I've seen a bit of discussion on the Paris Museum pass but am confused as to why people don't think it's a good value. I plan to visit the Louvre, D'Orsay, Arc d'Triomphe, Notre Dame, Pantheon and St-Chapelle while in Paris this week. The 2 day pass is 32 euros and I believe the pass will also save us from standing in the ticket line, did I miss something? Thank you all for the previous help you've offered, you've been terrific! We leave in 2 days!!!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Susan,
Given the number of places you'll be visiting, I believe it's still a good value and will probably save you from standing in the queue for tickets at some places. One location that comes to mind is the Musee d'Orsay. When I was there last year, there was a huge queue for tickets, while Pass Holders simply went to a separate line and were inside in a few minutes.
Hope you have a great time in Paris! It's a wonderful city.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Notre Dame, like most Catholic cathedrals, only charges an admission fee to climb the bell tower. Entrance to the church itself is free. The pass does not allow you to bypass the entrance queue to either.
I have seen significant lines at the ticket queue to the Arc d'Triomphe, stretching all the way back to the nearby metro station. The entrance queue (that you can't skip with the Museum Pass), can be insignificant or extended.
In my opinion, the pass payed for itself in the lines I could skip (Orsay, Pompidou, Arc, Rodin) and because I visited some minor museums (the archeological crypt, Concierge, etc.) that I would have otherwise not thought of seeing.
Posted by
Easthampton, MA, USA
23 posts
We used our Paris Museum pass for exactly the places you list above plus a couple of others. We got to Ste-Chapelle about 30 minute before closing time and they were only allowing people with passes to enter so that they could close the ticket booth. The pass saved us from a long line at D'Orsay. At the Louvre there were HUGE tour and school groups, and they let us go to the front of the line because we had passes.
Posted by
OP
Hamilton, MA
37 posts
Thank you all very much! We will be purchasing the museum pass, this forum has been a great resource for our spur of the moment trip to France!
Posted by
OP
Hamilton, MA
37 posts
That's why I love this group of people! Great tips, thank you all! Now, anyone have a favorite they'd like to share regarding Nice or Barcelona?
Posted by
washington
837 posts
Just returned from Paris and purchased the 4 day pass. We also went to the Cluny, the Orangerie, the Archeological crypt in Notre Dame square, Napoleon's tomb/army museum, and Versailles. We spent several hours on each of two days at the Louvre. While the pass seldom saved time - the lines are generally for security - it was far less expensive than paying at each place. We seldom go to museums and decided to devote time, energy and financial resources on this trip. I maintain that the pass is well worth the price.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
I have been to Paris many times,, and have only boughten the pass once,, last year, a two day pass. I got it because I wanted to skip line at Versailles and they were no longer selling the Forfait Loisirs( a pass for Versailles and train combo).
I honestly do not see the value of buying it now,, ( you can now prepurchase online admission to Versailles),, there are many ways to avoid lines that I do not see how the pass is that useful. I also would not see three sites in one day,, I prefer to see only one musuem a day. I suppose for people who like to see many sites a day it would end up saving them some admission costs,, so I guess it does come down to travel style.
The pass is not really NEEDED to skip most lines. There are ways,, even to skip long lines at Orsay( buy ticket online, or buy ticket at Rodin Museum first, and purchase the combo ticket( good for both museums for same day visit) and the worst offenders as far as lines, well the pass doesn't really help. Towers of Notre Dame offers no line skipping advantage, church is free, and pass does not cover the Eiffel Tower( now you can buy online timed entry for some dates!)
Anyways Susan,, that is why you may be confused as to why some of us to not see it as a great value, different travel styles, and a bit of insider knowledge on other ways of avoiding lines.
Posted by
Fort Collins, CO, US
23 posts
We just returned from Paris and bought the pass at the airport TI. It was a small dollar savings, but a huge time savings for avoiding lines at Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre. We also did things we wouldn't normally have done if we'd had to pay for them- climbing Arc de Triomphe, Ste-Chapelle, Pompidou Centre.
At Ste-Chapelle, whether you have a pass or not, go through the security line at the Ministry of Defense. It's right next to the line for Ste-Chappelle and significantly shorter. Just pass your bags through the scanner, walk through the metal detector, and then head out to the courtyard to go straight in to the church.