Paris truly is a city for art lovers, and one museum that shouldn’t be missed is the Musée d’Orsay. This stunning museum is set in a revamped old train station and boasts an impressive 19th-century collection of artworks from artists like Claude Monet, Renoir, and Vincent Van Gogh. Not only are the art pieces on display remarkable, but so is the architecture of the building. You’ll also get to experience some fantastic views of the city from two viewing points which are located behind the grand clock and from a viewing patio above Café des Hauteurs.
The Musée d’Orsay is home to the largest collection of impressionist paintings in the world and is one of the top attractions in the city, but with popularity comes crowds. We here at Road Affair want you to have a stress-free experience at the museum, which is why we have carefully curated this guide on how to buy tickets to the Musée d’Orsay. So let’s dive in!
Quick Answer – How to Buy Tickets to the Musée d’Orsay: The best way to buy tickets to the Musée d’Orsay is online in advance here. These tickets allow you to skip the line and are refundable up to 24 hours in advance. If you want to combine a visit to the Musée d’Orsay with a Seine river cruise, purchase a combination ticket instead.
Best Ways to Get Tickets to the Musée d’Orsay
There are several ways to buy tickets to the Musée d’Orsay, and the best way really depends on how you want to experience the museum and Paris in general. There are a few ways to group attractions and save money, or even get into the museum for free!
Line Up In-Person (Not Recommended)
When it comes to where to buy tickets to the Musée d’Orsay, you can choose to line up in person at the door for a reduced rate of €14 instead of €16. However, we highly recommend against doing so. Even in the off-peak season, long lines tend to form right around opening time as so many tourists and locals enjoy the museum. In fact, the museum sees over three million visitors every year, so chances are you won’t be able to avoid the crowds. To avoid at least the lineups, avoid purchasing tickets to the Musée d’Orsay in person.
Book Online in Advance (Recommended)
One of the best ways to get entry tickets is to book tickets to the Musée d’Orsay in advance online. This way, you can bypass the lines outside and head straight to security! It will essentially be like you have a skip-the-line ticket for the Musée d’Orsay. You can opt to purchase your tickets on the museum’s official website or through a third-party seller like GetYourGuide. We recommend the ladder as tickets sold through GetYourGuide are completely refundable up to 24 hours prior to your visit, unlike tickets sold on the official website. GetYourGuide also has a handy feature where you can reserve now and pay later, which is perfect for those who aren’t quite ready to pull the trigger on a ticket.
Insider Tip: On the first Monday of every month, you can get free tickets to the Musée d’Orsay. The free tickets are open to all visitors, but to take advantage of this deal you must book your tickets in advance online. Tickets are released roughly a month prior and sell out quickly, so check on the official website to see when the next group of free tickets gets released.
Book a Guided Tour
If you’re interested in learning more about the paintings and artists, consider booking a guided tour of the Musée d’Orsay. You can choose to book a large group tour, a small group tour, or a group tour with lunch included. The tour lasts an hour and 45 minutes and will cover several of the famous impressionist paintings, including pieces by Manet, Renoir, and Monet. You’ll also learn a bit about the history and architecture of the industrial-style building!
Guided 90-minute tours are also available through the museum, but children under the age of 13 are not allowed to participate.
Combine a River Boat Tour and Musée d’Orsay Ticket
If you’re planning on visiting the Musée d’Orsay and going on a river cruise of the Seine, then consider booking this combo river cruise and museum ticket! You will get a timed skip-the-line Musée d’Orsay ticket in addition to an open boat tour ticket which will allow you to hop on board a river cruise whenever works best for you.
Purchase a Museum Pass
Paris is home to so many incredible museums that chances are you’re planning on visiting more than just the Musée d’Orsay. Well, you can get priority access to over 60 museums and attractions in the city for one low price with the Paris Museum Pass. Not only will you get skip-the-line access to some of the most popular museums in the city like the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, but you’ll also get access to other attractions like Versaille, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Château de Pierrefonds all for one price. The Museum Pass is based on a validity period, meaning you choose how long you want the pass to be good for. This could be anywhere from two days to six days, plus you have the option to include Seine River cruise.
