Is the Paris Museum Pass Worth It? Here’s What You Need to Know

ByStephanie Rytting Posted on
A large stone building with carved pillars and paintings on the wall with different statues and artifacts along the cavernous room.
The Pantheon

Paris is a magical city, full of beautiful buildings, awe-inspiring monuments, lovely gardens, and fascinating museums. I’ve been to Paris 9 different times (including a 3-month stint during university where I lived here), and I truly never run out of things to do and see.

And while there are plenty of free things to do in Paris, most monuments and museums have an entrance fee. Enter the Paris Museum Pass, which essentially charges a set daily rate and gives you entrance to as many museums and monuments as your heart may desire.

So, is the Paris Museum Pass worth it? Well, it does depend a little bit on what you are interested in seeing and doing in Paris. But overall, I think that for many travelers, the Paris Museum Pass is absolutely worth it.

I’ve bought and used the Paris Museum Pass on many occasions, most recently in the summer of 2025, so I have a lot of thoughts, tips, and recommendations about using the pass.

In the following sections, we’ll dive into the minutiae of what is included, how to buy and use the pass, some thoughts on when it is and isn’t worth it, and all my tips and recommendations.

Note: For ease of use in this article, I will sometimes refer to the Paris Museum Pass as the PMP.

What Is Included in the Paris Museum Pass

A dark brown tomb with different carvings on the edges on top of a green marble platform with different statues on platforms and a walkway on top
Napoleon’s Tomb at Les Invalides

So, let’s start with some of the basics. The Paris Museum Pass gives you entrance to a long list of popular and hidden gem museums and attractions in Paris and the surrounding region.

And look, I realize that a lot of people say, “I hate museums.” I used to say that too! But Paris has some really excellent, fascinating, and beautiful museums and historical monuments, many of which are on the pass and are great ways to avoid the crowds.

These are some of the attractions included in the PMP, including both the most famous museums as well as my personal favorite off-the-beaten-path spots. It’s a long list!

  • Arc de Triomphe (€16) – Napoleon’s Triumphal Arch which you can climb to the top for views over Paris
  • Louvre (€32) – The iconic museum containing immense collections
  • Versailles (€25+) – The insanely opulent palace and gardens of the French Kings
  • Musée d’Orsay (€16) – Impressionist art in an old train station
  • Sainte Chapelle (€22) – Gorgeous chapel with floor-to-ceiling stained glass
  • Panthéon (€16) – A soaring building dedicated to the thinkers, writers, and leaders of France
  • Les Invalides (€17) – The beautiful resting place for Napoleon’s tomb
  • l’Orangerie (€12) – Admire Monet’s Water Lilies paintings in large scale
  • Pompidou Center (€15) – Modern art museum in a modern art building (currently closed)
  • Conciergerie (€13) – A royal residence that was converted to a prison and held Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution
  • Musée de Cluny (€12) – Museum of the Middle Ages
  • Hotel de la Marine (€17) – Gorgeous historic mansion
  • Rodin Museum (€15) – Dedicated to the incredible sculptures of Rodin and Camille Claudel
  • Eugène Delacroix Museum (€9) – Dedicated to the famous Impressionist painter
  • Picasso Museum (€16) – Dedicated to the famous modern art painter
A large painting that goes across an entire wall with water lilies on the painting by Monet
One of Monet’s Water Lilies in the l’Orangerie Museum

There are also quite a few chateaux (castles) in the surrounding Paris region that are included in the pass. These are a few examples:

Skipping the Lines

The view looking out at a glass triangle building with ornate buildings surrounding the courtyard

Besides saving some money on entrance tickets, one of the best perks of the Paris Museum Pass is that you can skip the ticket queues and just go straight to the entrance line.

Sometimes you still have to queue to go through security and enter the building, but at least you don’t also have to stand in line for tickets.

While this is especially helpful during the high season, it’s just so nice to not bother with that, even if the lines aren’t that long.

Cost of the Paris Museum Pass

  • A 2-day pass costs €85
  • A 4-day pass costs €105
  • A 6-day pass costs €125

You can browse all options and buy the pass here

While the PMP is sold as 2-day, 4-day, or 6-day options, they actually are 48-hour, 96-hour, and 144-hour passes, and they activate when your pass is scanned at the first qualifying museum you visit.

This means if you buy a 2-day pass and use it for the first time at 4pm on a Tuesday, you will have until 3:59pm on Thursday before it expires.

