If you are planning a trip to Paris and plan to visit a number of the city’s top attractions, you may be able to save money and time by purchasing the Paris Pass.
The Paris Pass provides free admission into over 80 of the top attractions in Paris. Depending on the duration of Paris Pass you purchase this includes popular attractions like the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, Eiffel Tower and a Seine River cruise.
It also includes a free Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour ticket. It also allows you to skip long ticket lines at some of the top museums and attractions to save you time on your trip.
While the Paris Pass can be a great deal and save some travelers time and money, it will not be a good value for all travelers. We’ll help provide all the information you need to know to decide if the Paris Pass is a good deal for you, decide on which pass to buy, and how to get the most value out of your pass.
We’ll also share our own experiences using the Paris Pass, which we have used on a number of trips to Paris, and provide an honest breakdown of our own cost-savings.
Table of Contents:
What Is Included in the Paris Pass?
The Paris Pass includes two separate elements:
- Paris Attractions Pass
- Paris Museum Pass
The Paris Pass includes free admission to a number of popular museums and attractions in and around Paris, as well as free 1 day use of the Hop-on Hop-Off sightseeing bus. The Paris Pass also comes with a free digital guidebook.
If you have questions not answered by this article, the guidebook, or their website, you can contact the company’s customer service team during business hours or send them an email. You can find out more about the Paris Pass on their official website.
Over the years, there have been some changes to the Paris Pass product. We’ll summarize the key changes below, as many websites still share outdated information, and this helps explain why.
In 2021, the Paris Pass changed the Paris Attractions Pass to a digital only product rather than a physical pass. The guidebook also became digital only, and the Paris Visite travel card was no longer included with the pass. The Paris Museum Pass remained a physical product at this point.
In 2022, the Paris Pass changed so that only the 4 and 6-day versions of the Pass included the Paris Museum pass. Pricing for the 2 and 3-day Paris Passes was reduced to account for this fact.
In 2023, the Paris Museum Pass component of the pass changed to a digital version. Previously this was a physical pass that had to be collected in Paris, however as of August 2023 this is now delivered digitally as with the rest of the product.
In October 2023, the Paris Pass started including a Paris Museum Pass with all versions of the pass again. The 3 day Paris Pass includes a 2 day Paris Musuem Pass as there is no 3 day Paris Museum Pass. The price of the 2 and 3 day Paris Passes went back up to account for this inclusion.
Our review has been updated to include these all of these changes, but note that some of the images we use still reflect the old products.
Attractions Included in the Paris Pass?
Paris Pass holders are currently granted free admission to up to 90 museums, tours, and other attractions in and around Paris. These include some of the most popular Paris museums and attractions.
The Paris Pass is divided into two components, which are the Paris Attractions Pass and the Paris Museum Pass.
The Paris Attractions Pass includes:
- Eiffel Tower (guided climb tour)
- Seine river cruise
- Opera Garnier self-guided tour
- Dali Paris
- Grevin Wax Museum
- Paris Aquarium
- Montparnasse Tower
- Galeries Lafayette fashion show
- Notre Dame (guided tour of exterior during its closure)
- Mini Perfume Workshop
- Macarons in Montmartre
- Ballon de Paris Generali
- A number of walking tours, including an Emily in Paris Tour and a Montmartre Tour
The Paris Museum Pass covers the majority of museums in and around Paris, including highlights such as:
- The Louvre
- Arc de Triomphe
- Musée Rodin
- Musée d’Orsay
- Centre Pompidou
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Château de Versailles
- Château de Fontainebleau
- Picasso Museum
You can check out the full up-to-date list of attractions here. Fast track options are available at several attractions, allowing one to enter a faster entrance line designed for pass holders.
Note that while the pass ensures general admission to the covered sites, the pass may not cover admission to special exhibits, audioguides, or special events.
Reservations are required or recommended at a number of the attractions (e.g., popular attractions, wine tasting, walking tours), but this information is clearly noted in the free Paris Pass guidebook that comes with the passes as well as on the website.
You can see all the attractions and tours that require pre-booking on the Paris Pass website here. That page also has all the links you need for pre-booking.
Since 2019, the Louvre also requires that all visitors pre-book tickets online to handle a higher volume of visitors. Without a pre-booked ticket, you may not get entry or may have to wait longer. You will need your Paris Museum Pass number and the date and time you wish to visit.
You can book your timeslot here once you have your pass.
Although the Paris Pass covers a lot of attractions in and around Paris, there are several major attractions in Paris that are NOT currently included with the Paris Pass that you should take into consideration when planning your trip.
These include the Grand Palais, the Paris Catacombs, Jacquemart-André Museum, Luxembourg Museum, Disneyland Paris, Marmottan Museum, Musée de Montmartre, and the dome at Sacré Coeur.
Transportation Options included with the Paris Pass?
All Paris Passes come with the option to collect a free all-day 1-day ticket for the Big Bus Paris sightseeing Hop-on, Hop-off bus. The bus route stops at 9 different stops (e.g., Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre, Trocadéro) and the buses stop every 8 to 15 minutes at each stop. Audio commentary is available in over 10 different languages.
The free bus ticket can be collected from staff at any of the noted Big Bus Paris bus stops (just wait for the bus to come by if there are no staff there). You can get on and off the bus as many times as you like in a single day.
PARIS PASS SIGHTSEEING BUS TIP: Start using the bus in the morning to get the most out of your ticket. Note that there are several hop-on hop-off bus companies in Paris, so look out for the Big Bus Paris logo so you get on the right buses included on your ticket.
Other Paris Pass Inclusions?
The pass includes fast-track access to a handful of attractions (e.g., Paris Aquarium, Centre Pompidou, Grevin Wax Museum) where you get to skip the ticket lines although it does not allow you to skip security lines.
Types of Paris Passes?
There are adult passes (anyone 18 years or age or older), and child passes (ages 2-17). All the Paris Passes include the Paris Attractions Pass, however the lower priced child Paris Passes do NOT include a Paris Museum Pass.
The Paris Museum Pass is not included with any child passes because most museums covered by the Paris Museum Pass give free entry to children under age 18 accompanied by an adult. Currently there are only 6 of the over 50 museums and monuments that do not provide free entry to children (e.g., Museum of French Cinema, Interactive Science Museum) and these are noted as such in the Paris Pass Guidebook.
Children under age 4 get free entrance to most attractions in Paris and ride for free on public transit with an adult with a ticket or pass. So if you have young children, you should check to see if the pass makes sense for them.
The only decision you need to make is which length of pass do you want to purchase. The Paris Pass is currently sold as 2-day, 3-day, 4-day, or 6-day passes.
Passes are activated after your first usage and must be used on consecutive days. So if you purchase a 4-day pass with your first visit to an attraction on July 10th, it will be valid from July 10th through July 13th.
Cost of the Paris Pass
You should check the website for the latest prices, but as of December 2024 here are the Paris Pass prices.
TIP: You can save 5% on the Paris Pass with code “AFFGOALL“, just enter the discount code at checkout for your saving!
Adult Paris Pass Prices (anyone 18 years of age or older):
- €189 for a 2-day pass
- €239 for a 3-day pass
- €279 for a 4-day pass
- €329 for a 6-day pass
Children (any child age 2 to 17 years of age):
- €94 for a 2-day pass
- €109 for a 3-day pass
- €129 for a 4-day pass
- €174 for a 6-day pass
How do I Decide if the Paris Pass Will Save Me Money?
So now that you know what the Paris Pass is, what it includes, and the cost, the next step is deciding whether it is going to be good value for you and your trip to Paris.
Deciding whether the Paris Pass will save you money is a bit complicated. As mentioned earlier, the pass includes two separate passes (the Paris Attractions Pass and the Paris Museum Pass) with each card having its own value. In addition, passes with shorter durations don’t include the Paris Museum Pass.
We’ll try to break it down into steps to help you decide if the Paris Pass will save you money.
Step 1: What Attractions do you want to Visit?
First, you should make a list of all the attractions you want to visit during your time in Paris and specifically note the ones that are included on the Paris Pass for the duration you will be visiting Paris.
Try to come up with a realistic list based on the amount of time you’ll be in Paris as you don’t want to spend your entire trip going from attraction to attraction. Once you come up with your list, check the normal entrance fee cost for each online or using a recent guidebook. Add up the costs to come up with a total.
Note the examples below (based on November 2024 prices):
Example A: Let’s say from the Paris Pass sites I want to visit the Louvre (€23.00), Musee d’Orsay (€16.00), Versailles (€21), Musee Rodin (€14.00), Tour Montparnasse (€22.00), Sainte-Chapelle (€13), Conciergerie (€13), Arc de Triomphe (€16), Centre Pompidou (€15.00), do the Eiffel Tower guided climb (€39) and do a Seine river cruise (€18.00). The grand total of normal adult entry fees for all these attractions would be €210.
Example B: Let’s say from the Paris Pass sites I want to visit the Louvre (€23.00), Arc de Triomphe (€16.00), Musee d’Orsay (€16.00), Versailles (€21), guided Eiffel Tower climb (€39), Sainte-Chapelle (€13), Conciergerie (€13), The Army Museum (€15.00), Pantheon (€13), Centre Pompidou (€15.00), Château de Vincennes (€13), Dali Paris (€14.00), Paris Aquarium (€27.5), Montparnasse Tower (€22.00), a walking tour (€36.00), wine tasting (€36.00), and do a Seine river cruise (€18.00). I also want to take advantage of the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour (€45.00) to connect some of these sights on one of my days of sightseeing. The grand total of normal adult entry fees for all these attractions would be €431.5.
Step 2: How many days do you need to visit all the included attractions?
Next, you’ll need to decide how many days it will likely take you to visit all the attractions you want to visit. Remember it can be easy to be too ambitious and think you’ll take in three museums, a castle, an aquarium, and a boat tour in one day. Try to leave yourself plenty of time so you don’t get exhausted and overwhelmed. Try to be realistic.
Example A: On my first day I want to visit Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie in the morning, then do the guided Eiffel Tower Climb (see our Eiffel Tower guide). After lunch in the afternoon, I will visit the Arc de Triomphe and the Centre Pompidou.
On my second day I want to visit the Louvre all morning, have lunch, and then spend the afternoon at the Musee d’Orsay. I will then watch the sunset from the Tour Montparnasse.
On my third day, I want to head out to Versailles to explore the palace and gardens, return in the afternoon to visit Musee Rodin and then do an evening Seine river cruise. This means I would need 3 days.
Example B: On my first full day I want to get oriented to the city using the Paris hop-on, hop-off bus and use it to visit some of the sites included on the pass (Arc de Triomphe, Musee d’Orsay) plus do the Eiffel Tower guided climb.
On my second day I want to get up early to visit Sainte Chapelle and the Conciergerie before lunch, take a Montmartre walking tour and visit the Dali Museum in the afternoon, and then do some shopping.
On Day 3, I want to visit the Louvre in the morning, do the wine tasting after lunch, then visit the Paris Aquarium.
On Day 4, I want to head out to Versailles for the morning and afternoon and return to visit the Centre Pompidou which is open late.
