The Paris Museum Pass gives you free admission and priority skip-the-line access to museums, monuments, castles, house-museums, and even a basilica - more than 50 attractions in all - in Paris and nearby areas. 

As you probably already know, Paris overflows with iconic cultural and historical treasures.  There's the Mona Lisa and other priceless art at the Louvre, spectacular Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings at Musée d'Orsay, Napoleon's Tomb at the Army Museum, the dazzling Hall of Mirrors at Versailles Palace, Monet's enormous waterlily paintings at Musée de l'Orangerie. 

Less famous experiences include seeing the aviation "firsts" at the National Air and Space Museum at Paris-Le Bourget, soaring stained glass at Sainte-Chapelle, and interactive science exhibits at the family-friendly Palais of Discovery.  And don't forget about the 360-degree panoramic views of Paris from the Arc de Triomphe's rooftop terrace. 

When you have a Paris Museum Pass, you get free entry into all of these attractions plus many more.  It's one of the city's biggest bargains. 

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This article covers three major topics: 

  • How to get and use a Paris Museum Pass
  • Lists of all Paris Museum Pass attractions plus a map showing locations
  • More about the Pass, including costs, how to decide if the Pass is worth it for you, and how to get the most value for your money

Top Photo: The glass in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

Paris Discovery Guide is a reader-supported publication.  When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost for you.  Learn more


Paris Museum Pass: Where to Buy It & How to Use It

How Does the Paris Museum Pass Work?

Paris Museum Passes for 2, 4, and 6 days
Paris Museum Passes for 2, 4, and 6 days

The Paris Museum Pass looks like a small, easy-to-carry card. However, it folds out into a double-sided brochure packed with information about each attraction, as well as a couple of maps showing locations.  

Paris Museum Passes for 2, 4, and 6 days
Paris Museum Pass - Unfolded

The Pass is available for 2, 4, or 6 consecutive days. It gives you one free priority entry to as many of the included sites as you want during the valid period. 

Although you can buy the Pass at participating museums and a few other locations, the best way to get it is online before you travel.  This allows you to buy it in your own currency without waiting in a potentially long line at the ticket window.

The other really important advantage to buying online from Get Your Guide (which is where the links on this page will take you) is that you can cancel for a full refund with at least 1 day's notice.  if you buy the Paris Museum Pass in person at a museum or local tourist office, it is NOT returnable or refundable. 

As soon as you buy the Pass online, you get a booking code that allows you to immediately book date/time slots for your visits. (Many museums and other attractions now require advance booking - we list them below.)  This means you're more likely to get the date/time slots you want. 

Once you get to Paris, you pick up your Pass in an office near the Louvre.  When you're ready to use it, you write your name and the date of your first visit on the card to activate it.

To use your Pass, simply present it when you enter your selected attractions.

Please note:  These museums request that you book a timeslot in advance (you'll find the link to do this plus any updates on the voucher for your pass):  Louvre Museum, Chateau de Versailles, Conciergerie/Sainte-Chapelle (1 time slot works for both because they're next door to each other), Orangerie Museum, Museum of the Art and History of Judaism, Hotel de la Marine, and Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine (Architecture and Culture) 

If you're traveling with kids under 18 or EU citizens under 26, you will need to book a timeslot for them even though they don't need a ticket..

Pro Tip:  Start your museum visits in the morning rather than later in the day to get the most value for your money.

How Much Does the Paris Museum Pass Cost?

Here are the current costs for the Paris Museum Pass:

  • 2 days - 55€  (27.50€ per day), plus an online booking fee
  • 4 days - 70€  (17.05€ per day), plus an online booking fee
  • 6 days - 85€  (14.17€ per day), plus an online booking fee

As you can see, the cost per day drops by a lot when you choose the 4- or 6-day Pass.  

See the current Paris Museum Pass rates in your own currency


Paris Museum Pass Attractions:  What's Included?

The Paris Museum Pass gives you free admission to 50+ cultural attractions. During the days when your pass is valid, you can visit as many attractions, tours, and museums as you want. 

To help you plan your visits, here are lists of the Paris Museum Pass attractions in three categories:  

Following the lists of attractions, you'll see a map showing locations of all Paris Museum Pass sites.

