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 to know about the museum, the works of art to discover, the current exhibitions, and the prices and free admission options 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 probably know, the Musée d'Orsay was built on the site of a former railway station, which 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.

Must-see works

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 at the museum, take advantage of the interactive map.

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 taller 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 these 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 6:00pm.

How do I get to the Musée d'Orsay?

RER C: Musée d'Orsay station
Metro: Solférino and Assemblée Nationale stations on line 12 are the 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
Cabs: 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.

Tickets and rates:

To avoid queues and make sure you don't exceed your quotas, especially for major temporary exhibitions, we recommend you 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 everyone on the 1st Sunday of every month. Remember to book your compulsory free slot to take advantage.

Services:

The Musée d'Orsay offers free wifi 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 has its own official, free application for both iPhone and Android. In addition to the agenda, it offers the site in 5 languages. You can 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. Enjoy 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 its 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.

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