On Day 5, I want to visit the Army Museum, the Pantheon, and go up the Tour Montparnasse.
On Day 6, I want to do a Paris walking tour, visit the Chateau de Vincennes after lunch, and then do a Seine river cruise to finish up my last night in Paris. This means I would need 6 days.
Step 3: Compare your total cost versus the cost of the Paris Pass.
Now, add together the total attraction costs, then compare it to the cost of the needed Paris Pass. This should tell you your cost savings, if any.
Example A: OK, so it would cost me €210 to visit all the places on my list. A 3-day Paris Pass costs €239 as of December 2024. In this scenario I would not save money. As most of the attractions I want to visit are actually covered by the Paris Museum Pass it would make more sense to just buy that and pay for the other attractions separately.
Example B: OK, so it would cost me €431.5 as an adult to visit all the places. I think I need 6 days to visit all the attractions and the cost of the 6-day Paris Pass is €329 (as of November 2024). The cost savings with a Paris Pass would be €102.5 for one adult. In this case I would have ample cost savings and it would keep me from waiting in line at a couple of attractions. In this case, the Paris Pass is probably a very good value.
Note: I would also be sure to check for current sales of the Paris Pass as 5% to 20% discount sales are run occasionally each year. A reduced pass price can significantly increase your cost savings!
Step 4 (optional): Paris Pass versus separate Passes
The next step is optional and requires some more calculations. For some people, the above will be enough as it shows the Paris Pass will either save them money (answer: buy the Paris Pass) or doesn’t save them money (answer: don’t buy the Paris Pass). But you can find out more information by digging further into the numbers if you wish.
As previously mentioned, the Paris Pass includes the Paris Museum Pass. However, the Paris Museum Pass can also be purchased separately as a standalone product. Depending on which attractions and activities you are visiting, you might find that just purchasing the Paris Museum Pass is more cost effective for your trip.
Understand the Paris Pass components
As mentioned earlier, the Paris Pass is made up of 2 separate passes as explained below:
1.) Paris Museum Pass
The Paris Museum Pass is a popular museum pass in Paris that allows free entry into a number of the city’s most popular museums and monuments. It also includes priority line entrances at some of the included sites.
This is a pass I have long recommended and you can read my full review of the Paris Museum Pass in an earlier post. Museums include:
- Louvre
- Arc de Triomphe
- Musée Rodin
- Musée d’Orsay
- Musée de l’Orangerie
- National Museum of Asian Arts
- The Army Museum
- Quai Branly Museum
- Conciergerie
- Centre Pompidou
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Château de Versailles
- Château de Fontainebleau
- Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis
2.) The Paris Pass (Paris Attractions Pass)
This is the unique pass that is part of the Paris Pass package. It can not be purchased separately, only as part of the Paris Pass. It includes free entry into a number of Paris attractions, museums, and tours. Attractions include:
- Eiffel Tower guided climb
- Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus tour
- Dali Museum
- Musée Grévin
- Paris Aquarium
- Paris Chocolate Museum
- Montparnasse Tower
- Paris walking tours
- Galeries Lafayette fashion show
- Wine tasting
- Seine river cruise
- Petit Train de Montmartre
- Parc Asterix
Calculate the Cost of each of the 2 Paris Pass components
Next you need to find out the value of each component of the Paris Pass. You can look up the cost for the Paris Museum Pass Card online. Then take the Paris Pass price and subtract the Paris Museum Pass price to get the Paris Attractions Pass value.
Cost breakdown (based on December 2024) pass prices:
- 2 Day Paris Pass: €62 (Museum Pass) + €137 (Attractions Pass) = €199.00
- 3 Day Paris Pass: €62 (2 Day Museum Pass) + €177 (Attrractions Pass) = €239.00
- 4 Day Paris Pass: €77 (Museum Pass) + €202 (Attractions Pass) = €279.00
- 6 Day Paris Pass: €92 (Museum Pass) + €237 (Attractions Pass) = €329.00
Check the Paris Pass savings per component
Next with the information from above, use your particular Paris itinerary (see an example 2 day Paris itinerary here) to calculate your cost savings for each of the three Paris Pass passes.
This step can take a while as it requires you to sort the attractions you want to visit by whether they are covered by the Paris Museum Pass or Paris Pass.
You can check the Paris Museum Pass website for the list of museums and monuments covered by that pass and then check this list for the attractions covered by the Paris Attractions Pass.
Example A: I had determined that I would need 3 days to visit all the attractions on my list. I determined that a 3-day Paris Pass would not save me money as most of the attractions I want to visit are on the Paris Museum Pass, which is not included in the 3-day Paris Pass.
However I can still check if it makes more sense to buy the Paris Museum Pass and then purchase individual tickets for the other attractions I want to visit which are not on the Paris Museum Pass.
So my relevant information I need is that it is €77 for a 4 Day Paris Museum Pass (there is no 3-day Paris Museum Pass).
Paris Museum Pass – In Example A, many of the attractions that I want to visit are included on the Paris Museum Pass. These are Sainte Chapelle, Conciergerie, Arc de Triomphe, Musee d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, the Louvre, Musee Rodin, and Versailles. These total €131.
As the Paris Museum Pass only costs €77 for four days, I will definitely save by investing in that, however the Paris Pass doesn’t make as much sense for this itinerary.
Example B: I had determined that I would need 6 days to visit all the attractions on my list, and that the Paris Pass would provide cost savings.
So my relevant information I need is for the 6 Day Paris Pass: €92 (Museum Pass) + €237 (Attractions Pass) = €329.00
From the attractions I want to visit, the following were covered by the Paris Museum Pass: the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Musee d’Orsay, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, Army Museum, Pantheon, Centre Pompidou and Chateau de Vincennes. These would cost €158 with normal adult entry fees.
Given that a 6 Day Paris Museum Pass costs €92, I would have significant cost savings with the Paris Museum pass.
Paris Attractions Pass – In Example B, I wanted to visit a number of attractions included on the Paris Attraction Pass. These were the Eiffel Tower, Paris Aquarium, Montparnasse Tower, Montmartre walking tour, Dali museum, another walking tour, wine tasting, Seine River cruise and Hop on Hop off bus. Booking these myself would cost €273.5. The Paris Attractions pass component on the 6-day Paris Pass costs €237, so this is another significant cost saving.
In this case the 6-day Paris Pass is definitely worth it.
Finally, Decide What you Need to Purchase
Now, you can take all the above information you calculated to determine if you should buy the Paris Pass, or whether it would make more sense to buy the Paris Museum Pass and then purchase separate tickets.
Example A: In this case, I would probably want to individually purchase a 4-Day Paris Museum Pass and then purchase a ticket for a Seine river cruise, the Eiffel tower and Montparnasse Tower separately.
Example B: In this case, I would want to purchase the Paris Pass as it represents a significant cost savings.
Summary of Paris Pass vs Paris Museum Pass
We appreciate that the decision to buy either the Paris Pass or the Paris Museum Pass (or neither!) can be tricky. Of all the passes we have used and reviewed over the years, the Paris Pass is definitely one of the more complex options.
The decision will generally come down to how long you are staying in Paris and which attractions you will be visiting.
For stays of 4 days and longer, we think the Paris Pass generally makes sense as it includes the Paris Museum Pass and covers the majority of what you will likely want to see in the city.
For stays of 3 days or less, the decision is less clear. If you will primarily be focusing on museums, then a standalone Paris Museum Pass will likely make more sense. You can then purchase separate tickets for the other attractions you are interested in visiting.
For stays of 3 days or less where you would like to experience things like wine tasting, the views from Montparnasse Tower, hop-on hop-off bus and guided tours, then the Paris Pass can definitely offer good value.
How to Buy the Paris Pass?
The Paris Pass can currently only be purchased online. It is valid for 24 months after date of purchase. Once purchased, the pass is available as a digital product which you can save in your smartphone in the Paris Pass app. You can also print it out if you would prefer a physical copy.
The Paris Museum Pass when purchased with the Paris Pass is, as of August 2023, is also a digital product which you can print out or save to your smartphone. Note that previous to August 2023 this it was a physical product that had to be picked up in Paris, so if you purchased your Paris Pass before August 2023 you will still need to collect it in person.
Some websites may still refer to this collection process but for new pass purchases everything is now delivered digitally, which saves you having to lose time collecting it.
If you did buy your Paris Pass prior to August 2023 then you will need to collect your Museum Pass in person. The collection point is the Big Bus Ticket Shop located at 11 Avenue de L’Opera, 75001 Paris. The office is open 7 days a week from 9:30am (09:30) to 6:30pm (18.30). Any discounts offered online will not apply to in-person purchases.
One other thing to be aware of is the refund policy. Currently you can apply for a refund for the Paris Pass up to 90 days after purchase, should your plans change, and you have not activated the pass.
However, the refund only applies to the Paris Attraction Pass component of the pass. The Museum Pass is non-refundable, so that will be deducted from your refund. This is due to Paris Museum Pass policies on refunds.
Tips on Getting the Most Out of Your Paris Pass
- Plan ahead. Do a little research and figure out what attractions are included with the pass and which ones you plan to visit so you can make an informed choice of whether the Paris Pass makes sense for you or not. Use the information and examples above.
- The Paris Pass is valid for 24 months after purchase so you can purchase them up to a year before you plan to activate them.
- The Paris Pass is going to be of the most value for those coming for longer stays as the longer the Pass duration, the greater the potential value. So a 4 day pass will likely lead to greater cost savings than a 2 day pass. Similarly, the value multiplies by the number of travelers in your group so even if each person only saves €20, that is a saving of €80 for a family of 4!
- Note that the Pass may not offer as much savings for those who are eligible for concessions (e.g., seniors, EU citizens under 26, young children) as they may get reduced entrance fees at some attractions and some sites grant free admission. Many museums in Paris grant free admission to younger children, particularly children under age 12. So if you are traveling with those who qualify for reduced entry fees, check out the prices before buying a Paris Pass.
- If you are considering a 2 or 3 Day Paris Passes, note that these both come with a 2 day Paris Museum Pass. So you will need to plan your sightseeing accordingly. In some cases, the 4 Day Paris Pass might make more sense for a 3-day trip, depending on your itinerary.
- Read through the Paris Pass digital guidebook BEFORE your trip. The more you know and the more prepared you are, the more value you can get out of your pass.
- Remember that once you first use the pass, the time begins and it is only good for the next 2, 3, 4, or 6 consecutive days. When we had the pass, we thought about our days in Paris as either Pass days (focused on Pass attractions) or non-Pass days (focused on free things and attractions not covered by the pass).
- The Paris Pass has two separate components and you’ll want to have each of these on you throughout your trip. All the products are delivered digitally. You can however print them out if you’d prefer not to rely on your smartphone.
- The Paris Pass for children does not include a Paris Museum Pass as they get free entry into almost all of Paris’s museums and monuments if accompanied by an adult. Teens should carry a photo ID showing their birthdate as proof may be required to get free entry or receive age-related discounts.
