Anyone who has visited Paris can tell you: it’s not necessarily cheap. Many of the big attractions have an entry fee, with the option to spend plenty more on special exhibits, onsite restaurants and all the souvenirs your little heart can handle. Sightseeing in Paris can add up, and when you factor in the cost of transportation, lodging, shopping and food, a short trip to the city has the potential to get a little spendy. I’m here to tell you that visiting the city of lights doesn’t have to be expensive. Taking the time to research your options and plan ahead can save you a lot in the long run. When it comes to sightseeing, I recommend looking into the Paris Museum Pass. The pass grants access to over 60 monuments and museums in or close to the city, including Versailles, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe, and can be used as much or as little as you like. Fancy climbing the towers of Notre Dame every morning of your trip? With the Paris Museum Pass, you can!
But the important question to ask before buying the Paris Museum Pass is, is it worth it? Sure, the pass may grant access to dozens of attractions, but how many will you actually visit? Not all major attractions are included, and I’m sure there are a few spots on your wishlist, like the beautiful Tuileries gardens or the banks of the Seine River, that are absolutely free to visit. So before you go running off to buy the Museum Pass, let’s talk about the different options available, and what’s included.
Paris Museum Pass
The Paris Museum Pass, as mentioned above, gives the user access to over 60 monuments and museums in or close to the city. Popular attractions include the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the chateau and grounds of Versailles and Fontainebleau, the Conciergerie and the Arc de Triomphe, as well as a slew of lesser-known places like the Museum of Decorative Arts or the former home of Auguste Rodin. Click here to see the full list of included attractions.
In addition to unlimited entry to those sites, the pass includes a special “fast track” entry at some attractions, most notably the Louvre. That means less time spent in line and more time to get to know the city.
Adult Pricing: 2 Days / 48 € ◊ 4 Days / 62 € ◊ 6 Days / 74 €
Paris Pass
The Paris Pass includes everything in the Paris Museum Pass and then some. Additional monuments include the stunning Paris Opera House and panoramic views at the Montparnasse Tower, as well as the opportunity to take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, a sightseeing river cruise, and even a wine tasting experience! In addition to the listed monuments, the pass includes an unlimited transportation card for use on the Metro, RER, Buses, Trams and SNCF for Paris travel zones 1-3, and a detailed guidebook with attraction opening times, directions and a map of the city. Please note that while admission to Versailles is included in the Paris Pass, transportation is not, since it is in Zone 4.
Adult Pricing: 2 Days / 129€ ◊ 3 Days / 159€ ◊ 4 Days / 189€ ◊ 6 Days: 229€
Pricing as of November 28, 2016.
The passes offer an excellent value, assuming that you use them frequently enough. The best way to decide if one of these passes is right for you is simply to list out all the places you are interested in seeing, including the ones not included in the pass. Include things like the Eiffel Tower, which has a separate admission fee, as well as places that are free to visit. They will take time away from your Paris Pass sightseeing, after all! Be realistic about the number of places you will visit in a day. One to three attractions is my recommendation, though you could squeeze in more if you are really ambitious (or have feet of steel). The Paris Pass website lists current pricing for the included attractions, making it easy to figure out what you would spend by buying everything separately.
Taking the time to map your trip out, however loosely, will give you a better idea of how much you could potentially save. If it saves you money, go ahead and book your pass! You can choose to buy online and have the pass mailed to you, or buy it in person at any one of the included attractions. Just remember that the pass is only good for a certain number of calendar days, beginning the moment you first use it. If you arrive at 5 PM, don’t waste your 4-day pass on the first evening or it will take one full day off of your card. Find something to do that does not require the pass, like a climb up the Eiffel Tower or a picnic in one of Paris’s many free gardens.
Of course, there are many benefits to the pass aside from saving a little cash. Remember that you will have access to shorter lines at many attractions and you won’t have to queue to buy individual tickets at every single place you visit. Just show your card and breeze on in. It’s easy to be spontaneous when your pass gets you in anytime during operating hours, for as long or as short a visit as you like. Another cool bonus is that you may be able to see lesser-known attractions that were not on the wishlist to begin with!
My Experience
A couple of months before we arrived in Paris, Dan and I made a list of all the places we were interested in seeing and made a loose timeline for our visit to see how realistic our wishlist was. We priced out the ones we expected to have time for, remembering to factor in spots like the Eiffel Tower that were not already included in the Museum Pass or the Paris Pass. Then it was as simple as comparing our estimated sightseeing cost and number of days against the various pass options. We planned on walking a lot and would not have time for the extra options like the hop-on-hop-off tour, so the Paris Pass was not a good value for us. In the end, it made the most financial sense for us to buy the 4 day Museum Pass and pay for transportation as needed once we arrived.
Here is a quick rundown of the places we saw.
- INCLUDED IN THE PARIS MUSEUM PASS: the Louvre (12€), the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral (10€), the Musée d’Orsay (12€), Sainte-Chapelle(10€), and Versailles (18€).
