by
2599 posts

I travel solo and move quickly and efficiently, as you put it--definitely easier to get through a museum when you don't have to wait on anyone else. I researched the museums in Paris and still my must-sees were numerous, but I also knew I wouldn't be wasting time on art that does not (has never, isn't ever likely to) appeal to me. I can do 3 or 4 in a day (but don't usually), try to alternate true art museums with ones that are about exhibits, such as the Army Museum, and allow plenty of time for wandering and exploring neighborhoods. On paper I budget 2-3 hours, allowing time for restrooms, a snack or a quick peek in the gift shop. Sometimes I'm out much faster. I don't use audioguides and try to avoid getting mired in slow-moving tour groups.

Even with the Paris Museum Pass you will still have to wait in lines for security checks.

Versailles needs at least a half day, factoring in transit time and the sheer amount of walking you must do. I still returned to Paris with enough steam to enjoy L'Orangerie for a good 1.5 hours.

The Louvre--I knew I truly only wanted to see the French and Italian paintings and accomplished that in 1 hour on a Friday night--not as crowded. The building itself is fabulous.

Other 1 hour visit but thoroughly enjoyable museums were the Cluny (Moyen Age) for the unicorn tapestries and Dali in Montmartre.

Picasso, Marmottan, D'Orsay, Rodin, Army and Pompidou needed 2 to 3 hours.

My favorites were the Pompidou, Marmottan and D'Orsay.

Posted by
287 posts

If you are a particular fan of Impressionism (as I am) then allow more time for the Orsay. At the Louvre, restrict yourself to those galleries that contain what you are most interested in (Greco-Roman antiquities, etc.)

Posted by
3218 posts

This post exemplifies what I really like about this forum. A well-drafted question receiving thoughtful replies that I can use for my own travel plans.

Posted by
10 posts

For me, every museum is not only doable in 3 hrs (give or take), but almost a necessity. I think I get less and less out of it as the day goes on.
For example, I've been to the Louvre many times, and I'll be there again in a few days. This time, I'll be with my 11yo son for his first visit. We will carefully examine about 10 exhibits (of his choosing) and no more, on our first visit.
We'll do the same for the Musee d'Orsay and others.

Afterwards, we'll discuss (over lunch, I hope) what he thought about them. We'll return a day or two later to see some more.
In other words, I firmly believe in quality over quantity. (Obviously, by quality I mean quality of efficiency, not of the art).
As for travel, Versailles will require a full day.

I guess I feel like I retain more of the spirit of the art at a slower pace, which is what I think you are asking.

Posted by
16 posts

These answers are so so helpful! Thank you everyone! Looking forward to editing my itinerary based on your feedback!

Posted by
915 posts

I think l'Orangerie is a relatively short visit--less than two hours; probably an hour. Hit d'Orsay and Louvre when your energy is high. I short changed myself on Orsay by going at the end of my week in Paris and at a time when I was "museumed out." One thing to note: be sure to account for security line time and bag/coat check time if applicable.
Also, I don't know if it's on your list, but I'd like to put in a plug for Ste. Chapelle. I think that was one of my favorite sites in Paris. The windows are stunning and the history is fascinating.

Posted by
9462 posts

I agree with Rachel. The Orangerie is one of the smallest museums you'll find.

Unless you're particularly interested in their temporary exhibition, you can see the water lilies themselves in a very short time. But the line to get in can be surprisingly long.

Posted by
1825 posts

I plan for a morning or afternoon to visit a museum because after about three hours of anything I'm ready for a break. We know you can't visit the Louvre in three hours but you can hit some of the highlights with proper planning. For all the big attractions, advanced tickets and knowing what shortcuts (if any) are available to skip lines. Hiring a guide or the audio guide at the museum to find your way around will help. The main thing is advance planning and knowing what you want to go see.

Posted by
195 posts

My apologies, I didn't take the time to read through all the replies, but here is what we did:

l'Orangerie: less than an hour (mostly there to see the waterlilies)

Louvre: a few hours, then lunch break, then back for a few more hours (only scratched the surface...you could spend days there. I made a list of the most notable pieces and which room they were in (listed on the Louvre's website), then when I got there I circled the rooms on the free map so that we could visit them in sequence. We took advantage of the one night per week that they are open late, and that helped a lot since we are not early risers.

Versailles: Again, we are not early risers, but we spent the better part of the day there, including strolling the grounds (which are quite large and include additional points of interest).

We also visited the Musee D'Orsay, but unfortunately got there too close to closing, so it's hard to say how long to spend...probably a couple hours.

The museum pass is great, as it is good value (depending on how many things you are trying to see) and allows you to skip the line. It also allows you the freedom to pop into museums just for a short time if you'd like rather than feeling obligated to stay for hours because you paid full admission. We popped into the Rodin Museum for 45 minutes or so just because we could and enjoyed seeing what we might not have otherwise stopped to see. One important thing to keep in mind is that (unlike the US, or at least where I live), the museums are not open late on most days. Many are only open till 5 or 6, so that will limit things if you are trying to do multiple in one day. Also, it is important to note that there is a time of "final admission", meaning the time that they'll stop letting people enter. This is usually 45 minutes or an hour before the actual museum closing time, and is strictly enforced - we arrived at the Orangerie 30-40 minutes before closing on our first attempt, just wanting to take a peek at the waterlilies with our limited time, and they wouldn't budge on letting us in as it was past the time of their final admission. I personally would not do more than one museum in a day (unless they are some of the smaller ones), but that also depends on what type of person you are/how quickly you get burnt out in a museum setting.

I don't think I have a feeling of regretting rushing through any of the museums. What I wish most is that we'd had more time to slow down and just enjoy the city. It was our first trip, so there was tons to see, but that resulted in us being on the go most of the time. Wish we would have had more time to pop into the markets, sit at a cafe, etc. Be sure to know exactly what you want to see and where it is located so you don't end up backtracking to the same neighborhoods (if you are limited on time). Hope you have a great trip...Paris is my favorite place!

Posted by
299 posts

As you can see from the replies, tastes in museums are totally idiosyncratic and it's hard to give approximate times for each one. I also didn't have much patience for the Pompidou or the Army Museum, but spent the whole day at the Orsay - usually I have a limit of about 2 hours for being really receptive to art but my first time at the Orsay just blew me away. I agree that Sainte Chapelle shouldn't be missed, and I loved the Cluny but you may not like medieval art. I did RS's highlights tour of the Louvre and was glad I did because it led you to the best/most famous pieces while teaching you a little about art history too.

One poster nailed it by saying she most wished that she'd had more time to slow down and just enjoy the city. Have a great trip!!

Posted by
7175 posts

I think the best way to manage the vast Louvre collection is to go on Wednesday/Friday evening when it is open til 9.45pm. Finish your morning sightseeing with a late leisurely lunch, then take a rest break in the afternoon at your hotel, before hitting the museum around 6pm.

My timing suggestions would be ...
1 hour for ... Musée de l’Orangerie, Musée Rodin
1.5 hours for ... Musée Marmottan, Musée Picasso, Musée du Moyen-Age (Cluny)
2 hours for ... Musée Carnavalet, Centre Pompidou
2.5 hours for ... Musée du quai Branly, Musée d'Orsay
3.5 hours for ... Musée du Louvre