Self service ticket kiosk at Louvre and Orsay?

If you don't have a ticket before you approach the Orsay you will wait in the often very long security line for people who don't have tickets; those with tickets or passes use a different door that even in the worst of high season has a short wait. The main line may be an hour or two on the worst days. And the limited number of ticket machines mean there are long lines for those once you are in.

For the Louvre, if you have a ticket or pass you can use a shorter security line at the Pyramid. However we have had very short waits for the security lines at other entrances without tickets; tickets are them easy to get from machines or manned kiosks under the Pyramid once you are in. The Louvre changes constantly -- pass holders once used the Richelieu entrance which is apparently now restricted to members and the Carrousel entrance used to be easy and quick but now tour groups are using it and of course it is no secret due to forums like this one.

Thank you. I think I understand now. The security lines at both museums are before the ticket kiosks. So one could not go to either museum, go to the self service ticket kiosk, and then get into the security line for people with tickets. I thought it was the other way around: self service ticket kiosk, then the security line to enter the museum.

there ARE self-service ticket kiosks at the Louvre, and you can get in via a shorter line at the entrance underground in the mall Carrousel du Louvre (from the metro station on Line 1 Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre).

Not at the Orsay. You should buy your ticket ahead either online, or at a FNAC store.

http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit/admission/ticket-purchase.html

In my experience, you buy tickets first, then pass through Security in all museums and attractions.
The admission lines for people who do not have tickets are the longest.
Look for a sign with the mention "pass / ticket holders" or something to that effect. If you've already bought your ticket, you head there, then pass through Security. All this moves pretty quickly.

Great info, thank you!

Look for the sign that says "Visiteurs munis de billets." Hopefully usually they also have it in English, but it will probably be more prominent in French!

Ticket sales booths and machines are past security at both the Louvre and the Orsay and the Pompidou. I seem to recall that you get tickets first and then go through security at the Rodin Museum. The Carrousel entrance used to be a breeze but not so much anymore now that everyone knows about it. The bypass for those who have tickets is at the Pyramid now; it used to be the Richelieu entrance.

Sometimes there are 2 lines at the Pyramid entrance but not always. I was there at the end of April last year and there was only one line.

The Louvre has been changing its line policies so it is a bit unpredictable. IN April the Carrousel entrance is probably not mobbed so that is the easiest way in and requires no ticket. Tickets are checked at the entrances of the wings at the Louvre and not required at the major entrances to the museum which are security lines. Recently there has been a line for ticketed people at the Pyramid (and if a member you could always go to the head of the line and be waved in) but off season that may not be true as your experience demonstrates.

Just a thought...

If you're interested in visiting many of the other amazing museums, as well as other famous monuments in Paris, you may consider buying the
Paris Museum Pass
The pass will allow you to skip the ticket lines too!

If you plan to go up the Eiffel Tower, you can book your tickets 90 days in advance.

Enjoy Paris!

Echoing what Priscilla said about the Paris Museum Pass. Depending on how many days you will be in Paris and your interest in museums, it can be a time-and-money saver. Run the numbers!

Note also that you can visit the same museum multiple times during the (consecutive days) span of your pass so you can take the Louvre in smaller bites, or use evening hours. Or drop in to a museum just to use the free and clean toilets.
We used the Louvre Carrousel entrance in September, security line not too bad and then bought the passes. On a previous trip in April we had bought passes at the Cluny (NO line) and used the pass-holders line (15 people) at the Pyramid entrance to the Louvre.

I just returned from Paris. The lines weren't long at all. To avoid the "Purchase Ticket" line at the Orsay, you could purchase a Combo ticket at the Orangerie. For 16 Euro (I think), you can see the Orangerie the first day, and go to the Orsay the 2nd & skip the line.