- Try to begin using your Paris Pass on the morning of the first day you want to start using it so you can the get the most of it! Remember that once you first use the pass, the time begins and it is only valid for the next XX consecutive days. So if you have a 2 day pass and start using it on Monday (whether it is 8am or 8pm), it will be good for Monday and Tuesday only.
- Prioritize attractions you want to visit with higher entry fees if your pass does not cover your entire time in Paris. Use your Paris Pass to get you into those places you want to visit that are more costly (and have skip the line access) such as Versailles, the Louvre, Hop-on Hop-off bus, Eiffel Tower, the wine tasting, and the Seine river cruise to get the most value of your pass. If you don’t have time to visit lower cost places with your pass, then you can always visit them at your own expense later in your trip.
- When planning your time in Paris, be sure to consider attractions you want to visit that are not covered by the Paris Pass such as the Moulin Rouge, or the Catacombs. Don’t forget to factor in things like wandering around the city’s parks, shopping, comparing macarons, and sipping coffee or having a fancy afternoon tea. Plan your days so that you can maximize your Paris Pass days, and group together attractions by geographical location so you can minimize time spent traveling around the city.
- If you plan to use the Paris hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus, start using it in the morning so you can use it for the full day. You can get on and off as many times as you like in that time.
- The Paris Pass smartphone app has a built-in map. However, I personally prefer a physical map, and I love the detailed laminated Streetwise Paris Map produced by Michelin and always have it with me in Paris.
- As of 2021, the Paris Pass does NOT include travel on public transport. You will need to buy separate Metro or bus tickets. Tickets are easy to buy at Metro self-service stations, Metro ticket windows, or from bus personnel. Getting caught without a valid ticket can get you an instant fine, so be sure to always keep your ticket on you until your journey is completed. See our complete guide to getting around Paris for tips on transport.
- In the past, you could use the Paris Museum Pass to visit the same attraction multiple times if you wished during the pass’s validity period. This has changed. You can now only visit each museum or attraction once. You will not be allowed multiple entries or re-entry. So plan your visits wisely if there is a place you want to spend a lot of time visiting.
- Paris is the most visited city on earth so be prepared for some crowds and lines pretty much any time of the year, but summers can be particularly crazy. Try to visit the most popular attractions (e.g., Versailles, Louvre, Orsay) in the mornings near opening or alternatively later in the afternoons for the best experience. Also check for evening hours as many museums have late opening hours on certain days of the week which are often less crowded times to visit. Evening hours can also make it easier to see more attractions in a single day.
- For some of the attractions you will need to book ahead. These currently include things like the wine tasting experience, guided Eiffel Tower tour, as well as some museums like the Louvre. The guidebook will have the information you need to make any reservations. I would organize these tours as soon you know when you plan to visit to ensure you get a spot on your desired date as they are both popular.
- Most attractions in Paris shut down for at least one day per week. Smaller attractions may have limited hours and may only be open a few days each week. Also attractions may be closed or partially closed for long periods of time for restoration work. It is always a good idea to check their website or call ahead before setting out.
- Check ahead in the Guidebook or on the Paris Pass website to see which attractions you plan to visit provide Skip the Line access to pass holders. If you get to one of these attractions and are not sure if you are in the correct line for pass holders, ask a security guard or museum personnel so you can be sure.
- If there’s a tour of guided experience you want to do, check what times it runs as some only run once or twice a day. For example, the Eiffel Tower is likely on your list, and this is managed as a guided tour which runs at specific times a day. You will definitely want to plan your day and book these tours well in advance so as to avoid disappointment. The Paris Pass website and guidebook lists the regular tour times available.
- Note that although you get to skip the ticket lines at most places, you can’t fast-track security lines. Several places with tighter security still require that you wait in the same security line as everyone else. These include Sainte-Chapelle (only priority access for ticketing, not security line) the Louvre (only skips the ticket line), and Versailles (can skip ticketing line but must wait in same security line). For these three busy attractions (especially Versailles), I would suggest trying to get there around opening to avoid a long wait.
- Make note if any of the attractions you want to visit offer a free admission day during your visit. If they do, you could always visit them on a non-pass day. For instance, we’ve visited the Louvre, Château de Fontainebleau, and Musée Cluny on free admission days without needing to have a pass. Just be warned that they tend to be much more crowded on free days!
- Don’t try to see all the included attractions (or even half) in one visit. Some people get their Paris Passes and go down the list visiting as many as they can squeeze into their trip. We certainly know the feeling of wanting to see everything, but if you do this, you are going to be exhausted. Paris has so much to offer that is not on that list and you’ll want to take time to slow down and soak up the city whether it is lingering over a cup of coffee at a café, sitting in a park, watching the sunset over the Seine, or dancing at a club. Hopefully you’ll be back again in the future to catch those attractions you miss, but don’t go through Paris as if it is one big checklist of famous places.
Our Experience Using the Paris Pass & Our Cost Savings
Laurence and I often use city passes and museum passes in cities to save money and time and although we had both visited Paris before, we hadn’t been to a number of the attractions offered by the Paris Pass.
In fact, Laurence had never been to a few of the city’s most famous attractions (e.g., the Louvre, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle) despite a number of prior visits and I wanted to revisit some of these attractions. We had been sent a voucher online for our Paris Passes and then picked up the Paris Passes at the Big Bus Ticket desk in central Paris (note this was when they were physical passes, only the Paris Museum Pass is still a physical pass). We had no problem getting our Paris Passes and we were also able to pick up a sightseeing bus map.
We were in Paris for 6 days total and so we used our Paris Pass for four of those days. During our 4-day Paris Pass period, we ended up visiting 13 attractions covered by the Pass plus the Hop-on Hop-off bus. That is about 3.5 attractions per day. In some attractions we spent a long time (e.g., Versailles, Louvre) whereas we spent much less time in other attractions (e.g., Espace Dali, Arc de Triomphe, Museum of Decorative Arts).
We were able to skip the ticket line at most attractions and three of the attractions we visited (Louvre, Centre Pompidou, Grevin Wax Museum) allowed Pass holders to join priority lines with the Fast Track Entry privilege. This definitely saved us time at the Louvre which had long lines when we visited although we still had to wait in the security line.
As far as cost-savings, here is how things worked out for us:
Note that prices have changed since we did the trip, and some attractions or features have been added or removed since our visit in this example. However, this should give you an idea of what’s possible.
As you can see from our example we ended up with a savings of €74.15 each for a total of €148.30 for the two of us. This is definitely a considerable cost savings for four days of sightseeing!
We also broke down the cost savings by each Paris Pass component. We saved €28.00 each with the Paris Museum Pass or €56.00 for the two of us, and €46.15 each with the Paris Attractions Pass or €92.30 for the two of us. We didn’t keep track of our public transportation usage but we probably either saved money or broke even as we used public transit a lot during our trip.
So the Paris Pass was definitely the best fit for this particular trip to Paris!
We would highly recommend that all visitors to Paris consider purchasing the Paris Pass. It is not a great fit for everyone, but it can potentially save you a lot of money on attractions.
The pass is particularly good for first-time visitors, active sightseers, those who plan to use public transportation, and those interested in doing the activities (e.g., sightseeing bus, walking tour, river cruise).
Check the official website for the Paris Pass and see if this attraction pass is a good fit for your next trip to Paris.
However, it is probably not a good fit for those on a tight budget, those who don’t plan to visit a lot of attractions, those visiting Paris for a shorter period of time, or those primarily interested in visiting attractions not covered by the Pass.
In these cases, you might consider either a standalone Paris Museum Pass, or just booking attractions individually. Here are our recommended links to book some of Paris’s top attractions, as well as the Paris Museum Pass. We list both the official site (where available) and GetYourGuide, which is where we normally book our tickets for attractions and tours around the world.
- Paris Museum Pass – Book on Official Site / Book on GetYourGuide
- Eiffel Tower – Book on Official Site / Book Tour on GetYourGuide
- Louvre Museum – Book on Official Site / Book on GetYourGuide
- Tour Montparnasse – Book on Official Site / Book on GetYourGuide
- Seine River Cruise – Book on GetYourGuide
- Versailles – Book on Official Site / Book on GetYourGuide
We hope this Paris Pass review is helpful to anyone planning a trip to Paris. Feel free to leave us any questions you have about the Paris Pass below and we are happy to try to answer them! Have you used the Paris Pass? We’d love to hear from others who have also used the pass.
**Disclosure: We were provided complimentary Paris Passes by The Paris Pass managed by Go City® in order to write a review and provide feedback; however, this article contains only our own honest thoughts and opinions. We specifically chose to visit Paris and all the stated attractions on our own, and have since used and purchased the Paris Pass ourselves multiple times on trips to Paris **
Chloé D. Post author
Hi there, just wanted to say what a wonderful article! My family used the Paris Pass (4 day ones) on a recent 5 day visit to Paris and it helped us so much. Your tips really helped us make the most of our time in Paris (we used one of your itineraries on Finding the Universe) and how to use this pass. Definitely need to book ahead the popular attractions and tours in advance, but we did that and all went smoothly!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Chloe,
Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and comment to let us know about your trip to Paris! So happy to hear it was a great trip for you and your family and that our Paris Pass tips and Paris itinerary helped you make the most of your time in the city!
Wishing you many more safe & wonderful travels!
Best,
Jessica
GH Jung Post author
Hi, first of all thank you for so much information! I’m going to spend this October in Paris, and have purchased 6 day Paris Pass, and as that my stay is far longer than 6 days, I wanted to make sure if I could use the pass and the museum pass separately. Actually many reviews from web say it’s possible while the official website and CS answers it’s not. But as far as what your article is saying, it’s they can be used completely separately, right?
1. The first use of Paris Pass will only activate the Paris Pass when the Museum Pass gets collected later
2. The collection of the Museum pass at the Big Bus office won’t activate neither of the two passes (or at least the museum pass)
3. The collected museum pass will work just like any other museum pass purchased other wise (ie, it will be valid for144 hours after the first museum visited)
Are they all correct? There’s just too many information over many years, so it’s very hard to be sure to plan a trip…
Thank you very much.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi GH,
Sorry for the delayed response but on the day I was originally writing a reply, we learned that the Paris Pass is changing the way the passes are given/work. If you already purchased your Paris Pass, then yes, they should work as we have previously discussed on here (lots of comments on this in the past). They are separate passes, the digital Paris Attractions Pass and the physical Paris Museum Pass (which you pick up once in Paris now). Each pass activates on first use, not upon receipt/download/reservation/pick-up. The Paris Museum Pass works just as we describe in our separate post detailing how it works. Technically using the two passes separately was strongly discouraged but this could be done as we have mentioned before. So you *should* be able to use it as you detailed above.
Now, if you have not purchased your Paris Pass yet (or did so on August 7th or later), then this has changed. The Paris Museum Pass (as part of the Paris Pass) is now a digital pass you need to download like the rest of the Paris Pass. So you no longer appear to have the opportunity to get a physical Paris Museum Pass, either for pick-up in person or to be mailed to you, as part of the Paris Pass. We are not sure how this will change how it works in terms of activation. But it appears that both passes are now synced together so you may not be able to use one without activating the other but we are not sure. The policy from Paris Pass: “The Paris Museum Pass must be used on a consecutive-day basis and in conjunction with your Paris Pass.”
