I Explored Paris With the MegaPass Premium Pass: Here Are My Thoughts

Paris has enough interesting attractions to keep you entertained for months, let alone a weekend. However, it’s also no secret that visiting these places gets expensive, fast. I’ve found in other cities that combined cards and passes can be a great way to save money, which is why I was interested in MegaPass’s Premium Pass for the French capital. 

My trip to Paris was pretty spontaneous, and as someone who enjoys visiting museums and exploring cities more deeply, I was curious to see if MegaPass was worth using. The company has multiple passes for Paris, and I felt like Premium would offer me the most flexibility. 

Beyond my own interests, though, I wanted to see if it would be worth using for you. So, after visiting Paris and trying it out for myself, I put together this comprehensive guide to help you decide.

*This post is part of a collaboration I did with MegaPass. However, all views are my unfiltered and honest thoughts.

What’s Included In MegaPass Premium for Paris?

The Premium pass is one of a handful of options you can choose if you explore Paris with MegaPass. It includes access to over 40 museums and monuments, including some of the biggest ones like The Louvre and Musée D’Orsay (I actually visited the latter). 

You can also choose from some add-ons, giving you flexibility to customize the pass as you want. I picked the River Seine Cruise and a guided tour to the Eiffel Tower second floor. The “tour” was somewhat useful, but I picked it more for expedited access to the observation deck. 

When using MegaPass Premium in Paris, you can get 1GB of eSIM data, too. Since I’m already based in another EU country, and we have free data roaming, this wasn’t too relevant for me. But if you’re visiting from somewhere outside of Europe, you’ll find this useful for navigation. 

You can also access some audio guides with MegaPass, and these are available in English and German. Whether you use these depends on your interests; I personally am not a huge fan of audio guides, but I know that some travelers like them, and I will *occasionally* use them. 

Premium is the second-highest MegaPass Paris tier and costs €149. 

What Are the Other MegaPass Options for Paris?

Before speaking about how I specifically used MegaPass Premium in Paris, I’ll cover the other three options. As I mentioned earlier, I picked the Premium option because at the time, I thought it would be the best option for me. You, however, may want to pick something else. 

You can compare all of the options for MegaPass in the French capital here.

Essential

Essential is the entry-level pass that MegaPass offers for Paris. 

The Essential pass gives you access to the iconic Louvre Museum, where you can see the Mona Lisa and other famous artworks. On top of that, you can go for an hour-long cruise along the River Seine. It includes 3 gigabytes of eSIM data, too, along with 15% off a number of attractions and experiences.

With the Essential pass, you can get a guided tour of Notre Dame’s exterior—along with accessing multiple audio tours. 

MegaPass’s Paris Essential Pass costs €64. Once you buy it, the pass is non-refundable. You can learn more and buy the pass on this page.

Classic

Classic is the next tier up from Essential. 

Whereas the Essential pass has 3GB of internet data, Classic has 1GB in comparison. However, you get free access to more attractions—such as the Panthéon, Arc de Triomphe, and Palace of Versailles. 

In addition to extra attractions, you can get 15% off a number of other places to visit in the French capital. 

MegaPass’s Classic pass costs €99, and you can buy it here. 

Deluxe

MegaPass’s Deluxe pass is the highest tier for MegaPass’s selection of Paris passes. You get 1GB of eSIM data, along with access to many of the city’s most famous museums and attractions. 

With this pass, you can skip the line at many attractions. However, you will need to book a time slot at some places; this includes the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Louvre. 

The Deluxe pass costs €229. You can learn more about it here.

How I Used MegaPass Premium for My Paris Trip

I was only in Paris for around three full days (I arrived in the afternoon on Thursday and left on Sunday evening), and as a result, I prioritized the “hell yes” experiences. I had planned to also visit the Panthéon and would have loved to see the Palace of Versailles, but decided that both would be better on future trips.

My absolute must for museums that I wanted to visit was the Musée D’Orsay. I did not know just how big it was in advance, and if I had known, I would definitely have organized my day better. Still, it was really cool to visit—and if you’re into art, I recommend coming here while you’re in Paris. It’s in a former railway station, too, so the building itself is unique. 

I also went on a cruise on the River Seine. Getting out on the water is one of my favorite things to do in most cities I visit, and considering that many of Paris’s most iconic spots are located close to either shore, this was a no-brainer for me. As it goes, this was a good choice. 

