Updated on December 8, 2024.
Get your fill of French culture without breaking the bank.
With so much to do and see in Paris, it’s nice to catch a break with the spending any chance you can get. To help ease the financial burden, there are several ways to visit Paris museums and monuments for free or reduced costs. Here is everything you need to know about seeing Paris museums for less during you trip.
View this post on Instagram
1. Paris Pass
The Paris Pass is a multipurpose ticket that gives you to access museums, monuments, and attractions around the city for free. There are 2, 4, and 6 day passes available for purchase online, at tourist information centers, or at any of the monuments or museums that are included in the deal. After paying the fixed fee for the pass, you will be able to skip the line to get into any of the locations included, with free entry and transportation.
The full Paris Pass package is comprised of 3 parts including a museum pass, metro travel card, and attraction card.
The museum pass allows for unlimited free entry to over 60 museums and art galleries across Paris. The pass also lets you skip the line, although you may want to book a time slot for some the busier museums, like the Louvre. It’s also important to note that only the permanent collections of the museums are covered by the pass. Tickets to temporary exhibitions that cost extra must be purchased separately. For a full list of the museums included in the museum pass, check out the Paris Info website.
The metro travel card includes a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus and unlimited travel on public transport including the metro and bus, zones 1-3 only.
The attraction card covers free entry to many popular attractions, tours, and experiences, including a boat ride down the Seine River, as well as special discounts and offers at select restaurants and shops. While the museum and metro passes can be purchased separately, the attraction card is only available when you buy the full Paris Pass package. Visit the official Paris Pass website for a complete list of the attractions included.
Deciding which pass to buy, if any at all, depends on your interests and what you plan to do during your trip. If there are a lot of museums and attractions you wish to see, the full Paris Pass package might be a great deal for you. The best way to decide is to add up the admission prices for each site you want to go to and compare the total to the price of the package you’re considering. You should also keep in mind the time you can save from being able to skip the lines with the Paris Pass when making your decision.
2. National Museums
There are several opportunities throughout the month to explore the many museums of Paris for free, even without a Paris Pass.
Museums run by the city don’t typically charge for entry to their permanent collections, although you may have to book a free ticket before you go. Some of the most popular free museums are: Petit Palais, Maison de Balzac, Musée Carnavalet, and Musée Cognacq-Jay.
3. Sundays & Fridays
Many museums around the city offer free admission on the first Sunday of every month. These museums include The Louvre, Musée Rodin, Musée Picasso, and Musée d’Orsay. The Louvre is also free for anyone under the age of 26 on Friday evenings from 6-9:45 PM.
To find out which museums are free and when, check out the Paris Info website.
4. EU Citizens
For EU citizens under the age of 26, national museums, such as the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay are free anytime. Proof of identity is required (passport or EU identity card) upon entry.
