Good early morning,
I'm considering purchasing the Paris Museum Pass based on some late night reading on this site. We are two adults and two children. Do I need to purchase a pass for the children as well? Do they need a pass to 'skip the lines' with us or are included because of their age?
Also - somewhat separate question - is there a list somewhere or what museum are closed and what days they are closed on....I'm thinking I better get busy with planning my four days in Paris!
Appreciated as always.
Posted by
Virginia
5 posts
Pass is not required for children < 18. I took my daughter 17 two years ago for her graduation trip and she stood right next to us and we all got waived in. No questions asked.
I do not think there is a specific site that list hours together, but you can go to each site and look up the times. I believe the Paris Mueseum Pass has a link to the majority of the sites.
Posted by
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
2349 posts
Go to the site Paris Museum Pass. This has lists and maps of every site it covers. It has links to the museums, so that you can see each one has art that interests you. You can also create your own personal list of sites.
You do not need passes for the kids, and they can skip the line with you.
If you have four full days, go ahead and get the 4 day pass. It's much more pleasant to spread your museums out rather than cram them into two days. It makes your planning easier as well.
Posted by
Chicago
8059 posts
There are a couple of sites where the kids will have to get tickets; one is Invalides where there is rarely a line for entry of more than a handful of people and I believe they also need to get one at the Arc de Triomphe which also doesn't tend to have long lines. Everywhere else they just go in with you and while it is prudent to carry copies of everyone's passport, there is pretty much no chance young children will be required to show it. Sometimes an older teen gets asked for ID as they might be 18 but as someone else noted, even in their case, their 17 year old didn't get asked.
One of the great things about the museum pass is that you can repeat a visit. Especially with kids, you might want to make two shorter excursions to the Orsay or Louvre rather than one long one.
The pass will allow you to use the pass/ticket security line at the Orsay which saves a long line and also at the Orangerie and Louvre. If you plan to do Versailles, get there at least half an hour before it opens as the security line is very long otherwise and is not skippable; if you want to do the Notre Dame Tower climb get there half an hour to 45 minutes before it opens as they only do 20 at a time and the lines are very long as they day goes on. It was the number one thing my 12 year old wanted to do back in the day and it was worth the wait. The Museum Pass gets you up the tower but does not get you past the line.
Posted by
Elmwood, IL, USA
362 posts
Children under 18 are free but 2 places listed on the Paris Museum Pass; Abbaye Royal de Chaalie (5& under) andMusee Conde-Chateau de Chantilly 4&under-
the children walk right with you to get in.
Rick Steves has a page near the front of the Paris book with the information about museum closed days and late night hours.
Versailles, Louve and Eiffel Tower(not covered in the Pass) security lines were 1+ hour long last week. Read and make notes from RS. He is spot on with his information.