I also wanted to visit the Eiffel Tower, which is why I chose the guided tour and entry to the building’s second floor. We learned some interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower itself, and although foggy, the views of Paris from the second floor were super cool. I’d love to come back and visit the top floor, too—and I would definitely go back when the visibility is better. 

We visited the Arc de Triomphe, too, so that we could see Paris from above with the Eiffel Tower also included. This completed what I thought was a well-rounded trip, though I could have added one or two more attractions if I had been on a tighter schedule (I won’t lie, I mainly went on vibes). 

Did I Get Value for Money With MegaPass Premium?

If I had visited each of these attractions on a single ticket instead, it would have cost: 

• Eiffel Tower Guided Tour & Second Floor Elevator Access: €65.05
• One-Hour River Seine Cruise: €17
• Visiting the Arc de Triomphe: €16 (it costs more to visit in the summer)
• Musée D’Orsay: €16

Bear in mind that I visited in November, and as a result, some attractions cost less than they otherwise would. Comparatively, MegaPass’s Premium pass costs the same throughout the year.

The total value of the attractions I visited was: €114.05

Since the Premium pass costs €149, the value of the places I visited was less than the cost of single tickets. However, I also did not use the eSIM data or audio guides—which would have led to me getting more value. Moreover, I wasn’t explicitly trying to visit every place on the card. 

If I had planned my days differently and spent more time specifically exploring museums and attractions, I likely would have visited 1-2 more places. Had I done so, the pass would have cost less money than I otherwise spent. 

As I mentioned, I also visited Paris during the off-season. As a result, some attractions were cheaper than if I had been there during the peak tourist season. 

What I Liked About the MegaPass Premium Pass

Now that I’ve explained how I used the pass, I want to discuss the pros and cons. First, I’ll start with the main things I liked about MegaPass’s Paris Premium pass. 

1. It Combines Multiple Experiences Within One Place

I like to see and do a lot when I travel, especially if it’s to a city I haven’t been to before (or, in the case of Paris, had previously been to but not for a while). However, I hate having to keep track of multiple bookings in different places.

With MegaPass, I had everything I needed within a single link. Scanning my passes when entering each attraction was very simple, and it saved me and my girlfriend a lot of time and stress. If you’re like me, I would also recommend looking at something similar. 

2. Getting and Redeeming the Passes Was Easy

I have had some city pass experiences where redeeming and getting my passes required extra steps. This, for the most part, was not the case with MegaPass. Once my booking was confirmed, I received my tickets via a WhatsApp link and also through my email. 

I would have needed to contact the support team to redeem the eSIM, but this was not an issue for me. 

One thing I would say, though, is that you should definitely take screenshots of your passes and their QR codes. When I went on the River Seine boat tour, my phone’s internet conveniently decided to stop working when I needed to load my tickets. We still managed to eventually get them and board the cruise, but lesson well and truly learned 🙃. 

3. The Customer Support Team Is Helpful

MegaPass’s customer service was very helpful and answered my questions with minimal fuss. I could easily contact them, and it was made clear how I could do so. 

While most of the trip went smoothly, it was still nice to know that I could trust MegaPass to assist if something had gone particularly wrong. The team was also open to my feedback after the trip. 

4. I Got Easy Access to the Eiffel Tower’s Second Floor

The Eiffel Tower is, in my opinion, an absolute must-visit when you’re in Paris. Despite having been to the French capital before (and seeing the Eiffel Tower), I had never been to either of its observation platforms—and I wanted to change that this time.

With MegaPass, we got a guided tour to the Eiffel Tower and elevator access to its second floor (there are actually two viewing decks in this part of the building, as a side note). 

The tour itself was good for getting context about the Eiffel Tower and learning some interesting facts. However, the big selling point was that they made it easy to get to the second floor. Once we were there, everyone was allowed to go where they wanted and stay as long as they wanted (we stayed for around two hours). 

What I Would Change About the Premium Pass

While I liked most things about MegaPass’s Paris Premium pass, I noticed several areas for improvement. Below, I’ll outline these. 

1. I Should’ve Planned in Advance to Get More Out of the Pass 

This is largely my own fault for not planning properly before, but I definitely should have planned in advance to get more out of the pass. Many museums in Paris are *huge*, and I was not prepared for this. 

