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Experience only the best of Orsay Museum

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Visiting Orsay Museum

  • Ways to explore: Choose from Orsay Museum entry tickets, guided tours, audio-guided visits, or combo tickets with the Musée de l'Orangerie.
  • What’s included: Entry tickets cover the permanent collection, featuring masterpieces by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists. Audio guides and tours add deeper insights into the artworks.
  • Queues & entry: The museum can have long ticketing queues during peak hours. Timed-entry tickets help you skip the wait and enter at your chosen slot.
  • When to book: Book 1–2 weeks ahead for weekends, holidays, and temporary exhibitions to secure preferred time slots.
  • Good to know: You can explore at your own pace after entry. Free admission is available on the first Sunday of every month, but crowds are usually larger.
  • Best upgrade: Opt for a guided tour to uncover the stories behind Orsay’s masterpieces, or combine your visit with the Orangerie Museum for a complete Impressionist art experience.

​🗺️ Plan your visit to Orsay Museum →

Discover must-see temporary exhibitions at Musée d’Orsay in 2026

From Renoir’s intimate portraits and drawings to Youssef Nabil’s contemporary photography, Musée d’Orsay’s 2026 exhibition calendar brings together celebrated artists and unique collections throughout the year. Explore special showcases featuring Bartholdi, Mary Cassatt, and Jenny Holzer, alongside the highly anticipated Monet and Time exhibition celebrating the centenary of Monet’s death.

​🖼️ Explore Musée d’Orsay Temporary Exhibitions →

Orsay Museum

Compare your Musée d'Orsay ticket options

Ticket typeEntrance usedIncludesWhy pick thisBest forRecommended experience

Basic entry ticket

Main entrance at Rue de Lille / Quai Anatole-France

Entry to Musée d’Orsay permanent collection

• Explore the museum at your own pace • See iconic Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, and more

Independent explorers

Orsay Museum Tickets

Entry Ticket with Audioguide

Main entrance at Rue de Lille / Quai Anatole-France

Museum entry + multilingual audioguide with artwork commentary

• Get deeper context behind masterpieces while exploring freely • Ideal if you want expert insights without joining a tour

Self-guided experience

Orsay Museum Tickets (with Audioguide option)

Temporary Exhibition Ticket

Temporary exhibition entrance (as per exhibition access)

Entry to selected temporary exhibitions at Musée d’Orsay

• Discover limited-time collections and special showcases • Great for art enthusiasts looking for unique exhibitions

Repeat visitors & special exhibitions

Orsay Museum Temporary Exhibition

Guided Tour

Group entrance at Musée d’Orsay

Museum entry + expert-led guided tour covering key galleries and artworks

• Discover hidden stories behind famous masterpieces • Follow a curated route and make the most of your visit in 2–3 hours

First-time visitors

Orsay Museum Guided Tours

Private Guided Tour

Dedicated entrance at Musée d’Orsay

Small group tour (up to 6 people) with an expert guide

• Enjoy a personalised itinerary at your own pace • Ask questions and focus on artists or artworks that interest you most

Families, groups looking for in-depth experience

Orsay Museum Private Guided Tours

Combo Tours

Individual entrances at each attraction

Orsay Museum entry combined with another Paris attraction or experience

• Save time by pairing Orsay with another must-do experience • Ideal for creating a complete Paris sightseeing itinerary

Best-value sightseeing option

Combo: Orsay + Orangerie / Combo Louvre + Orsay / Combo Orsay + Seine Cruise / Combo Rodin + Orsay

Museum + Dining Experience

Musée d’Orsay entrance + dining venue

Orsay Museum entry + brunch experience at Ladurée

• Pair art discovery with authentic French food • Perfect for a relaxed half-day itinerary

Parisian culinary experience

Orsay Museum Ticket + Brunch at Ladurée

What to expect at Orsay Museum

Orsay Museum interior with sculptures and ornate ceiling, Paris, France.
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🎨 Step into the world of Impressionist art

Enter the grand halls of the Orsay Museum, housed inside a beautifully restored Beaux-Arts railway station along the Seine. Wander beneath its iconic clock and explore one of the world’s largest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, featuring works by artists like Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, and Degas.

🖼️ Discover masterpieces beyond the canvas

Move through the museum’s galleries to see revolutionary works that transformed the art world. From vibrant landscapes and intimate portraits to bold experiments in colour and light, each room reveals how artists broke away from traditional styles and shaped modern art.

