Paris Museum Pass: Complete Guide

Paris Museum Pass — entry to the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and 50+ Paris attractions

The Paris Museum Pass gives you entry to 50+ museums and monuments in Paris, including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, and Sainte-Chapelle. In 2026, prices are €85 for 2 consecutive days, €105 for 4 days, or €125 for 6 days. The pass pays for itself starting with your 3rd or 4th major attraction. You still need to book a free timed slot at the Louvre separately — the pass grants access but doesn’t include time-slot reservations.

If you’re in Paris for more than 48 hours and plan to visit multiple museums or monuments, the Paris Museum Pass is likely the best ticket investment you’ll make. At €85 for 2 days, the pass pays back fast — the Louvre alone is €32, Musée d’Orsay is €18, Arc de Triomphe €16, and you’re already almost at the pass price with three attractions. For travellers visiting 4–6 sites, the savings are substantial.

But the pass isn’t for everyone. If you’re only doing the Louvre, or staying less than 2 full days, the pass isn’t a good fit. This guide covers everything — what’s included, what’s not, how the time-slot system works at the Louvre, and when the Paris Museum Pass is genuinely worth the money.

What’s Included in the Paris Museum Pass

When you book, here’s what you get:

  • Entry to 50+ Paris museums and monuments including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe, Conciergerie, and many more
  • Consecutive-day validity — the pass activates on first use and runs for 2, 4, or 6 consecutive days
  • Priority lanes at most sites — usually a separate line for pass holders (not “skip all lines,” but typically shorter than general admission)
  • Unlimited visits within validity period — you can revisit sites if you have time
  • No per-visit ticket purchase required — just show the pass at entry
  • Home delivery options (physical pass) or mobile/digital version

Pricing for 2026:

  • 2-Day Pass: €85
  • 4-Day Pass: €105
  • 6-Day Pass: €125

The 4-day and 6-day options are dramatically better value per day than the 2-day pass — the 6-day pass works out to €21/day versus €42.50/day for the 2-day pass.

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The Louvre + Paris Museum Pass: What You Need to Know

The most important thing to understand about using the Paris Museum Pass at the Louvre:

The pass gives you access, not a time slot

Even with a Paris Museum Pass, you must book a free timed-entry slot at the Louvre in advance. The pass grants free admission, but you still need to reserve a 30-minute window via the Louvre’s official website (ticket.louvre.fr) — or via the third-party platform if the pass you bought includes reservation.

Without a booked time slot, you risk being refused entry. This is a recent enforcement change — the Louvre now requires reservations for all visitors, including those with passes.

How to book your Louvre slot

  1. Buy your Paris Museum Pass
  2. Go to ticket.louvre.fr
  3. Select “Free admission” ticket type, then “Paris Museum Pass” as your category
  4. Pick a date within your pass’s validity period
  5. Choose a 30-minute time slot
  6. Confirm — you’ll receive a free reservation confirmation by email

Bring both your Paris Museum Pass and the time-slot confirmation to the museum.

Which entrance to use

Paris Museum Pass holders can use the same entrances as standard ticket holders — we recommend the Carrousel du Louvre entrance for shorter security queues.

What’s Included at Each Major Attraction

The Paris Museum Pass covers over 50 sites. Here are the ones most visitors actually use:

Must-visit sites for most tourists

  • Louvre Museum — €22/€32 retail value
  • Musée d’Orsay — €18
  • Palace of Versailles (château, Trianon, gardens) — €24
  • Arc de Triomphe (rooftop access) — €16
  • Sainte-Chapelle — €13
  • Conciergerie — €13
  • Panthéon — €13
  • Napoleon’s Tomb (Les Invalides) — €16
  • Orangerie Museum (Monet’s Water Lilies) — €13
  • Musée Rodin — €14

Other notable sites included

  • Centre Pompidou (subject to availability during renovation)
  • Musée du Quai Branly–Jacques Chirac
  • Picasso Museum
  • Musée Cluny (medieval museum)
  • Musée de l’Armée
  • Musée Carnavalet (history of Paris)
  • Musée Bourdelle, Musée de la Chasse, and dozens more