We have contacted the Paris Pass folks about this for further clarification about the new change and how it will affect purchase and use of the pass. I’ll comment again once we have an update.
Best,
Jessica
GH Post author
Oh, wow I did not notice that they changed the way they distribute the Museum Pass until now. I guess I will and can still pick up the physical copy in person luckily. Thank you for all the valuable information, your website has been so much help to me so far and I appreciate so much!
Sarah Junke Post author
I’m so glad reading your article. Thanks for sharing wonderful information.
How many times can I visit the Louvre with the Paris Pass, can I leave and come back in the same day?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Sarah,
So, for each museum or attraction included on the Paris Pass, you can only visit once during the pass’s validity time. So you can only enter and exit the Louvre Museum once. And you also need to have a reserved time to enter the Louvre which you can do with the Paris Museum Pass (which is included if you get a 4 day or 6 day Paris Pass – the Louvre entrance is not currently included as part of the 2-day Paris Pass). I would recommend booking your times before you leave for your trip and once you know what date you would like to visit.
You can’t leave and re-enter the Louvre with the pass. So if you want to spend a full day here, I’d go in the morning so you can spend as much time as you wish. There are several places inside to get food or drinks so you can have a break inside the museum without needing to exit the museum. There are also nights when the museum is open later than usual, which can give you more time inside so you can check for those as well during the dates of your visit.
Hope that helps and just let us know if you have any further questions as you plan your trip to Paris!
Best,
Jessica
Erica B. Post author
Your review is a paid review, per your disclosure, so it’s not going to be unbiased. I just used the ParisLib pass in April 2023, and I have to provide honest feedback for anyone considering buying this pass. If you are that person, I totally don’t recommend the ParisLib Pass to anyone. You don’t save any money and the only advantage is that you get to skip the ticket line. HOWEVER, you can skip the ticket line by also booking directly on an attraction’s website. Either way, you still have to wait in the security line for each attraction.
The WORST thing about the pass is the lack of customer support. There is no customer support number and if you email, they take 48 hours to respond. If you’re in Paris for a short time, this will be a major problem. If you accidentally book the wrong attraction (like I did), you have to contact the place you booked the ticket at and ask for a cancellation/refund. The problem is that they don’t always answer the phone at these places, nor do they always speak English. The APP itself is awkward to use. After you purchase the Pass, you choose your attraction to book and then a link takes you to the attraction’s website where you then book your ticket. Just think about it. You could’ve saved yourself the hassle of booking through the Paris Lib app by booking directly through the attraction’s website. Did I already say that? Yes, I did. YOU WON’T REGRET NOT BUYING THE APP.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Erica,
Thanks for taking the time to leave your review; however, this article is a review of the Paris Pass not the ParisLib Pass (which you used) so they are not the same product or pass. The Paris Pass is a pass sold by Go City and the Paris Passlib’ is a digital city card sold by the Paris Tourism Board. We have not used the Paris Passlib’ and have never written about it. I am sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience with it. I would recommend leaving a review directly with that company.
The two passes we have used and do recommend people consider are the Paris Museum Pass and the Paris Pass. I have purchased and used the Paris Museum Pass and/or Paris Pass many times. We have never written a paid review of a place or product, but we did receive free Paris Passes on one visit to Paris which is in our disclosure and we do receive affiliate commission from some sales of the pass as disclosed. But we used passes in Paris before I started this blog and we try very hard to write reviews that are as unbiased as possible.
Anyone considering a Paris city pass of any kind should always check what is included and how it works, and do the math to see if it will save you time and money. If you have any questions related to the Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass, we are happy to try to answer them!
Best,
Jessica
Erica B. Post author
Thanks Jessica. Sorry I didn’t get that you were reviewing a different pass. I actually thought it was the ParisLib pass. There are many passes offered so it can get confusing. Feel free to remove this comment unless you’d like to keep it up.
Thomas Rainger Post author
You state “The Paris Museum Pass allows unlimited entry into the museums during your Pass days so if you want to make 3 visits to the Louvre, you can!
Is that still true?
P.S. These are amazingly complicated and you do a great job of explaining them!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Thomas,
No, that has changed as they updated the pass in recent years and now are able to digitally track the use of the pass (before most museums just looked at it). So it is now just one entry per museum/attraction. We’ve updated this on that post since that information is now outdated.
This is important to know when planning your time as you can’t just visit the Louvre for a few hours one day and then plan to return with the pass. You’d need to buy a separate ticket to return again.
The COVID pandemic has caused a lot of changes to the passes and to attraction entry in general in Paris. The other thing to note is that the Paris Museum Pass may no longer be part of the Paris Pass in the future. So you can still currently purchase it as part of the Paris Pass (4 and 6 day ones only) but this may change in the future. So if you wish to purchase both together, I’d do that soon. But if not, you will still be able to purchase the Paris Museum Pass separately.
Hope that helps, and just let us know if you have any further questions about the Paris Pass and/or Paris Museum Pass!
Best,
Jessica
Rishav Jain Post author
Hi,
I am planning a tour of 10 days in Paris. Can you please help with the itinerary you had planned and if you would suggest any modifications?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Rishav,
Happy to try to help you with planning your trip in Paris. Are you planning to be in Paris for 10 days, or are you doing a tour starting in Paris for 10 days in Europe?
The itinerary we mention in the post is just an example itinerary for 4 days so yes, it would definitely need to be modified for 10 days if you have 10 full days in Paris. If you want to send us your drafted itinerary, happy to take a look and make suggestions or answer any questions.
The Paris Pass is a good deal for those planning to visit a lot of attractions. For a 10 day stay in Paris, we’d recommend the 6 day pass. You can plan the included pass activities you want to do over the 6 day period of the pass, and then use the other 4 days for other attractions and free things in Paris.
Hope that helps, let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip to Paris.
Best,
Jessica
Tatiana Post author
Hi Jessica. Me again.. now in Paris. we will be 3 days in Paris. here is what I’m thinking. not sure if I should get the passes
Thursday: Versailles – paid a tour to avoid lines
Friday: Eiffel tower – paid a tour to avoid lines ; louvre, st chapelle, notre dame
Saturday: hop bus, maybe D’orsay, Arch
I have been in Paris with my older daughter and definitely don’t want to go to many museums.
what I’m missing?
my kids are 16 and 21. not sure if the pass will be worth. maybe because only the bus is 42euros?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tatiana,
Yes, so it sounds like you’d be able to use the Paris Pass go into the Louvre, St. Chapelle, sightseeing bus, Musee d’Orsay and the Arc de Triomphe. So you can calculate if you would have savings from the Paris Pass or not on those places. The sightseeing bus, if you plan to take that, is a significant value. Note that with or without a pass, you do need to make reservations for the Louvre and St. Chapelle to visit.
Notre Dame is obviously still closed (since the fire in 2019) so you can’t go into the cathedral, towers, etc. The only parts that I think are currently open are the square in front of the cathedral and part of the crypt. So that may or may not be worth visiting to you.
The Paris Pass also includes some walking tours of different neighborhoods that might be of interest to your daughters as well as the fashion show at Galeries Lafayette. But I would maybe ask your daughters what they are most interested in to see what else you might want to do in Paris. If one has already done the main tourist sites, they may not be very interested then in visiting the Louvre or Musee d’Orsay for instance.
Best,
Jessica
Tatiana DeMauro Post author
Thanks. I might just get the Museum pass for me and my older daughter. Looks like my 16 does not need passes for all the sites we are visiting. Am I correct?
Louvre we definitely need to go for the Mai’s attractions. Other than that I don’t think we will go to any other museum. Is the bus worth. The Paris Pass also includes transportation but we will basically use for 2 days.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tatiana,
Yes, I think if you are OK with the sightseeing bus not being included, the Paris Museum Pass (rather than the Paris Pass) would be a better deal. And yes, your 16 y.o. should get into most of the attractions on your list for free so doesn’t need the pass. You will want to be sure to bring along her passport or another photo ID with her date of birth if asked to verify her age.
The sightseeing bus can be good to get a nice view and overview of city. And if your day is planned well (e.g., goes in order of bus stops) it can also serve as a good way to get between attractions. But if you are comfortable using the Metro and buses, it is easy to get around by public transporation plus walking. You can get the tickets/passes for the metro at the ticket machines there. So it really depends. We tend to only use sightseeing buses in a new city for one day rather than two. So it just depends. But if you don’t get the Paris Pass, you can buy the tickets separately. There are a couple of companies, one of the big ones is the Big Bus company.
You said your daughters like walking around. A couple of places you might enjoy strolling around are the neighborhoods of Montmartre (up on the hill) and I also really like strolling around the Marais as well as the two islands (île Saint-Louis and île de la Cité) there. St. Chapelle and Notre Dame are on the larger island, Ile de la Cité, so you will already be in that area. The larger gardens in Paris, such as the Jardin du Luxembourg, are also really lovely places to stroll and have an ice cream or coffee and people watch. You might also consider a Seine cruise as those normally run from morning to fairly late in the evening.
But there are so many interesting things in Paris that you will of course have to pick the ones that are most interesting to you and work with your schedule!
Best,
Jessica
Tatiana DeMauro Post author
Thanks Jessica. that is really helpful. I might just buy the Museum Pass and not use the bus. If I change my mind I can buy separately.
We also hired a private driver that will drive us around at night time. Thanks for taking the time
RavelO Post author
Hi Jessica, would like to ask if I purchase the 3 Day Paris Pass and start using it on Day1, can I separately activate 1 Day Hop-on Hop-off bus only on Day2 instead?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ravel,
Yes, you can use the HOHO sightseeing bus pass any day of your 3 days once you start using the Paris Pass. So you can indeed start using the Paris Pass on Day 1 and then do the HOHO bus on Day 2 of your trip. I think they will still give you a bus voucher once you get on the bus – you just need to show your pass to the bus conductor or at the Big Bus kiosk.
I think the bus is currently running one route which has 10 stops and it runs 10am to 5pm (but do check schedule for when you actually visit. I would recommend picking it up in the morning so that you can use it as much as you want for a full day and get the most out of it. If you plan to get on and off, I’d plan your stops so they coincide with the bus route stops. The bus stops at each stop about every 30-40 minutes.
Hope that helps. Wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris!
Best,
Jessica
RavelO Post author
Thanks for the quick reply! This really helps in our planning!
Lalit Post author
Hi Jessica and Laurence
I am planning a 4 day Paris Trip from July 26 (Hotel arrival at 3pm at Montrouge).
We are family of 04 including 02 youth (12 and 17), plan to take a 02 day Paris Pass and would
Want to cover the following – Seine River Cruise, HOHO Bus, Arc De Triomphe, Louvere (Mona Lisa), Wine tasting, Eiffel Guided tour to Level 2 and 01 full day at Disney.