Famous Paris Museums & Monuments Covered by the Paris Museum Pass

  • Louvre Museum - Home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and so much more.   Location: 1st arr; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Musée d'Orsay - Housed in a former train station, the Orsay Museum contains the world's best collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art: Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet, and more.   Location: 7th arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Arc de Triomphe Rooftop Terrace - Enjoy some of the best views of the Paris skyline, including the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées, and Sacre Coeur.   Location: 8th arr; Open: Daily, except for January 1, May 1, May 8 (morning), July 14 (morning), November 11 (morning), and December 25.
  • Sainte-Chapelle - 13th century chapel with stunning medieval stained glass windows; also the site of popular candlelight concerts.   Location: 1st arr; Open: Daily, except for January 1, May 1, and December 25
  • Army Museum & Napoleon's Tomb - The world's largest collection of military art and history.   Location: 7th arr; Open: Daily, except for January 1, May 1, and December 25
  • Pompidou Center:  National Museum of Modern Art - Superb collection of modern and contemporary art plus fantastic panoramic views of Paris from the rooftop terrace of this famous "inside-out" building.   Location: 4th arr; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Pantheon - With its distinctive dome visible from many spots in Paris, the neoclassical Pantheon in the Latin Quarter has served since the French Revolution as a mausoleum containing the remains of many of France's most distinguished citizens.  Location: 5th arr; Open: Daily, except for January 1, May 1, and December 25
  • Musée de l'Orangerie - Specially-designed oval rooms displaying Monet's enormous water lily paintings; other galleries contain works by Matisse, Renoir, Cézanne, Modigliani, and Picasso.   Location: 1st; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Cluny Museum - Superb collection of Medieval art, including the famed "Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries, plus 1st-century Roman baths.   Location: 5th arr; Closed: Tuesdays;  Closed for renovations until 2022
  • Quai Branly Museum (Musée du Quai Branly ) - World-famous collections of non-Western Art (Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Americas).  Location: 7th arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Picasso Museum - The world's most extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, and other works by Picasso, housed in a gorgeous 17th-century mansion in the Marais neighborhood. Location: 3rd arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Rodin Museum - The most famous sculptures by Auguste Rodin- displayed in a beautiful 18th-century mansion with a breathtaking garden.    Location: 7th arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Notre Dame Towers - Closed for restoration until at least 2024 due to the tragic 2019 fire.

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Lesser-Known Paris Museum Pass Attractions

