Musée d'Orsay: booking, prices, free admission, tips and current exhibitions

Would you like to visit the Musée d'Orsay, one of Europe's most visited museums and home to the world's largest collection of Impressionist paintings? We'll be happy to give you all the tips and tricks you need, as well as the works to discover, the current exhibitions, and the rates and free admission available, so you can make the most of your visit in the best possible conditions.

Would you like to visit the sublime Musée d'Orsay, the fascinating museum that was once a Parisian railway station? Whether you're from Paris, the Ile-de-France or just passing through, we've got all the tips you need to avoid hours of waiting, take advantage of the best deals and organize your visit to the best of your ability.

Why visit the Musée d'Orsay?

As you no doubt know, the Musée d'Orsay was built on the site of a former railway station that had been erected to accommodate visitors to the1900 Universal Exhibition. The station was built by Victor Laloux and two other architects, who had to integrate the structure harmoniously into an elegant neighborhood facing the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens. Inside, the architects opted for a modern design. During the Second World War, the station became a shipping center for prisoners and a reception center for prisoners during the Liberation. In 1977, President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing decided to build a museum in the carcass of the station, but it was not until nine years later that the museum was inaugurated by President François Mitterrand.

The Musée d'Orsay boasts an impressive collection of Western art, including paintings, sculptures, photographs and decorative arts dating from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. These include famous Impressionist works such as Edouard Manet's Déjeuner sur l'herbe, Gustave Courbet's L'origine du monde and Degas' La petite danseuse de quatorze ans, as well as works by Auguste Rodin. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions on artists, artistic movements or periods in art history, as well as artistic events, round-table discussions, concerts and film screenings in its auditorium.

Unmissable works to discover

The Origin of the World, Gustave Courbet
Bathers, Auguste Renoir
Young Girls at the Piano, Auguste Renoir
Rue Montorgueil, Claude Monet
Self-portrait, Vincent Van Gogh

To make the most of your time, take advantage of the interactive map available in the museum.

Musée d'Orsay, collection permanente - Bal du moulin de la galette - Auguste Renoir

Musée d'Orsay, collection permanente - Vincent Van Gogh - portrait

The Musée d'Orsay and its historic clocks :

The Musée d'Orsay's famous interior clock, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Paris, is one of the few remnants of the museum's days as a railway station. This Parisian station was inaugurated in 1900, on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition, to serve routes to south-western France. In 1986, however, the station was converted into a museum, and today only the 32-meter-high hall and the famous clock in the background remain.

Even bigger than this one, two other clocks on the front of the building, where you can admire the capital through them, delight visitors, tourists and photographers alike. The one where Café Campana is located and the one on the opposite wing.

Musée d'Orsay, réservation, tarifs, gratuités, astuces et expositions du moment

Opening hours and days

The Musée d'Orsay is open all year round, except on Mondays, May 1 and December 25. So don't bother showing up on those days - you'll be disappointed. The museum opens every day (except Mondays) from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. On Thursdays, opening hours are extended to 9:45pm, when you can take advantage of a reduced rate of €12 from 6pm.

How to get to the Musée d'Orsay

RER C: Musée d'Orsay station
Metro: Solférino and Assemblée Nationale stations on line 12 are closest. Tuileries (line 1) and Concorde (lines 1, 8 and 12) stations are a ten-minute walk away.
Bus: stop Musée d'Orsay or Pont Royal-Quai Voltaire 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84 and 94
Cab: pick-up and drop-off for cabs and specialized vehicles on quai Anatole-France.
Parking lots: the Bac Montalembert parking lot at 9 rue Montalembert 75007 Paris is the nearest.

Book tickets and prices :

To avoid queues and make sure you don't exceed your quota, especially for major temporary exhibitions, we advise you to book your tickets in advance with a dedicated time slot. Admission to the permanent and temporary collections is €16. Admission is free for under-18s and EU citizens under 25. If you're not afraid of the crowds, admission is free for all on the 1st Sunday of every month. Don't forget to book your compulsory free admission slot.

Services :

The Musée d'Orsay offers free wifi access open to all. Simply connect to the Musee_Orsay_Public network. Free checkrooms are available, and wheelchairs, canes, folding chairs and strollers can be lent on request in exchange for ID. People with reduced mobility are welcome, and free admission is granted to them and their companions. The facility is equipped with elevators and ramps. A baby area for parents is available on level -1.

The museum offers audio guides from €3.50 for children to €6 for adults. A good alternative to guided tours, which, on the other hand, may allow you to have a speaker answer your questions. These tours and workshops are also aimed at families, for fun and recreational activities or workshops.

Good deals :

The Musée d'Orsay offers its own official, free application for both iPhone and Android. In addition to the agenda, it offers the site in 5 languages. You'll discover the temporary exhibitions with a selection of 32 works of art with commentary. It's a mine of information to help you in your discoveries and your visit.

