Save with the Paris Museum Pass
Cheap Admission to Sights and Monuments in the Capital of France
May 26, 2008
The Paris Museum Pass is one of Europe’s great deals. Paris has some excellent museums and with the Paris Museum Pass, visitors get unlimited access to the permanent collections of most major museums in the French capital.
Virtually all major sights in Paris are among the over 60 venues included on the museum pass. Highlights include the Louvre, the D’Orsay, Pompidou, Arc de Triomphe, and even the Palace of Versailles. A notable and expensive exception is the Eiffel Tower.
- The name Carte Musées is no longer used – even in French the official name is Paris Museum Pass.
Price, Validity, and Buying of the Paris Museum Pass
The Paris Museum Pass is available in three versions that are valid for two, four, or six consecutive days and cost €30, 45, or 60 (USD $47, 70, or 94) respectively. The card comes with a brochure of all museums and attractions where it is valid as well as address, transportation, and opening hour details of these sights.
The Paris Museum Pass can be bought on line but this will add delivery charges. It is easier to buy the pass at any Paris tourist information office (including at Charles de Gaul Airport and major Paris train stations) or from virtually any participating museum or monument.
- Tip: Queues are unlikely when buying the pass from a minor museum.
Skipping queues is probably the best reason to buy the Paris Museum Pass. Being able to go straight to the entrance, or the priority entrance at major sights such as the Palace of Versailles, can save hours of queuing time.
Is the Paris Museum Pass Value for Money?
Whether the Paris Museum Pass is value for money or not depends entirely on the number of museums that the bearer wants to visit, or can bear to visit, in consecutive days. Seeing the Arc de Triomphe (€8), the Louvre (€15), Sainte-Chapelle (€7.50), Museé d’Orsay (€8), Picasso (€6.50), and the Palace of Versailles (€15) will have the traveler break even on the six-day card.
The Paris Museum Pass is not pre-dated so can be bought in advance. On the first day of use, enter in ink full names as well as the date – note the European day – month – year order.
Advantages of the Paris Museum Pass
The Paris Museum Pass has several advantages in addition to saving money on museum admission fees.
- No need to queue for tickets – go straight to the entrance.
- It is possible to visit the same museum more than once and on different days – it will take a lifetime to see for example all that the Louvre has to offer.
- It alleviates the feeling of wasting money when wanting to see just one or a few important pieces in the collection of an otherwise pricey museum.
- When a museum turns out disappointing or the mood changes, there is no false financial incentive to stay any longer.
Things to Note before Buying the Paris Museum Pass
For children and young people, the Paris Museum Pass is not of much use. Children up to 18 receive free admission to virtually all museums and those between 18 and 25 usually receive special discounts too.
The Paris Museum Pass is valid for the consecutive days specified and nothing will or can change the dates. Keep the following in mind before entering the date on the pass:
- Many museums are closed on Monday (and a few on Tuesday) so visitors should only include those days in the pass once sure sufficient sights of interest are open.
- Virtually all sights are closed on January 1 and May 1 – check other French holidays for individual sights.
- Many French museums are free the first Sunday of the month.
- Strikes of transportation or even museum personnel do not extend the validity of the pass. The Paris Museum Pass is valid for permanent exhibitions only – temporary exhibitions usually require a surcharge.
Although the Paris Museum Pass is valid for most sights at the Palace of Versailles, the Passport and especially the Forfaits Loisirs Château de Versailles when on a day trip from Paris may be a better deal.
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