Hotel de la Marine or Conciegerie (if you had to choose)

Absolutely ice cream and spaghetti.

I'd say go towards Hotel de la Marine if that's what you're leaning towards. It looks splendid

I have not been to the Hotel de la Marine but have visited the Conciergerie which was fine but not stellar. I won't be doing a return visit. The Hotel de la Marine is on my list for my next visit to Paris in June, though. I'm wondering how much time you think the ND tower climb will take. We visited just after it opened in January 2025. Even though we had tickets, we had to wait in line for some time before being allowed entry--there is a security check of purses, etc. which may have slowed things down or maybe it was slow just because they had just opened and were working out the kinks. Then, there was the waiting to climb a set of stairs because the group ahead of us had to come down those steps first--you might be the first tour group, though. If the same is true, you might have less than the four hours you're counting on.

One reason most guide books do not mention Hotel de la Marine is that it only opened to the public a few years ago. And most guidebooks aren't updated often.

Keep in mind that the Conciergerie, like Sainte-Chapelle, is located inside the Palais de Justice and you will need to allow time to go through the airport-like security.

While both are worthwhile, one focuses on the Revolution and the other gives you a glimpse of life in the 18th & 19th centuries.

If I had to choose, I would choose Hotel de la Marine.

I'm with Jean. And yes, it's because it's newly remodeled that the Hotel de la Marine is not included.

I have been to both - the Conciergerie multiple times and the Hotel de la Marine just once, last October. I would vote for Hotel de la Marine over the Concergerie unless you particularly want to see where Marie Antoinette was held and the small garden that is said to have been hers.

The audio guide is very good at Hotel de la Marine. The view from the loggia seemed mostly to be of traffic going around the Place de la Concorde, hahaha.

You were going to get the Passion Monument Subscription, correct? The Hotel de la Marine is quiet a bit more expensive than the Conciergerie so I would use your pass on the higher priced one and work in the other the next time you are in Paris.

Thanks everyone — very helpful and I’m glad your suggestions largely confirm my original thoughts about this! I will plan on adding Hotel de la Marine and saving Conciergerie for another time/another trip.

Lindy, we have tickets for the first tower climb of the day (9:00 a.m.) and the information says to expect 1 hour for the experience. I’m planning on being done by 10:30 in my “4 hour window” scenario.

Pam, yes, we’ve already purchased the Passion Monuments pass (I mistakenly thought I needed it prior to booking tickets or I would have waited until later to do so, but it doesn’t really matter as it is exceedingly unlikely we’ll make it back to France to use it a second time within one year, regardless of).

So my current plan for Monday would be Notre Dame visit at around 8:00, tower climb 9:00-10:30, coffee/pastry break and metro to Hotel de la Marine, maybe 12:00 - 1:30 tour at Hotel de la Marine, another coffee/snack break (any suggestions of places nearby?) and then the walking tour from 2:30-4:30. Nothing scheduled for that evening…..hoping we can find a good (but not $$$$) restaurant open on Monday where we can enjoy a leisurely dinner.

Schedule version 85 or so…. :)

Whoops, I just deleted my post. After reading the others on this thread, I realized that I had mistaken the name of the museum we visited on a recent trip: it was the Carnavalet that is massive and takes many hours to visit, not the Conciergerie.

Jane! I am relieved...I was going to message you because I did not think Concergerie was that big and was desperately wondering what I missed! I depend on you for details of cool things, lol!!

I haven't been to Hotel de la Marine yet, but plan to when we are there in October.

I have been to the Conciergerie, and while I enjoyed it, it is one of the few museums in Paris that I don't feel a need to go back to.

Have been to both recently & 100% agree that Hotel de la Marine is the better choice. The revolutionary history at the Concergierie is interesting, but it’s nothing you can’t get from just reading about it vs. the amazing decor at the hotel de la marine that is better in person than in photos.

Will also note: if you’ve got the passions monuments pass, it’s pretty easy to just dip into the Conciergerie quickly just to see the inside of the building if you wind up having time after your tower climb…that’s what I did earlier this week killing time before lunch. I had been before & remember liking it a lot (probably all the history), but this visit left me less impressed. Whichever you decide, you won’t need tickets in advance; the pass lets you cut the line whenever you arrive at both places.

Be sure in choosing the Hotel de La Marine that you buy the more expensive ticket that includes the private apartments; they are the most interesting part IMHO. It is a chateau much like other chateaux and beautiful. The Conciergerie is an interesting bit of history and quite different from the chateau -- both are worth a visit. With time for one I'd probably choose the Hotel.

I’ve been to both and liked both.
The Hotel de la Marine has lots of great interactive displays and commentaries in each room that really give you a good insight into the history of that era.
There is a long outdoor loggia with chairs overlooking the Place de la Concorde.
Nice if you can snag a chair in the sun for a bit and watch the streets below.
Buy tickets in advance.
I was there last month and only managed to get a ticket by walking up as I was just one person.
It was sold out otherwise.
It’s quite lovely inside.

If we want to visit the Hotel de la Marine using the Passion monument pass do you need a timed ticket or can you just arrive and skip the line?

Thanks in advance if anyone knows, I'm just starting to learn about this pass and deciding if it works for us.

Last April I booked a timed ticket with the Passion pass, but it wasn't necessary. However, SJ, in her post above yours, suggests booking in advance as she was only able to get a walk up ticket last month because she was solo, otherwise they were sold out.

If you're flexible, you can probably monitor the website and book a day or so ahead.