I know Paris museums have free entry on the first Sundays of the month. Are the lines long at d'Orsay, as they often are on ordinary days, or does the free entry let people stream in?
Posted by
Rick Steves Europe
355 posts
Hi Nancy,
The lines can be very long and the museums crowded on free days. Plan on showing up early or later in the day if you do go on a free day.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Huh!
I'd have though it wouldn't make much difference. I've haven't had much interest in Paris art museums in decades. But Italy has a couple of culture weeks a year when all the museums in the country are free.
We've hit a couple and the lines appeared to be about what you'd expect. You'd think the tourists were going to be there anyway and the natives wouldn't bother to go see something down the road that they'd probably already seen on a bunch of school trips.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
It makes a huge difference in museums with security, such as both Louvre and orsay.
Either arrive 1/2 hour before opening or look forward to long waits.
I accidently left my Louvre visit to a free Sunday and it was pure hell.
You could not pay me to visit a big museum on a free day.
Use the free day to visit lesser known museums. Makes a lot more sense in many ways. S!aller crowds , less to no lines, and if you don't enjoy it u are not out any cash.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10632 posts
Even for the lesser known museums, you need to arrive around opening time because just a little later once people have finished Sunday lunch, lines become long even for the lesser known museums. Parisians come out in large numbers to take advantage of the free days.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
I went to the Musse d'Orsay on the free Sunday in August, got there just before opening time and waited about 45 min to get in - the line was huge. If it's the only chance you have to go, then go but get there at least a half-hour before opening - if you can go another day I would recommend that. I wouldn't do it again.
Posted by
Paris and New York
41 posts
Very crowded. Would not do it again.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
It isn't just the long queues to enter on the free Sundays that should concern you, it's also the shoulder to shoulder crowdedness inside. It is not fun at all and makes it almost impossible to see any of the paintings. Last year we bought tickets on line for a special exhibit at the d'Orsay (Fashion & Impressionism) and it was so chock-ablock it was difficult to enjoy what was obviously a wonderful exhibit. I suspect a free Sunday would be even worse.