Musée d'Orsay - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Musée d'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay
4.5
9:30 AM - 9:45 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 9:45 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Musée d'Orsay in Paris is a must-visit for art lovers and travelers alike. It's famous for its impressive collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art, making it one of the largest in the world. Housed in a stunning former railway station on the Seine, the museum is just as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside. Don't miss the famous clock face, which is part of the museum's exhibition. For an in-depth experience, you might want to join a private or group tour. Visit in the morning to beat the crowds and enjoy a quieter museum experience. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Admission tickets
from $37.91
All you need to step foot in the door.
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Top ways to experience Musée d'Orsay
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Tour Eiffel / Invalides
With the Eiffel Tower at its core, the Invalides area of Paris is guaranteed to impress. Golden towers and Baron Haussmann's urban vision meet military precision, stretching avenues, and luscious lawns. The area boasts the Musée D’Orsay, the tomb of Napoleon, the National Parliament and UNESCO, as well as luxurious, exclusive residences. In fine restaurants and at the weekend markets, families, diplomats, and politicians brush shoulders with the tourists who come to see this postcard-perfect area for themselves.
How to get there
  • Musée d'Orsay • 2 min walk
  • Solférino • 5 min walk
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See what travelers are saying
  • Ogi0
    Sofia, Bulgaria21,023 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Superb museum, best in Paris
    A great museum dedicated to fine arts from 1848 to 1914 (although there are also exhibits on applied arts). Very well organized and unlike the Louvre can be explored in a few hours. There is a large collection on the top floor of Impressionist works. There were quite a few people during my visit, but it wasn't too crowded. I had bought tickets in advance and it was only about a 5 minute wait in line for security. I recommend it.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 20, 2023
  • llassocs
    Houston, Texas184 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    From the perspective of a Handicapped Person
    The Musee d’Orsay is a stunningly beautiful museum. I am critiquing it from the perspective of handicapped accessibility. When a facility declares that it is handicapped accessible this can mean almost anything, so I will try to make it more specific for this beautiful facility. For context, due to a spinal condition, I require the use of a mobility device, i.e., a mobility scooter. A handicapped person and their attendant get in free. Because of the scooter, I assume, we were not asked to provide any proof of my handicap. Some places do ask. Most of the staff we encountered were most helpful. There is little problem seeing most of the exhibits on a single level. The problems arose with trying to get from one floor to another. Most elevators are relatively easy to find. However, elevators do not go to all floors. You may have to take a couple of elevators to get to where you want to go. The cafe and stores within the complex are easy to navigate in a mobility device. There are handicapped toilettes here and there. I am not trying to dissuade anyone from going to the Orsay. You must go, especially if you appreciate impressionistic art. It could be a once in a lifetime experience. Just be aware that there may be some challenges if you are handicapped.
    Visited March 2023
    Written April 20, 2023
  • Maryhillmagyars
    Leeds, United Kingdom582 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Don’t miss this museum
    One of the best museums I’ve ever visited despite not being a massive art fan. We arrived late ish on day one in Paris and only had about an hour and half - not long enough but saw the highlights. Spent too long downstairs- upstairs more interesting for me. Amazing art and building.
    Visited February 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 21, 2023
  • FamilyTime1431
    Weare, New Hampshire97 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for impressionist fans, crowed control is not so great.
    Excellent art from the impressionist to post impressionist period. It picks up where the Louve leaves off. They would improve the visitor experience by having better crowed control, it really was a zoo and we didn't even go on a busy day. We were not impressed with the initial greeting as they did not provide any information or literature as to where to go from the initial entrance. All that aside, it was a great experience.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 30, 2023
  • HappyJana
    Las Vegas, Nevada839 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A lot less intimidating than the Louvre
    A lot less intimidating than the Louvre. A lot of the art pieces are impressively large which makes them very exciting to see. All of your favorite artists are here from Van Gogh to Rodin to Degas. I would definitely go back here again.
    Visited August 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 3, 2023
  • Angelo Z
    Evant, Texas300 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Enjoyed the Orsay
    Really enjoyed the Musee d’Orsay. The building itself is a beautiful old train station. The art is of course the main reason to go. All in all very impressive. As with every attraction in Paris buy your tickets in advance.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 3, 2023
  • Lois F
    Horse Cave, Kentucky20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A definite must see in Paris
    One of the best places in Paris to visit of all time! Definitely need to visit here if you are an art lover. We were lucky enough to be able to visit a Dégas/Manet exhibition where both artists relative works for compared. A must see in Paris
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written May 8, 2023
  • Cristina P
    Flowery Branch, Georgia20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth every penny
    Celia was great. I absolutely love this museum, much more than the Louvre. I thoroughly enjoyed the history behind the early impressionist artist and background on their personal lives. This museum was easy to navigate and the Degas/Manet exhibition was wonderful. Celia spoke clearly and the headpiece helped tremendously.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 10, 2023
  • beachlovernc2015
    Leland, North Carolina1,948 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The best art museum even for non-art lovers
    The beauty of this building alone is worth the visit. A reimagined old railroad station with three amazing clocks but then you add one of the most amazing collections of art - well known pieces that even those who are not art museum lovers could not help but be in awe of. Also, a wonderful collection of decorative arts as well. Sculpture and paintings and more. Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Lautrec and more. Everyone can find something to admire. You need loads of time to explore this place well and the only issue we found was that the free map/brochure was a little lacking in specifics/direction so if you are pressed for time, you might get frustrated trying to find specific pieces.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 11, 2023
  • C L
    Portland, Oregon35 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    D’orsay is a delight to the senses.
    This was my second favorite museum behind the de l’orangerie. Highly recommend prepuchasing tickets to avoid the lines as we did. Enjoyed the cafe, seeing the clock, and the variety of masterpieces. Crowded but not as crowded as the Louvre.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 12, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles67,282 reviews
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53,275
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Jonatas V
Recife, PE21 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Me and my wife went to Musee d'Orsay on January 1st, which is already a positive thing, since most places are closed on this date. There was a very big line but they were very organized receiving visitors. The museum is big and there is a lot of statues and paintings. There is also wi fi signal (it might take a long time to connect) and places to sit (if you are tired). They had a coffee place but the coffee machine was out of order in the day of our visit.
It wasn't our first option, but in the end was a good experience. To gain full access to the museum you have to buy the ticket: €14 - adult
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Raph1808
La Gaude, France105 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
This is a beautful museum with many remains of history. It is a great way to discover the impressionists. Some very famous paintings are there and I strongly recommend looking at the most famous. There are also some realism paintures and a few sculptures. It is free for people under 12 and a reduced price for under 26.  It has been created in an old train station. At the top you have a good view. The only bad thing was the fact that some of the staff was bossy and unkind.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GNYC1
New York City, NY50 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Musee d'Orsay has incomparable works of art. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there but it's quite difficult to see it all in one day & without a guide. The audio sets are helpful but next time, we will bring a guide to help us navigate this very large museum.