  • Musée des Arts et Métiers - Fascinating collections of inventions, tools, jewelry, crystals, scientific instruments, steam engines, and even a historic plane housed in a medieval monastery.   Location: 3rd arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Conciergerie - Magnificent medieval palace and later a notorious French Revolution prison where Marie Antoinette spent her final days.  Location: 1st arr; Open: Every day except May 1 and December 25
  • Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine (Architecture and Heritage Museum) - Stunning collection of plaster casts of France's most important architecture from the 12th - 18th centuries, plus murals, stained glass, and models of French and international architecture from 1850 to today.  Location: 16th arr; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Museum of the Order of the Liberation at Invalides - This memorial museum tells the story of Free France, the Résistance, the Déportation of France's Jewish citizens during World War II.  Location: 7th arr; Open: Daily except January 1, May 1, and December 25
  • Museum of Relief Maps (Musée des Plans-Reliefs) - One of Paris's most unusual and little-known historical monuments: a fascinating collection of 260 3-dimensional scale models of fortresses and fortifications in Paris, elsewhere in France, and beyond created for military purposes between 1668 and 1870.  Location: 7th arr; Closed: 1st Monday of the month from October through June
  • Guimet Museum of Asian Art - Considered the best Asian art museum in Europe, the Guimet explores 5,000 years of Asian art and culture in its beautifully curated galleries.  Location: 16th arr; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Decorative Arts Museum - Immense collections of furnishings, glass, jewelry, silver,  fashion, graphic arts, ceramics, and textiles from the Middle Ages to the present day.  Location: 1st arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Nissim de Camondo Museum - Stunning house museum displays 18th-century art, tapestries, porcelain, silver, and furnishings of a wealthy collector.  Location: 8th arr; Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays
  • Musée du Quai Branly - World-famous collections of non-Western Art (Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Americas).  Location: 7th arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Chapelle Expiatoire - A memorial chapel built on the site where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were initially buried after being beheaded by guillotine.  Location: 8th arr; Open: Daily except January 1, May 1 and December 25
  • French Cinema Museum (La Cinémathèque Française Musée Méliès) - Shows the history of film and cinemas from the first "fake" movies to today's special effects.  Location: 12th arr; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (Science and Technology Museum) - The biggest science museum in Europe, with many interactive and fun exhibits designed to appeal to all ages; the Pass gives you free entry to permanent and temporary exhibitions, the planetarium, and a submarine. Please note:  The museum charges admission for children and teens. If you visit with kids, you can buy their "Exhibitions" tickets in person when you get there.  Location: 19th arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Eugene Delacroix National Museum - Housed in Delacroix's last studio in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the museum displays works by the artist and his friends; the peaceful garden in the back makes a lovely spot for a quick stroll.  Location: 6th arr; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Musée Jean-Jacques Henner - Located in an 1878 mansion, this museum displays an extensive collection of Henner's paintings and other works.  You may or may not find his art interesting - but the museum evokes artistic life in the late 19th century.  Location: 17th arr; Closed: Tuesdays
  • History of Immigration Museum - Fascinating art, memoires, and historical accounts of the waves of immigrants whoarrived in France during the past 2 centuries.  The adjacent aquarium is also worth seeing but is not included with the Pass.  Location: 12th arr (on the edge of Bois de Vincennes); Closed: Mondays
  • Arab World Institute Museum - Focused on Arab identity, with exhibits spanning art, religion, culture, archaeology, and history from the origins of the Arab world to today in an iconic building by Jean Nouvel; don't miss the 9th-floor restaurant and terrace with spectacular skyline Paris views.  Location: 5th arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Judaic Art and History Museum - Wide-ranging exhibitions on Judaism in Europe and the Mediterranean Rim from antiquity to the present day.  Location: 3rd arr; Closed: Mondays, January 1, May 5, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.
  • Musée Gustave Moreau - Lots of lovely paintings and other art in the artist's family home.  Location: 9th arr; Closed: Tuesdays 
  • Paris Philharmonic: Music Museum - Superb collection of primarily classical musical instruments from all over the world, including instruments from the 16th century to the present day; about 1,000 on display.  Location: 19th arr; Closed: Mondays
  • Discovery Palace - Wonderful science and technology museum behind the Grand Palais, with lots of models, interactive experiments,m and multimedia displays on chemistry, digital technology, math, physics, life and earth sciences, and astronomy; fantastic appeal to all ages.  Location: 8th arr; Closed: Mondays

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Attractions Near Paris Covered by the Paris Museum Pass

