Does the Paris Museum Pass Include the Natural History Museum (Grande Galerie de l’Évolution)?
No — the Paris Museum Pass does not include the National Museum of Natural History or its Grande Galerie de l’Évolution. This separate institution at the Jardin des Plantes has its own ticketing. The pass covers 50+ art and history museums and monuments instead. Here’s the detail and how to fit a natural-history visit around your pass.
The short answer
The Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle — including the famous Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, the dinosaur and fossil galleries, the mineralogy gallery and the botanical gardens — runs on its own ticketing system, separate from the Paris Museum Pass. So you’ll buy tickets to these directly, not with your pass.
Why it’s a separate network
The natural-history museum belongs to a different institutional network than the art-and-monuments venues the pass covers. Each of its sites at the Jardin des Plantes is ticketed individually or via its own combined tickets — outside the Paris Museum Pass entirely, much like the City of Paris’s own museum network.
What you’ll see there
The highlight is the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, a breathtaking glass-roofed hall with a parade of thousands of preserved animals, from elephants to insects — a hit with children and adults alike. Nearby are dinosaur skeletons, a giant squid, the mineralogy treasures and the greenhouses of the Jardin des Plantes.
Great for families — book separately
If you’re travelling with children, the natural-history galleries are well worth a separate ticket. Book online ahead to skip the queue, and treat it as its own outing. Since the pass runs on consecutive days, you don’t need to coordinate it — just buy the natural-history tickets independently.
What the pass does cover
The pass gives unlimited entry to over 50 museums and monuments, including the Louvre, Orsay, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, the Arc de Triomphe, the Panthéon and Les Invalides. So while the natural-history museum is separate, the pass covers the city’s great art and history sights.
A Latin Quarter pairing
The Jardin des Plantes sits in the Latin Quarter, near pass-covered gems. Pair a morning among the dinosaurs with the pass-included Musée de Cluny (medieval art) or the Panthéon, a short walk or metro ride away — natural history on a separate ticket, the rest on your pass.
A note on renovation
Parts of the natural-history complex undergo periodic renovation, so some galleries can be closed at times. Check the museum’s current status before you go, especially if a specific gallery (such as mineralogy or palaeontology) is your main reason to visit, so you’re not caught out.
Other separate networks and exclusions
- The National Museum of Natural History and the Jardin des Plantes galleries.
- City of Paris museums (free permanent collections anyway).
- The Eiffel Tower, Catacombs and cruises.
- Private museums like the Marmottan and Jacquemart-André.
- Temporary exhibitions at included museums.
Is the pass still worth it?
Yes — the natural-history museum being separate doesn’t change the pass’s value for everything else. It pays for itself after about three major sites, so buy the pass for the art and history venues, and book the dinosaurs and Evolution gallery separately as a family add-on.
Buy your Paris Museum Pass for the city’s museums
For Paris’s art and history museums and monuments, buy your Paris Museum Pass online in advance and book your free timed slots — then book the natural-history galleries separately. Secure your pass and pair it with the dinosaurs for a family-friendly trip.
Frequently asked questions
Does the pass include the Natural History Museum?
No — it’s a separate institution with its own ticketing.
What about the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution?
Also separate — buy its ticket directly.
Why isn’t it included?
It belongs to a different network than the pass’s art-and-monument venues.
Is it good for children?
Yes — the Evolution gallery and dinosaurs are a family favourite.
What does the pass cover instead?
50+ art and history museums and monuments.
Is the pass still worth it?
Yes — for three or more included sites, with natural history as a separate add-on.