FYI: I bought the museum pass for Paris. When I went to book a reservation for the Louvre, there were no pass reservations available for my entire one week visit in May, However it was nearly completely open if you buy a ticket from them. I emailed them but didn’t get a reply. So I bought tickets as well. I had been checking the website and was seeing reservations were open (but didn’t put in I had a pass), so I hadn’t booked earlier. I didn’t realize they apparently limit the museum pass number. Not sure I would have bought the pass if I had known that. Rick Steve’s new Paris book says to book a few days before, it appears that won’t work with a museum pass.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14731 posts
Welcome to the forum and I’m so sorry you got caught by this. Many of us have been trying to warn people about this. It’s one more reason why one has to assess carefully whether a Pass is a useful tool or not. Even though I have museum-heavy visits I just purchase individual entries.
I hope you can see enough other museums to make the pass purchase worthwhile.
Depending on what you want to see, there were long lines at the Orsay and Orangerie last week for non-timed entry folks. Zero line at Cluny and Musee Quai Branley if they’re of interest.
Let us know if you have any other questions!
Posted by
OP
6 posts
It also appears you can’t get a timed reservation for the Orsay with the pass. Sigh.
Posted by
Chicago
8551 posts
The Museum Pass now offers no benefits at all except if you are doing a rush rush Museum Marathon you might save a little money. But not of course if you can't even get in. My understanding is that you do not need a reservation for the Orsay with the pass. Just don't go on a Tuesday when the lines are crazy even with timed tickets.
Posted by
Midwest
122 posts
Interesting conversation. I've been regretting the fact that I too purchased a 2 day museum pass for myself and daughter....it had seemed like a smart choice at the time because we did not have our Paris dates locked down.
Anyway, here is some interesting info that others might find useful (although not helpful for your Louvre situation).
https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit/admission-opening-times-tickets#anchor-navigation-7
Queue C1: visitors with tickets without time slots and without the need to make a reservation includes Museum Pass Holder - so behind those who have reserved time slots but in front of the general walk ups.
Posted by
Chicago
8551 posts
Orsay has about 4 or 5 lines now for different classes of pass and ticket. A local friend has a pass available only to locals that gets us in without waiting in any of them.
Posted by
1 posts
I was trying to schedule a visit to the Louvre on the Museum Pass and noticed what others have said here: Slots for the Museum Pass are all booked up for the days I want (one month in advance!) but there are loads of direct purchase tickets available. Same for Versailles. I see no point in buying the Museum Pass to get ahead of lines at the most popular sites, other than if we want to do a museum marathon ...
Posted by
la la land...
1005 posts
Depending on what you want to see, there were long lines at the Orsay and Orangerie last week for non-timed entry folks. Zero line at Cluny and Musee Quai Branley if they’re of interest.
Pam, if you know, is it still possible to buy the Orangerie / Orsay combo ticket? That has always been my "trick" to go to the Orangerie first where lines tend to be shorter, buy the combo ticket, then go to the Orsay the next day with at least a higher priority queue I get to stand in for entry (per the link, that appears to be Queue C1).
Really on my upcoming trip, I am focusing on smaller museums, like the Cluny and Quai Branly plus a few others. My plan is to just walk up and get tickets. I have zero intention of going to the Louvre, for example, nor the Orsay unless I can do the combo pass. I really don't want to buy advance purchase timed entry tickets anywhere - I am going to be in Paris for several weeks, will play it all by ear once I am there.