- NOT INCLUDED/SEPARATE COST: the Palais Garnier (included in the Paris Pass but not in the Museum Pass) and taking an elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower
- FREE: the interior of Notre Dame, the Tuileries.
Initially, we wanted to use the Museum Pass to visit the top of the Arc de Triomphe and make quick stops at the Musée Rodin and the Musée de l’Orangerie. We wanted to make the most of a prepaid pass, in other words, but wound up dedicating a lot more of our time to lingering in restaurants, wandering the beautiful city streets, and revisiting favorite spots like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
Click the links below to read about more about some of the places we visited with the Paris Museum Pass!
Saint-Chapelle | The Louvre | Notre Dame Cathedral Tower Tour | Musée d’Orsay | Versailles
Even though we missed out on three attractions originally on our wish list, the pass was an excellent value for us. We paid 62€ apiece for our passes, and the total price we would have spent had we paid for the included attractions separately was…62€! We broke even, but considering the ease of visiting each attraction and the fact that we skipped the line and literally walked right into the Louvre with no wait, I feel like the time saved was more valuable than anything we could have paid for.
The only negative we found in the pass was that there was no fast track entry at Versailles when we visited. We wasted some time trying to find a special access line, and upon further inspection of our pass, we discovered that the fast track entry may not apply during peak periods. We visited in May. What is the point of a faster line if you can’t use it when it’s busy? Mind-boggling. Aside from that, we were pleased by the convenience and value the pass offered.
Is the Paris Museum Pass Worth It?
Now for the most important question of all. Having used the Paris Museum Pass, would I buy it again? The answer is that I’m not sure. Is it an incredible value? Yes, absolutely. If my next trip includes a lot of sightseeing to places included, like the Congiergerie or the Panthéon, I would be thrilled to buy the Paris Museum Pass again.
If, however, I’m visiting Paris to eat, drink, and soak up the city, without doing a lot of sightseeing, then the pass wouldn’t be a great value for me, would it? In the end, the pass is only valuable if it suits your sightseeing itinerary and style. I 100% recommend at least checking the pass out before a big trip to Paris, and if there are a few attractions included that you were going to visit anyway, then go for it! We loved using it, and for anyone looking to see all the big-name spots (and dozens of smaller ones, too), I consider it a must-have.
Ready to check it out? Click here for the Paris Museum Pass, and here for the pricier but more expansive Paris Pass.
Planning a trip to Paris with kids? Involve them in your planning and check out this list of children’s books set in Paris to set the tone for your travels and get your little ones excited to explore the City of Lights.
Melanie says
I’ve always wanted to visit Paris and I’ve also heard it’s really expensive! I didn’t know about these passes and I’m glad I came across this post. When I finally get to go to Paris I’ll be sure to pick up one of these. Thanks so much for the info ❤
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Hooray, i’m happy to help! The pass is such a great money AND time saver, and there are tons of free things to do in the city as well. Paris is as expensive (or affordable!) as you make it. 🙂
Vicki @ Babies to Bookworms says
This really helpful information when planning a trip there! Although I admit to being totally distracted by the croissants and espresso!
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Haha! Who wouldn’t be!? Glad you enjoyed the post.
girlwithmaptattoo says
I used the Oslo pass in Oslo, and yes it was expensive but it was totally worth it. It was only for 24 hours from the minute you bought it but it included the ferry across to the museums on the far side. I would recommend that, and I would also say that the Paris pass is worth it if you are there for multiple days (aka more than two)
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Oh, I can imagine! I’ve been told that Norway in general can be very expensive. That’s awesome that yours included the ferry ride….I’m sure that alone saved a lot of hassle in planning!
girlwithmaptattoo says
Norway is expensive, but its entirely worth it!
vytran214 says
I wish I knew about this when I was in Paris a couple years ago. It may have motivated me more to see the other museums in the city and save some euros. Truth be told, it’s easy to get distracted by the other non-museum parts of Paris 🙂
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
I know what you mean! It’s tempting to just wander around, sit in the parks, have a picnic, etc. We loved that we could just pop into a museum for ten minutes if we wanted to, and not pay any extra fees. It gave us the freedom to wander around and visit places as we came upon them.
Karla | Karlaroundtheworld says
You gave a good advice on how to see if the pass suits you. I spent a week in Paris, I wish I used this.
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
There’s always next time! 😉
Edith says
Paris is one of my dream places to visit! It was really helpful to read about the pass since passes usually save us money when visiting places. Definitely going to look into them when we plan a trip to Paris. 😊
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Hooray, I’m so glad you found it helpful! It saved us so much time as well. It’s definitely worth at least considering it in your travels.
Cultured Adventurer says
Museum passes are definitely worth it if this is your first time to a city and you need to cover the ‘must-sees’. It is great that other cities like Berlin, Vienna, and Prague offer them as well.
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
I agree! It’s always worth checking to see if there is a pass like this one available before traveling anywhere.
