Which Days Are Paris Museums Closed, and How Does It Affect Your Pass?
Most Paris museums close one day a week — and crucially, the day varies: the Louvre closes Tuesdays, while the Orsay, Orangerie, Rodin, Picasso and Versailles close Mondays. Many also close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Since the pass runs on consecutive days, planning around closures is essential. Here’s how to get it right.
The key split: Mondays vs Tuesdays
The single most important thing to know is that Paris’s big museums don’t all close on the same day. The Louvre and several others close on Tuesdays, while a large group — including the Orsay and Versailles — close on Mondays. Mixing these up is a classic way to waste a pass day, so check each site’s closing day.
Sites that typically close on Tuesdays
- The Louvre.
- Château de Fontainebleau and Château de Chantilly.
- The Musée d’Archéologie nationale (Saint-Germain-en-Laye).
- Always confirm, as days can change seasonally.
Sites that typically close on Mondays
- The Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie.
- The Palace of Versailles.
- The Musée Rodin and the Musée Picasso.
- The Musée du Quai Branly.
Annual closures to watch
Beyond the weekly closures, most national museums and monuments close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Don’t plan to use — or activate — your pass on those dates, and double-check holiday hours around Easter and other public holidays, when some sites adjust their opening times.
How closures affect a consecutive-day pass
Because the pass runs on consecutive days from first use, a closure day falling inside your pass period still counts as one of your days — you can’t pause it. So if your 2-day pass spans a Monday and Tuesday, you’d find the Orsay shut one day and the Louvre the next. Smart planning avoids losing value this way.
Plan around the closing days
The trick is to schedule each site on a day it’s open: do the Louvre on a non-Tuesday, the Orsay and Versailles on a non-Monday, and slot Monday-open or Tuesday-open sites into those gaps. With a little planning, every pass day stays productive despite the rotating closures.
A closure-savvy mini plan
- Monday: visit the Louvre (open) — avoid the Orsay and Versailles.
- Tuesday: visit the Orsay or Versailles (open) — avoid the Louvre.
- Other days: mix freely, checking each site’s hours.
- Avoid 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec for any museum day.
Always check current hours
Opening days and times can change for renovations, holidays and special events, so confirm each site’s current schedule on its official website before you finalise your pass days. A two-minute check per site is the surest way to keep your consecutive pass days closure-free.
Buy your Paris Museum Pass and plan around closures
To make every pass day count, buy your Paris Museum Pass online in advance, then schedule each site on a day it’s open — the Louvre off Tuesdays, the Orsay and Versailles off Mondays — and book your free timed slots. Secure your pass and sidestep the closures.
Frequently asked questions
Which day is the Louvre closed?
Tuesdays.
Which sites close on Mondays?
The Orsay, Orangerie, Versailles, Rodin, Picasso and Quai Branly, among others.
Are museums closed on holidays?
Many close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Does a closure day waste a pass day?
It can — the pass runs on consecutive days, so plan sites on their open days.
How do I avoid closures?
Schedule each site on a day it’s open and check current hours.
Can I pause the pass over a closure?
No — it runs continuously once activated.