Have planned the following
Day -1 : Seine river cruise and collect Museum Pass
Day -2: HOHO morning + Louvere till Lunch + Arc De Triomphe after lunch + Eiffel Guided tour by eve + Stay back to watch Illuminating Eiffel. If time permits, take HOHO Blue route for pictures at Moulin Rouge
Day -3: Full day at Disney
Day 4: Picnic at garden near Palace de la Concorde and Go back to Eiffel for more pictures and Walk at Seine River in evening
Need help with
1. Is this itinerary ok with Young Children. If not, please suggest.
2. What will be the best way to travel from Hotel at Montrouge to these places – At the least cost yet with least inconvenience of hopping much
3. Suggest nice places to eat, closer to Asian tastes
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lalit,
Happy to try to help you with your Paris trip.
A few comments on your itinerary:
Day 1 – Just note that you will probably want to pick up your Paris Museum Pass before your Seine cruise ride as you want to make sure you arrive to pick it up before the office closes.
Day 2 – Once you have your Paris Pass, be sure to book and reserve times for both the Louvre and Eiffel Tower climb as these need to be pre-booked. The wine tasting tour (if doing one next to Louvre included on Pass) would also need to be booked if you plan to do that on Day 1 or 2? Also note that this will be a busy full day so I would recommend leaving your hotel early and maybe just grabbing a quick lunch at the Louvre (there are a couple restaurants/cafes there) to save time to make sure you have enough time to do everything.
Day 3 – No comment, just be sure that you have your ticket reservation and your transport figured out for how you will get to and from Disneyland.
Day 4 – Sounds like a relaxing final day.
1. Yes, I would say so. Your children are older so I am sure they will enjoy a mix of different attractions and sites. But, of course, it just depends on what your kids like to do and see. I would ask them to see if there is anything really special they want to do or see.
2. Your accommodation is pretty far from the main attractions in Paris if staying in the Montrouge area so you will need to plan ahead to try to leave early to get the most of your time. The best way to get around is going to be to take the Paris Metro. It will take you about 40-50 minutes to get into central Paris where the attractions you want to visit are such as the Eiffel Tower or to the Bateaux Parisiens ticket booth (for Seine River cruise). You can use Google maps, a printed metro map, or the Bonjour RATP app to help you figure out which lines you need to take. You can buy tickets at the station, cost of each ride is about 1,90 euros per person.
3. We tend to eat French food in Paris so don’t have a lot of recommendations for good Asian food. It is also going to depend on where you are when you are wanting to eat and what type of Asian food you prefer (e.g., Thai, Indian, Chinese, Japanese). I would just google what you are wanting to find what is available. For example if you are looking for Indian restaurants near your hotel, you can just search something like “best Indian restaurants in Montrouge Paris” For a more special meal (perhaps on your last day), you can check the online Michelin Guide for the most highly rated restaurants in Paris and then search by Asian cuisine.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Catherinr Post author
Jessica,
I read it on here but I want to confirm as of June 20, 2022. If we purchase a 6 day Paris Pass we can activate the attraction pass for the first six days and then activate the museum pass for the second 6 days?! This would make the 6 day pass essentially a 12 day pass?! This would be great?! Thank you!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Catherinr,
So the Paris Pass is designed and sold with the intention that all the components are used in the same 6 days. But as far as we know, you could still use them in this way as the components are separate and can be activated separately. They would still need to be used on consecutive days.
Just note that this is against how they are supposed to be used (by contract with the company) so we can’t promise that this will work and continue to work in this way.
Hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris!
Jessica
Jenny Post author
You may want to update your article – the Children’s pass is for age 2-12 not 2-17. Over 12 must buy the adult pass at which point it isn’t really worth it as they get into museums free.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jenny,
The information is correct in the article. I think you are getting the Paris Pass confused with the Paris Museum Pass (or perhaps another Paris discount pass?). The Paris Pass includes a Paris Museum Pass for adults.
For the Paris Pass as noted from their website on how a child is defined: “You can buy Child Passes for 2-17-year-olds.
Adult Passes are for 18-year-olds and above.” So the information is correct as stated in our article. When you go to purchase the pass on their website, it shows the ages and says a Child pass is for those age 2-17.
As noted, children can get into a lot of museums in Paris for free (particularly the national museums) that are included on the Paris Museum Pass (see tips in Paris Museum Pass article, I think there were only about 5 museums/attractions on that pass not free for children). This is why we generally don’t recommend the Paris Museum Pass for children. The Paris Museum Pass is not included with child Paris Passes for that reason and is why they are much less expensive than the adult passes.
However, this is not the case with the attractions included on the Paris Pass itself as children of most ages do not get free entry into most of those. These include things like the HOHO sightseeing bus, Eiffel Tower tour, city walking tours, fashion show, Parc Asterix, Seine river cruise, Paris Aquarium, the wax museum, and the Tour Montparnasse observation tower.
Depending on the age of your children, I would check the specific attractions you want to visit and calculate the prices to see if the Paris Pass would be any savings for you and your family.
Hope that helps,
Jessica
Steve Post author
Thank you for sharing. I am going to Paris this summer and surely needed this tip because I want to spend more on wine hahah.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Steve,
You’re welcome. Hope that Paris Pass can help you save money on your trip this summer so you can spend the savings on some nice French wine!
Have a great trip!
Jessica
Sandra Post author
Thank you so much for this comprehensive guide!
I have one slight concern. We have just purchased the Paris Pass and are happily planning and booking at the attractions. The first two (Eiffel Tower and Aquarium )state that a adult is 13 years and above but we have purchased two child Paris Passes for my sons (11 & 15 years old) because that is what the Paris Pass site said. Are we going to encounter problems when we arrive at the attractions?
Many thanks in advance
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Sandra,
Yes, as long as you purchased the Paris Pass that matches your child’s age at time of entry that should not be an issue. The attractions have agreed to be on the passes and to accept those conditions. We have confirmed this with Paris Pass and they said that should not be an issue at either of those attractions.
Just be sure when making reservations that you follow the instructions as given by the Paris Pass website or app when making your bookings.
Hope that helps, and wishing you and your family a wonderful trip to Paris!
Best,
Jessica
Lin Post author
I bought the Paris Pass after read your article on this website for my trip a couple of weeks ago and had really bad experience. 1. The Paris Pass is run by a company called GoCity located in Germany, the pass does NOT include transportation such as buses and train. 2. I spent an extra 2 hours and about 25 Europes for Uber to get the Big Bus station to get the museum pass. 3. It sounds good that the pass covers whole lots of the entries, but the reality is that, during two days, I was only able to visit several museums, which would be cheaper just to buy the tickets from the museum website. 3. The tour guides are from an independent company called Experiencefirst from New York, which are not part of the Paris Pass company. So if you could not make it to the tour you booked, the Experiencefirst will still charge you for it because you used your credit card to book the tour. This charge will NOT be refunded by the Paris Pass even it says the tour is covered, which means you will pay twice for some service you did not get!!!! 4. There is only limited places you can skip the line, for most places such as the river cruise, you need first to go the ticket office (of course a long line) for ticket, then get in another long line to get on the cruise. Basically, the Paris Pass just brought extra stress during our trip after I paid ~$250USD for two people. I hope no more people will experience what I had and I would NEVER recommend the Paris Pass!.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lin,
I am very sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience with the Paris Pass. It is not a good deal for everyone and everyone’s trip to Paris. And certainly if you have a short or rushed trip to Paris or are planning to visit relatively few attractions, it may make sense to purchase individual tickets. It also sounds like you were in Paris during a busy period.
I am glad you shared your experience with us and I am sure it may be helpful to future travelers. However, it also seems like you had some inaccurate beliefs about the Paris Pass and some of the information you noted is not correct. So I wanted to clarify some of that info below and comment on some of your points to help future travelers.
1. Go City (formerly Leisure Pass) is based in London and is a UK registered company as far as I am aware and it looks like it has been registered in London for over 20 years. But they have offices in different locations including London, Boston, Singapore and New York. GoCity operate over 20 passes in different cities worldwide. I don’t work for the company but I am pretty sure it is not based in Germany nor do I think they have any significant presence there…I am wondering if perhaps you are reading the information for the TurboPass Paris City Pass which I believe is based in Germany? And yes, Paris Pass is not a company, it is just the name of the pass.
2. Yes, the only transportation included with the Paris Pass is the Big Bus sightseeing bus pass as noted in our article and on their website so I am not sure if you expected otherwise? If you purchased your pass more than a year ago, then a public transit pass that included the metro, buses, and local trains was included. Unfortunately, that was taken out of the pass over a year ago so that information would not have been on the website if you purchased it only a couple of weeks ago. Again, I am wondering if you are instead talking about the TurboPass here instead as it does still include public transport?
3. Yes the Paris Museum Pass (that comes with the digital Paris Pass) is a physical pass so you do need to pick it up in central Paris. But I think this is something clearly noted in our article as well as in the information on collecting it when you buy the pass. But something for people to keep in mind.
4. For individual attractions, yes the tours guides are going to be employed by either the attraction itself or by a tour company. Go City is not a tour company but just sells city passes. So for example, the ExperienceFirst company is the one that currently offers the included guided climbing tour of the Eiffel Tower on the pass. The tour is free if you book with a valid Paris Pass. I would check the cancellation policy at the time of your booking with ExperienceFirst in terms of their refund/rescheduling policy – it looks like they ask customers to cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
5. Yes, I agree, that is one annoyance of the river cruises is that they ask you to collect your free ticket before the cruise when using a pass. They do this if you purchase a voucher beforehand as well. I wish they would just scan passes and vouchers at boarding instead to save time. We have experienced this with multiple companies and with dinner cruises on the Seine. It is not specific to the Paris Pass though.
Hope the above clarifies some of the points made by Lin for those reading this.
Lin, I am sorry again that you had a negative experience with the Paris Pass. I would definitely recommend passing on this feedback about your experience to them with any specific recommendations of what they could improve if you have not done so already.
Wishing you safe and happy future travels,
Jessica
Simon Post author
Hello ,
Thank you so much for the tips. Can you please advise me if my plan is okay to use the paris museum pass first and then the paris attraction pass afterwards.
For example in a 4 day pass that we will purchase, we will use the museum pass from June 11-14 and then the paris attraction pass from June 15 to June 18.
Thanks in advance for your reply,
Simon
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Simon,
You’re very welcome. And yes you should be able to use the Paris Pass in that way (as long as things don’t change) as the Paris Pass which is a digital pass is separate from the Paris Museum Pass which is a physical pass. You just need to make sure you don’t activate them before you want its 4-day period to start and will want to plan out your trip to do the Paris Pass attractions during the first 4 days and the Paris Museum Pass the final 4 days in Paris.
Hope that helps, and just let us know if you have any further questions.
Have a great trip to Paris!
Best,
Jessica
Louis Post author
Hi Guys,
Thank you very much for this detailed article.
Would you know if it’s possible to mix 2x adults 6 days pass with a 2 day child pass by doing 2 separare purchases?
Most of the attractions we want to visit are free for kids whilst for us parents a 6 days pass makes total sense.
