Paris - what sites to prebook?

Yes for advance tickets to the 3 places listed. Unless you want to stand in a very long walk up line. You can always try to get tickets a couple of days in advance. It's already late for ET tickets, but more tickets often open up 7 days before your date at midnight Paris time.

Yes for advance tickets to the 3 you have listed. I believe there are different d'Orsay tickets; some timed others not, but I'm fairly certain they require a reservation either way. L'Orangerie I believe has a standby line, (last year they did) but I've heard of plenty not making it inside. I'm sure it has to do with when you go.
You shouldn't wing them or Sainte Chapelle.

Rodin is definitely walk in to buy tickets. The garden will be absolutely lovely in May.
Enjoy!

In addition to CJean and KD’s comments, I’d book Marmottan. I was going to slide it in as a last minute thing last October and they were sold out for the day in question.

Based on the sites you mention, take a look at the Passion Monuments Subscription.

The first year is €45 solo, €70 duo and provides free admission to Sainte-Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe and Hotel de la Marine. There are several other Paris locations including the Pantheon and the Conciergerie as well as many sites outside of Paris. You also get discounts in the gift shops.

It allowed me to cut the security line at Sainte-Chapelle and enter a shorter line at the Pantheon.

And if you decide to book a concert at Sainte-Chapelle, it will save at least €30 per ticket.

I know I'm sounding like their spokesperson, but for my trip earlier this month it was worth it.

Hi,

Adding my two cents and agreeing, for the most part, with others: I would book everything on line in advance. After Covid, I think its prudent to book everything in advance - I was at Marmottan in August '24 and pre-booked; was at the Arc de Triomphe in November '23 and pre-booked. Was at Rodin in February of '23 and did not pre-book but that was very much off season. Never been to la Marine so unfortunately I don't have any advice.

Good luck

Officially, the Louvre, Sainte Chapelle, the Catacombs (7 days in advance), and Galeries Dior require reservations. The Orsay does not require reservations but tickets can sell out, sometimes for days. I would book any of these, as well as the Eiffel Tower, in advance.

I looked at Eiffel Tower tickets yesterday for the last week in May and 1st of June and they were already sold out unless you wanted a more expensive option with champagne . The website didn’t offer me the option of a times and we had hoped to do to the second level in the evening. Thanks to the poster than mentioned 7 days out and we’ll see what we can get.

I looked at Eiffel Tower tickets yesterday for the last week in May and 1st of June and they were already sold out

Eiffel Tower tickets are issued in waves. They are not sold out before the last group of tickets is issued which is 1 week before any visit.

French friends went to Paris this week. They tried getting reservations last week for the Orangerie and Eiffel Tower, but both were sold out. If you want to visit those, book ahead.

Thank you all for the advice…I will get booking!

Other places on our list that think we should be OK just getting tickets day-of (online that morning or on-site) are Musée Marmottan, Musée Rodin, the Arc de Triomphe

About a month ago I walked up a went into Marmottan and Rodin with no line and I bought Arc de Triomphe for around 6pm at about 3pm online.

I pre-book whatever I can. Marmottan had no line but it was handy to have already purchased tickets, and it was Wednesday afternoon which is probably not their busiest time. There were very few people there.

Orangerie - I booked 2 months ahead and the week we were there, there was no availablity the entire week.

We waited in line for 10 ish minutes for Arc de Triomphe without tickets, but I wish I had just stepped aside and purchased some right then, like I did for the Pantheon, because I don't adore standing in lines if I don't have to (who does?).

Catacombs - since we wanted to go on a Saturday, especially, I set my alarm for what was 9:30 (I think) a.m. Saturday Paris time a week in advance and bought tickets right then. There was some within the week availability for weekdays, the 2 weeks I checking. But that morning people who didn't have tickets were entirely turned away (it was all booked for the day, no line for people without tickets).

I bought Invalides and Rodin tickets together at Invalides when we arrived (it was an arrival day activity I had wanted to do but didn't want to commit to due to jet lag etc etc and there was no wait).
Orsay is free the first Sunday of the month but those tickets must be snatched up quickly. We didn't get them (and honestly I hadn't planned on getting them because I assumed that free would make it more of a madhouse).

"About a month ago I walked up a went into Marmottan and Rodin with no line and I bought Arc de Triomphe for around 6pm at about 3pm online."

Smart to travel in March, but even so still lucky with these three tickets. For the last week, many museums are booked a week out. After Easter all the school trips from all over Europe begin, along with the usual tourist flow, so don't expect to be able to walk up to any big-name sites and just get in. The Louvre website even states that reservations are required up to the 12th of May. And after that date, ?

@jeanm thank you for the tip about the Passion Monuments subscription! I hadn’t heard about that one before but it’s definitely worth it for us…we’re saving at least €20.

MaggieD, your welcome. The Passion Monuments subscription really is a good option for visiting certain sites in France.