Paris Museum Pass 2026: Prices, Included Museums and Reservations
The Paris Museum Pass provides one admission to more than 50 museums and monuments in Paris and the surrounding region. It is sold for 48, 96, or 144 consecutive hours, begins with the first visit, and works best when several included paid sites are already part of the itinerary. [Ref-1]
Paris Museum Pass Prices And Conditions
- 2-day pass: €85 for 48 consecutive hours.
- 4-day pass: €105 for 96 consecutive hours.
- 6-day pass: €125 for 144 consecutive hours.
- Activation: the time period starts when the pass is scanned at the first included site, not when it is purchased.
- Admission limit: the pass allows one entry to each participating site.
- Format: online buyers receive a downloadable PDF that may be shown on a phone or printed. Paper passes are also sold at selected locations.
- Refund policy: orders are final; passes are not refunded or exchanged.
- Reservations: a separate free time-slot booking is required at several high-demand sites.
| Pass Option | Official Price | Validity | Official Savings Point | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Day | €85 | 48 hours | Average savings from the 4th visit | A short stay with several major paid sites placed close together |
| 4-Day | €105 | 96 hours | Average savings from the 5th visit | A mixed schedule of large museums, smaller collections, and monuments |
| 6-Day | €125 | 144 hours | Average savings from the 6th visit | A longer museum-focused stay or a plan that includes regional sites |
Service fees may be added by some sales networks. Prices, participating sites, closures, and reservation rules can change, so the official pass directory should be checked before purchase and again shortly before each visit.
What The Paris Museum Pass Includes
The pass covers standard entry to participating museums, monuments, historic houses, castles, and specialist collections. The included network extends beyond central Paris into the wider Paris region.
Museums In Paris
- Louvre Museum
- Musée d’Orsay
- Musée de l’Orangerie
- Musée Rodin
- Musée Picasso Paris
- Musée de Cluny
- Musée de l’Armée and Napoleon’s Tomb
- Musée national de la Marine
Monuments And Regional Sites
- Arc de Triomphe
- Panthéon
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Conciergerie
- Notre-Dame Towers
- Palace of Versailles and Trianon Estate
- Château de Fontainebleau
- Château de Vincennes
Admission normally applies to the permanent collections or the standard self-guided visit route. Temporary exhibitions, guided tours, workshops, performances, audio guides, and separately ticketed activities may cost extra. The exact rule depends on the institution.
Centre Pompidou Closure
The main Centre Pompidou building is currently marked as closed for works in the Paris Museum Pass directory. It should not be counted when calculating the value of a pass. Other participating venues may also close for renovation, maintenance, public holidays, security restrictions, or exhibition changes.
What Is Not Included
- Eiffel Tower admission
- Paris Catacombs admission
- Public transport, airport transfers, and regional train fares
- Seine cruises, bus tours, and private tours
- Most temporary exhibitions and separately priced events
- Guided visits, workshops, audio guides, and optional experiences unless a site states otherwise
- Repeat entry to a site already visited with the same pass
The Paris Museum Pass is different from broader Paris city-pass products that combine museums with transport, cruises, observation decks, or tours. A buyer who mainly wants the Eiffel Tower, the Catacombs, a river cruise, and public transport will receive little value from this museum-only pass.
How The Hour-Based Validity Works
- 48-hour pass: valid for exactly 48 hours from the first scan.
- 96-hour pass: valid for exactly 96 hours from the first scan.
- 144-hour pass: valid for exactly 144 hours from the first scan.
- Overnight hours count: the timer continues while museums are closed.
- The purchase date does not activate the pass: it remains unused until the first participating site records entry.
A 48-hour pass first used at 3:00 p.m. on Monday remains valid until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. This can be useful when arrival day begins late, but only when the final visit can be completed before the expiry time. A late activation does not create an extra calendar day; it simply moves the 48-hour window.
Reservations Required With The Pass
The pass covers admission, but several institutions require a separate reservation. These bookings are free for pass holders and remain subject to available capacity.
| Site | Reservation Rule | Useful Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Louvre Museum | Advance time slot needed to guarantee entry | A pass alone does not guarantee entry when all slots are full |
| Musée d’Orsay | Timed reservation required | Select the pass-holder or free-booking option shown by the ticket system |
| Palace of Versailles | Reservation required for the Palace | The official pass page states that the Trianon visit does not require the same reservation |
| Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie | Timed reservation required | Choose the option for visitors who already hold a ticket or pass |
| Notre-Dame Towers | Timed reservation required | Cathedral ground-floor access is separate and free |
| Musée de l’Orangerie | Timed reservation required | Use the Paris Museum Pass booking category |
| Hôtel de la Marine | Timed reservation required | The pass-holder booking option is selected during reservation |
Reservation rules apply to children and other visitors who qualify for free admission as well. A free ticket or age-based exemption does not remove the need to reserve where capacity is controlled.
