When strolling through Paris’s charming streets, every direction you turn begins with hints of art, culture, and history. But with so much to see and so little time available, tourists frequently ask whether the Paris Museum Pass is worth the money.
Time is valuable to tourists, particularly when exploring Paris’s numerous galleries and shows. The Museum Pass offers a simplified experience that avoids long ticket lines and offers to unlock doors to some of the most famous museums in the city. But with so many factors involved—such as your personal preferences or the number of locations you intend to visit—figuring out whether this pass is useful can be like trying to solve a complex puzzle.
Many people ask, is the Paris Museum Pass Worth It? Come along as we explore the details of the Paris Museum Pass to see if it lives up to the hype or is just another tourist trap in a city that never stops.
Note: I may refer to the Paris Museum Pass as the PMP in this article for convenience.
What Is Included in the Paris Museum Pass
The Paris Museum Pass is more than just a ticket; it’s your golden key to the city’s rich art, history, and culture tapestry. With access to over 50 renowned museums and monuments, including iconic gems like the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, this pass transforms ordinary tourist experiences into extraordinary adventures. Picture walking through the grand halls of Versailles or marveling at Monet’s masterpieces in a fraction of the time it takes for regular visitors who often stand in long queues.
These are some of the places the PMP covers; they include some of the most well-known museums and some of my favorite lesser-known locations. That is a lengthy list!
- Arc de Triomphe (€16) – Napoleon’s Triumphal Arch, which you can climb to the top for views over Paris
- Louvre (€22) – The iconic museum containing immense collections
- Versailles (€21+) – The extremely opulent palace and gardens of the French Kings
- Musée d’Orsay (€16) – Impressionist art in an old train station
- Sainte Chapelle (€13) – Gorgeous chapel with floor-to-ceiling stained glass
- Panthéon (€13) – A soaring building dedicated to the thinkers, writers, and leaders of France
- Les Invalides (€15) – The beautiful resting place for Napoleon’s tomb
- l’Orangerie (€12) – Admire Monet’s Water Lilies paintings in large scale
- Pompidou Center (€15) – Modern art museum in a modern art building
- Conciergerie (€13) – A royal residence that was converted to a prison and held Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution
- Musée de Cluny (€12) – Museum of the Middle Ages
- Hotel de la Marine (€17) – Gorgeous historic mansion
- Rodin Museum (€14) – Dedicated to the incredible sculptures of Rodin and Camille Claudel
- Eugène Delacroix Museum (€9) – Dedicated to the famous impressionist painter
- Picasso Museum (€12) – Dedicated to the famous modern art painter
- Grand Palais (Palais de la Découverte) (€9) – An interactive science museum
The path also has many chateaux, or castles, nearby Paris. Here are a few examples:
- Chateau de Fontainebleau
- Chateau de Chantilly
- Chateau Malmaison
- Chateau de Pierrefonds
Skipping the Lines
One of the greatest benefits of the Paris Museum Pass is that you can bypass the ticket lines and head straight to the entrance line, saving some money on entrance tickets.
Even though there are times when you still have to wait in line to pass security and enter the building, at least there is no longer a waiting area for tickets.
Even though the lines aren’t too long, it’s still great not to deal with them, especially during the busiest time of year.
Cost of the Paris Museum Pass
- A 2-day pass costs €62
- A 4-day pass costs €77
- A 6-day pass costs €92
The PMP is offered for sale as 2-, 4-, or 6-day choices, but in reality, it is a 48-, 96-, or 144-hour pass that becomes active upon scanning at the first qualifying museum you visit.
Accordingly, if you purchase a 2-day pass and use it for the first time on a Tuesday at 4 p.m., you will have until Thursday at 3:59 p.m. to utilize it before it expires.
In general, you save money with the pass after 4 museums for the 2-day pass, 5 for the 4-day pass, and 6 for the 6-day pass. Of course, you can add up the costs of the museums you are most interested in and compare them to the price of the pass.
Rules to Be Aware Of
With the Paris Museum Pass, you can only visit each attraction once; you cannot leave and return another day.
Access to permanent collections is granted; however, temporary displays and special activities are not included.
The pass works fine on your phone as an electronic form, though you can print it off if you’d rather have a hard copy.
Where and How to Buy the Paris Museum Pass
Multiple easy choices are available to tourists for buying the Paris Museum Pass, according to various tastes. The official Paris Museum Pass website is one of the easiest ways to purchase e-tickets, delivered right to your email so you can use them immediately. Using this digital method, you can skip the ticket waits at participating institutions and avoid wait periods, making the most of your time in the City of Light. In addition, you can stop at one of the many tourist information stations or centers throughout the city, especially at Charles de Gaulle Airport and important metro stations, where helpful staff members are available to answer your questions.
Another excellent choice for people who value hands-on learning is to purchase the pass in person at some museums. In this manner, you may schedule your on-site visits while taking in the atmosphere of each location. Having this card allows you free access and encourages spontaneity, whether you’re a history buff touring famous locations like Notre Dame and Versailles or an art enthusiast ready to feast on masterpieces at the Louvre.
Do Children Need the Paris Museum Pass?
No, the Paris Museum Pass is unavailable to children under 18 or EU citizens under 26. Purchasing the pass would be unnecessary because almost all museums and monuments in Paris are free for these groups to visit.
Children will still require a (free) timed admission reservation for sites like the Louver or Versailles. In certain cases, such as at Les Invalides, you must pick up a (free) child ticket before entering the museum.
If you are traveling with older children, it’s also a good idea to bring an ID or a picture of an ID to prove that they are eligible for free admission.
Opening Hours – Important!
In Paris, the majority of museums are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Remember to check what is open these days when deciding what to see and when in Paris.
You don’t want any surprises! There is still a lot to see and do, but museums are typically closed on Monday or Tuesday, not both days!
Free Museum Days
Free Museum Sunday is a monthly event in which numerous museums in Paris offer free admission to all visitors on the first Sunday of the month.
Free Museum Day is held at the Louvre on the first Friday of every month after 6 p.m., except in July and August.
I don’t think saving fifteen to thirty euros is worth dealing with hour-long line-ups and dense people. I would much rather pay a little bit extra for the access passes and make better use of my limited time in Paris by engaging in enjoyable activities.
Museums That Are Always Free in Paris
Paris is a real treasure trove of culture and history. Several of the city’s museums are free to enter, providing a fascinating look into the arts, sciences, and legacy. Visitors to the Petit Palais, which features priceless works by artists like Monet and Courbet, may take in the splendor of its collections and the majesty of its architecture without paying a dime. Walking through its corridors is like discovering a hidden French artistry garden that many visitors fail to notice.
So, is the Paris Museum Pass Worth It?
Most adults not in the EU benefit from using the Paris Museum Pass.
The pass offers an amazing selection of popular attractions and lesser-known locations. Depending on how many places you visit, you can save a lot of money. Another fantastic benefit is the convenience of not going to the ticket office.
Just be careful to verify the hours of operation, stay away on the first Sunday of the month, and avoid purchasing the child pass!