Musée d'Orsay Tickets

With its unmatched collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, the Musée d'Orsay is one of the most popular museums in Paris.

Because of high demand, Musée d'Orsay reservations are essential if you want a smooth visit. You can choose from several types of Musée d'Orsay tickets, depending on how you want to explore.

Entry Tickets

What it is: Entry tickets are standard Musée d'Orsay timed tickets. Select a specific entry time to help manage crowds inside the museum.

Key Benefits:

• Musée d'Orsay tickets mean you skip the line at Entrance C
• Access to both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions
• Fast, contactless entry thanks to using mobile tickets

Best for: independent travelers who want to explore the Musée d'Orsay at their own pace

What it is: Guided tours combine your Orsay museum ticket with a live expert-led visit.

Choose between standard groups, small-group tours for a more personal setting, or private tours for exclusive access.

Key Benefits:

• Hear from an expert art historian who brings context to works by Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh
• Direct navigation through the museum saves you time
• Entrance and tour combined into one easy package

Best for: art lovers who want a deeper understanding of art history, especially Impressionism

What it is: You can buy Orsay museum tickets bundled with other top Paris attractions, like the Louvre Museum or a Seine River cruise.

The Paris Museum Pass includes museum Orsay tickets along with many other Paris sites.

Key Benefits:

• Save on Musée d'Orsay tickets price by choosing a bundle
• Manage all your tickets with one digital pass
• Simplify your travel planning

Best for: travelers visiting Paris for several days who want to maximize their sightseeing and keep costs in check.

Inside the Musée d'Orsay, you'll find that the building itself is a highlight. The museum is inside what was once the grand Gare d'Orsay railway station.

The museum’s Beaux-Arts architecture features a soaring iron-and-glass roof that fills the space with natural light.

You will see the famous station clocks, which are now iconic symbols of the museum.

The open, dramatic layout sets the stage for the sculptures displayed on the ground floor.

All Musée d'Orsay tickets include access to these historic spaces.

The top floor is home to the world’s finest and largest collection of Impressionist paintings.

Here, you can see important works by artists such as Manet, Degas, Pissarro, and more.

This gallery is the main reason visitors book tickets to the Musée d'Orsay each year.

The light-filled halls and open galleries allow you to get close to the works that changed the course of art history.

Your standard entry ticket includes full access to this collection.

At the museum, you'll find a dedicated gallery for Vincent van Gogh, featuring some of his most beloved works.

Don’t miss paintings like Starry Night Over the Rhône and his self-portraits, pieces known for their emotional depth and historical significance.

Seeing them in person is a highlight of any visit and explains why Musée d'Orsay tickets are in such high demand.

Access to the Van Gogh gallery is included with all types of entry.

The Musée d'Orsay is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

On Thursdays, you can visit later, with the last entry at 9:00 PM (closes at 9:45 PM). The museum is closed on Mondays.

By Metro

• If you want to get to Orsay Museum by metro, ride Line 12 to Solférino and then walk about 6–10 minutes to the forecourt
• Look for signs directing you to Entrance A by the Seine or Entrance C on Rue de Lille. * Be sure to have your mobile ticket handy, go through security, and be on time for your reserved slot

By Bus

• For bus access to Orsay Museum, hop on lines 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 87, or 94 and get off at a stop close to the museum
• Walk over to the forecourt, select the right entrance, and keep your mobile ticket ready
• Budget some extra time, since traffic along the Seine can be slow

By Tram

• No tram stops directly at the museum, so you’ll need to make one transfer
• If you’re using the tram, connect it with the metro for the final leg
• Take the tram to a suitable interchange, switch to Metro Line 12 for Solférino, then finish with a brief walk to the museum forecourt

The museum is fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

Wheelchairs and folding chairs are available for free from the cloakroom.

• Large suitcases and bags over 56x35x20 cm ( 21.7″ x 13.8″ x 7.9″) are not allowed and cannot be stored at the cloakroom
• Photography for personal use is allowed, but you may not use flash or tripods
• Mandatory security checks take place at the entrance, so allow extra time for this process with your Orsay tickets

Your Musée d’Orsay tickets get you all the time you need at this popular Parisian attraction, but most people spend between 3 to 4 hours inside this massive former train station.

The Musée d'Orsay's impressive permanent collection covers four entire floors and several important periods in history, so it's a good idea to think about which key artists you're most interested in and focusing your visit.

The best time to visit the Musée d’Orsay is on a Wednesday or Friday morning or evening. These days tend to be quieter, so your Musée d’Orsay tickets will take you further, on a far more peaceful journey.

If it's hard to visit during these times, take advantage of Thursday's extended evening hours. There tend to be fewer children and families on Thursdays after 18:00.