Another benefit of a guide is I believe it gets you priority entry. Even though we purchased advanced tickets & didn't have to wait in the ticket buying line, the line for ticket holders was long & it took us about 30 minutes to get in. Someday, perhaps the museum will employ a more efficient & speedy entry process.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kbryan
13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
I like the size compared to the Louvre. Like most of the museums in Paris, the building is beautiful. There's a lot to look at, spent 3 hours inside. We went on the first Sunday of the month, which is free (but you still need to make a reservation). It was more crowded than I thought, but it was the free day. We still didn't have any problems seeing what we wanted and everyone was polite and respectful.
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Barbara W
Middle Township, NJ26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
I’m embarrassed to share that I’ve visited Paris more than once and had never been to Musée d’Orsay until this visit. The entry into the main gallery space took my breath away! And the collections were phenomenal. If you love Impressionist art, this is your place. Matisse, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Gauguin and even Whistler’s Mother! Easier to navigate than the Louvre and we were even able to see a Degas retrospective. They offer a two-day museum pass with Musée de l’Orangerie, but we were unable to take advantage of it because a major pension protest was planned for the next day. A museum not to be missed!
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

torrington p
Devon, UK9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Well worth a visit to this beautiful gallery. I recommend visiting here in the morning to avoid the crowds and the queues. Several cafes to choose from, fantastic art/sculptures and easy to locate. Eurostar travellers can use their train ticket for a 2 for 1 entry. The only downside was the long queue to collect coats from the cloakroom.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CLTScot
London, UK71 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019
I’m not normally a big fan of art galleries, but Musee d’Orsay left me pleasantly surprised.
I enjoyed walking around and looking at all the art. I specifically remember thinking how surprised I was that I was enjoying myself. This is likely due to the short queue and lack of crowds inside. I actually also really enjoyed exploring the building itself, interesting architecture and design.
Being in Paris and looking at art feels right. So I would recommend visiting, even if, like me, you question if looking at big paintings is a good way to spend a holiday, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

gerausswit
Pennsylvania397 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
I arrived about 15 minutes before opening, and was about the 10th person in line,which was great because I hadn’t purchased a ticket in advance.
Museum itself is beautiful. I especially enjoyed the 5th floor. Had lunch in the cafe. After visiting many museums, I’ve come to the conclusion that great art and great food can’t seem to co-exist in the same building.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WanderingWithUsTwo
Phoenix, AZ737 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We stopped by here as part of our morning while planning to do some other sightseeing in the afternoon. We had already visited the Louvre in which we spent about half the day exploring all there was to see. Because of this, we weren’t quite sure what to expect and if we’d be in for another long day. The museum is located just across the river from the Louvre surrounded by small streets which would make you not notice it at first. It originally served as a train station and was eventually turned into a museum later on. While keeping with the theme of a train station the layout of the museum is very different and at times confusing. Nevertheless, it is great to see how this building was repurposed and still kept the intiial charm. This museum is much easier to get through and offers plenty to see over several floors. The top floor also offers some great views of the surrounding city including the giant clock which perfectly frames the basilica in the distance. If we had to choose, the Louvre would be our top pick but this was also great to stop by since it was included in our Klook museum pass that we had purchased for 22 USD for 48 hours of access to a long list of sites in Paris!
- @wanderingwithustwo
Written May 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PhilEaston
Marnhull, UK32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
This is my favourite gallery. Be prepared to queue for 40 mins outside, rain or shine waiting for security checks. It's worth the wait. No museum or gallery has this shear volume of late 19th and early 20th Century French art. Of course the Impressionists are the stars and there's plenty to see.
The building is a converted railway station, just fabulous.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Musée d'Orsay - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $38.22, while a popular guided tour starts around $7.64 per person.



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