Carmen's Luxury Travel says
Saving TIME in the lines really appeals to me…even more so than saving a few bucks! So thanks for pointing that out. Great review 🙂 Happy travels!
Kirsten (@kidsareatrip) says
We are headed to Paris in March with our family and I have a feeling this would be very valuable to us. Definitely looking into it. Thanks for the tips!
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Hope it works out for you, Kirsten! I feel it would be especially valuable when visiting with kids, because it cuts down on time spent waiting in line or debating whether an attraction is worth the entry fee or not. It’s easy to just stroll around and make the most of a family vacation.
infocultureweddingca says
I really enjoy your blog. I feel like on a journey with you.
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Thank you for that sweet compliment! 😀
Clarissa says
This is such great advice – thank you! We’re thinking of Paris for our honeymoon (among many other places, lol) and it’s good to know that this is a worthwhile investment!
-Clarissa @ The View From Here
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Ahhh! Paris as a honeymoon sounds like a dream come true, and the pass is a great way to enjoy your time there and not stress out about queuing, budgeting etc. Just pay once and you’re good to go!
Crissy says
This is so helpful! I didn’t know there was a Paris museum pass. I went to Paris when I was like 12 years ago and I am dying to go back. Thanks for sharing your tips!
~Crissy
http://www.whimsicalfawn.com
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
I’m happy to have helped! It’s definitely worth checking out whenever you do make it back to Paris!
Joleene Moody says
Such great nuggets of information! I so appreciate blogs like this. You answer all the questions I need to know! Thanks.
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Aw thank you so much! I’m happy you found it helpful.
michele@hellolovelystudio says
Thanks for your review of the pass–i definitely want it but only if I’ll be staying in Paris long enough! Can’t wait to get back and discover more magic! 🙂
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Yeah, I don’t know if I would get too much use out of, say, a 2-day pass. I’d feel obligated to go, go, go and see everything, rather than relax, see one or two things, and just enjoy the city. But for longer stays and lots of sightseeing, it’s an awesome value.
Magaly says
Very helpful breakdown! We almost bought the pass on our last visit but it didn’t work out- anyone with kids should definitely do a pros and cons list! When my daughter is older I’m
Sure it will make more sense to get the pass.
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Absolutely! We went on a family trip to France a few years ago and over our 2 days in Paris we spent a lot of time waiting in line and debating whether an attraction was worth our very limited time. It would have been nice to cut down on the lines and just pop in and sample whichever attractions looked interesting.
Dominique| Perchance to Cook says
I’ve bought that pass before and it is totally worth it! Thanks for all the thorough information!
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Isn’t it awesome! I love how it kind of freed our days up for whatever we felt like doing. Sure, you need to do a little research before actually buying the pass, but once you have it, it’s nice to be able to just run around with no set plan or schedule to adhere to.
Jenna Colgrove says
so interesting! i bookmarked this for future travels!!
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Awesome! It’s such a good way to see the city. Hope it works out for you when you do go.
delphinemignon says
The Paris Museum Pass is such a great idea! Even as a Parisian by birth I use it when I go back and I want to do some sightseeing!
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
That is awesome! The price makes it kind of a no-brainer if you’re planning on visiting a few sites to begin with.
ada says
If you love museums I would say this pass is definitely worth it ! Especially for the fast track as it can save you so much time! Too bad museums in Paris are not free like in London!
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Yeah, skipping the lines was the best part! Even though we wound up paying the exact same amount that we would have purchasing a handful of individual entry fees, I loved the freedom the pass gave us to spend less time in line and more time poking around places we might not have been able to visit otherwise. I have not been to London yet, but knowing the museums are free makes me want to go more than ever! Airfare is not too bad…now you have me thinking of my next trip! 😀
This is Us... Living says
i definitely agree with you that it is useful to first put a list of places you want to visit and then work out what it would cost with or without the pass. We used something similar in Amsterdam and found it super cost effective, but because we were only in Paris for a day we opted on not getting the pass. I love that you can fast track at certain locations (makes you feel like such a rockstar!). I know we need to go back to Paris for an extended stay, and will definitely consider the pass now that I have read your post!
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Yeah, it’s hard to see the city in just a day or two, and I really think a pass like this takes the fun out of such a short visit. Too much pressure to see everything, and you wind up missing out on the long, wine-filled meals, the pretty little streets, the views over the river, etc. But for a longer stay with some sightseeing, I think it’s a must-have!
girlgonelondon says
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m heading to Paris in a couple of weeks and will definitely get one!
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
Awesome! Enjoy! Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world, and the pass makes sightseeing sooo much easier.
Bailey says
That looks like an amazing! What a fantastic deal.
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
It sure is! 🙂
HappyGoTravel says
I have always wanted to visit Paris but still have quite a bit of saving to do first.
Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere says
It’s worth the wait!
Reginald says
Wow….. I love your article and your blog design. Paris is a beautiful place to be, it’s been my dream and one day I shall be there. Thanks for sharing
Beth says
It truly is beautiful. I hope you make it someday soon!