How far in advance should I buy timed entrance tickets

Buy when they are first available

For places that need advance booking, like the Louvre or the Towers of Notre Dame, just monitor the sites to check availability.

For example, at the Louvre, tomorrow is sold out and Thursday has a few tickets available at 4:30 pm, Friday has some at noon and 12:30 pm. And this is off season in the middle of February. Expect May/June to have less last minute availability.

Although we probably didn't max out our benefits we bought the Paris Museum Pass on our last visit but it helped a lot in scheduling our visits (getting reservations) at the sites we visited.

One problem with the Paris Museum pass is that the Louvre restricts the number of Museum pass entrances per day. Sometimes the Museum Pass timed entries will be sold out but you can still buy regular timed entries. Whatever you do, go thru the official ticket page on the Louvre website.

You’d also need timed entries for the Orsay and Orangerie if those are on your wish list. And also be cautious to be on the official websites for these venues as well. There are some 3rd party sellers who have websites that look close to the official site. Don’t just take the 1st website that pops up on a search engine.

I agree with watching the ticketing websites to see how they are selling and then buy several weeks out.

Does your son have a particular building era he’s interested in?

Book the Louvre when you know your dates. (and note that the slots available for Museum Pass Holders are limited). Get ET tickets 7 days out at 1 pm Paris time if you want to do that). WE have found that Fondation Louis Vuitton and Musee de La Marine do sell out and need a few days lead time. I would think an architect would want to do the Louis Vuitton and their exhibits are usually superb.

We like to organize around a couple of things a day and then have alternative sites we can do if we have time or inclination.

So, I have been to the Louvre before and am not sure I want to go back, but my son might want to. I found to the Louvre to be overwhelming, and there are several other museums I have never been to, like the Picasso and Bourse de Commerce, which hold great appeal.

I think Notre Dame and St. Chapelle are a must and will have to watch the timed entry openings there.

What other museums/sites tend to sell out of timed entry tickets quickly?

you don't need a timed ticket for Notre Dame. And FWIW I would do the Marmottan before the Picasso which is a decidedly inferior collection unless you have never seen much Picasso before. Since the renovation, the Picasso is however a much better museum experience than it used to be. Same for the Bourse even more so unless there is a special exhibit of note.

While you don't need a ticket for the Cathedral of Notre Dame (entry is free), you will need a ticket if you want to climb the Towers of Notre Dame.

Depending on your interests, you may want to look at the Passion Monuments Subscription.

Valid for 1 year, €49 solo, €78 duo (you + a guest) subscription

In Paris alone, it includes admission to

• Sainte-Chapelle
• The Towers of Notre Dame
• Arc de Triomphe
• The Pantheon and Panorama
• Hotel de la Marine
• The Basilica of Saint Denis
• The Conciergerie

One of the advantages of the pass is priority entrances and security at some sites. And several forum posters were admitted to Sainte-Chapelle without a ticket just by showing the attendant their Passion Pass.

I forgot I read this earlier and meant to come back and comment. Last Fall I went to the BnF Richelieu - the Bibliothèque nationale de France on Rue Vivienne. At the time I thought...this would make a perfect stop for someone who was a bit overwhelmed or intimidated by the vastness of the Louvre and the ## of people there.

They have a very wide-ranging collection from papyrus from the 10thC BC to one of Edith Piaf's dresses. It's about 4 or 5 rooms on one side and then 2 rooms across the hallway. Very doable, very interesting and not something a lot of people go to.