What’s NOT included

  • Eiffel Tower — separate ticket required
  • Disneyland Paris — separate ticket
  • Moulin Rouge, Paradis Latin, and other cabarets
  • Seine river cruises (Bateaux Parisiens, Bateaux Mouches, etc.)
  • Catacombs of Paris
  • Guided tours — the pass covers entry only, not tour add-ons
  • Temporary exhibitions at some sites — most are included, but a few charge supplements

When the Paris Museum Pass Is Worth It

The math

The pass pays for itself at these break-even points:

  • 2-day pass (€85): Pays back after 3 major attractions
  • 4-day pass (€105): Pays back after 4 major attractions
  • 6-day pass (€125): Pays back after 5 major attractions

A typical 3-day Paris itinerary hitting the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, and Sainte-Chapelle totals €69 — still under the 2-day pass price. Adding Versailles (€24) brings you to €93, and the pass becomes a no-brainer.

The pass is worth it if:

  • ✅ You’re visiting 3+ major attractions in 2 days
  • ✅ You’re doing Versailles + the Louvre + at least one other site
  • ✅ You want priority lanes at most attractions
  • ✅ You value flexibility to pop into smaller museums without thinking about ticket prices
  • ✅ You’re in Paris for 4+ days and want to see many sites

The pass is NOT worth it if:

  • ❌ You’re only visiting the Louvre (€32 ticket vs. €85 pass)
  • ❌ You’re in Paris less than 48 hours
  • ❌ Your focus is the Eiffel Tower, Seine cruises, or attractions not covered
  • ❌ You’re a student or under 26 from an EEA country — most sites offer you free or heavily discounted entry anyway
  • ❌ You’re under 18 — most covered sites are already free for minors

Ticket Details at a Glance

2-Day Pass 4-Day Pass 6-Day Pass
Price (2026) €85 €105 €125
Per-day cost €42.50 €26.25 €20.83
Break-even visits 3 major sites 4 major sites 5 major sites
Validity 2 consecutive days 4 consecutive days 6 consecutive days
Louvre included
Versailles included
Eiffel Tower included
Louvre time slot required Yes, book free via louvre.fr Yes Yes
Cancellation Varies by reseller Varies Varies

Who This Pass Is For

The Paris Museum Pass suits specific visitors:

First-time Paris visitors on a 3–5 day trip hitting the major museums and monuments.

Culture-focused travellers who want to see as many museums as possible without worrying about individual ticket costs.

Versailles day-trippers — the pass covers Versailles, a separate €24 ticket.

Repeat Paris visitors who want to finally see the smaller museums (Cluny, Bourdelle, Carnavalet) that get skipped on a standard first-time itinerary.

Budget-conscious art lovers — the pass is often the single biggest saving in a Paris trip.

If you’re only in Paris for a weekend with the Louvre as your main goal, a standard Louvre ticket is probably simpler and cheaper. For a full comparison of pass vs. single ticket, see Paris Museum Pass vs Louvre Ticket: Which Saves More?.

How to Activate and Use the Pass

Digital vs. physical pass

Most passes are available as either digital (mobile QR code) or physical (collect at a Paris location on arrival). Digital is more convenient for most travellers.

Activation

The pass activates on first use — typically the first time you scan it at an attraction. From that moment, the consecutive-day clock starts.

Important: If you activate the pass at 3:00 PM on Monday, a 2-day pass expires at the end of Tuesday (not 3:00 PM Wednesday). Always activate early in the day to get full value.

At each attraction

  • Join the priority/pass-holder line (not the ticket purchase line)
  • Show the QR code or physical pass to the attendant
  • Clear security screening
  • Enter

At the Louvre specifically

Bring both:

  1. Your Paris Museum Pass (QR or physical)
  2. Your free time-slot confirmation from ticket.louvre.fr

Both are checked at the entrance.

Sample Itineraries

2-Day Pass: The Classic First Timer

Day 1: Louvre (3–4 hours), Musée d’Orsay (2 hours), Sainte-Chapelle (45 min)

Day 2: Versailles (half day), Arc de Triomphe (1 hour), Musée de l’Orangerie (1 hour)

Total value: €22/€32 (Louvre) + €18 (Orsay) + €13 (Sainte-Chapelle) + €24 (Versailles) + €16 (Arc) + €13 (Orangerie) = €106/€116 vs. €85 pass

4-Day Pass: Art and Architecture Week

Day 1: Louvre, Tuileries, Orangerie

Day 2: Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin, Napoleon’s Tomb

Day 3: Versailles (full day)

Day 4: Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, Centre Pompidou, Arc de Triomphe

Total value: ~€165 vs. €105 pass

6-Day Pass: The Comprehensive Tour

Add lesser-known sites — Picasso Museum, Cluny Medieval Museum, Musée Carnavalet, Musée du Quai Branly, Petit Palais — across 6 days. Typical total value exceeds €200 vs. €125 pass.