For a less crowded visit to the Musée d'Orsay, we recommend Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, especially the Thursday night openings, when admission is cheaper and the museum less crowded.

Where to eat?

The Musée d'Orsay has no fewer than 3 food and beverage outlets to cater for all tastes. Let yourself be seduced by the charm of Café Campana, located on the 5th floor, behind one of the Museum's clocks. It serves contemporary cuisine featuring seasonal produce. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.45am to 4.45pm, and Thursday from 10.45am to 8.45pm.

For a quick bite to eat, the Kioske du parvis is the ideal place. It features a veggie burger and Ducasse ice cream. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am to 5.30pm.

The restaurant

A sublime restaurant listed as a historic monument, the place is a real eye-catcher, with frescoes by Gabriel Ferrier and Benjamin Constant lining the ceilings, blending with the more contemporary lines of the chairs designed by Jacopo Foggini. The menu features seasonal French classics.

Exhibitions and events to discover:
Musée d'Orsay by night: visit the collections in the old station every Thursday evening
Every Thursday evening, until 9:45pm, the Musée d'Orsay welcomes you for a nocturne through its current exhibitions and fine collections, in an exceptional setting. [Read more]

Paul Troubetzkoy, a brilliant sculptor honored in an exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay - photos
Discover Paul Troubetzkoy, an artist with an exceptional life, through a new exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay. Join us from September 30, 2025 to January 11, 2026 to admire the exhibition dedicated to this extraordinary sculptor. [Read more]

John Singer Sargent exhibition dazzles Paris at the Musée d'Orsay
From September 23, 2025 to January 26, 2026, the Musée d'Orsay is devoting an unprecedented exhibition to the American painter John Singer Sargent. This retrospective highlights his Parisian years through 90 works, including 66 paintings. [Read more]

What to do with children at the Musée d'Orsay Activities, visits and entertainment for families
The Musée d'Orsay is a not-to-be-missed Parisian museum renowned for its fine Impressionist collections, and was once a railway station. What's on the agenda for the whole family? Let's take a look at what's on with the kids. [Read more]

Renoir Dessinateur: the first exhibition dedicated to Renoir's drawings at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris
And what if Renoir had achieved more than just color? From March 17 to July 5, 2026, the Musée d'Orsay unveils Renoir Dessinateur, the first exhibition entirely devoted to his works on paper. A spotlight on the stroke of a master too long confined to his palette, through some one hundred drawings, sketches, studies and watercolors from around the world. [Read more]

Renoir and love: the retrospective exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris
When love becomes light, Renoir turns it into art. With the exhibition "Renoir et l'amour" (March 17 - July 19, 2026), the Musée d'Orsay brings together his major masterpieces for a retrospective as modern as it is tender, in collaboration with the National Gallery in London and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. [Read more]

Christmas 2025 in Orsay: a festive winter village with an ice rink, chalet, and decorations.
Orsay is filled with magic with its festive Christmas village From December 7 to 28, 2025: ice rink, gourmet chalets, and entertainment in Charles Boucher Park. [Read more]

Yoga at the museum: free your body and mind in front of works of art at the Louvre or Musée d'Orsay
For unusual wellness spots, try yoga classes in the heart of a Paris museum! A number of cultural institutions regularly offer these activities as a way of cultivating yourself while doing some sport. [Read more]

Gabrielle Hébert exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay: her photos of the Villa Medici
The Musée d'Orsay presents the exhibition "Gabrielle Hébert, chronique d'un amour fou à la Villa Médicis" from October 28, 2025 to February 15, 2026. A wonderful discovery dedicated to this first photographic chronicler of the Villa Medici, who immortalized twenty years of her Roman life. [Read more]

The Orsay swimming pool, the place to swim laps on the Saclay plateau
How about a splash around Orsay (91)? Then head for the town's large swimming pool and its many pools for swimming, fun and exercise. [Read more]

Animal Crossing New Horizons: where to see the paintings and sculptures in the game?
Art or video game lovers, head to the museums of Paris, in search of the works sold by Rounard in Animal Crossing New Horizons, the Nintendo game. [Read more]

Van Gogh : where to see the painter's works in Paris or in the Ile-de-France region ?
His tragic story is as famous as his exceptional paintings: Vincent Van Gogh is the favorite painter of many art lovers! To see his works in Paris or in the Ile-de-France, follow the guide. [Read more]

Henri Matisse in Paris: where to see the works of the painter in the capital?
Precursor of fauvism, impressionist, modern artist... Henri Matisse has left a lasting impression on the art world. What if we (re)discovered his works thanks to the Parisian museums? [Read more]

Claude Monet : where to see the works of the famous impressionist painter in Paris ?
He's undoubtedly one of France's best-loved painters: Claude Monet left us many magnificent canvases, some of which can be seen in Paris museums. [Read more]