Paris Museum Pass: my review
My verdict: the Paris Museum Pass delivers on its promise if you visit three or four major museums in two days and if you book your Louvre time slots before leaving. Its rating of 4.1 from 4,572 reviews comes from visitors who discovered the time slot rule on-site. The Musée Gustave Moreau, however, is included without any reservation required.
What it is
A paper pass valid for two, four, or six consecutive calendar days, granting access to the permanent collections of around sixty museums and monuments: the Louvre, Orsay, the Orangerie, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Musée Gustave Moreau. Temporary exhibitions are not included. It can be collected from an office about a ten-minute walk from the Louvre, open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and provides access to priority entrances where available.
Two rules make the difference between a successful visit and a disappointing one. The first: days are calendar-based, so a pass activated at 2:00 PM has already used up a full day. The second: the Louvre, the Orangerie, the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme, the Hôtel de la Marine, and the Cité de l'Architecture require a pre-booked time slot, pass or no pass. The Musée Moreau, however, requires none. Also consider the schedule: many museums close on Mondays, while Moreau closes on Tuesdays (see opening hours).
What visitors say
The majority of reviews are positive. Sandra, from Mexico, calls it a great resource for those interested in art, history, and architecture. Wojciech, from Poland, recommends it especially for a first visit to Paris, as it simplifies the day. Beth, from the United States, notes that it saves having to book each ticket separately, and Karen L. says the pass was accepted everywhere without question at the entrance. Steve, from Germany, sums it up: worth it if you plan to see many sites.
Regarding collection, Catherine and Anna Carolina say the same thing: quick and right next to the Louvre. The most common advice, echoed by Audrey, is to book your time slots well in advance. The negative reviews, which lower the average, almost all describe the same scenario: a pass in hand, a fully booked Louvre, and no one had read the line about time slots. It’s not the pass that disappoints—it’s the Louvre at capacity.
What works
- The Musée Gustave Moreau is included, with no time slot to book
- A single reservation for around sixty sites
- Easy pick-up, just a few minutes from the Louvre
- Priority entry where available
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
Things to know
- Time slots mandatory at the Louvre, the Orangerie and three other sites
- Consecutive calendar days: starting in the afternoon costs one day
- Temporary exhibitions excluded
- Not necessary for those under 18 and EU citizens under 26, who enter national museums free of charge
For whom, and who should skip it
The pass suits intensive stays: three or four major museums in two days, more over four or six. It also suits those who dislike queues and multiple bookings. It is not suitable for those visiting just two museums at a leisurely pace, nor for EU citizens under 26, who already enter national museums free of charge but must still book a time slot where required. If your plans are limited to the Musée Moreau, Orsay and the neighbourhood, the museum ticket and its reduced rate at five other venues do the same job, more simply.
Activate the pass one morning, not an afternoon, and schedule the Musée Gustave Moreau on the day when you have no reserved time slot: it gives you all the flexibility that the Louvre takes away.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Paris Museum Pass include the Musée Gustave Moreau?
Yes, as part of the permanent collections, with no time slot to reserve. The page Paris Museum Pass details the other covered sites.
Why is the rating only 4.1?
Because some buyers discover on-site that the Louvre and a few other sites require an advance time slot reservation. Reviews of the pass itself, its collection process, and its acceptance at entrances are positive.
Is the pass worth it if I am not under 26?
If you are under 18, or under 26 and a citizen of an EU country, you enter national museums, including the Musée Gustave Moreau, for free. See when Paris museums are free.
Is the pass better than a guided tour of Orsay?
They are not the same: the pass provides entry, while the guided tour provides entry and a guide. If Orsay is your priority, read our review of the Orsay guided tour.