🏛️ Explore a landmark of Parisian architecture

Look beyond the artworks and admire the museum itself—a former 1900 railway station turned cultural landmark. Its soaring glass roof, grand clock faces, and open galleries create a unique setting where history and art come together.

✨ Uncover stories from the Belle Époque era

Travel back to late 19th-century France through paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and photography. The collection captures the changing face of Paris, from bustling city life and theatre scenes to everyday moments frozen in time.

🌆 Take in Paris from a historic viewpoint

Head to the museum’s upper levels for stunning views through the famous clock windows. Pause by the giant clocks overlooking the Seine and enjoy one of the most memorable perspectives of Paris from inside a museum.

Things to know before booking your Orsay Museum tickets

  • Orsay Museum is popular and often has long ticketing lines with wait times of up to an hour. Consider booking fast-track tickets to bypass the queues with timed entry into the museum. Enter the museum during a specific time slot and spend as much time as you like inside. 
  • Want to learn the stories behind the Orsay's Impressionist artwork? Guided tour tickets provide insights into the museum’s masterpieces from the revolutionary era. You can join a standard tour with up to 20 people or have a personalized experience with tours limited to 6 guests.
  • Take your Impressionist art journey to the next level and opt for guided tour with lunch to enjoy gourmet meals at the museum restaurant after your personal guided tour.
  • Make the most of your Parisian art trip by choosing a combo ticket to the Orsay & Orangerie museums. View Impressionist art & Monet's Water Lilies with one ticket, all within a 5-minute walk.
  • If you prefer to explore at your own pace, tickets with audio guides are available in multiple languages, providing insightful commentary as you walk through the museum.
  • You can enter the Orsay Museum for free on the first Sunday of every month, though these days tend to draw larger crowds.

Explore Orsay Museum

Ornate clock inside Orsay Museum, Paris, with glass ceiling background.

Known as the “Big Ben of Paris”, the Orsay clocks have marked the time since the 1900s. Two large clocks, with steel and glass frames, were installed in the towers overlooking the Seine, guiding passengers to their trains. Even after the station’s transformation into a museum, these clocks remained. One clock, now part of Café Campana, offers a stunning view over the Seine River, while a grand Belle Époque clock graces the Great Hall.

Access: Yes, included with general entry tickets.

​How to best experience the Orsay clock ➡️

Sculpture of a ballerina in Orsay Museum, Paris, with visitors viewing Impressionist paintings.

Beyond paintings, discover an impressive collection of sculptures, decorative objects, photography, and architectural pieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The galleries highlight the artistic movements that shaped France during the Belle Époque era.

Access: Yes, included with general entry.

Street scene illustration from the Art is in the Street exhibit at Orsay Museum.

The museum hosts rotating exhibitions exploring specific artists, movements, and themes, often featuring rare works borrowed from collections around the world. These exhibitions offer a deeper look into different periods of art history.

Access: No, a separate ticket may be required.

Gourmet lunch with wine and bread at Orsay Museum, Paris.

Located in the former railway station’s grand dining hall, the Orsay Museum restaurant offers a unique setting to take a break surrounded by historic architecture and elegant décor.

Access: Restaurant access does not require a museum ticket, but dining reservations are recommended.

Must-see artworks at Orsay Museum

Starry Night over the Rhone by Van Gogh displayed at Orsay Museum, Paris.
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Starry Night Over the Rhône — Vincent van Gogh

One of Van Gogh’s most celebrated night scenes, this painting captures the shimmering reflections of gas lights across the Rhône River in Arles. Look closely at the swirling sky and vibrant colours that reveal the artist’s unique emotional style.

📍Location: Level 2, Gallery 36

​What's so special about Starry Night Over the Rhône?

Self-Portrait — Vincent van Gogh

Created during Van Gogh’s time at the asylum in Saint-Rémy, this striking self-portrait reflects his intense brushwork and distinctive use of colour. It remains one of the museum’s most recognizable works.

📍Location: Level 5, Gallery 71

Bal du moulin de la Galette — Auguste Renoir

Renoir captures a lively Sunday afternoon in Montmartre, filled with dancing, conversation, and sunlight filtering through trees. The painting is a defining example of Impressionism’s focus on modern Parisian life.