Practical Tips for Using the Pass

Activate on a Louvre day. The Louvre is the single most valuable attraction on the pass — make sure you use it.

Don’t activate on a Tuesday. The Louvre is closed Tuesdays. Most major museums also have a weekly closure day — check before activating.

Pre-book your Louvre time slot the moment you buy the pass. Morning slots sell out weeks in advance in peak season.

Skip breakfast at a café. Use the morning hours at a museum instead — most open at 9:00 or 9:30 AM.

Combine Versailles with a late Louvre visit. Versailles closes at 6:30 PM; the Louvre stays open until 9:45 PM on Wed/Fri. You can fit both in one day if you’re efficient.

Download museum maps in advance. Knowing the layout before you arrive saves 15–30 minutes per visit.

The pass doesn’t skip security. Every site still has mandatory security screening. Arrive with time to spare.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Paris Museum Pass cost in 2026?

As of 2026, the Paris Museum Pass costs €85 for 2 consecutive days, €105 for 4 consecutive days, and €125 for 6 consecutive days. These are the adult prices. Children under 18 enter most museums free without a pass, so the pass is usually only needed for adults.

Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it?

For most visitors doing 3 or more major attractions, yes. The pass pays back after 3 museum/monument visits and gives you priority entry at most sites. It’s not worth it if you’re only visiting the Louvre or if your focus is the Eiffel Tower, Seine cruises, or other attractions not included.

Does the Paris Museum Pass include the Louvre?

Yes. The Louvre is included on all three pass durations (2, 4, and 6 days). However, you must still book a free timed-entry slot at ticket.louvre.fr before your visit — the pass grants access but doesn’t automatically reserve a time slot.

Do I need to book the Louvre separately with the pass?

Yes. Even with the Paris Museum Pass, the Louvre requires a time-slot reservation. Go to ticket.louvre.fr, select “Free admission,” then choose “Paris Museum Pass” as your category. Pick a 30-minute window. Bring both your pass and the reservation confirmation.

Does the pass include the Eiffel Tower?

No. The Eiffel Tower is the single biggest attraction NOT covered by the Paris Museum Pass. You’ll need a separate ticket — book at toureiffel.paris.

Is Versailles included?

Yes. The full Palace of Versailles (château, Grand and Petit Trianon, and the gardens) is included. Versailles is one of the most valuable inclusions — the standalone ticket is €24.

How long is the pass valid?

The pass is valid for 2, 4, or 6 consecutive calendar days from the moment you first use it. If you activate it at 3:00 PM on Monday, a 2-day pass expires at the end of Tuesday — so activate early in the day for full value.

Can I skip the line with the Paris Museum Pass?

At most attractions, yes — there’s usually a separate line for pass holders that’s faster than the general admission line. However, the pass does not bypass security screening, which applies to all visitors. At the Louvre, the pass doesn’t automatically give skip-the-line priority; you still queue with other timed-entry ticket holders.

Where can I buy the Paris Museum Pass?

The pass is available online from licensed booking platforms, at Paris tourist information offices, at Charles de Gaulle Airport, and at many Paris museums. Online booking in advance is the most convenient option.

Can children use the Paris Museum Pass?

Children under 18 enter most Paris museums free without a pass. The Paris Museum Pass is an adult-only product — there’s no youth version because one isn’t needed. Bring photo ID showing the child’s date of birth at each attraction.

Can I get a refund on an unused Paris Museum Pass?

Cancellation policies vary by reseller. Most platforms typically offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the first day of validity. Once activated, the pass is generally non-refundable. Check your reseller’s specific terms.

Which attractions are busiest and should I visit first?

The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Versailles draw the biggest crowds. Visit these first thing in the morning (9:00 AM arrival) or late afternoon for the thinnest crowds. Smaller museums can be visited any time of day.

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Researched & Written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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