A Pass Does Not Remove Every Line
- Security screening still applies.
- Bag checks and entrance controls can create waiting time.
- A reserved time is not always an exact no-wait entry time.
- Entry may be limited during strikes, ceremonies, severe weather, maintenance, or crowd-control measures.
- Failure to obtain a reservation is not grounds for a pass refund.
Is The Paris Museum Pass Worth The Price?
The financial value depends on the exact sites selected, their current individual admission prices, and whether all planned reservations are available. The official pass website states that average savings begin with the fourth visit for the 2-day pass, the fifth visit for the 4-day pass, and the sixth visit for the 6-day pass.
A 2-Day Price Example: EEA And Non-EEA Visitors
A single €101 example no longer represents every adult visitor because several 2026 admission rates now depend on European Economic Area status and, in some cases, season. The Louvre charges €22 for EEA citizens or qualifying EEA residents and €32 for non-EEA visitors under rates effective from January 14, 2026.[Ref-2]
For a low-season 2026 comparison, the Versailles Passport is €22 for EEA residents or nationals and €25 at the standard rate.[Ref-3] Sainte-Chapelle lists €16 for eligible EEA adults and €22 for non-EEA adults.[Ref-4] The Arc de Triomphe low-season individual rate is €16.[Ref-5]
| Adult Example | Louvre | Versailles Passport | Sainte-Chapelle | Arc de Triomphe | Ticket Total | Compared With €85 Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EEA, age 26+ | €22 | €22 | €16 | €16 | €76 | Separate tickets are €9 less |
| Non-EEA, age 26+ | €32 | €25 | €22 | €16 | €95 | Pass is €10 less |
This comparison uses low-season Versailles and Arc de Triomphe rates and assumes the traveler is not otherwise entitled to free admission. It shows why the same itinerary can produce a different result for EEA and non-EEA adults. Seasonal pricing, free-entry eligibility, special garden programming, reservation availability, and sales-channel fees can change the final calculation.
A 4-Day Price Example
Adding an advance online ticket for Musée d’Orsay (€16)[Ref-6] and standard admission to Musée Rodin (€14)[Ref-7] changes the six-site total to €106 for the EEA example and €125 for the non-EEA example. Against the €105 four-day pass, the theoretical difference is €1 for the EEA example and €20 for the non-EEA example.
Individual prices can change and some institutions offer free-entry conditions that make a pass unnecessary. The most reliable calculation is a personal list: write down the included sites you will actually visit, check their normal admission prices, remove sites already free for you, and compare the total with the pass price.
The Pass Usually Fits
- Adults planning several included paid museums and monuments.
- Visitors who can reserve their highest-priority sites before arrival.
- Trips that place nearby institutions on the same day.
- Travelers who want one ticket file instead of several separate admission purchases.
- Longer stays that include Versailles, Fontainebleau, or another regional site.
Separate Tickets May Cost Less
- Only one or two included paid sites are planned.
- The itinerary focuses on the Eiffel Tower, Catacombs, cruises, or other excluded attractions.
- The visitor qualifies for free admission at many national museums and monuments.
- The preferred pace is one long museum visit per day.
- Required reservations are unavailable for the planned dates.
Free Admission For Children And Young Adults
Most participating museums and monuments are free for visitors under 18. For visitors aged 18–25, the older shorthand “EU residents under 26” is too narrow for several major national sites. The Louvre and Versailles include eligible EEA citizens and residents under 26, while other institutions publish their own nationality, residence-duration, and proof requirements. A pass should not be purchased for a young visitor until the rules for the planned sites have been checked.
- Under 18: usually free at participating sites, but proof of age may be requested.
- EEA visitors under 26: many national museums and monuments provide free admission to qualifying EEA nationals or residents, subject to the institution’s documentation rules.
- Visitors aged 18–25 who do not meet an EEA-based exemption: free admission should not be assumed; check each museum or monument separately.
- Reservation sites: each eligible visitor still needs the appropriate free time-slot reservation where booking is mandatory.
Free-admission rules are not identical at every participating institution. Private museums, temporary exhibitions, tours, and special events may use different age limits or charges.
