Gut check on Paris Pass/Museum Pass

Most people on this forum would favor the Museum Pass plus the Navigo Decouverte transportation pass (or just a carnet or 2) over the Paris Pass. If you buy the Navigo passes, don't forget to bring the necessary photos with you.

I wouldn´t call the museum pass a no brainer. It can work for some, others may find it more economical to simply purchase tickets in advance for those museum which interest them. Either way, you avoid ticket lines and have access to group entrances into museums.

I have yet to see any itinerary making the Paris Pass economically feasible. It is overpriced and consists of nothing that you could not otherwise purchase at far lower cost.

I agree with Tocard. On my most recent trip, I got a lot of value out of the Museum Pass, but a good part of that was going up the Arc de Triomphe twice. Otherwise, I'm not sure it would have been a financial winner, and while I had thought I would go to large museums twice (a great benefit of the Museum Pass), I ended up not having time or energy for this.

You should be buying your Museum Pass in Paris, not paying extra to buy it elsewhere, so it's priced in euros, not dollars. While you're looking at the official website, you can see the ages at which your kids get in free at each sight, if you take them and have Museum Passes. Note that at a few sights (the Arc de Triomphe is one), you need to line up to get free tickets for kids; at most sights, they just go in with you and skip the ticket buyer lines.

Museum Pass website showing covered attractions: http://en.parismuseumpass.com/rub-m-by-name-5.htm

Cassie,

Am I missing something because the Museum Pass seems like a real
no-brainer?

You’re absolutely correct! If you plan to visit the amazing museums in Paris, then the best bargain is to buy the Paris Museum Pass for 2,4, or 6 days.

As previously mentioned, if you’ll be in Paris more than 4-5 days, it’s a good idea to get the Navigo Découverte week pass. Keep in mind that this pass is valid from Monday to Sunday, so if it doesn’t fit your needs, then just buy a carnet (pack of ten tickets)

Enjoy your time in PAris!

The biggest benefit is the time savings. Be sure to look around or ask for the pass entrance. At the Pompidou, the regular line went up the hill and started around the side. To the left was the line for pass holders. Five minutes.

Curious about your pricing. $257 divided by 4 is $64.25 per person. The Museum Pass is sold in Euros, 48 EU for 2 days, 62 EU for 4 days. You aren't paying a shipping fee are you? You can just buy them when you arrive and avoid that. A 2 day pass should cost $57 US at current exchange, or are you using $ other than US.

There is no need to forego the Seine River cruise just because it isn't on the Museum Pass. It is only about €14, perhaps less for a child, so still well below what you would pay for the Paris Pass.

Agree with all the above. Museum Pass is a time-saver and a money-saver if you have the energy to visit a lot of places in a few days. A one-hour Seine cruise is a very good experience in nice weather and doesn't cost much by itself. It would be very hard, even impossible, to save money with the Paris Pass.

A sometimes-useful added benefit of the Museum Pass is dropping into a museum just to see one or two things, or use the restrooms, which is "free" with the pass but would cost without it. You may find yourself discovering a little-known, uncrowded museum that becomes a highlight of your trip. Or just getting needed relief. ;-)

Thank you all for the confirmation!

Sam, I was basing it on the current listing on Viator at $63/person, must have mistyped a 7 rather than a 2. I will wait to purchase until we get there, of course! Looks like we can get it as we arrive at Gare du Nord.

If you know the time you want to go on the river cruise it can be as low as 10€. Just buy online and show ticket on phone. 12€ for an open ticket.

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/cruises/

Don't worry about Viator. You can collect a Museum Pass at any covered museum on the day. Simple advice - make your first museum a small one not on tourist radar. You won't have to wait and you will get a bonus museum for half an hour or more that you ordinarily would have missed. Then use the card you just purchased at the biggies.

The Paris Pass and similar are not 'passes'; they are marketing schemes where the ordinary Museum Pass is sold to you along with other stuff for much more than it would cost you to buy. The Museum Pass is a good idea for a short first trip and allows you to use special security lines at many places. The only travel pass worth getting is the Navigo Decouverte for everyone; if your dates (it runs Mon-Sun) don't fit then just buy carnet of 10 ordinary tickets for 14.90 each and point to point tickets for places outside Paris like Disney, or Versailles. Kids can get a half price carnet if they are 4-9. Tickets can be shared out amongst the group or among several young kids. A taxi from CDG is 50 or 55 for 4 people and an additional 4 Euro each for the 5th through 7th person.