Useful Information for Visiting the Musée d’Orsay
What’s the Best Time to Visit the Musée d’Orsay?
The best time to visit the Musée d’Orsay really depends on how you define a fun museum visit. For instance, if you’re looking to save some coin, then the best time to go would be during the free entry days, which are on the first Monday of every month. While this is great for budgeting travelers, those looking to avoid crowds will find the low season (November to March) is much less crowded. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays are usually less crowded as well, with Thursdays offering extended evening hours where you can enjoy the works in the museum until 9:45 p.m.
What Are the Musée d’Orsay Hours of Operation?
The Musée d’Orsay is open every day except Mondays (excluding the free Monday entry on the first Monday of each month). On Thursdays, the museum offers extended hours from 9:30 a.m. until 9:45 p.m. All other days the museum is open from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. The only other days the museum is closed are Christmas (December 25) and France’s Labor Day (May 1st).
How Do You Get to the Musée d’Orsay?
The Musée d’Orsay is located on the River Seine across from the Jardin de Tuileries and the Louvre. Basically, this museum is as central as it gets! Traveling to the museum is quite easy using public transit or your own two feet, but because of its central location, we don’t recommend driving to the museum as you’ll be hard-pressed to find parking nearby.
The museum has several public transit stops nearby. You can opt to use the metro line 12 to Solférino station, the RER train line C to Musée d’Orsay station, or by taxi or rideshare. The nearby bus stops service bus numbers 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 87, and 94. Since Paris is notorious for its heavy traffic, the fastest way to get there is by using the metro or train!
How Do the Musée d’Orsay Tickets Work?
There are five different types of Musée d’Orsay tickets available. The first is a standard timeslot ticket, which you must book in advance. This standard ticket is also available at the gate, but you may have to wait for quite some time before being allowed entry as those who book online get priority entrance. Standard tickets will give you access to both permanent and temporary exhibits in the museum. The second kind of ticket is called an Enfant & Cie ticket, which is a discounted combo ticket for an adult accompanying a child under the age of 18 years old. With a pre-booked standard or Enfant & Cie ticket, you’ll get to go directly to the security line for entrance. Late discounted entry tickets for Thursday are available from 6 p.m. until 9:45 p.m., and work exactly like a standard ticket, so do the free Monday tickets.
Those with tickets for a guided tour of the Musée d’Orsay will get to skip the regular security line and jump into a priority security line, allowing for faster entrance. Once inside, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the artworks and building, and after the tour, you can tour the Musée d’Orsay at your own pace. If you book your guided tour with the museum, you will not get the same privilege to skip the security line. There are two options with the official museum tours, one which gains you access to the museum only with the tour and one which gives you access to the museum with the tour and a ticket to roam the museum on your own afterward.
It should be noted that regardless of which ticket you have, you will only be allowed in once with it. No re-entry is allowed.
How Much Do Tickets for the Musée d’Orsay Cost?
Tickets for the Musée d’Orsay are free for children under the age of 18, EU citizens aged 18 to 25, and those with disabilities (including their companion). For a standard adult ticket, the price is €14 at the door or €16 if you book in advance online. If you want to combine a Seine River Cruise and Musée d’Orsay ticket, then that combo ticket will run you €39.90 for an adult ticket and €17.90 for children or EU citizens aged 18 to 25. Infants aged three or younger are free of charge.
Prices for a guided tour of the Musée d’Orsay vary on whether you want a standard group or small group tour and whether you book them through the museum or not. The starting price for a group guided tour ticket from a third-party tour company is €62.90 for adults, €49.90 for kids aged 11 to 17, and €34.90 for children aged 4 to 10. For an official museum-guided tour without museum admission (this means you will only get to see the parts of the museum included on the tour), the price for all visitors regardless of age is €10. An official museum-guided tour with an entrance ticket is also set at one price for all ages, €26.
