We will be in Versailles and Paris in September, and would like advice on what might be the best ticket purchase for us. We are two adults, will first visit Versailles on a Friday, and then take the RER to Paris where we have rented an apartment for four nights, departing Tuesday morning. While in Paris, we would like to see the Louvre, Orsay, Rodin, Les Invalides and Orangerie. From what we have read in Rick's Paris guide the Paris museums are open Monday -- so trying to figure if a pass covering these locations from Friday to Monday is the way to go. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by
Chicago
8554 posts
I would just get the Museum Pass and be done with it. It will give you access to shorter security lines many places (not Versailles however). it is a life saver at the Orsay. You can also go to a museum more than once. Two shorter trips to the Louvre are more satisfying to us than one long one. Whether you save money or not, it is convenient to have and on a short first trip Paris with many typical museums and monuments on your agenda, you are likely to more than break even. Some museums e.g. Orsay and Rodin are closed on Monday (as is Versailles) and some are closed Tuesdays e.g. Louvre, Orangerie, Cluny, Picaso. Since you have an apartment be aware that market streets are closed Sunday afternoon through Tuesdays; grocery stores are closed Sundays but open Monday.
Posted by
California 🦋
5293 posts
The Paris Museum Pass is a good investment, in my opinion, especially because it lets you skip the line at many of the museums, you may still have wait in a security line at Versailles, as Janet has already mentioned.
If you plan to go up the Eiffel Tower, make sure you book your tickets 90 days in advance ;-)
Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
OP
33 posts
Thanks to you both.
Posted by
California 🦋
5293 posts
FYI, we purchased our Paris Museum Passes at the Cluny Museum, & there is usually no line there :)
Posted by
60 posts
Our family of four is in Paris now.
Two days ago we climbed the Eiffel Tower. I recommend that you climb it if you can. No need to reserve a time. The line to buy our ticket took 17 minutes. It took us longer to get oriented to the massive area around the tower and to find where to go to buy our tickets than it did to actually buy the tickets. We also went to the Louvre on that day. Virtually no security line or ticket line. At the d'Orsay today at about 10am, no line.
In contrast, yesterday at Notre Dame, it took about a half hour to get in. And about 10 minutes at San Chapelle. The killer, however, was the Catacombs, which took 2+ hours. We also walked the Promenade Plantee yesterday. It was the inspiration for the Highline in NYC. It's free, and no lines at all, a great respite from the hustle of the city.