On the official website you have to select the length and then all passes are the same so I was thinking of making 2 separare purchases one for 6 days and the other for 2.
However, I don’t know how it would work in practice when visiting attractions and I would be asked to enter the pass code number (particularly for those attractions for which a reservation is required).
Do booking systems allow for multiple pass code numbers to be entered or are they designed on the assumption the whole family will be issued with one pass code number? (in which case my plan won’t work and I will have to go for a 6 days pass for all of us, even though I only really need a 2, max 3 days pass for the kids)
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Louis,
Yes, you should be able to buy 2 6-day Paris Passes for adults and then the 2 2-day Paris Passes for children. Just do the two separate orders. Younger children in particular get in free to most Paris attractions and younger children only need to pay for a handful of attractions included on the pass. So if you can plan so that all the paid attractions and tours are together over 2-3 days that is a good strategy to save money.
Most places included on the Paris Pass do not require reservations although COVID has definitely increased the number and we expect that reservations will continue to be required for a number of places throughout 2022. For those that do you should be able to put in each of the Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass codes separately (if a number is required) as each person would need an individual pass. Some don’t require the pass number to make a reservation and you can see specific instructions for each attraction on the Pass here (some require you to select a special option or put in a particular code): https://parispass.com/en-us/reservations.
Your passes will be checked/scanned and validated at the actual attraction rather than in advance so I don’t think they validate the Paris Pass numbers at the reservation stage anyway, just once you arrive in person. For all places that require reservations like the Lourve, just be sure to bring your e-ticket or printed reservations along with your physical Paris Museum Passes and digital Paris Passes for everyone. You will need both your e-tickets/reservations and passes to enter an attraction. Note some attractions and tours will require the physical Paris Museum Pass and some the digital Paris Pass code so always have both on you.
Hope that helps, and wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris with your family!
Best,
Jessica
Ajinkya Jagtap Post author
Hi, i want to buy a separate Paris museum pass & Paris travel pass, can i do it? If so, please also share a link, as i cannot find a way to email the company! The contact support from seems to be broken too!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ajinkya,
Yes, you can buy those parts of the Paris Pass separately if you are not needing the Paris Attractions Pass portion. You can purchase them either in person once in Paris or online.
You can purchase the Paris Museum Pass either here or here online.
For the Paris Visite Pass, you can purchase that here.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Jonathan Coleman Post author
Hi Jessica and Laurence.
Thank you for such a detailed analysis of the pass. We will look closely at the museum pass for our Late-November 6 day trip. A question for you. Do you have recommendations for wine tastings in Paris?
Thanks,
Jonathan
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jonathan,
Glad you have found our article helpful. Just note that the Paris Museum Pass and the Paris Pass are different passes, so be sure to look at each separately when deciding which (if either) is best for your trip to Paris.
There are several places where you can do wine tasting in Paris, with wine bars, classes, private guides, tasting dinners, etc.. I’d take a look at O Chateau as it a popular venue for wine tasting although we’ve not been here ourselves. But there are lots of different options, and you can see many options and read reviews of different experiences here.
Another option to consider, since you have 6 days in Paris, is to take a day tour from Paris to a wine region of interest, such as the Loire Valley or Champagne (or even Burgundy although perhaps too long of a trek for most). Then you can visit wineries and do tastings and learn about that particular region. Some tours are only focused on wine and some mix wine tasting with sightseeing (e.g., castle tours + wine tasting lunch). We’ve been to all these regions and they are all great in different ways. You can see some tour options here.
Hope that helps! Just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip.
Best,
Jessica
JAYESH NISAR Post author
Hi Jessica and Laurence
Thanks a ton for your absolutely elaborate step by step guide.
I am rather concerned about the new Louvre rule which makes it incumbent to pre book a slot. I intend to visit the Louvre twice, once for the 11 am tour, and later in the evening on Friday. So how odes the pass allow you to do that?
Further, the pass website mentions guided tours at 11 am. Are these the same as organised by the museum and booked on its website?
Thanks again
Jayesh
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jayesh,
You will only be able to use the Paris Museum Pass once to enter the Louvre. You will need to pre-book your time slot online with your name and Paris Museum Pass number and bring both with you to the museum. They will check them at security and then scan them when you enter the actual museum sections. The Paris Pass only allows entry to each attraction once.
If you want to visit the museum twice, I’d recommend pre-booking a regular separate ticket for one of your visits.
For those tour times, I think they have just inserted the regular times for the Welcome to the Louvre tours which normally take place at 11am and 2pm each day. These are not included with the Paris Museum Pass but you can pre-book them online or book that once inside the Louvre at the tour desk under the Pyramid. But to ensure you get the tour time you want, I’d recommend pre-booking the entrance ticket that comes with the guided tour, I believe they are currently 26 euros.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
JAYESH NISAR Post author
Dear Jessica
So grateful for your prompt reply.
Unfortunately, the Louvre guided tours are booked out till the last week of September, and our last day in Paris is the 23rd. So thats out of the question. The Paris Pass web page of attractions shows in its overview section on the Louvre, that 60 minute tours depart every 30 minutes.
That’s confusing, isn’t it?
Hoping against hope…
Jayesh
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jayesh,
We have contacted the Paris Pass team on your behalf to clarify the information about the tours. I am 98% sure that there are no guided tours that are included with the Paris Pass but I will reply back once we get a confirmed response from the team. I agree that the text is confusing.
I am sorry to hear that the Louvre tours are sold out already, I am surprised but they have been seeing a large influx of visitors this summer which is why they have had to start using a reservation priority system. But all is not lost if you want to a tour of the Louvre, as you can get a tour from an outside guide.
If you see a guided tour you like, most of the above tours have good cancellation policies (check the terms!) so you could book one until you know for sure about the Paris Pass. I will reach back out shortly once we get a response from the Paris Pass team.
Best,
Jessica
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jayesh,
I heard back from the Paris Pass team today and just want to confirm that only the entry to the Louvre’s main collection is included in the Paris Pass (and Paris Museum Pass). The pass does not include any guided tours, so you will need to book any tours separately.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
irene Post author
Hello Jessica and Laurence,
I loved this article and appreciate the time you put in to give us all this information!
I am seeking some advice to see whether or not it would be worth buying the 6-day pass (or any pass for that matter) if we are going to be in Paris for more than 2 weeks. I have read and understood that we can activate the paris pass and museum pass at different times which seems like it would workout with our time in Paris.
Thank you in advance! 🙂
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Irene,
Yes, I think that if you plan to visit several attractions with both passes as part of the Paris Pass (Museum Pass and Attractions pass), then yes, it is definitely worth getting. The longer your time, the better the value. It is a shame there is not a 10 day Paris Pass (as there is in London) as the longer passes, offer the best value.
But yes, you can use the 3 components separately if you wish and spread it out longer than the 6 days. I’d plan out your itinerary to maximize the use of the two passes. You can just buy carnets of Paris metro tickets (sets of 10, best value) or another transit card to use once you run out of your 6 day Visite Paris transit tickets.
Note: The most recent version of the Paris Museum Pass (as of the new versions being issued starting in June 2019) is no longer operating on consecutive days, but consecutive hours from first scan at an included attraction. Still works the same way, but it is now timestamped and so you don’t need to start using early in morning to get in a full day. So if you had a 2 day bass, it would be valid for the following 48 hours after your first visit.
Hope that helps, and enjoy your 2 weeks in Paris!
Best,
Jessica
Melodie Dombrowski Post author
Thank you for your really complete review of the Paris Pass. I want to restate something you said to be certain that I am correctly understanding the details as it seems almost too good to be true! You state that the three components of the Paris Pass can be activated separately, the Muesum, the metro visite, and the Paris Attractions pass. So, I am going to be in Paris for 9 days. Does this mean I could use the Attractions pass for the first 6 days, doing the Seine and bus tour at the beginning of my trip, and then activate the museum pas for the last 6 days, knowing the attractions pass will run out of days before the museum does. The travel card, I will use for 6 solid days within that time frame. This essentially stretches out my passes to the full nine days if I stick to what is covered by one card at a time. That is an incredible bargain if I am understanding the rules correctly. Am I right? I’m thoroughly enjoying your posts on Paris, thank you for them.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Melodie, Yes, you read that correctly. The Paris Pass is designed to be used for the length you purchase it for but since there are separate components, you don’t have to activate them at the same time. So if you purchased a 6 day Paris Pass, you could activate the Paris Museum Pass and the Paris Attractions pass on separate days. You just need to use all three components within the 6 consecutive days of activation of that component. Enjoy your trip to Paris!! Jessica
Francois Londt Post author
Hi Jessica and Lawrence
I am so grateful for the excellent advice and recommendations you proposed in your reply.
It is going to prove very helpful, but it looks like, by my asking what I had asked from you, is going to prove quite a mouthful. Be that as it may , with your advice , I am certainly going to use the recommendations as a jumping off plank and go through your note stage by stage. This is as sane an approach as I can imagine and as soon as my mind is clearer, i.e after having digested contents of your note, I’ll bravely proceed. Wish me luck!
I’m shifting my starting date for the six day pass and have decided not to include the Eiffel Tower visit within those six days.
Thanks again, and for all the best,
Francois
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Francois, Glad our advice was helpful and just let us know if you have further questions. Best of luck! Jessica
Francois Londt Post author
I am planning to visit Paris and London for 6 weeks and have bought the 6 day passes for each city. I have already purchased 2 six day passes via your website . I have also made a booking for the Eiffel tower for 12 July in the 10.30 a.m. slot. I would like to commence using the Paris Pass on Sunday, 7 July. I plan to visit the Louvre, Rodin ,Pompidou, Picasso, l’Orangerie and Orsay museums. I’m also hoping to see St Chapelle, St Denis, Opera Garnier, Tour Montparnasse, Versailles,hop on hop off bus and the Bateaux Parisiens. I would be so grateful if you could help with planning such an itinerary. I tried , but have not come up with anything near to workable. The London one is also giving me headaches! I would especially like to visit the Louvre and Orsay for at least 2 hours each. I have read your advice and found them very helpful, not to mention your clear website on the matter. Thanks again so much.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Francois,
Sounds like you will have lots of time to explore London and Paris. The passes will definitely help you save money, the 6 day passes are a good value, especially since you plan to visit a lot of attractions.
We don’t have a 6 day Paris itinerary (yet) to share. But we do have a 3 day itinerary that should get you started that covers about half or more of the places you wish to visit.
The most important thing is to try to group attractions together. And then check opening dates and time to make sure all are open on the date you plan to visit. Most attractions close for 1 day per week in Paris. Many museums and attractions, particularly in summer, have late opening hours one or two nights a week which can extend your sightseeing potential on certain days.
-1 day you could group together Eiffel Tower, Bateaux Parisiens cruise (starts and ends near tower), Rodin Museum, and maybe Tour Montparnasse
-1 day you could visit l’Orangerie and Orsay museums since close together and this is also maybe a good day to walk down Champs-élysées (famous shopping boulevard) and see Arc de Triomphe (included on pass if you wish to climb to top). You can then head over by metro to do the tour of the Opera Garnier.