While you can add up the cost of the museums you are most interested in and compare to the cost of the pass, generally speaking, you save money with the pass after 4 museums for the 2-day pass, 5 museums for the 4-day pass, and 6 museums for the 6-day pass.

Personally, I feel like even if I’m not getting a huge cost savings with the Paris Museum Pass, it’s still worth it to me for the convenience of skipping lines. In fact, I’d still buy the pass even if it was a few euros more expensive than just buying tickets outright.

Rules to Be Aware Of

You are only allowed to enter each attraction one time on the Paris Museum Pass – you cannot leave and then come back another day.

You get access to permanent collections but not temporary exhibits or any special events.

While you can print out the pass if you prefer a physical copy, an electronic version on your phone is sufficient. I took a screenshot of it so it was easily accessible no matter what, which worked well.

Where and How to Buy the Paris Museum Pass

You can buy your Paris Museum Pass online and have it delivered electronically for almost immediate use. You can also buy it in person at any of the sites that participate in the PMP or at any Tourist Office in Paris.

I wouldn’t buy it in person, and I wouldn’t wait until the last minute to purchase it online, either. For the Louvre and Versailles, you will need to reserve a timed entry spot in addition to having a ticket, and time slots can and do fill up.

You risk not being able to get into these popular attractions if you wait until the last minute to buy the pass and make your timed entry reservation.

In addition to missing out on the best timed entry slots, if you buy in person, you are spending precious time in Paris waiting in line to purchase the pass. One of the best perks of the PMP is the ability to skip any ticket queues, so I would just buy it online ahead of time!

Do Children Need the Paris Museum Pass?

A small girl holds a red jacket in the middle of a gold and white hall with very elaborate decorations and chandeliers.
My 10-year-old in the STUNNING Hotel de la Marine

No, do not buy the Paris Museum Pass for any children under 18 years old, as well as residents of the EU under 26 years old. Almost every museum and monument in Paris is free for these groups, so buying the pass would be a waste.

You will still need to make a (free) timed entry reservation for children for places like the Louvre or Versailles. Sometimes you will need to pick up a (free) ticket for children before entering the museum, such as at Les Invalides.

Also, it is advisable to bring an ID or a picture of an ID with you if you are traveling with older children to show that they qualify for free entry.

When I was traveling in Paris with my 10-year-old daughter, I was never questioned about free entry for her, although occasionally I was asked to state her age.

However, clearly my 10-year-old was well under the age limit for free entry. If you’re traveling with a 16-year-old, for example, you may be asked to show ID that indicates they qualify for free entry.

Opening Hours – Important!

Almost every museum in Paris is closed on either Monday or Tuesday. As you are making your plans for what and when to visit in Paris, make sure you look at what is open on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Museums are usually just closed on either Monday or Tuesday, not both days, so there is still plenty to see and do these days, but you just don’t want any surprises!

A woman stands in front of the Arc de Triomphe which has statues on the front and ornate decorations
Besides being a great place to visit, the Arc de Triomphe is one of my favorite photo spots in Paris.

Free Museum Days

Many museums in Paris participate in Free Museum Sunday, where they offer no entrance fees on the first Sunday of the month to all visitors.

The Louvre does a free museum day, but it is on the first Friday of the month after 6 pm (except in July and August).

Honestly, I would avoid this day like the plague! Every experience I’ve had with Free Museum Day involved long lines and high crowds.

It’s just not honestly worth it to me to deal with hour-long lines and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds to save €15-30. I’d rather spend a little more money on the entrance tickets and use my precious time in Paris actually doing something enjoyable.

Museums That Are Always Free in Paris

An arched room with painting on the ceilings and stone statues on display in the room
Petit Palais

I’ll wrap up this post by mentioning that there are several museums in Paris are always free. Some of these museums include the Petit Palais (my favorite!), or the Carnavalet Museum (about the history of Paris).

You can read more about free museums in Paris here.

So, is the Paris Museum Pass Worth It?

For non-EU adults, I do think that many travelers benefit from using the Paris Museum Pass.

There is an incredible lineup of top attractions and off-the-beaten-path sites on the pass, you can save a decent bit of money depending on how many sites you visit, and the convenience of skipping the ticket office is a great perk.

Just make sure you check opening hours, avoid the first Sunday of the month, and don’t buy the pass for children!

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Stephanie is obsessed with everything having to do with France, and she's visited the country 17 times (including a 3 month stint when she lived in Paris). She draws on her extensive knowledge all things French to bring you detailed and helpful guides, from the perspective of a fellow traveler.