VISIT MUSÉE D’ORSAY – THE COMPLETE GUIDE 2026
Best time to visit the Musée d’Orsay | Where to buy tickets | How to skip the lines
Everything you need to know before visiting the Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay is France’s national museum of fine and applied arts. The museum exhibits paintings, sculptures, photos, and decorative arts, and the popular Paris attraction saw 3.87 million visitors in 2023, making it one of the most-visited museums in the city. Explore French art and learn about its rich culture on one of our Musée d’Orsay tours!
About the Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay aims to show works from 1848 to 1914. Much of its collections came from the Louvre Museum, the National Museum of Modern Art, and the Jeu de Paume. The museum exhibits paintings, photographs, and decorative arts. The building housing the Musée d’Orsay was formerly the Gare d’Orsay, a railway station and hotel. With advances in technology, Parisians stopped using the station and the building was remodeled in the 80s. Dividers were added to the train platforms to create galleries for the artworks. The museum is separated into three main levels. There is also an atrium, and looking up, visitors will see a ceiling made of iron and glass.
At the Musée d’Orsay, you can see Renoir’s Bal du moulin de la Galette, where he depicted Parisians having a good time at a dance garden and included some of his friends in the painting, too. You can also see Monet’s portrayal of the London Houses of Parliament. You can learn about Thomas Couture’s Romans of the Decadence, where the artist depicts the decadence of the Romans and uses the painting as social commentary for France of that time. Don’t miss Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night over the Rhone,” his self-portrait, and much more!
How to get to the Musée d’Orsay
ADDRESS: Musée d’Orsay, Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, 75007 Paris.
HOW TO GET THERE: If you are arriving by metro, take line 12 and get off at the Solférino station. Buses number 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 87, and 94 will take you to the museum. If you are taking an RER train, get on line C and exit at the Musée d’Orsay station. A taxi can drop you off and pick you up at Quai Anatole-France. You can park at Parking du Carrousel du Louvre and Parking Bac Montalembert.
DISABLED PARKING SPACES: available at 1 Rue de Villersexel (3 spaces), 96 Rue de l’Université (3 spaces), 8 Rue de Solférino (3 spaces), 1 Place Montherlant (2 spaces), 5 Rue de Bellechasse (1 space), 7 Rue de Poitiers (1 space), 13 Rue du Bac (1 space), and no. 48, 77, and 81 Rue de Lille (1 space each).
Best time to visit the Musée d’Orsay
We recommend visiting the Orsay Museum right when it opens and arriving early. Visit any must-sees you have on your list and the special exhibitions first, as they can get crowded, and then roam around, exploring the different works of art. Try to visit during weekdays, avoiding Wednesdays, which tend to be busier. The Orsay Museum also seems to be more crowded when the weather is bad.
Learn about Impressionist art at the Musée d’Orsay by booking one of our popular tours!
Avoid a big crowd
Orsay Museum Small-Group Tour
Join a small group tour of the Musée d'Orsay for an intimate, guided experience of its world-renowned art collection. Explore masterpieces by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, and Renoir while your expert guide provides interesting insights into the art and the artists. Learn about the history of this unique museum, which was once a railway station. Enjoy a personalized, engaging tour in a smaller group setting, ensuring a more relaxed and informative visit.
FAQ - Visit Musée d’Orsay
How much time do you need to visit the Musée d’Orsay?
To explore the Musée d’Orsay at a relaxed pace, you would need about 4-5 hours. If you are in a rush, you could do it in 2 hours. Don't miss Monet, Renoir, and van Gogh's paintings.How do I avoid queues at the Musée d’Orsay?
Avoiding lines at the entrance to the Musée d’Orsay is easy with skip-the-line access tickets. To gain priority entry, book the Orsay Museum Discount Ticket!Do you need to book tickets to the Musée d’Orsay in advance?
With 3.87 million visitors in 2023, the Musée d’Orsay is a very popular art museum and attraction in Paris. We recommend securing your tickets in advance. That way, you can choose the ticket or tour with the benefits that best suit you, such as skip-the-line access, an expert live guide, a private tour, etc. Check out our offers!Can you bring bags into the Musée d’Orsay?
Yes, but you must leave them in the cloakroom. The service is free of charge, and the maximum size of your hand luggage is 56x45x25 cm.Is the Musée d’Orsay wheelchair accessible?
The museum has elevators and ramps, making the whole space accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. You can rent a wheelchair, a walking cane, or a foldable chair. You will have to show an identification document.Is there a baby-changing station at the Musée d’Orsay?
Yes, you can find it on level -1, by the adult group reception.Musée d’Orsay DOs & DON’Ts
DO check out the temporary exhibitions
The Orsay Museum is always changing up its exhibitions, so be sure to check out any new ones!
DON’T use the flash, stands, or lighting
You can take photos at the Orsay Museum, but please turn off the flash so that it doesn’t damage the exhibits and distract other visitors. It may be forbidden to take photos of some works in the temporary exhibitions. Check the label of the artwork to learn more. Stands and lighting equipment must be left in the cloakroom.
DO visit with an expert guide
The Orsay Museum is filled with great art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it is waiting to be explored. Book our Orsay Museum Small-Group Tour to learn about the stories behind the artworks with a knowledgeable guide in a small-group setting.
DON’T worry about food & drinks
You can have a gourmet meal at the restaurant, relax at Cafe Campana, next to the Impressionist Gallery, or the Cafe de la Gare, located under the nave. You can also have a quick bite at the Kiosque du Parvis, on the museum’s Bellechasse square.
Want to visit the Orsay Museum on your own?
Book one of our tickets!
Skip-the-line
Orsay Museum Ticket
Skip the crowds and enjoy direct access to the Orsay Museum to explore its masterpieces at your own pace. Discover the world’s largest permanent collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including famous artists like Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, Monet, and Cézanne. Walk through the beautifully preserved former Gare d'Orsay railway station and view the impressive collection of sculptures, decorative arts, and photography. Explore the art museum's permanent display and temporary exhibitions for a memorable Parisian art journey.
Paris art pass
Paris Museum Pass
Visit 60+ top museums and monuments of Paris. You can skip the line at the famous Louvre Museum to see the Mona Lisa, the Palace of Versailles to see where the French royal family lived, climb the Arc de Triomphe on Champs-Élysées, visit the Center Pompidou or the City of Paris Museum of Modern Art, and the list goes on! You can enjoy access to Parisian museums for 2, 4, or 6 days and add a relaxing cruise on the Seine.