  • Palace of Versailles and the Trianon - Spectacular former residence of French royalty, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, where you can see the famous Hall of Mirrors, royal chambers, and splendid gardens.   Location: Versailles, France; RER C: Versailles Château-Rive Gauche; Closed: Mondays
  • Air and Space Museum - Superb collection of flying machines, aircraft (including the Concorde), and spacecraft, just 6 miles (10 km) outside of Paris.  Location: Le Bourget Airport, Le Bourget, France; Metro: Porte de la Chapelle + bus 350 or Fort d'Auberbilliers + bus 152 or RER B: Le Bourget + bus 152; Closed: Mondays
  • Saint-Denis Basilica Cathedral - 12th/13th century Gothic cathedral with Europe's most significant 12th-16th century funerary sculptures; burial place of numerous French kings and queens.  Location: Saint-Denis, France; Metro: Basilique de Saint-Denis; Closed: During religious services, other exceptional events, and8 on January 1, May 1, and December 25
  • Sèvres National Ceramics Museum - This large museum overlooking this Seine River has one of the world's largest collections of ceramics from all over the world, including many exquisite examples of their own famous porcelain.   Location: Sèvres, France; Metro: Pont de Sèvres; Closed: Tuesdays 
  • Chateau de Vincennes - Located at the edge of the Bois de Vincennes in East Paris, the Chateau and former royal residence have thrilling medieval architecture, the highest fortified tower in Europe, and a beautiful chapel.  Location: Vincennes, France (but adjacent to the Bois de Vincennes in Paris's 12th arrondissement); Metro/RER station: Chateau de Vincennes; Open: Daily, except for January 1, May 1, and December 25
  • Rodin Museum at Meudon - Rodin's workshop and home, with plaster casts of his most famous sculptures displayed in the museum.  Location: Meudon, France; Metro: Marie d'Issy + bus 190, 169, or 290, or RER C: Meudon Val Fleury; Open: Daily, except for January 1, May 1, and December 25 
  • Fontainebleau Palace - Lavish royal residence from 12th to 19th century and currently the most heavily furnished French castle surrounded by fantastically manicured grounds and gardens.  Location: Fontainebleau, France; SNCF Gare de Lyon station: Fontainebleau-Avon + bus 1, Chateau stop; Closed: Tuesdays 
  • Chantilly Chateau - Beautiful castle surrounded by water and gardens; best known for its 18th century stables and Museum of the Horse.  Location: Chantilly, France; RER D or SNCF Gare du Nord station: Chantilly-Gouvieu + bus, Chantilly-Eglise Notre-Dame stop; Closed: Tuesdays and for a few weeks in January (dates differ a bit each year)
  • Chateau de Rambouillet - Former royal castle from 14th-18th century, and now a Presidential residence.  Location: Rambouillet, France; SNCF Montparnasse station:Rambouillet; Closed: Tuesdays 
  • La Villa Savoye - Le Corbusier's 1929 "International Style" modern villa celebrates modern architecture tenets.   Location: Poissy, France; RER A station: Gare de Poissy + bus 50, Villa Savoye stop; Closed: Mondays 
  • Chateau de Champs-sur-Marne - 18th century castle with decorative interiors featuring fine furniture. Location: Champs-sur-Marne, France; RER A: Noisiel + 20 minutes walk or Bus 220 Mairie de Champs stop; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Saint-Germain-en-Laye Museum of Archeology - French artifacts from prehistorical times to early Middle Ages housed in a beautiful castle.  Location: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France; RER A: Saint-Germain-en-Laye; Closed: Tuesdays
  • French-American Museum at Chateau de Blérancourt - Historical documents and memorabilia documenting French-American friendship, plus art by French and American artists; surrounding gardens feature flowers and trees from North America.  Location: Blérancourt, France; SNCF Gare du Nord: Noyon + taxi; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Royal Abbey of Chaalis - A chapel, rose garden, and an art museum with an extensive art and furniture collection.   Location: Fontaine-Chaalis, France; Open: Daily from March 1-November 11; Sundays only from Nov 12 - Feb 28; closed on Jan 1 and Dec 25
  • Museums at the Chateau of Compiègne - Castle containing the Second Empire Museum with ornate apartments of Napoleon I and Napoleon III plus other displays of life in France's highest royal chambers; also a fascinating National Car Museum set in a beautifully landscaped historical parkland.  Location: Compiègne, France; SNCF Gare du Nord: Compiègne; Closed: Tuesdays; Hours differ for the Castle and its two museums, so check schedules carefully if you want to see everything
  • Chateau de Pierrefonds - Superb 15th century imitation of a Medieval castle complete with numerous turrets and a moat, built by famed architect Viollet-le-Duc.  Location: Pierrefonds, France; SNCF Gare du Nord: Compiègne + bus 27; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Chateau de Maisons - Beautiful classical French 17th century chateau built by François Mansart (whose steeply sloped "mansard" roofs remain popular today).  Location: Maisons-Laffitte, France; RER A: Maisons-Laffitte; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Chateau de Malmaison Museum - The private country residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Josephine just 30 minutes outside of Paris.  Location: Rueil-Malmaison, France; Metro or RER A: La Defense + bus 258; Closed: Tuesdays
  • Port-Royal des Champs Museum - Collections of paintings, books, and engravings, plus abbey ruins, buildings dating from the 13th to 19th century, and magnificent gardens with beehives in a park-like setting.  Location: Magny-les-Hameaux, France; RER C: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines + bus 464; Closed: Tuesdays; check special days/hours for Abbey ruins
  • National Museum of the Renaissance at Chateau d'Écouen - Stately castle just 12 miles (19 km) from Paris with Renaissance silver, furniture, glass, tapestries, and ceramics.  Location: Écouen, France; SNCF Gare du Nord: Écouen-Ezanville + bus 269, Mairie-Château stop; Closed: Tuesdays

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Paris Museum Weekly "Closed" Days

Always check the website of attractions you plan to visit for planned or unexpected closures.  These typically happen for several reasons:

