Top 10 museums included in Paris Museum Pass
If you are planning to buy the Paris Museum Pass, one of the smartest things you can do before your trip is to decide which museums and monuments you actually want to visit, because the pass includes more than 50 attractions and it is impossible to see everything, especially if you only stay in Paris for two, three, or four days. That is why it is important to focus on the most important museums and monuments included in the Paris Museum Pass, so you get the maximum value from your pass and do not waste time visiting places that are less interesting to you.
In this guide, you will find the top 10 museums and monuments included in the Paris Museum Pass, based on popularity, historical importance, and overall visitor experience.
The Most Famous Museum in the World
1. Louvre Museum
The Louvre is the most famous museum in Paris and one of the most famous museums in the world, and for many visitors this is the main reason to buy the Paris Museum Pass in the first place, because the Louvre is huge, very popular, and the ticket lines can be very long, especially in high season.
Inside the Louvre you can see:
- Mona Lisa
- Venus de Milo
- Winged Victory of Samothrace
- Egyptian antiquities
- Greek sculptures
- Renaissance paintings
- Napoleon’s Apartments
You can easily spend 3 to 4 hours in the Louvre, and some people even visit the museum twice.
Tip: Always reserve a time slot in advance if you are using the Paris Museum Pass.
The Most Famous Palace Near Paris
2. Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most impressive palaces in Europe and is included in the Paris Museum Pass, which makes the pass very valuable because Versailles is not cheap if you buy individual tickets.
At Versailles you can visit:
- Hall of Mirrors
- King’s Apartments
- Queen’s Apartments
- Versailles Gardens
- Grand Trianon
- Petit Trianon
- Marie Antoinette’s Estate
Versailles is a full-day trip, and you should plan this day carefully.
The Most Beautiful Art Museum in Paris
3. Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay is one of the most popular museums in Paris and is famous for Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The museum is located inside a beautiful old train station, which makes the building itself worth visiting.
Famous artists in the Orsay Museum:
- Monet
- Van Gogh
- Renoir
- Degas
- Manet
- Cézanne
Many visitors actually enjoy the Orsay more than the Louvre because the museum is smaller and easier to explore.
The Most Beautiful Church Interior in Paris
4. Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle is not a museum but a chapel, and it is one of the most beautiful places in Paris. It is famous for its incredible stained glass windows that cover almost the entire upper chapel.
This is one of the most popular attractions included in the Paris Museum Pass, and the ticket line can be very long, so the pass is very useful here.
Visit time:
- About 30 to 45 minutes
This is easy to combine with nearby attractions like the Conciergerie and the Louvre.
A Historic Prison and French Revolution Site
5. Conciergerie
The Conciergerie is located next to Sainte-Chapelle and used to be a prison during the French Revolution. The most famous prisoner held here was Marie Antoinette before her execution.
Inside the Conciergerie you can see:
- Prison cells
- Revolutionary court
- Marie Antoinette’s cell
- Medieval halls
This visit takes about 1 hour and is very interesting if you like history.
One of the Best Views in Paris
6. Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, and you can climb to the top for one of the best views over the city, including the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower.
Why visit:
- Amazing view
- Sunset is beautiful
- Not a long visit (about 1 hour)
This is a perfect evening activity.
Napoleon’s Tomb and Military Museum
7. Army Museum (Les Invalides)
The Army Museum is located at Les Invalides, and this is where Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb is located. Even if you are not very interested in military history, Napoleon’s tomb alone is very impressive and worth visiting.
Inside you can see:
- Napoleon’s tomb
- Armor and weapons
- War history exhibitions
- Military uniforms
- World War exhibitions
Visit time:
- 1.5 to 2 hours
Famous Impressionist Paintings
8. Musée de l’Orangerie
The Orangerie Museum is famous for Monet’s Water Lilies paintings, which are displayed in large oval rooms designed specifically for these paintings.
This is a relatively small museum, so it is perfect to combine with:
- Musée d’Orsay
- Louvre
- Tuileries Garden
Visit time:
- 1 to 1.5 hours
Sculptures and a Beautiful Garden
9. Rodin Museum
The Rodin Museum is dedicated to the sculptor Auguste Rodin and includes both an indoor museum and a beautiful sculpture garden.
Famous sculptures:
- The Thinker
- The Kiss
- The Gates of Hell
This is a very relaxing museum to visit because the garden is beautiful and much less crowded than larger museums.
Visit time:
- 1 to 2 hours
Medieval Paris Museum
10. Cluny Museum (Medieval Museum)
The Cluny Museum is dedicated to medieval history and is located in a beautiful historic building. The most famous artwork here is The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries.
This museum is smaller and less crowded, which makes it perfect to visit in the afternoon.
Visit time:
- About 1 to 1.5 hours
Suggested Priority Order (If You Have Limited Time)
If you only have 2 or 3 days in Paris, this is a good priority list:
| Priority | Attraction |
|---|---|
| 1 | Louvre |
| 2 | Versailles |
| 3 | Musée d’Orsay |
| 4 | Sainte-Chapelle |
| 5 | Arc de Triomphe |
| 6 | Orangerie |
| 7 | Rodin Museum |
| 8 | Army Museum |
| 9 | Conciergerie |
| 10 | Cluny Museum |
How to Combine These Museums Efficiently
To save time, you should group museums by location:
Central Paris
- Louvre
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Conciergerie
- Cluny Museum
- Panthéon
Left Bank
- Musée d’Orsay
- Orangerie
- Rodin Museum
- Army Museum
West Paris
- Arc de Triomphe
Outside Paris
- Versailles
This way you travel less and visit more museums per day.
Final Advice
The Paris Museum Pass includes many museums and monuments, but if you focus on the top attractions such as the Louvre, Versailles, Musée d’Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe, Orangerie, Rodin Museum, Army Museum, Conciergerie, and Cluny Museum, you will already get a lot of value from the pass, and by visiting a combination of large and small museums each day, you can use the Paris Museum Pass very efficiently and make your trip to Paris much more organized and enjoyable.