Versailles With The Paris Museum Pass
The pass includes admission to the Palace of Versailles and the Trianon Estate under the participating-site conditions. A timed reservation is required for the Palace. The official pass reservation page states that the same booking is not required for the Trianon visit.
Garden access needs separate attention. From April through October, the gardens may charge admission on Musical Gardens and Fountain Show days. The Paris Museum Pass should not be assumed to cover these separately ticketed garden programmes. Train travel between Paris and Versailles is also not included.
Planning Visits By Area
| Area | Included Sites To Compare | Planning Note |
|---|---|---|
| Louvre And Tuileries | Louvre, Orangerie, Hôtel de la Marine | Reserve each timed site first; the Louvre can take most of the day |
| Left Bank And Invalides | Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin, Musée de l’Armée | Suitable for one large collection plus one shorter museum |
| Île de la Cité And Latin Quarter | Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, Musée de Cluny, Panthéon | Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie require timed bookings |
| Marais And Central-East Paris | Musée Picasso, Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme, Musée des Arts et Métiers | Smaller and medium-sized collections are easier to combine than two large museums |
| Versailles | Palace, Trianon Estate | Allow most or all of a day and check garden-event charges |
Opening days matter as much as distance. The Louvre is normally closed on Tuesday, Musée d’Orsay is normally closed on Monday, and Versailles Palace is normally closed on Monday. Current calendars should be checked because holidays, strikes, heat, restoration work, and private events can alter access.
Buying And Using The Pass
- List the museums and monuments you intend to visit. Check that each one is included and open during the planned dates.
- Compare individual admission prices with the pass price. Remove any site that is already free under your age or residence status.
- Check reservation availability before relying on the pass. Louvre and Versailles slots can fill during busy periods.
- Choose 48, 96, or 144 hours. The duration cannot be paused once activated.
- Buy from the official website or an authorized point of sale. Some sales networks add service fees.
- Download the PDF and keep an offline copy. The official seller states that the pass is not currently compatible with Apple Wallet.
- Carry the pass and all reservation confirmations. A reservation confirmation does not replace the pass, and the pass does not replace a required reservation.
- Present the pass at each checkpoint. The first successful visit starts the hour-based validity period.
Each online order requires a valid email address because the download link is delivered by email. The name of each user is entered during purchase. A phone screenshot may be useful as a backup, but the original PDF should remain available in case the barcode needs to be enlarged or reopened.
Common Questions
Does the Paris Museum Pass include the Louvre?
Yes. The Louvre is included, but a timed reservation is needed to guarantee access. During periods of high demand, a pass without a reservation may not be enough to enter.
Does the pass include the Eiffel Tower?
No. Eiffel Tower admission is not part of the Paris Museum Pass.
Can the same museum be visited twice?
No. The pass allows one admission to each participating site.
Does the pass include temporary exhibitions?
Not as a general rule. It covers standard admission to museum collections and monument routes. A temporary exhibition or special event may require an added ticket.
Does the pass provide skip-the-line entry?
It can remove the need to buy a standard admission ticket at the venue, but it does not remove security screening, bag checks, capacity controls, or reservation requirements.
Can the pass be shown on a phone?
Yes. Online buyers receive a PDF that may be shown on a smartphone or printed. The official seller currently states that it is not compatible with Apple Wallet.
When does the pass expire?
It expires 48, 96, or 144 hours after the first included entry, depending on the selected duration.
Should children have their own pass?
Usually not. Most participating sites are free for visitors under 18. Children still need free reservations at institutions that use timed entry.
Is public transport included?
No. Metro, bus, RER, airport transport, and train travel to regional sites are separate expenses.
Sources & Verification
- Paris Museum Pass — Official Website — Verifies current pass prices, durations, one-entry rule, participating sites, reservation guidance, and sales conditions.↩
- Louvre — Hours & Admission — Verifies the 2026 €22 EEA rate, €32 non-EEA rate, and under-26 EEA free-admission conditions.↩
- Palace of Versailles — 2026 Ticketing — Verifies 2026 EEA pricing, low- and high-season Passport rates, and under-26 EEA eligibility.↩
- Centre des Monuments Nationaux — 2026 Ticketing Guide — Verifies Sainte-Chapelle’s 2026 EEA and non-EEA individual rates.↩
- Arc de Triomphe — Practical Information — Verifies the current seasonal individual admission rates used in the comparison.↩
- Musée d’Orsay — Visit — Verifies the current €16 online full rate and visitor access information.↩
- Musée Rodin — Plan Your Visit — Verifies the current €14 standard admission rate.↩