Paris Tickets

Orsay Museum vs Louvre Museum

If you’re visiting Paris, the Louvre and the Orsay Museum are likely at the top of your sightseeing list. Both are world-class cultural icons, yet they offer very different art experiences. If you’re choosing just one or planning to do both, here’s how they truly compare.

Quick comparison – Orsay Museum vs Louvre Museum

FeatureOrsay MuseumLouvre Museum

Location

Left Bank, 7th arrondissement

Right Bank, 1st arrondissement

Price

Entry from €16

Entry from €22

What is it?

Impressionist and post-Impressionist museum

World’s largest art museum

Built

1900 (former railway station)

12th century origins, palace

Size

Medium-sized

Vast (72,000+ sqm of galleries)

Timings

Tue–Sun

Wed–Mon

Duration needed

2–3 hours

3–5+ hours

Queues

Medium

High

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings

Early mornings, late evenings

Accessibility

Fully wheelchair accessible

Step-free routes, elevators available

Kid-friendly

Moderate

Moderate

Highlights

Monet, Van Gogh, Degas

Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo

Dining

Museum cafés

Multiple cafés & restaurants

Nearby attractions

Seine, Tuileries

Tuileries, Palais Royal

Rules

Photography allowed (no flash)

No flash, no tripods

Verdict – Which should you visit?

Short on time and love 19th-century art? Choose Orsay for a compact, beautifully curated experience.

Want the biggest art collection in the world and history across civilizations? Go for the Louvre.

Have two days in Paris? Do both for the full spectrum of global art history.

Why settle when you can see both?

A Louvre and Orsay combo ticket lets you explore Paris’s two most famous museums with priority entry and flexible visiting days-saving time and planning effort.

Major differences between Orsay Museum and Louvre Museum explained

What you’ll see at Orsay Museum

Water lilies on a pond, inspired by Monet's series, at Albertina Museum.

Monet’s Water Lilies

Large-scale Impressionist landscapes capturing light and reflection.

Starry Night over the Rhone by Van Gogh displayed at Orsay Museum, Paris.
Visitors observing exhibits inside a museum.
Visitors exploring sculptures inside Orsay Museum, Paris, under ornate glass ceiling.
Person observing artwork in a gallery setting.

What you’ll see at Louvre Museum

Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci’s world-famous Renaissance portrait.

Venus de Milo statue at Louvre Museum, Paris.
Winged Victory of Samothrace statue at the Louvre Museum, Paris.
Visitors discussing art in the Sully Wing of the Louvre Museum, featuring the Faith Ringgold Exhibition.
Person observing artwork closely in a Paris museum.

Visiting Orsay Museum and Louvre Museum

Frequently asked questions about Orsay Museum vs Louvre Museum

It’s possible but tiring. The Orsay takes about 2–3 hours while the Louvre needs at least 3–4 hours. If doing both in one day, start at Orsay early and reserve a late-afternoon Louvre slot.