-1 day you can visit Centre Pompidou, Picasso Museum, Saint-Chapelle (easy to combine with Conciergerie), and explore the other sites on the isles (Notre-Dame, Deportation Memorial, Île Saint-Louis). Notre-Dame is of course currently closed but definitely worth seeing from outside.
-I’d also leave most of a day to explore Versailles, perhaps head there in a morning and then choose something open in the evening to do when you return (like Eiffel Tower, late night museum opening like Pompidou, theatre performance, or Tour Montparnasse).
-I’d leave most of a day to explore the Louvre at a leisurely pace since you have a lot of time in Paris, good cafes and restaurants for breaks and food. The wine tasting experience included as part of the Paris Pass (Paris Attractions Pass) is near the Louvre and a good add-on as are some lovely gardens and parks.
-St. Denis definitely gets less tourists and we enjoyed our visit here and have stayed in this area. The highlight of course is Basilica Cathedral of Saint Denis and it is a good alternative to Notre-Dame and very impressive. If the cathedral is of particular interest to you, you might consider doing a guided tour here. The other big attraction here is the Stade de France. I’d allow about 4 hours if just visiting the cathedral (travel return time plus visit to cathedral), or most of the day if also visiting the soccer/football stadium and doing the tour. You can have lunch in between.
-I’d recommend using the hop on hop off bus on the very first day or first full day as it is great to get an overview of city from the top of the bus. I’d do the full route and then use it to get to where you want to start for that day. Best on a good weather day.
For a London itinerary, we have a suggested 6 day London itinerary which should be very helpful. It takes the London Pass in mind and you can modify it based on your needs and preferences.
Hope that helps, and wishing you a great trip to London and Paris in July!
Jessica
Tracy Hastie Post author
Hi,
I just wanted to say how useful I found this article. After following the steps you outlined I have worked out that the museum pass and travel card is the way to go and it will definitely save me money. Cannot wait for my trip to Paris!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tracy, Thanks for taking the time to comment. So happy that you found our Paris Pass review and tips helpful. Wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris! Best, Jessica
Sachin Post author
Wow!! I have never ever seen an article as precise and elaborate as this ! Amazing!
I am coming with 2 kids under 12 but greater than 5 and my wife (4 in total). We arrive on 10th May approximately at 230 pm and leave on 14th at 5 pm.
Can you suggest an itenerary for me please? And your views on a 4 day pass? Is it worth the money?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Sachin,
Glad you found our Paris Pass review useful in planning your upcoming trip. A 4 day Paris Pass is a better value than a 3 day pass as the Paris Museum Pass portion is only valid for 2 days with a 3 Day Pass. So if deciding between a 3 day Paris Pass and a 4 day Paris Pass, I’d choose the 4 day since you will be in Paris for 4 days. You can start using it as soon as you arrive and keep using it until you leave.
For whether it will save you money, I’d make a list of attractions you want to visit with your family and then do the calculations as described in the article to see if the Paris Pass will save you money. But you may also want to calculate time savings as well.
For an itinerary, we don’t have a 4 day Paris itinerary up yet on the blogs, but you can see our suggested 3 day itinerary. With kids, I’d take this more slowly and add in more breaks. So I’d probably stretch this out to 3 days so it should be useful in planning your trip. But you may want to add in more family attractions as well.
Hope this helps, just let us know if you have more questions.
Best,
Jessica
Sachin Post author
Thanks again! We are going to get half a day on the 10th. We check in at about 3 pm. What can I do? I just have Eiffel tower in mind . And for that day, what is the pass that you suggest that would probably take care of the Paris Nord (Thalys) to 4 Rue Castagnary, 75015 Paris, France fare?
On 14th, we leave from Paris to Edinburgh. The flight is at 5 pm. Please suggest for these days.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Sachin,
You’ll have to check the hours for the attractions you are interested in visiting for what will be open at 3pm or later that day. The Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruises, Montparnasse Tower, and Les Caves du Louvre Wine Tasting are a few of your options — all but the Eiffel Tower are included on the Paris Pass. Also most Paris museums are open late one night of the week including the Louvre and Pompidou so you can check for the late nights opening days and times for those as well.
Yes, you can use the transport ticket included with the Paris Pass if you plan to get around by either metro or bus.
Since you are leaving at 5pm, you will need to be at the airport around 3:00pm for your flight. So you will still have most of the day to sightsee so should be able to visit a few attractions with your Paris Pass.
Best,
Jessica
Georgie Post author
We are going to Paris next July and then going on to London. We will be arriving Wednesday afternoon and then heading out Sunday. We really want to go to Disney, but because it’s high travel season we want to go on Thursday. I imagine it would be the least busy day( at least I hope) Unfortunately, this means that we can only purchase the 2 day city pass. I wanted to get the three to use on arrival that evening. Any advice.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Georgie,
Yes, I think going to Disney on a weekday (versus a weekend) would be better as the Disney parks are definitely going to be busy then as July and August are their busiest months. They do have fast passes that may be worth checking out if you only have 1 day at the park, depending on the types of rides/attractions you and your family plan to do.
For the Paris Pass I would recommend either:
1.) Getting a 2 Day Paris Pass and using the Paris Attractions Pass for 1 of those days and doing everything you want on it. Then for the other 2 days, just use the Paris Museum Pass portion (don’t activate or use it at all on day you use Paris Attractions Pass). Of course, you will only have the transit ticket for 2 of the 4 days, but can buy tickets for the other days. This would be the best in terms of cost savings.
-OR-
2.) Getting a 4 Day Paris Pass – this way you’ll be covered for public transit within Paris for 4 days and both the Paris Attractions and Paris Museum Pass will be good for four consecutive days. This will allow you to use both the Paris Museum Pass and Paris Attractions Pass on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
I’d think about how many attractions you plan to visit and then compare the costs of the 2 day versus 4 day Paris Pass. I don’t recommend the 3 day Paris Pass as much since it only comes with the 2-day Paris Museum Pass (Museum Pass only comes in 2, 4, and 6 day versions).
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Taaha Boxwala Post author
Hi Jessica & Laurence.
What a lovely and well explained article. Thank you.
I do however have one doubt which I hope you can clarify.
I have purchased a 3-Day Paris Pass. As you know this comes with a 2-Day Paris Museum Pass. I am visiting Louvre Museum on day 1, Orsay Museum on day 2 and I plan to visit Versailles Palace on day 3.
In this case, can I use the the Paris Attractions Pass only to enter Versailles Palace? or does the Attractions Pass not cover what is already included in the Museum Pass?
Your help is most appreciated.
Thank you
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Taaha,
The Attractions and Museum Passes are both part of the Paris Pass and they each cover completely different attractions. The guidebook you get along with your Paris Pass will tell you which attractions are covered by which pass. But I’d just always have both passes (plus your transit ticket) on you whenever you are in Paris.
The Paris Museum pass covers most of the museums associated with the Paris Pass, so the Louvre, Orsay and Versailles Palace are all include in the Paris Museum portion of the pass.
The Paris Attraction pass part of the Paris Pass includes things such as the Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus tour, Espace Dali, Musée Grévin, Opera Garnier tour, Paris Aquarium, Paris Chocolate Museum, Montparnasse Tower, Paris Story, Paris movie walking tour, wine tasting, Seine river cruise, and Petit Train de Montmartre.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
DANIELLE Post author
Hi, my husband and I are going to Paris in December. We will only be there Friday evening in which I hope to go to the Eiffel Tower and the River Cruise. The next day we would like to take the Eurostar to London to see the Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Abbey Road. We will have to leave first thing in the morning to maximize our time. Sunday we will tour the town and Monday we will have a small window before we have to go to the Airport. What do you think the best pass will be for us? Is there any pass that includes the skip the line pass for the Eiffel Tower? Is there a pass that includes the River Cruise? We would like to do the historic Paris walk featuring the Ile de la Cite, Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter and Sainte Chapelle. Tour the Louvre, and enjoy the Place de Trocadero Scene.
What do you think we should purchase and recommend?
Thank you so much!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Danielle,
Hmmm, since you have such a very short time and broken up schedule for Paris, I would probably recommend that you just pre-book individual tickets and get skip-the-line ones for attractions like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower which are always busy. You may save a little money with a pass such as the Paris Museum Pass so I would look at that one to check your cost savings. But I think in your case, I’d just purchase advance individual tickets.
I’d also pre-book any guided walking tours and you can purchase the Seine River cruise in advance as well and save a little money by buying your ticket online.
None of the passes we have used or recommend include the Eiffel Tower. I’d recommend booking those ticket separately even if you do decide to purchase a pass as most do not include it.
Since you have limited time in Paris, I’d recommend staying in the city center if you can and planning out what you want to do at least broadly each day so you maximize your sightseeing time.
Hope that helps! Do let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip to Paris and London.
Best,
Jessica
Wes Post author
Thanks for your assessment of the Paris Pass. We are spending 3 nights/ 2 1/2 days commencing next week and mailing of the pass is not an option. Is there any benefit to purchasing on line and picking up in central Paris versus just purchasing it when we get there? Also is The Big Bus Ticket Shop easily located. We are staying in Isle de Saint-Loius area.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Wes,
Yes, having the pass mailed would not be an option, and the advantage to having it mailed is that you don’t need to pick it up, you can start using the guidebook to plan, and can start using it as soon as you are in Paris.
But I would still recommend purchasing it online before your trip, because it is currently on sale online for 5% off the 3-day or 4-day passes so you will save money by buying it online. There are no discounts if you purchase it in person, you will be charged the regular full price. So I’d definitely recommend taking advantage of an additional savings 😉
Note that the 3 day Paris Pass only includes a 2 day Paris Museum Pass (there is no 3 day Paris Museum Pass unfortunately), whereas the 4 day Paris Pass includes a 4 day Paris Museum Pass so gives you more flexibility in seeing attractions. So something to keep in mind depending on which days you plan to see which attractions.
Yes, the Big Bus Ticket Shop where you pick up the pass is easy to find and it is centrally located in Paris. It is a short walk from the Pyramides metro stop, or a 7 minute walk from the Louvre Museum. There is no Metro stop on the Île Saint-Louis but it is a short walk to Pont Marie metro stop and that lines goes directly to Pyramides I believe.
The hop-on, hop-off bus stops are also fairly easy to find in Paris. When you pick up the pass, just be sure to grab a brochure of the HOHO bus stops. They are generally located near the big attractions.
BTW, The Île Saint-Louis is very central and I have stayed in an apartment on the island twice, one of my favorite areas to stay in Paris 😉
Hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris!
Jessica
Elena Post author
Hello
I just ordered a Paris pass and chose to pick it up in Paris. Can you please tell me if you managed to get yours and if everything was ok because I read mixed opponions and I’m currently afraid of not working and spending all that money on nothing. Thank you so much and I’d appreciate your reply.
