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Setting expectations for the Paris Museum Pass

My wife and I purchased the Paris Museum Pass; it is a good deal cost wise and does avoid having to purchase tickets at each museum, so would definitely purchase again. However, in many cases do not expect to "skip the line" for getting in. You are only skipping the ticket purchase line, not the entry line.

We saw both Americans and Europeans getting upset because the Museum Pass holders had to stand in long lines to get in - we found the pass holder lines to occasionally be much longer than the ticket purchase lines; in the case of the Orangerie museum, people got in faster buying a ticket there as they went from the ticket window directly into the museum. The entry lines for the pass holders at the Orsay, Orangerie, and Versailles were very long and everyone and whatever they were carrying went through metal detectors and package x-ray so this meant something of a wait. Seemed like most visitors had some sort or pass or other. In the case or Versailles, everyone queued up in the same very long entry line, whether you had a pass or ticket.

This was very different from the Firenze Card experience in Florence, where card holders are given priority entry before ticket holders and Firenze pass holders were less common.

Like everywhere else in Europe, best to get there early as possible. Good travelling.

Posted by
10344 posts

Rick, in his books, is careful to point out that the PMP does not allow you to skip the security line, only the ticket purchasing line.

Posted by
6713 posts

I suppose, if there's no common security line, and the line for tickets is shorter than the line for passholders, and the ticket line moves fast enough to make up for the time it takes for everyone in it to buy tickets, then it would make sense to get in the ticket line and flash your pass at the ticket window. That might have worked for you at the Orangerie. But I'd be surprised if such a situation is very common. More often the passholders get in faster, even allowing for the security line.

Plus the pass saves money if you have the energy to visit multiple museums in a few days. Plus it encourages you to visit museums just to see one or two things, or the building, or use the restroom, where you wouldn't have invested in a ticket.

First thing in the morning generally works best for the major sights like Versailles, Louvre, Orsay. Or late afternoon if you don't want to spend a lot of time there.

Posted by
73 posts

Thanks for the good reminder!

I purchased a 4-day pass this time over a 7 day stay in Paris. Strictly speaking, my pass was not worth the $ as I did not make full use of it (intentional as plans changed during my stay). However, I don't regret getting the pass and will continue to buy the pass every time I visit.

If anyone consider the pass "expensive", I'd really point out that a 4-day pass is <70 euros and covers many world class museums and monuments. A good comparison would be a museum pass v. Disney pass (Disneyland, Disney World, Euro Disney, etc). While I think it's absolutely a delight to visit the park, especially for the kids, the impact of visiting the top museums lasts a lifetime. Not to mention, a museum pass costs a lot less than a multi day Disney park pass!

I see my purchase of a museum pass a small token of making a contribution to arts and culture even if I don't use it enough to justify the price. I appreciate that the French makes visiting their prized museums and monuments relatively affordable.

Posted by
7175 posts

I think you should be aiming for 3 museums/sights per day (and including the 'biggies') to make it a worthwhile purchase.
2 day PMP is €42. Full price admission to Louvre - €12, Pompidou - €14, Versailles - €18.

Posted by
359 posts

I agree with you OP. I love the Paris museum pass and think it's a great value on a busy trip but I think RS is a bit misleading about it, particularly at Versailles. Every time I've been there there is virtually no ticket buying line so the long line for security that can't be skipped is what you really need to worry about.

Posted by
10198 posts

This seems curious to me. I've always seen the line at the Orsay significantly shorter for visitors who already have tickets. And you are not going through the same security line, as the security screening is at each of the different entrances. I hope you didn't miss the special designated entrance for visitors with tickets! (to the far right as you're looking at the building).

Posted by
10344 posts

Yes, same as Kim, it's to the far right.

Posted by
703 posts

You can never skip the Security Lines which are sometimes quite long depending on where you go. Do the math of what you want to see, cost vs the pass and then decide if it will be worthwhile. We did the 4 day pass this year (6 day last year) and it more than paid for itself both times.

Posted by
8552 posts

People keep saying 'you can't skip security lines' but with the pass you can use the Richelieu entrance at the Louvre which usually has much shorter lines. At the Orsay the passholder line is almost always MUCH shorter than the main security line. If this were not the case, I would just get in the shorter line. We saw a tourist have a major hissy fit at the Orsay because he thought he should be able to walk right in ahead of all the other passholders waiting in line. The line however took about 15 minutes compared to 2 hours for the main line and this was by far the longest passholder line we have encountered at the Orsay.

Posted by
83 posts

I use the Richelieu entrance at the Louvre usually, because I have a members pass. It is also used for people in tour groups. Depending on your luck, you may be able to breeze through the security there, or there may be a long line of folks in tour groups ahead of you. Another option is to go through the shopping mall (Galerie du Carrousel) and enter the museum that way; there is not usually a long line.

Posted by
703 posts

Yes we used the Richeleau entrance too. Got through very quickly. And it was the wing we wanted to see anyway. Win win.