📍Location: Level 5, Gallery 32

Water Lilies (Blue and Gold) — Claude Monet

Part of Monet’s famous water lily series, this work showcases his fascination with reflections, light, and the changing moods of nature. It offers a glimpse into the artist’s later experiments with colour and abstraction.

📍Location: Level 5, Gallery 34

The Gleaners — Jean-François Millet

This powerful painting portrays three women collecting leftover crops after the harvest, highlighting rural life and social realities in 19th-century France. Its monumental scale gives dignity to an everyday scene.

📍Location: Level 4, Gallery 37

Olympia — Édouard Manet

A groundbreaking painting that challenged traditional artistic conventions, Olympia caused controversy when first exhibited for its direct gaze and modern portrayal of a reclining woman.

📍Location: Level 5, Gallery 14

Dance at the Moulin Rouge — Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

This energetic painting captures the atmosphere of Parisian nightlife at the famous Moulin Rouge. Through bold colours and expressive figures, Toulouse-Lautrec portrays the performers and characters of Montmartre’s entertainment scene.

📍Location: Level 5, Gallery 31

The Card Players — Paul Cézanne

A key work in Cézanne’s exploration of structure and form, this painting depicts two men absorbed in a quiet game of cards. Its simplified shapes and geometric composition influenced the development of modern art.

📍Location: Level 5, Gallery 35

The Gates of Hell — Auguste Rodin

This monumental bronze sculpture features over 180 figures inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. It showcases Rodin’s expressive style and includes figures that later became famous as independent works, including The Thinker.

📍Location: Ground Floor, Sculpture Galler

The Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen — Edgar Degas

Degas’s famous sculpture captures a young ballet dancer in a realistic pose, wearing an actual fabric tutu and ribbon when first displayed. It transformed traditional ideas of sculpture by introducing everyday materials and subjects.

📍Location: Ground Floor, Sculpture Gallery

🚧 Musée d’Orsay renovation: What visitors need to know

From March 2026 to summer 2028, Musée d’Orsay will undergo a €30 million renovation of its entrance areas while remaining open to visitors with exhibitions continuing as planned. During the works, visitors should note changing access points depending on the renovation phase (currently Entrée Quai 1), mandatory timed-slot reservations, and a temporary restriction on groups of 7 or more from June 10 to October 5, 2026.

Guide explaining sculptures to tourists inside Orsay Museum, France.

Important galleries at the Orsay Museum

Impressionist Galleries (Level 5)

The highlight of the Orsay Museum, these galleries bring together some of the world’s most famous Impressionist paintings. Discover works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, and Pissarro, exploring the movement’s fascination with light, movement, and everyday life.

Must-see: Bal du moulin de la Galette by Renoir, Water Lilies by Monet, The Card Players by Cézanne.

Post-Impressionist Galleries (Level 5)

Continue into the bold and experimental world that followed Impressionism. These rooms showcase artists who pushed colour, form, and emotion further, including Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Seurat.

Must-see: Starry Night Over the Rhône and Self-Portrait by Van Gogh, The Circus by Seurat.

Realism Galleries (Ground Floor)

Explore the works that captured everyday life, rural communities, and social realities of 19th-century France. These galleries feature powerful paintings by artists like Courbet and Millet that challenged traditional academic art.

Must-see: The Gleaners by Jean-François Millet, A Burial at Ornans by Gustave Courbet.

Manet and Early Modern Painting Galleries (Level 5)

Discover the artists who broke away from traditional rules and paved the way for modern art. Édouard Manet’s controversial compositions mark the transition from academic painting to avant-garde movements.

Must-see: Olympia and The Luncheon on the Grass by Édouard Manet.

Sculpture Galleries (Ground Floor & Main Hall)

Walk through the museum’s open sculpture spaces featuring works from the 19th century, including dramatic pieces by Rodin and Degas. The placement of sculptures within the former railway station’s grand hall makes the experience unique.

Must-see: The Thinker and The Gates of Hell by Auguste Rodin, Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen by Edgar Degas.

Art Nouveau & Decorative Arts Galleries (Level 2)

Discover the elegance of the Belle Époque through furniture, glasswork, jewellery, and decorative objects. These galleries reveal how Art Nouveau transformed everyday design at the turn of the century.

Must-see: Art Nouveau furniture, glassworks, and decorative interiors.

Plan your visit to Musée d'Orsay

Orsay Museum exterior along the Seine River in Paris, France.

  • Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30am to 6pm
    Last entry: 5pm
    Last access to exhibitions: 5:15pm
    Closing of rooms: from 5:30pm

  • Thursday: 9:30am to 9:45pm
    Last entry: 9pm
    Last access to exhibitions: 9pm
    Closing of rooms: from 9:15pm

Closed on: Mondays, May 1 and December 25

Address: 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France.

​Find on Maps

Getting there

  • By metro: Line 12
    Nearest stop: Solférino station

  • By RER: Line C
    Nearest stop: Musée d'Orsay station

  • By bus: Lines 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 87, or 94
    Nearest stop: Solferino

  • By car: Drivers can park at the Carrousel du Louvre or Bac Montalembert car park. Special parking is available for visitors with disabilities.

  • By Hop-on hop-off bus:
    Musée d'Orsay is the closest stop in Big Bus tours through the red route and in Tootbus through the Must See Paris route.

Tour guide with group inside Orsay Museum, Paris, near sculptures and art displays.

There are four entrances at the Orsay, located close to each other, so it's essential to choose the correct one to avoid unnecessary waiting in lines.

  • Entrance A: For visitors who have not purchased tickets in advance and wish to buy them at the venue.
  • Entrance B: Reserved for adult groups with prior reservations.
  • Entrance C: For individual visitors who have purchased tickets, AFMO members, pass holders, and visitors with special needs.
  • Entrance D: Exclusively for school groups that have made prior reservations.
Visitor reading a brochure inside the Orsay Museum, Paris.
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Lockers and cloakrooms
  • Wheelchairs for loan
  • Strollers for loan
  • Lifts and access ramps
  • Washrooms
  • Baby area
  • Lost & found service teams
  • Audioguide
No smoking sign on a pole in an outdoor setting.
  • Only bags smaller than 55 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm are allowed inside. Larger bags must be left in the cloakroom, which operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • No food, beverages, large umbrellas, tripods, selfie sticks, large photography equipment, sharp objects, art materials, or items deemed dangerous by security personnel are allowed.
  • Photography for personal use is allowed without flash. Professional photography requires prior authorization.
  • Eating or drinking outside designated areas is not permitted.
  • No vehicles or motorized cycles are allowed.
  • Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Smoking is prohibited anywhere within the museum premises.
Person viewing art book at Caumont Centre d’Art.
  • Boutique bookstore: With over five thousand titles on painting, sculpture, architecture, decorative arts, photography, and the history of the arts, this bookstore has everything you need to know about the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • Youth space: If you go to the nave of the museum, you'll find a selection of books and games about art on display, where you can dig in and gratify the connoisseur in you.
  • Souvenir counter: Take home a piece of the museum with you! Browse the stationery, jewelry, and textiles collection designed around their most popular exhibits.

Visitor tips

→ Arrive with a plan, not just a ticket: Orsay’s collection is spread across five levels, so start with the Impressionist galleries on Level 5 before exploring the earlier 19th-century works below.

→ Look up as much as you look around: The museum’s soaring glass roof, giant clocks, and original railway architecture are as much a part of the experience as the artworks.

→ Visit the giant clock at the end of the gallery route: The view through its transparent face overlooking the Seine is one of the most memorable photo spots inside Paris.

→ Don’t rush past the sculptures on the ground floor: Works by Rodin, Degas, and other masters create a different perspective on the artistic movements that shaped modern France.

→ Use the museum’s layout to your advantage: The quieter upper galleries often offer a better viewing experience than the crowded rooms around the most famous paintings.

→ Spend time with the lesser-known works: While Van Gogh and Monet draw the biggest crowds, Orsay’s collection of Symbolist, Realist, and Art Nouveau works reveals a broader story of changing French society.

→ Visit around lunchtime for a calmer experience: Many visitors take a break midday, making it a good window to explore popular galleries with fewer crowds.

→ Pair Orsay with the Musée de l'Orangerie: Both museums focus on Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art and together create a complete journey through the movement.

→ Check your route before arriving: The museum has multiple entrances, but the main entrance at the former station’s grand hall offers the most iconic first impression.

Frequently asked questions about Musée d'Orsay tickets

Fast-track tickets save you time by allowing you to skip the long queues, especially during peak hours. With timed entry, you'll spend less time waiting outside and more time exploring the museum’s exhibits at your own pace, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable visit.

More reads

Clock

Inside

Paintings