Hello
My family of 5 is traveling to Paris this summer. I want to get skip the lines tickets for the attractions we will see. If I buy my husband and myself a museum pass, we'll be able to skip the line at most places, but what about our 3 kids all under 18? Will they just automatically be able to come with us and skip the line or since they are "free" or will we have to wait in line for some sort of "free ticket"? I can buy the kids museum passes too, but since they are free at a lot of the places we will be going, I'd rather not spend that money if we don't absolutely have to. Thank you!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
They don't need passes. The only two sites where you may have to stand in a ticket line to get their free tickets are the Arc de Triomphe and the Musee de l'Armee (which is not likely to have much line). Otherwise, they walk in with you. Be prepared to show proof of age if they look older.
Posted by
Chicago
8558 posts
The only lines you skip are ticket lines and security lines are much longer; many museums have special security lines for those with tickets or passes and you can use those and generally they are shorter. So you have a line advantage with the pass but in high season the designated security line for pass holders will also be not short, just shorter. I once saw a tourist throw an absolute fit at Musee d'Orsay because he was directed to the ticket holders security line and he felt that with his pass he should skip all lines and spent the 15 minutes we shared the line with him grousing about not being able to push ahead of everyone else with passes or tickets.
The Louvre, Orsay and Orangerie all have separate security lines for ticket/pass holders. Versailles does not and that line is blocks long, so get there about 40 minutes or so before opening at least if you go there during high season. Ste. Chapelle has strict security because of its location in a court complex and no line advantage for security for pass holders. The Tower of Notre Dame is by reservation only which has to be made the morning you wish to climb; there is an ap that works locally we haven't tried yet to see if its range is all of Paris or you have to be near the tower. without it you can get a reservation early in the morning of the day you want to visit and then come back later when it is your time. You just show the pass then.
If any of your kids is an older teen make sure they have good ID; I'd take a copy of the passport, but you might get a stickler for the real deal. Rarely are kids asked for ID, but an older teen who looks like s/he might be 18 might be asked. Young kids will not be. They just walk in with you as everyone else has noted.
Posted by
Rockville, MD, USA
653 posts
"The Tower of Notre Dame is by reservation only which has to be made the morning you wish to climb; there is an ap that works locally we haven't tried yet to see if its range is all of Paris or you have to be near the tower. without it you can get a reservation early in the morning of the day you want to visit and then come back later when it is your time. You just show the pass then."
I used the app when I was in Paris last month - if your device is connected to the wireless network of your hotel (after 7:30 am the day of) you can choose a time - choices start at 10 am. If your device has cellular service that would be another way to connect.
Note that you are allowed in at your reserved time, then climb to a gift shop (which you will not see on your way out) where you pay or show your pass.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you all for the valuable information! Yes, I know that I won't be able to skip security lines, but I've read several places have VIP security lines for museum passholders, so that's probably as good as you can hope for, skip the ticket buying line and have a (hopefully) shorter line for security. Thank you for the info about the Notre Dame app too. That sounds great. I just wanted to make sure my kids could go in with us even if they don't have a pass, and it looks like they can--I even saw that on the official "museum pass" website, so I guess I could have looked there first, but I'm glad I asked because y'all gave me lots of extra info that will make things easier.