What Do You Need to Bring to Use the Paris Museum Pass?
To use the pass smoothly, bring your pass (digital QR or physical card), your timed-slot confirmations, ID or proof of age for free visitors, a charged phone and a small bag. That’s really all it takes. Here’s a complete checklist so nothing trips you up at the entrance.
Your pass
First, the pass itself — either the digital QR code saved to your phone (and ideally screenshotted for offline use) or the physical card. This is what you scan at each pass-holder entrance, so make sure it’s easy to open, with your screen brightness up for the scanners.
Your reservation confirmations
For sites that require timed slots — the Louvre, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, the Orangerie, Notre-Dame’s towers and (from March 2026) the Orsay — bring your reservation confirmations too, usually as QR codes on your phone. Keep them in the same place as your pass so you can show both quickly.
ID and proof of age
If anyone in your group enters free — under-18s, or EU residents under 26 — bring ID showing their age, plus proof of EU residency for the under-26 free entry. Staff may check, and without proof a “free” visitor could be charged, so have documents ready.
A charged phone and a power bank
With digital passes and reservations living on your phone, a dead battery is the main risk. Start each day fully charged and carry a power bank for long sightseeing days, so you can always pull up your pass and slot confirmations at the gate.
A small bag
Everyone passes through security, and large bags face size limits or aren’t allowed at some sites. Travel light with a small bag or daypack to clear screening quickly and avoid cloakroom delays — it makes the whole day smoother.
Comfortable shoes and weather gear
Paris museum days mean a lot of walking and standing, and some monuments involve many stairs. Comfortable shoes are essential, and a small umbrella or layer suits the changeable weather, especially if you’re moving between indoor sites and outdoor monuments or gardens.
A plan and offline backups
Bring your day’s plan — which sites, in what order, with slot times — and save your pass and confirmations offline in case signal is poor inside thick museum walls. A quick screenshot of everything the night before is the simplest insurance against connectivity glitches.
Your quick checklist
- Pass (digital QR or physical card), saved offline.
- Reservation confirmations for timed sites.
- ID/proof of age for free under-18s and under-26s.
- Charged phone and power bank.
- Small bag for fast security.
- Comfortable shoes and weather gear.
Set it all up the night before
The smoothest mornings start the evening before: save your pass and the next day’s slot confirmations to your phone, screenshot them for offline use, charge your phone and pack your small bag. Lay out comfortable shoes and check the first site’s opening time and closing day. Five minutes of preparation means you can walk out the door and straight into your first museum without a hitch.
Buy your Paris Museum Pass and pack the essentials
Buy your Paris Museum Pass online in advance, save it and your free timed-slot confirmations to your phone, and pack ID, a power bank and a small bag. Secure your pass and arrive at each site ready to walk straight in.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to bring to use the pass?
Your pass, reservation confirmations, ID for free visitors, a charged phone and a small bag.
Do I need to print anything?
No — a digital pass and confirmations work from your phone.
What ID should I bring?
Proof of age for under-18s, plus EU residency proof for under-26 free entry.
Why a power bank?
Your pass and slots live on your phone — don’t let it die.
Can I bring a big bag?
Best not to — large bags face limits at security; travel light.
Should I save things offline?
Yes — signal can be poor inside museums.