  • Regular closures - Most Paris museums and many monuments close for one day each week (typically Monday or Tuesday) to allow for a thorough cleaning, quick repairs, and other needed maintenance  
  • Holiday closures - Most museums and monuments will be closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25.  Some may also be closed on July 14 (Bastille Day), November 1 (All Saints Day), and November 11 (Armistice Day), and occasionally other days
  • Unexpected closures - These can be due to a strike, a threat, severe weather conditions (such as when the Seine River floods), or, as we've all recently experienced, a pandemic
  • Renovations - Some renovation-related closures last only a few months, but others last for years; very frustrating, but to be fair, the results are almost always worth the wait

Map Showing Locations of Paris Museum Pass Attractions



Popular Attractions NOT Included by the Paris Museum Pass

Although the Pass gives you free entry to many famous Paris cultural attractions, it does not include of the popular attractions you may want to visit.  Fortunately, you can get tickets with skip-the-line admission before you travel:

  • Eiffel Tower - Choose from many different choices ranging from climbing the stairs on your own to visiting all levels with a guide who will whisk you through the crowds - Ticket options
  • Paris Catacombs - Lines to explore Paris's underground City of the Dead are always long (a 3-4 hour wait is not uncommon, and if you go in the afternoon, there's no guarantee you'll get in before closing time) due to restrictions on how many people can be inside at once, so always get an advance ticket - Ticket options
  • Atelier des Lumières - Tickets for this spectacular art and music immersive experience are sold only online
  • Palais Garnier  - Phantom of the Opera fans will not want to miss the gorgeous Paris Opera House - Explore on your own, or best of all, attend an unforgettable opera or ballet
  • Grevin Wax Museum - A fun experience with 200+ wax figures, historical re-creations, and a dazzling light-and-mirrors show - Skip-the-line tickets

More About the Paris Museum Pass

Is the Paris Museum Pass Worth Getting?

Yes!  Using the museum pass in Paris can save you lots of money and time if you plan to visit several of France's most important cultural attractions.

Distributors of the Paris Museum Pass estimate that you can achieve savings within these time frames:

  • 2-day Paris Museum Pass - Savings (on average) starting with your 4th visit
  • 4-day Paris Museum Pass - Savings (on average) starting with your 5th visit
  • 6-day Paris Museum Pass - Savings (on average) starting with your 6th visit

As you can see, the longer duration passes are even better deals than the 2 day museum pass.  For example, with the 6-day Pass, you'll save money (on average) if you visit even one museum, monument, or chateau (castle) each day. 

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Beyond the financial savings, there are seven other compelling reasons why the Museum Pass for Paris is worth getting.  Some are obvious, while others are less so:

1.  The skip-the-line benefit saves you significant time - and if you are spending only a limited amount of time in Paris, why waste any of it by standing in line?

2.  Buying the Pass online before you travel is super-convenient and saves you time and hassle after you arrive, plus if you buy it from links to Get Your Guide in this article, you can get a full refund if you need to cancel at least one day before your scheduled start day.  Also, if you don't know much French, buying online is so much easier than trying to explain what you want to someone who doesn't speak much of your language!

3.  Being able to sign up for a time slot in advance, as many attractions require right now, forces you to plan your itinerary for each day in advance.  This will save you time once you're in Paris and give you a better experience. 

4.  Buying an all-in-one type pass helps you stay within your travel budget.  You know ahead of time exactly how much you're spending. With so many top attractions available with the card, you can avoid the temptation to spend money on spur-of-the-moment tickets once you're in Paris.

5.  What if you want to view only one thing in a museum?  Perhaps, for example, you want to see the Mona Lisa but have no interest in the rest of the Louvre's collections.  Is it wasteful to spend 17€ on a ticket to see just one painting?  When you have the Paris Museum Pass, you don't have to answer that question because you can see what you want and then move on to the next museum you want to visit without guilt.

6.  Having the Pass lets you explore a new-to-you museum or other attraction with no risk.  Maybe you'll love it. But if you don't, you can just quickly move on to your next choice. Thanks to the Pass, you won't feel like you wasted money on admission to a place you don't like - or even worse, stayed longer than you wanted to justify the ticket price.

7.  If you're traveling with a group of friends or family members and everyone has a Paris Museum Pass, you have lots of flexibility.  See some attractions together, and others on your own.  That way, everyone gets to do what they want and go at their own pace, so everyone stays happy! 

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Is the Paris Museum Pass Available for Children & Teens?

No.  But the great news is that almost all Paris attractions covered by the Paris Museum Pass offer free access to everyone under 18 and EU residents under 26. 

