How Do You Book the Musée de l’Orangerie with the Paris Museum Pass?
The Orangerie is included in the pass, and a free timed slot is recommended — and often required at busy times — booked in advance on the official site. The pass covers entry, not the slot. It sits in the Tuileries near the Louvre. Here’s the step-by-step and how to time your visit to Monet’s Water Lilies.
Why you should book
The Orangerie is compact and very popular, so it manages entry with timed slots, especially in busy periods. Even with the pass, booking a free slot in advance means you walk straight in rather than risk a wait or being turned away at peak times — a simple step that smooths your visit.
Step by step
- Buy your Paris Museum Pass first.
- Go to the official Musée de l’Orangerie website.
- Choose the timed-entry option for pass holders (free).
- Select your date and time slot.
- Save the confirmation with your pass on your phone.
What to show at the gate
Bring both your Paris Museum Pass (which covers entry) and your timed-slot confirmation (which covers the time), ready on your phone. Use the pass-holder entrance, and allow time for security screening, which applies to everyone regardless of the pass.
Time it for the Water Lilies
The Orangerie’s centrepiece is Monet’s eight monumental Water Lilies panels, displayed in two oval rooms bathed in natural light. Mornings are quietest, letting you sit and absorb them in relative calm before the crowds build — so aim for an early slot if you can.
When to go
The Orangerie is typically closed on Tuesdays, with hours varying, so check when you book. Outside the busiest summer weeks, slots are easier to get, but it’s still wise to reserve ahead, particularly if you want a specific morning time for the Water Lilies.
Pair it with the Seine cluster
The Orangerie sits at the western end of the Tuileries, a short walk from the Louvre and across the river from the Orsay — all on the pass. Booking your Orangerie slot to fit around your Louvre and Orsay times makes a superb day of art along the Seine.
Common booking mistakes to avoid
- Assuming you can always just turn up in peak season.
- Booking a Tuesday (typically closed).
- Stacking it too tightly against your Louvre slot.
- Not allowing for security.
- Not saving the confirmation offline on your phone.
How long to allow
The Orangerie is small, so around an hour to ninety minutes covers both the Water Lilies upstairs and the early-modern collection downstairs. That makes it easy to slot in alongside the Louvre or a Seine-side walk on the same pass day. Its modest size is part of the appeal: you can give Monet’s panels your full attention without the fatigue of a vast museum, then move on to your next nearby site.
Buy your Paris Museum Pass and reserve the Orangerie
To see Monet’s Water Lilies smoothly, buy your Paris Museum Pass online in advance, then book your free Orangerie slot — ideally a morning — and save the confirmation. Secure your pass and step into one of Paris’s most serene art spaces.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book the Orangerie with the pass?
A free timed slot is recommended and often required at busy times — book ahead.
Where do I book?
On the official Musée de l’Orangerie website.
What do I show at the gate?
Your pass and your timed-slot confirmation.
What’s the highlight?
Monet’s eight monumental Water Lilies panels.
When is it closed?
Typically Tuesdays — check current hours.
What should I pair it with?
The Louvre and Orsay, along the Seine.