The cost of a Paris Museum Pass depends on how many days you would like the pass to be valid. The starting rate for a two-day Paris Museum Pass is €70 for adults. For a two-day Museum Pass and a River Seine cruise, the ticket cost starts at €85. Since children under the age of 18 are free to enter public museums, they will not require a Museum Pass. However, you will still need to book a timed ticket for them online to ensure entry.
What Are the Best Hotels Near the Musée d’Orsay?
As we stated earlier, the Musée d’Orsay is pretty much as central as it gets and is within walking distance of several other attractions like the Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries, and the Petit Palais. So it makes sense that if you want to stay close to some of Paris’s top attractions, then you should book a hotel near the Musée d’Orsay.
If you’re looking to go all out on an elegant and luxurious hotel in Paris, then you can’t go wrong with Le Meurice. This five-star hotel features soundproof rooms along with an on-site, two-star Michelin restaurant, a spa, and a rooftop bar. The hotel is also pet friendly.
Another excellent hotel to stay at is Le Petit Chomel, located just a 15-minute walk from the Musée d’Orsay. This three-star hotel offers on-site parking, an airport shuttle, and room service. All rooms can be accessed by an elevator, making this the ideal accommodation for those with physical disabilities.
For a more modern hotel in the heart of Paris, check out Millésime Hôtel. You can enjoy breakfast in the courtyard or in the main breakfast room. The hotel also features an on-site bar and is pet friendly.
What’s the Security Process at the Musée d’Orsay?
All visitors to the museum are required to go through a security check prior to entering the museum. To avoid getting pulled aside or having items confiscated, make sure you don’t bring any of the below-mentioned prohibited items.
- Large bags bigger than 56×45×25.
- Scooters, folding bikes, bicycles, rollerblades, or skateboards.
- Tools, such as screwdrivers or hammers.
- Weapons, including pocket knives or anything deemed dangerous by security.
What About Visiting With a Disability?
The Musée d’Orsay is a very accessible attraction and actually offers free admission for those with disabilities and their accompanier. Those with mobility impairments will be able to access all parts of the museum using ramps and elevators, and wheelchairs, folding chairs, and canes are also available for free at the front. For those with visual impairments, guide dogs are welcome and audio guides are also available. The museum has also partnered with Souffleurs de Sens and can provide a volunteer guide for your visit. The disability entrance to the museum is at entrance C.
FAQs: Facts About the Musée d’Orsay
How Old is the Musée d’Orsay?
The Musée d’Orsay first opened its doors to the public in 1986. However, the building itself opened as a train station in 1900, welcoming visitors to the city for the World Fair.
How Long Should I Plan to Visit the Musée d’Orsay?
Visitors tend to spend between two to four hours inside.
What If I’m Late to My Ticket Time Slot?
If you are late for your timed entry, don’t fret! Your ticket is still valid for the day, but you will forfeit your timeslot and have to stand in line with the other standard ticket holders who purchased tickets in person.
Is There a Place to Check My Coat and Bag?
Yes, there is a free cloakroom for guests to leave their jackets and bags.
Who Designed the Musée d’Orsay?
The Musée d’Orsay was designed by architect Victor Laloux in a Beaux-Arts style. In fact, more metal was used in constructing the Musée d’Orsay than the Eiffel Tower!
What’s Special About the Musée d’Orsay?
The Musée d’Orsay is one of the largest museums in Europe and houses the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.
Well there you have it, all the information you need to have a relaxing and enjoyable experience at the Musée d’Orsay. If you’re looking to go for a stroll in the sunshine after your visit to the museum, check out our guide to the best parks in Paris. We wish you a bon voyage on your holiday to the City of Light!
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