I'm planning on buying the Paris museum pass during my stay in Dec/Jan. I know it's a good deal and everyone tells me that you don't have to wait in lines. What do you actually do? Walk right up to the front of the line or is there a seperate line you go in?
Thank you!
With the museum pass it is as if you are holding a ticket - thus you will not have to wait in line for the ticket booth.
You will however have to wait in line for security.
We used the museum pass in August, and most places (specifically I recall the Orsay, Orangerie and Sainte-Chapelle)had a separate line for pass holders. As already noted though, at Sainte-Chapelle you might have to wait in line to get through security, which comes before the actual ticket lines. We went through security before the church opened, so did not wait at all there, just had to wait a few minutes before opening time. We thought the pass was great.
My wife, son(21), daughter(23), and myself will be in Paris 30 Dec 07 to 03 Jan 08. Sould we consider a museum pass. Will attraction/museums be open Jan 01 and Jan 02.
I used the pass last year and it was great.
I think it is best to get Rick's book for Paris, the biggies (louve, orsay, versilles ect..) are in Rick's book, he includes maps of these attractions and the seperate enterences if you have a pass.
There are seperate enterences, most often using the group enterence, just show your pass, I saved an hour at the louve and both 2 hours at versilles and orsay!
I consider the pass a very good deal, and it was great to skip lines, there was security but was pretty quick. Have a look a Rick's book to know where those seperate enterences are!
Some sites though have no separate line, particularly if the ticket purchase is elsewhere. Something like climbing to the spires at the Notre Dame, you will be in line like everyone else. Other places, the alternate entrance for passholders is well marked, but in the case of the Louvre, with many entrances, finding the best entrance is the key.
The first time I ever used the pass was for the Musee d'Orsay where there was just a single line about half a block long. I didn't know what to do so just went to the head of the line, excused myself to the guard & showed the pass. The guard unhooked the rope & motioned me in where security was checking bags. I've been a convert ever since.
At D'Orsay there are two big entrances. If you have a museum pass, ignore the big crowd and walk to the other end of the building front (away from the river). There, you just walk in, flash your pass, and enter. You will go through security, then walk past museum shops. Inside at the entrance to the actual museum your pass will be checked by guards. I've observed that the crowds waiting to get into the museum thin out a lot by early afternoon. This may be true for other museums. On free Sundays, show up at opening time if you want to beat the crowds (at least, this worked at the Cluny).
Kate,
In Dec & Jan the museum pass will most likely save you money, except if you go the first Sunday of the month when most are free.
I would not be too worried about lines that time of year.
Jim