The most notable exceptions in Paris are the two science and technology museums which feature many exhibits designed to appeal to kids and teens.  The Discovery Palace (Palais de la Découverte) offers free entry for children under 6.  Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (Science and Technology Museum) is free for children under 2.

Several of the most famous attractions outside of Paris, such as Versailles, offer free entry to everyone under 18.   At a couple of places, everyone under 26 gets in free.

However, most of the less-known attractions outside of Paris charge admission for kids and teens.  Fortunately, they are usually inexpensive.  Since these sites tend to be uncrowded, you can pay at the door without much delay.

How to Reserve a Free Entry Time Slot for Children & Teens

If you plan to visit an attraction that requires you to reserve a date/time for your visit, you will also need to book a time slot for anyone under 18 (or under 26, if EU residents).  To do this, simply go to the attraction's website and reserve a free ticket for your chosen date/time.

Some attractions may request a photo ID, and in the case of EU residents, proof of residence when you enter.  However, the ID is not required for children who are obviously too young to have one.  Teens should bring a photo ID, such as a school ID or driver's license.  EU residents should be prepared to show an identity card with a photo showing their residency within a European Union country.  Don't feel surprised if you are never asked for it - but do be sure it bring it, just in case you are.

Where Do I Pick Up My Paris Museum Pass?

Once you arrive in Paris, you pick up your Paris Museum Pass at the tour office located at 23 Rue d'Aboukir in the 2nd arrondissement, about a 10-minute walk from the Louvre.  The office is open every day (Monday through Sunday) from 9am to 6pm.

Although you can pick up your pass on the first day you plan to use it, you may want to get it a day or two earlier to spend time exploring the neighborhood around the office. 

Attractions nearby include the Palais Royal Garden, designer boutiques surrounding Place des Victoires with its magnificent statue of Louis XIV on horseback, Galerie Vivienne (a posh 19th century covered arcade), and several kitchenware stores beloved by local and visiting cooks (A. Simon (48 Rue Montmartre), G. Detou (58 Rue Tiquetonne), MORA (13 Rue Montmartre), and Dehillerin (18 Rue Coquillière).  Hungry or thirsty?  This area is also known for its excellent wine bars and small bistros.

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Does the Paris Museum Pass Include the Palace of Versailles?

Yes, the Paris Museum Pass gives you free entry to the Palace of Versailles, but there are several things you should know:

  • With the Paris Museum Pass, you get free entry to Versailles Palace and the Trianon Estate including the Grand and Petit Palaces, but not to Marie-Antoinette's Estate.  It also does not include the Gardens or Groves on Musical Fountains or Musical Gardens days (which is almost every day during the summer; however, on days when these events do not take place in spring, fall, or winter, admission to the Gardens is free)
  • Although the Paris Museum Pass gives you skip-the-line entry to Versailles, you must still go through the security line.  During peak tourist season at Versailles, that used to routinely take 3-4 hours but now that timed-entry slots are required when you buy your ticket, the situation has vastly improved.  However, there are occasionally glitches and in those cases, some visitors are still reporting waits of up to an hour.
  • When you add transportation time to and from Versailles to a possible wait in the security line during peak tourist season plus the time you'll spend exploring the fabulous Palace and Estate, you'll easily use an entire day of your pass validity period (that's true even if you zip through the line because there's so much to see and do here).  So should you use your Paris Museum Pass for a visit to Versailles, especially if you have only a 2-day pass?  That depends.  If you spend one day visiting Versailles and the other visiting at least three museums, you'll still most likely come out ahead.  Alternately, you can get a Versailles "passport" ticket or even better, join a guided tour with your ticket and priority access included.

Strategies for Getting the Most Value from Your Paris Museum Pass

  • Save time by planning each day's visits based on location by choosing sites close to one another. 
  • Make sure the museum will be open on the day you plan to go; although we include the regular closing days in the above lists, always check the museum's website before you go in case of unexpected closures or renovations 
  • To maximize the number of places you can visit in one day, use your Pass for attractions where you're likely to spend no more than a couple of hours, especially if you have a 2-day pass.  Save Versailles and anywhere else that you might spend a lot of time for another time when you don't have the Pass.
  • If you have time, get a Pass for 4 or 6 days rather than just 2.  The price is not much higher, and the additional days will allow you to spread out your visits a bit more or visit more museums.

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