Orsay vs Louvre | Which Paris Museum Should You Visit?

Quick comparison – Orsay Museum vs Louvre Museum

Feature	Orsay Museum	Louvre 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.

From happy customers

Orsay Museum Fast-Track Tickets

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Flexible duration

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Orsay Museum Guided Impressionist Masterpieces Tour

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2 hr.

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Louvre Museum Timed Access Tickets

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Flexible duration

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Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour

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1 hr. 30 min. - 2 hr.

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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.

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Major differences between Orsay Museum and Louvre Museum explained

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

History and architecture

Orsay Museum: Opened in 1986 inside a Beaux-Arts railway station built for the 1900 World’s Fair. Its glass-roofed nave creates a bright, open museum layout.

Louvre Museum: Originated as a medieval fortress and later a royal palace, now the world’s largest museum with pyramid entrance and sprawling historic wings.

Louvre Museum ornate ceiling with classical paintings and sculptures, Paris, France.

Experience highlights

Orsay Museum: Focuses on Impressionism and post-Impressionism with intimate gallery layouts and natural light.

Louvre Museum: Covers ancient civilizations, Renaissance art, and global antiquities across massive themed wings.

Group tour at Musée d’Orsay viewing Impressionist painting with guide.

Atmosphere and audience

Orsay Museum: Calm, refined, and easier to navigate, ideal for art lovers who prefer focused exploration.

Louvre Museum: Bustling, iconic, and crowded, attracting first-time visitors eager to see world-famous masterpieces.

Louvre Museum exterior with gardens in Paris, France.

Location and surroundings

Orsay Museum: Located on the Left Bank overlooking the Seine near Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Louvre Museum: Centrally located between the Seine and Palais Royal in the heart of Paris.

Orsay Museum interior with sculptures and visitors at a temporary exhibition in Paris.

When to visit

Orsay Museum: Best visited in the morning on weekdays. 2–3 hours is sufficient.

Louvre Museum: Requires at least half a day. Early mornings and late-night openings work best.

Louvre Museum exterior with courtyard and glass pyramid in Paris.

Other practicalities

Orsay Museum: Easier navigation, limited queues, fewer galleries.

Louvre Museum: Extensive security, long walking distances, and complex routing between wings.

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

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

Couple using tablet to plan vacation with map on table.

Orsay Museum tickets cover all permanent collections and major temporary exhibitions, with skip-the-line options available. The Louvre offers standard entry tickets or timed-entry reservations that include access to all permanent collections and exhibitions. Seeing both on a combo ticket allows flexible visiting across two days with priority access. Independently, it’s feasible to visit Orsay in the morning and Louvre another day, but same-day visits feel rushed without a guided tour.

Orsay Museum

Address: Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, 75007 Paris | Find on Maps
By train: RER C (Musée d’Orsay)
By metro: Line 12 (Solférino)
By bus: 63, 68, 73, 83 By car: Via Quai Anatole-France

Getting to Orsay Museum

Louvre Museum

Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris | Find on Maps
By metro: Line 1 (Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre)
By bus: 21, 27, 39, 95
By car: Via Rue de Rivoli or Quai François-Mitterrand

Getting to Louvre Museum

Girl sitting by Louvre Museum fountain in Paris, ideal spot for day trip tour.

Orsay Museum: Open Tuesday–Sunday, 9:30 am - 6 pm; closed Mondays. Late opening Thursdays.

Detailed Orsay Museum timings

Louvre Museum: Open Wednesday–Monday, 9 am - 6 pm; closed Tuesdays. Late opening Fridays.

Detailed Louvre Museum timings

Duration needed and best time to visit Orsay requires 2-3 hours and is best on weekday mornings. The Louvre needs 3-5 hours minimum and is best early morning or late evening to manage queues.

Visitors admiring a painting at Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi exhibit.

Crowd control: The Pyramid entrance for the Louvre gets overcrowded. Arrive early or use the Carrousel entrance.
Best views: Orsay’s clock terrace offers superb Seine views; the Louvre offers skyline views from the pyramid courtyard.
Photography rules: Allowed without flash at both museums.
Seasonality: Summer crowds peak sharply at the Louvre; Orsay stays more manageable.
Short on time: Orsay delivers faster satisfaction with less walking.
Art preference: Choose Orsay for Impressionism, Louvre for ancient and classical art.
Family visits: The Louvre’s Egyptian wing is more engaging for children.
Weather backup: Both are excellent rainy-day attractions.

Frequently asked questions about Orsay Museum vs Louvre Museum

Can you visit both in one day?

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.

Which is more budget-friendly?

Orsay is slightly cheaper for standard entry. However, combo tickets or museum passes often offer better overall value when visiting both.

Which is better for first-time visitors to Paris?

The Louvre delivers the most iconic first-time experience with world-famous artworks. Orsay works better as a focused follow-up visit.

Which is better for kids?

The Louvre is better for children due to Egyptian mummies, armored knights, and large sculptures. Orsay appeals more to teens and adults interested in painting.

How far is Orsay from the Louvre?

They are about 1.5 km apart and connected by a scenic 20-minute walk along the Seine or a short metro ride.

What if I only have time for one?

Choose the Louvre for world history and iconic masterpieces. Choose Orsay for a calmer, quicker Impressionist experience.

Which has the better artworks overall?

The Louvre offers the most diverse global collection. Orsay offers deeper coverage of a single golden era of European painting.

Are both included in the Paris Museum Pass?

Yes, both the Orsay Museum and the Louvre are included in the Paris Museum Pass.

How long do you need at Orsay vs Louvre?

Orsay needs about 2-3 hours. The Louvre requires at least 3-5 hours for a meaningful visit.

Which is bigger?

The Louvre is significantly larger, with over 70,000 square meters of exhibition space. Orsay is much more compact and easier to navigate.

Orsay Museum

Address: Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, 75007 Paris | Find on Maps
By train: RER C (Musée d’Orsay)
By metro: Line 12 (Solférino)
By bus: 63, 68, 73, 83 By car: Via Quai Anatole-France

Getting to Orsay Museum

Louvre Museum

Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris | Find on Maps
By metro: Line 1 (Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre)
By bus: 21, 27, 39, 95
By car: Via Rue de Rivoli or Quai François-Mitterrand

Getting to Louvre Museum

Orsay Museum: Open Tuesday–Sunday, 9:30 am - 6 pm; closed Mondays. Late opening Thursdays.

Detailed Orsay Museum timings

Louvre Museum: Open Wednesday–Monday, 9 am - 6 pm; closed Tuesdays. Late opening Fridays.

Detailed Louvre Museum timings

Duration needed and best time to visit Orsay requires 2-3 hours and is best on weekday mornings. The Louvre needs 3-5 hours minimum and is best early morning or late evening to manage queues.

Crowd control: The Pyramid entrance for the Louvre gets overcrowded. Arrive early or use the Carrousel entrance.
Best views: Orsay’s clock terrace offers superb Seine views; the Louvre offers skyline views from the pyramid courtyard.
Photography rules: Allowed without flash at both museums.
Seasonality: Summer crowds peak sharply at the Louvre; Orsay stays more manageable.
Short on time: Orsay delivers faster satisfaction with less walking.
Art preference: Choose Orsay for Impressionism, Louvre for ancient and classical art.
Family visits: The Louvre’s Egyptian wing is more engaging for children.
Weather backup: Both are excellent rainy-day attractions.