Museum Pass question

I didn't have any problem buying the Paris Museum Pass - they should have it at all participating sights. It is definitely smart to have one in Paris - make sure you use it to skip the lines whenever you can. That said, you do not have to activate your pass the day you buy it - you just write in the start date. The person you buy it from might write it in for you, so just make sure you tell them the correct date. Have fun!

Three suggestion on where to buy the pass (and I'm sure others can also make some good additional recommendations). One, the Musee d'Orsay, because it has a separate entrance for buying the pass away from the main ticket queue. Two, if you visit Notre Dame, you can buy the pass at the nearby Paris Archaeological Crypt. Even if you don't have much of an interest in this small museum, there's never a line, and it doesn't take long to walk through this museum. Along the same logic, the nearby Consiergerie offers the same advantage.

Now, where not to buy the Museum Pass? Three suggestions to avoid: the Louvre, the Rodin Museum, and the Centre Pompidou. The reason? These museums usually have a long ticket line (well, relatively speaking for the Rodin museum), and there is no separate entrance or line for purchasing the Museum Pass. Of course, once you buy the pass, you can skip the lines...

When we were in Paris a few weeks ago, our first stop was the archaeological crypt at Notre Dame to buy a Museum Pass. There was a sign posted that they were no longer selling them--don't know if they'd run out or it was a new policy. They directed us up to the plaza in front of ND, where there is a tourist info kiosk, which had them. It was the best thing we did to make the trip go more smoothly, besides buying a Carte Orange for the Metro...

Thanks for the replies...I have never considered not getting one, was just concerned that it might not be as easy to get as it sounds--sounds like I'm concerned about nothing though...my plan had been the Paris Archaeological Crypt as suggested in RS, but hopefully there will be no line at the kiosk...

It seems the archaeological crypt at Notre Dame has stopped being a sale point for the Pass.

This is the updated list of "in Paris" locations...

It looks as though the Towers at Notre Dame are now selling rather than at the crypte.

http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/pass_points.php?categoriepointvente_id=1

Why do you think a museum pass is important? I have never had one,,( and I have been to Paris many times now) and I do not have any waiting in line horror stories to tell. ( Well once I took my son to EuroDisney without pre buying ticket ,, now that was dumb)
Where are these lines ?
We waited no more then 15 minutes at Musee D'Orsay , walked straight into the Cluny , and walked right into the Lourve also..and this was only a few weeks ago.
A museum pass that allowed me to skip lines at the Eiffel Tower, now THAT would be worth it.. I would even pay extra for that!

I did buy a Forfait Losirs for Versailles that allows line skipping,( it is admission and train ticket combo) ,, that was also worth it.

Why do I think a museum pass is important?
I've also had lots of trips to Paris without one & only once stood in a really long line for the Louvre, but a few trips ago I bought the pass for the first time & now, always get one. The first time I bought one, I was able to skip a very long, very slow moving line into d'orsay. I've also found lines at the Louvre although they moved a little faster. For me, the major reason is the feeling of freedom to stop into any museum (on the list) for just a few minutes or even just to use the facilities. I find that I visit museums I'd not consider if I were paying & it makes for a richer experience in Paris.

I want one because we're going to: The Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, l'Orangerie, Notre Dame, Archeaological Crypt, Conciergerie, Ste. Chappelle, Arc de Triomphe and Les Invalides...it's cheaper than paying for all of these places...plus, one of those days happens to be the first Sunday of the month (couldn't be helped) so I'm assuming it's going to be packed, and want to skip lines--we don't have a ton of time in Paris on this trip (my hubby's first time) and I don't really want to spend it standing in lines if I can help it...yes, I know we won't see everything of all of these things, but we can at least get a taste of it all.

Plus, we likely wouldn't go to all of these things without one. I've been to Paris a few times, never had a pass before, and also never went to the top of the Arc de Triomphe or into Ste. Chapelle because I didn't want to pay extra..the crypt and the conciergerie are also things I'd likely not do if we had to pay the individual admission...we can just pop in, see what we want to see and then leave...

I always get the museum pass. I just can't take more than 3 hours in the Louvre before I'm zoning out. With the pass, we go have a nice lunch elsewhere, walk, may go back to the hotel for a nap and then should the mood strike us go back to the Louvre. I've used the pass to get into alot of museums I'd otherwise pass by if I had to pay for each one. Some were duds, some gems of great delight. For me 10 minutes not standing in line is 10 minutes I can use soaking up a part of French history/art etc. Be aware that there is usually (always) a line at St. Chapelle to get through security (the chapel is on the site of government/judicial/police offices). Once on the grounds you can skip any lines into the chapel itself with your museum pass. Go either early in the morning or late afternoon, and a cloudiy day is even better. The stained glass windows on the second floor are breathtaking. Makes Notra Dame look dingy.

Should you be arriving at CDG and notice a TI and no line, make your purchase there.

We're taking the chunnel from London...the link Jona posted says that we can get it at Gare du Nord, will definitely check out the line there before we head to our hotel.

Thanks for the heads up re Ste. Chapelle...part of the reason I didn't go last time I was in Paris is that when we got there, police in riot gear were clearing the area and we didn't make it back...that and I was a little put out at having to pay to go inside a church.