Orsay Museum guide

The Orsay Museum is one of the most renowned cultural sites in Paris, displaying a collection of the most beautiful impressionist paintings in the world. Located on the left bank of the Seine, the Orsay Museum building used to be a train station. This setting gives prestige and character to this astonishing museum. Plan your visit to the Orsay Museum ahead to discover its works of art by illustrious painters. Thanks to our Orsay Museum guide, organize your day at the museum.

Plan your visit

Discover all the information to avoid wasting time in transport and queues.

How to get to the Orsay Museum?

The Orsay Museum is located at 1 rue de la Légion d'honneur in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, opposite the Tuileries gardens. You can get there on metro line 12 (Solférino or Assemblée Nationale sation).

Opening hours

Here are the Orsay Museum’s opening hours: 9:30AM to 6PM from Tuesday to Sunday throughout the year. On Thursdays, go on a permanent collection evening tour to have access to the works of art until 9:45PM.

When is the best time to visit the Orsay Museum?

To avoid peak times and fully enjoy the museum, you should visit it on Wednesdays and Fridays, when the number of visitors is lower than on other days of the week.

Prices

Admission to the permanent collections of the museum is free for Europeans under 26. Otherwise a fee of 14€ will be charged. These rates do not always include temporary collections and audioguides. We also offer good value skip-the-line tickets and museum passes to avoid waiting in line.

How long does it take to visit the Orsay Museum?

It takes approximately 2 hours to visit the permanent collection of the Orsay Museum. You will need extra time to visit the other exhibitions of the museum.

The must-see works

The Orsay Museum displays a large number of works of art. Some of them are definitely must-sees:

• The Origin of the World, Gustave Courbet
• Les Baigneuses, Auguste Renoir
• Girls at the piano, Auguste Renoir
• Rue Montorgueil, Claude Monet
• Self-Portrait, Vincent Van Gogh

Other works by Degas or Monet are also displayed there.

History and culture

The Orsay Museum was set up within the former Orsay station in 1986 by decision of the President of the Republic Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Mixing industrial architecture and works of art, this place is steeped in the history of Paris. It gets 3 million visitors every year.