Insider tips for Paris museums and monuments

VISITING Paris museums and monuments are the things you most want to do in the capital. However, they can often be crowded, overwhelming, and expensive.

Here are 10 insider tips, from Richard Nahem, that will make your visit to places such as the Louvre and the Palais de Tokio smooth, efficient, and sometimes cheaper.

1. Go at Night
Some of the larger museums are open at night.
The Louvre - Wednesday and Friday until 10pm (but they start chasing you out by 9.30pm)
D’Orsay - Thursday until 9.45pm
Quai de Branly - Thursday until 9.30pm
Palais de Tokio - 11.30pm every night except Monday

2. Go Early
The Louvre opens at 9am, so be an early bird and catch the Mona Lisa first.

3. Buy Advance Tickets or a Museum Pass
You can buy advanced tickets in person or on the internet for most museums, monuments, and exhibits at Fnac.

Museum Pass
If you plan on going to at least two museums a day, than a pass is a no-brainer and you cut through the lines.

Passes are good at over 50 museums and monuments in Paris, and the surrounding areas.
2 day Pass - €30
4 Day Pass - €45
6 day Pass - €60

Available at most museums, or visit Paris Museum Pass.

You can also order in advance and have passes delivered to your home or hotel for an additional cost, more on GotoParis.net.

4. Fast Louvre Tickets
Inside the Carrousel de Louvre (the shopping mall in the Louvre) there is a Tabac that sells tickets. Closed on Tuesdays.

5. Metro Stop for the Louvre
The metro stop is Palais Royal-Musee de Louvre off the 1 and 9 lines, not the Louvre-Rivoli stop.

6. Free Admission
Many Paris museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, more on Reid's Guides.

7. Small Museums with Free Admission
Some of the best Paris museums are small gems with free admission, there is a list on Paris Notes.

8. Fastest Entry to Eiffel Tower
The fastest way to get into the Eiffel Tower and bypass the lines, is to make reservations at Altitude 95 restaurant on the first floor.

Instructions:
Call Altitude 95 on 01.45.55.20.04 and make reservations as far in advance as possible. Ask for window seats. Average price per meal is €50 per person.

When you arrive, go to kiosk on the left between the legs of the tower, when you are facing the front.

9. Guided Tours of Louvre, D’Orsay, & Versailles
The most informative and efficient way to see The Louvre, D’Orsay and Versailles is to go on a private or group tour.

Group Tours Given by the Museum
Louvre - Tours are in English and last 90 minutes.
Times: 11am, 2pm and 3.45pm every day except Sunday and Tuesday.
Cost: €5 in addition to entry fee.

Musee D’Orsay - Tours are in English and last 90 minutes.
Times: 11.30am and 2.30pm every day except Monday.
Cost: €7.50 in addition to entry fee.

Versailles - Tours of private rooms are in English and last 90 minutes.
Times: 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3.45pm every day.
Cost: €7.50 in addition to entry fee.

I highly advise tours with a private guide and can recommend some excellent, very experienced ones. Email me and I will send you their information.

10. Best View of Paris - Bell tower at Notre Dame
Climb 250 steps up the bell tower and see where Quasimodo rang those bells. Most experts and historians say this is the best view of Paris, showing mostly the older part of the city.

About the author:
Richard Nahem is the man behind Eye Prefer Paris Tours, an ex-New Yorkers guide to the French capital. He takes clients around small museums and galleries, restaurants, cafes and food markets, secret addresses, parks, and much more.

Comments

[Emily]

cool thanks for the info it helped alot.
I know what to do now,the times and everyhting and famous spots to hit up..

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Emily, glad you enjoyed the article and hope you enjoy your trip to Paris. Just make sure about times as this piece was written last year so some things might have changed.
All the best, Craig