Also amazing article, thank you!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Elena, Yes, we picked up city passes from this company multiple times and have never had any trouble. You just need to go to the address given and have your order confirmation and photo ID to present to collect the pass. I’ve never heard of anyone not being able to pick up their Paris Pass if they had purchased it via the website and had their order information with them. There is also a customer service number you can call if you have questions. Best, Jessica
Elena Post author
Thank you for replying so quickly. I’m really looking forward to my trip and now that you reassured me I can plan without worrying. Thank you
Al Post author
Hi Jessica,
We are planning to visit paris this coming oct. Can you help us out for a detailed itinerary using paris pass please? That would really a great help for us.
We are flying from UAE oct 17 and arrives oct 18 until oct 21. Leaves oct 22 – 4 nights and 3 + half day
Thank you.
Al
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Al,
Given your schedule I’d recommend the 4 day Paris Pass as it will probably represent the best value and comes with the 4 day museum pass (the 3-day pass comes with a 2 day museum pass).
I don’t have a 3 or 4 day Paris itinerary on here, but you can check out this 3 day Paris itinerary on our other travel blog that would work well with a Paris Pass. This should help give you a good basis to plan your Paris itinerary with the Paris Pass. If you have any specific questions about the Paris Pass or the itinerary once you have taken a look, please let us know. Best, Jessica
Rachna Post author
Hi, We are visiting Paris for 2 days in May and it’ll be 2 adults and 2 10-years olds. We would like to visit Louvre, Orsay, Arch, Notre Dame, St Chappell and Eiffel. I’ve already booked out Eiffel tix and am now contemplating the Paris Pass vs buying individual tix or the museum pass only. If we buy advance tickets to the attractions listed above, do we still have to wait in line or can we get fast track access like with the Paris pass/museum pass? Also- do we have line up to pick the hop-on-hop off bus tickets and the river cruise tickets if we buy the Paris Pass or are they part of the packets we receive at one time?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Rachna,
If you are only want to visit the attractions you mentioned, I’d recommend getting the Paris Museum Pass as it covers entry into all of them except the Eiffel Tower. It is good that you have already booked your Eiffel Tower tickets and have a time as that will save you time there.
In terms of entry, you can skip all the ticket lines (but not security lines) with either of the Passes but not all places offer fast-track entry. If an attraction offers a fast-track entry ticket, it would likely be the same as having the pass. But having the pass is much more convenient than having a bunch of tickets for each site.
But if you want to also do the hop-on hop-off bus and a Seine River cruise, then you might consider the Paris Pass. The Paris Museum Pass does NOT include either the sightseeing bus or river cruise tickets so those experiences are only included with the full Paris Pass package. If you have a Paris Pass, to use the HOHO bus you will show you card to a staff member before your board the bus at any of the participating bus stops and they will give you a ticket good for the full day. Similarly for the river cruise, you just show your Paris Pass at the noted ticket booth next to the dock and they will give you the free vouchers. Neither took long in our experience.
Hope this helps!
Jessica
Rachna Post author
Thanks so much for your advice Jessica! Really helps us with the planning. For now, we are leaning towards the Museum Pass as we are big walkers and will probably prefer to walk. One more question: If the kids have free entry at the museums, and if we buy a museum pass only for the 2 adults, would we still need to line up for entry?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Rachna, Yes, if you are with your kids with the Paris Museum Pass at the attractions, they will get free entry to the vast majority of attractions included on the Paris Museum Pass which is great.
If you decide to add a Seine River cruise, we have a post comparing the main companies if you decide to book tickets separately.
The question about the entry for the children with the Paris Museum Pass is a bit difficult to answer. It is up to the individual museum or attraction but in most cases they should not need a ticket as long as you have the passes. That said, there may be some places that may ask you to collect a free ticket for the kids. At busier attractions, it is always a good idea to try to ask if you see staff before getting into line so you know in advance. When you return from Paris, I’d love to hear about your experience with this as it is a question other readers have asked as well.
You can see our review of the Paris Museum Pass here for more information on making the most of the pass. If you are purchasing the 2-day Museum Pass, we have access to a slight discount right now if you order here and collect it in Paris.
Wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris!
Jessica
Rachna Post author
Thanks again!
Peter Korchnak Post author
Whoa, this is intense. One reason I forgo buying tourist passes in places is the math. You break it down to the T and it’s super helpful. But I still would be too lazy to spend the time and try to figure it out just to get the savings, as significant as they may turn out to be. I guess it depends on what you want to see/do in Paris and how much time you have.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Peter, Yes, the math can take some time although you could probably figure it out for any trip within an hour if you have a good idea of where you want to go in the city. The Paris Pass is more complicated than most because of the inclusion of 3 separate passes which is not the case for most other city passes. For people who just want to save time and are not necessarily as concerned about money savings, city passes are almost always a good bet for those who plan to visit a lot of places as they allow you to skip buying tickets and often allow for skip the line access at some busy attractions as the Paris Pass does. In this case, you also have your public transportation covered and can use the HOHO bus. We always do the math first, but in the last several months we have personally purchased city passes in several cities, including Rome, Vienna, and Barcelona and each saved us money on entrance fees as well as time. Best, Jessica
Liz Deacle Post author
We are hoping to visit Paris next summer but with two teenagers in tow I was concerned about the cost. This seems like one way we could save money. Im not ure how many museums etc they would tolerate, probably just the big famous ones but by buying this pass its going to save us a lot of money! Thanks for such an in depth look at how it all works!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Liz, Yes, traveling with children can be tricky and more costly. But city passes can definitely make things a bit easier and give families the flexibility to split up if some want to see one attraction and the others another. I think most teenagers would be interested in several of the iconic and more famous sites (e.g., Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame tower, Versailles) as well as some of the more active things like the movie tour, the amazing city views from Montparnasse Tower, and the Seine boat ride. The Paris Pass offers a lot of museums and attractions so I think most people could find several things of interest, even teens 😉 Best, Jessica
Kirstie Post author
So it’s pretty much like Hong Kong’s Octopus Card and probs even better! Thank you for this and your photos of Paris are beautiful!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kirstie, Glad you enjoyed our photos! I haven’t been to Hong Kong, but it is very much like a number of city discount cards around the world. In fact, the company that runs the Paris Pass also offers passes for popular destinations worldwide (e.g., London, NYC, Vienna, Dublin, Cape Town). We always check out city and regional passes, as they so often can help us save money and time when visiting a new destination. Best, Jessica
Kevin Wagar Post author
I was only in Paris for 48 hours, but we got the pass and it was SO worth it! It saved us so much time and effort. AND we got to see so many incredible things during our short visit. This is such an awesome and detailed guide to it. I know it’s going to help a lot of people out.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kevin, Thanks for sharing your own experience using a 2 day Paris Pass. Glad that it was helpful in saving you both time and effort! Best, Jessica
Jeni Post author
which pass did you purchase.. we are having a tour only for 3 days but 2 days only for roaming around?
Caroline Post author
I got the Museum Pass when I was in Paris and I thought that was an amazing deal. I had no idea there was a more all-inclusive option with an attractions pass and transit card included! Thank you for this informative guide to the Paris Pass, I might have to consider it the next time I’m in Paris.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Caroline, I love the Paris Museum Pass and that was the pass I used on my first trip to Paris as well. I have actually used it again since, as well as with the Paris Pass and still have yet to visit all the places included (over 50!). The Paris Pass is a fuller package for sure but also more expensive so not a great fit for budget travelers. But it can be a good deal for those with a bigger budget who want to take advantage of a few of the attractions included (e.g., Seine cruise, aquarium, wine tasting, movie tour, Montparnasse Tower). ~ Jessica
Jessica Post author
Great informative post! I always intend to do the price breakdown on city passes and then run out of time and just don’t get them! I need to be more diligent about it!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jessica, It can be easy to not do a lot of research with all the other things that go into trip planning, but it can definitely save you money on things like city passes! ~ Jessica
Kavita Favelle Post author
Passes like this can be such a great deal, and save a lot of valuable sightseeing time as well instead of queueing to buy tickets everywhere! I really like that it includes public transport as well as the sightseeing buses — I’ve been to cities where only the sightseeing bus was included which was far less convenient.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kavita, Yes it is good that the Paris Pass have both unlimited public transport plus the hop on hop off sightseeing bus. The HOHO bus is good for sightseeing but less practically as a mode of transport to actually get from place to place efficiently! ~ Jessica
Lori Post author
Lots of good info. A little research before heading out is always a good idea and you’ve provided most of the analysis here which should help a lot of folks. We’ve purchased passes in Florence and it worked well both economically and for not having to wait in long ques. Thanks for the review.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lori, You’re very welcome. Yes, indeed, research is always the key to whether city passes are a good value or not – and hopefully the info above can help people figure it out as it can be a bit of work. That is a good point about skipping the lines, as even if a pass doesn’t save you much money, the value of being able to skip the ticket lines and sometimes get fast-track entry is an important factor for many people, especially families. ~ Jessica
Tami Post author
First I have to say I absolutely love that view of the Eiffel Tower from the Montparnasse Tower. I don’t think I have ever seen the Eiffel from that perspective before, and it is quite stunning! About the Paris Pass, I have spent a total of 8 days in Paris (two different trips), and the pass would not have worked for what we did. However I have purchased passes (or similar membership cards) in other cities, like Florence or New York City, and for those trips they WERE good deals. Like you said, you really just have to know what you want to see and then make comparisons.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tami, First, yes, the view from the observation decks of the Montparnasse Tower are some of the nicest views in Paris. Definitely worth the visit – we’ve been a couple of times now and it is great that free entry is included with the Paris Pass. Yes, it really depends whether city passes will be a good value for any individual traveler or trip as there are so many factors. Indeed, research is always key! ~ Jessica
Medha Post author
You’ve done a fantastic thing here by giving such a detailed review of the places you can visit, the positives of the Paris Pass, how one can benefit and everything they need to know to make a decision as to whether it is worth it or not. This information is great, I get asked so many times about so many cities the same question. Thanks for sharing !!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Medha, Thanks, yes, it can be difficult for people to figure out easily if a city pass is good for them or not. We hope this review of the Paris Pass will help those asking themselves that question! Best, Jessica
Fiona Maclean Post author
I’ve used a similar London version of this Pass. They are good on a number of levels – not just cost savings but of course, they also provide a convenient guide of ‘must see’ things! I would say for anyone newish to a City they are an excellent idea
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Fiona, Thanks for taking the time to comment! Yes, we also used the London version of this pass (our review of the London Pass), and really found it to be a great city discount card. We always check out city passes when in a new city where we want to visit a lot of attractions. ~ Jessica
Seana Turner Post author
I’ve been to Paris a couple of times, but there is always more to see and do. As always, I love the level of detail you provide. You can tell you are a real traveler who is trying to get the most “bang for the buck.” It sure looks appealing right about now:)
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Seana! Yes, it is always good to save money when you can and Paris although not as expensive as London, has comparatively few free museums or galleries. So you end up paying for almost every museum and attraction so discount passes can be really useful if you are an active sightseer. The Paris Pass can save some people money, but is not a good investment for all which is why I try to provide enough information for people to decide for themselves. Hope you get a chance to return to Paris again soon 😉 Jessica