Museum tips in Paris

Which ones are you interested in?? It also matters when you are traveling.

I visit a lot of museums so the Paris Museum Pass is the first thing I purchase when I get to Paris. That gives you unlimited visits to most of the big museums.

The busiest are the Louvre and d’Orsay but if you aren’t interested in the periods of art they cover then there is no reason to go.

As general advice I’d say plan to spend no longer than 2-3 hours in a museum without a break. Look at the floor plans ahead of time and decide what might be of interest then make a beeline to those galleries then work through some of the other areas so you’ve covered the areas you’re most interested in before you tire.

The Louvre and Orsay are the most likely to have long lines and the most crowding inside. The Paris Museum Pass lets you skip the ticket-buying lines, but not the separate security lines, for lots of museums and other attractions. It can also save money on ticket prices if you visit a number of places in a short time period (two, four, or six consecutive days). And it removes any disincentive to visit a big museum more than once, so you can break up the Louvre, for example, into more than one visit.

Getting to a museum as soon as it opens, or shortly before, can save time getting in and will mean less crowding once inside. Some museums are open on certain evenings each week, and those are usually less crowded times. Some museums are free one day each month, which obviously saves ticket-buying time but otherwise means longer security lines and more crowding -- avoid those free days unless your budget is so tight you must take advantage of them.

If I'm going to a major museum, I usually try for opening time when I have the most energy in the day. Three hours is about my limit, but a lunch break in a museum cafe helps me extend the visit if I want to. One big museum in a day is enough for me, then I look for other activities instead of trying to visit another one that day.

The RS guidebooks, which you may find in your public library if you don't want to buy one, have ticket-buying and visiting strategies specific to various major museums, as well as good descriptions and often walking tours. Other good guidebooks often do also.

EDIT -- I'd echo all of Pam's advice, especially her last paragraph about heading straight for the galleries or exhibits that interest you most. Another idea, from the RS books, is to quickly eyeball the postcards in the gift shop before leaving, to make sure you haven't missed a work you've wanted to see but maybe didn't realize was there.

Typically, the long lines are the security lines and one does not avoid them.

Anyone who purchases a museum pass or purchases tickets in advance (on line for example) can avoid the ticket lines.

As noted in another current thread the Louvre seems to be limiting people without timed reservation tickets currently, thus you may be out of luck to get in with a Museum Pass. Plus the Museum Pass website itself seems to be down. Curious.

And again. There is almost always a separate security line that is much shorter for pass holders so it is simply not true there is no line advantage with the pass.

This is not true at Ste Chapelle or Versailles however (never do Versailles without a timed ticket or a Kings apartment tour). And right now of course the Louvre is periodically not admitting people without on line tickets even pass holders

At the Musee d'Orsay which often has the worst lines, pass holders use a different door which usually has short or non-existent lines.

I had planned to visit the Louvre Wednesday evening, but they wouldn't let us in with the Museum passes because of crowding. So we went first thing this morning (Thursday) and it was glorious. (I love museums at opening time.)

Thanks all. We will be in Paris for four days and so many places and things we want to see.
So much and so little time. But your advice will help greatly.

@ pastorash

Louvre seems to be limiting people without timed reservation tickets

Wondering if I still need to reserve if I have Paris Museum Pass

I don't think so if you go early.

They are not letting people in with the pass when it is crowded so yes you need to reserve if you have the pass if you want to go in the afternoon -- and that means pay for a full price ticket, there are not reservations possible when using the pass. apparently changes are afoot to limit entries on the pass as well to one entry per museum. When that happens I would simply not bother with the pass as multiple entries are the best reason to buy it.

Things change. Years ago we enjoyed the wonder of the Friend of the Uffizi membership that granted skip the line access to the sights of Florence -- now it only gives that advantage at the Uffizi and is not worth buying unless you live there. Apparently the PMP is about to be made much less desirable.

Do you think this is happening because it is just simply VERY busy this summer and that when the crowds thin out into the fall, perhaps it will not be an issue...? I am going again in mid-October and have always bought the PMP and entered via the Carrousel entrance. I usually always arrive first thing in the morning as well, so that could make a difference. Honestly, if they are turning people away because of there being too many people inside, I probably wouldn't want to go in anyway.

From what I have read elsewhere this is sounding like a permanent change partly in response to tour groups that reuse tickets for multiple groups i.e. the old policy has been seriously abused. I would think they could address that though without penalizing ordinary people who use the PMP or single tickets.

Seems many have perceived the same problem!! Seems the PMP and the PP both are now bummers. Before we have been in Paris in Jan-Apr and walked right in everywhere. The PMP was great for several in and outs. This time our visit will be in early Sept. Maybe we will just chance it? When we get there look over the lay of the land. My understanding is 2019 has had a 15-20 increase over 2018 in tourists, not only to Paris but to France as a whole. Therefore businesses do not see a benefit to them for passes !? .