Weekends are usually the busiest. You'll find the smallest crowds during winter (November to March), and spring or fall visits are generally comfortable.

Always book your tickets online ahead of time to skip long lines.

The Musée d'Orsay offers several dining options for visitors.

Le Restaurant du Musée d'Orsay

• Location: Second level of the museum
• Style: Historic and ornately decorated
• Cuisine: Traditional French dishes, often created by chef Ducasse
• Price range: Typically €30–40
• Note: Reservations are recommended due to its popularity

Café Campana

• Location: Fifth floor, near the museum’s iconic clock
• Atmosphere: Modern and colorful design
• Menu: Serves lighter meals, snacks, pastries, and beverages
• Price range: Around €20–30

Café de la Gare

• Location: Centrally located within the museum
• Type: Casual setting for quick bites and refreshments

Opening Hours

• Most dining areas are open from Tuesday to Sunday
• Extended hours are available on Thursdays

Additional Information

• Dining prices generally range from moderate to high
• Booking in advance is suggested for the formal restaurant, especially during peak visiting times

During museum opening times, you are free to photograph or film in the permanent exhibition halls.

Keep in mind these photos or videos should be kept for personal or private use, and not for groups or commercial purposes.

The Musée d'Orsay in Paris is known for its extensive collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art from 1848 to 1914, all set inside a former railway station.

You’ll find standout works like Van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhône, Monet’s Blue Water Lilies, Renoir’s Bal du moulin de la Galette, and Degas’ Little Dancer Aged 14.

The fifth floor houses the main Impressionist gallery, where you can see pieces from Monet, Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, and Sisley.

Van Gogh’s works here include his self-portrait and Bedroom in Arles.

Monet's lilies are there, as well as his London and Rouen Cathedral series.

Renoir’s gallery includes The Swing. Manet’s Olympia and Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe are also on display, along with Degas’ ballet-themed paintings.

Cézanne’s still lifes, like Apples and Oranges, and Millet’s The Angelus are other notable works.

The Art Nouveau furniture section shows pieces by designers such as Guimard, Lalique, and Gaudí. The central nave is filled with sculptures, including a replica of the Statue of Liberty by Bartholdi and Pompon’s Polar Bear.

The Musée d'Orsay originally functioned as the Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station created by Victor Laloux and opened in time for the 1900 Exposition Universelle.

At its start, this station was the main terminus for lines coming from southwestern France and was considered the world’s first electrified urban rail terminal.

With changes in railway standards, the station’s platforms no longer fit modern trains, so its original purpose faded. During World War II, it operated as a mail depot and later hosted film shoots (such as Orson Welles’ The Trial) and live performances.

The French government prevented demolition in the 1970s, proposing to turn the building into a museum. An architecture competition in 1978 chose ACT Architecture (Colboc, Bardon, and Philippon) to lead renovations, with interior work by Gae Aulenti.

The Musée d'Orsay officially opened as a museum for 19th-century art on December 1, 1986.

Key features like the glass roof, the giant clock, and the grand hotel-style facade were kept intact, combining elements of the original railway architecture with a modern museum layout.

It's a good idea to book your Musée d'Orsay tickets several weeks before your visit, or even up to four months ahead if you plan to go during peak times like summer or weekends.

Some tickets might still be available closer to your visit, but booking early helps you secure your preferred time slot and avoid long lines, especially for special exhibitions.

Time slots often sell out fast during busy periods. Tickets can typically be reserved up to four months in advance.

Try to book as soon as your travel plans are set, particularly if you want to visit on a weekend or during the summer, since wait times can be hours long without a timed ticket or Paris Museum Pass.

For a quieter visit, aim to arrive early around 9:30 AM, and keep in mind that the museum is especially busy on Tuesdays, as other museums are closed.

You can buy tickets at the door for the Musée d'Orsay, but booking online in advance is recommended since lines for on-site tickets can last from one to two and a half hours.

General admission may be a little less expensive at the door, but booking online makes sure you get in. Lines are much longer for visitors without pre-booked tickets.

Timed Tickets

Musée d'Orsay timed tickets require you to pick a specific entry slot in advance, letting you bypass the main ticket line and go in at the scheduled time.

These tickets give you access to both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, and help you avoid long waits, especially during busy times like weekends and afternoons.

When booking, you select your date and entry time, but you still need to go through a security check. Once you’re inside, you can usually stay as long as you want.

You can get skip-the-line tickets for the Musée d'Orsay, which let you avoid waiting in regular queues that often last 45–90 minutes.

These tickets require you to book a specific time slot for entry, and you will use Entrance A, which is set aside for visitors with pre-booked tickets.

Options include standard skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and tickets bundled with audio guides or a city card.