Best Strategy for Using Paris Museum Pass on 7-Day Visit

Hi BB,

I think that you're wise to plan ahead! I'd prioritize the sites you want to see and plan a "schedule." Use Ricks' Paris book or online info to determine the costs for museum entry fees individually, compare the cost to a the various options for the Museum Pass and then decide what your best option is. For a 5-day trip we were able to organize an itinerary that included the main sites we wanted to see using a 2-day pass and then suplemented with individual entry fee for one or two other sites.

This is a tough one. I like the thinking behind your first day plan and here is what I would suggest: Do Rick's Historic Paris Walk the first day. The walk starts right where you are and pretty much ends there as well. Notre Dame is free to enter, so you won't use your pass. This will probably take a couple of hours. Save Ste. Chappelle (maybe even see a concert here instead of just visiting) and Notre Dame Tower for another day since you are so close to them. Then eat something and if you are feeling up to it, head over to the Eiffel Tower, which is not covered by the pass, or walk the Champs Elysees through the Tuileries Gardens (which kind of puts you close to home). The metro rides are pretty straight forward. This way, you have not used your pass the first day. Or take a boat ride on the Seine. One company departs right where you are near Pont Neuf. I would try to look for ways not to use your pass the first day.

Otherwise, I like the previous posters suggestion. Create your list of where you want to go and note the respective costs. Then add up the combination of your pass costs (6-day vs. 2-day and 3-day, etc.) and see how it all comes out.

Also, do Versailles on a week day.

Why buy the 6 day pass, sounds like you only need the 4 day pass, and frankly,, I don't think you need even that.
If you have read the posts on this and other travel boards you will realize that the only museums and sites that a pass is really needed to skip lines at is the Orsay and St Chapelle. Thats its. To make it money wise you need to visit at least 3 sites a day otherwise.

I have been to Paris over ten times in last 10 years, and have only purchased the pass once,, for two days,, and that wasn't even really worth.

Which sites do you think you will need it for line skipping??

I agree getting the Versailles ticket online ahead of time makes better sense then a pass, but using the Musuem pass for admission is still a better option for Versailles then waiting in line.

Anyways,, list which sites you are going to ,, and see if the pass makes sense,, and I bet you can easily arrange that the busy places you do on a two day pass.

Lines are not that bad at most places,,and the pass does not let you skip lines at the Towers of Notre
Dame( where there is always a line) and the pass doesn't work for Eifel Tower,, another line up place.

I agree that you might want to rethink purchasing a museum pass and being bound by consecutive museum going days. If you want to go to Disneyland and Versailles you will want to go on days when the weather is good, so you should have the flexibility to go the first nice days... March and April are fairly rainy months in France.

You have received very good advice, so I don't have anything to add, except to point out that the Museum Pass will not allow you to skip the line at St. Chapelle. You cannot bypass the security line with a pass, and it can be a long line. A concert there is a great idea. It's expensive, but a fabulous experience.

Thank you all very much for your comments. This is exactly the kind of info I needed. I will rethink my strategy and plan to get a 2 or 4-day pass, instead, perhaps.

Thanks again.