This was important not only because seeing them takes time, but also because it can get exhausting when you consume lots of information while you’re at them. For example, I may have considered visiting the Louvre in the evening on one of the days if I hadn’t felt so cooked by the Musée D’Orsay. 

With this in mind, only having 48 hours to visit the museums in my pass was a constraint. I also would have spent longer in Paris, in general, if I wanted to see more museums. 

Having a day or two more would’ve been better for pacing myself. If you plan to visit lots of museums in Paris, you should consider getting the 96-hour or 144-hour Paris Museum Pass instead.

2. I Also Wish That Free Public Transport Was Included

MegaPass has passes for lots of cities, some of which include public transport. For example, I used MegaPass on a trip to Tokyo and got unlimited subway rides for three days (I was in the city for five days in total). This was very useful. 

While I did not use the Metro in Paris as much as I used Tokyo’s subway, having free public transportation included would have been handy. You can still easily buy public transport tickets for Paris via the Bonjour RATP app, but not having to do so would also have been nice.

Who This Pass Is For

Whether you should buy this pass will depend on why (and when) you’re visiting Paris. If any of the below apply to you, I think it’s worth considering the Premium pass. 

1. Visitors Who Plan to See All the Major Attractions and Museums

If your main objective is to visit Paris’s major attractions and museums, you will quickly notice that these prices add up. In these instances, I think MegaPass’s Paris Premium pass can potentially save you money. 

The main reason why the pass cost more than my attractions was that I also wanted to do other things in Paris, such as bakery-hopping. And since I was there for not a huge amount of time, I was selective with my time. If I had more time, I would have spent a few days just using the pass and then others doing everything else. 

2. People Who Want to Learn More About the Places They Visit

The pass had lots of audio tours to learn more about Paris in general, and the guided tour of the Eiffel Tower taught me more than if I had just gone on my own. On top of that, I learned a lot about the places we passed on the River Seine Cruise—including Notre Dame. 

If you like learning more about the places you visit and not just seeing things, you may find this pass useful.

3. People Visiting Paris in the Summer

As I mentioned earlier, many attractions have higher prices during the peak tourist season in Paris. Despite that, MegaPass’s Premium pass costs the same throughout the year. 

Who This Pass Is *Not* For

While MegaPass’s Premium pass for Paris is useful for some travelers, not everyone will get the most value out of it. If any of these apply to you, I’d either recommend looking at the alternative pass options or just buying single-entry tickets when you want to visit.

1. You Can Use the Pass if You’re in Paris for a Short Period, but It’ll be a Rush

I can’t stress this enough: Do not underestimate how long you’ll spend at major attractions in Paris. Even if you only plan to stay for an hour or so (like we initially thought we would at the Eiffel Tower), you will often spend longer. Moreover, you’ll stop a lot when you’re in Paris generally, whether that’s to browse shops that interest you or visit different bakeries and cafés. 

If you only have a few days in Paris, and you want to do other things, trying to visit multiple attractions will turn into a rush. In these cases, I think you’re better off booking single tickets. For example, I would have happily done the River Seine cruise regardless of how long I was in the city for.

2. You Should Choose a Different Pass if You Want to See Fewer Attractions

Premium is a good choice if you plan to visit lots of museums and other points of interest, but I don’t think it’s the best option for casual visitors who just want to go to a few places. In these cases, I think you’re better off getting Essential or Classic (or just getting single tickets instead).

With the Classic pass, you can at least get free cancellation within 30 days if you don’t pick any attractions. So, you could then pick something else that’s better-suited if you change your mind. Note that the Essential pass is non-refundable.

3. Ask if You Need the Audio Guides

You can still get value for money if you don’t use the audio guides within MegaPass’s Premium pass. The same is true for its other ones. However, it’s also a good idea to calculate how much individual attractions would cost compared to getting the pass if you don’t want to use these. 

As I mentioned earlier, I’m selective when I use audio guides. I will happily use them in some places and listen to them on boat tours. But if possible, I would much rather read to take in my information. I learn infinitely better through reading (which I guess is why I teach via my blog 😄). 

Overall, Would I Recommend Using MegaPass’s Paris Premium Pass?

My experience in Paris with MegaPass Premium was pretty good, and if you specifically want to visit multiple attractions in the city, it’s worth looking at IMO.

If I were to do this again, I probably would have just picked the Classic pass for my needs. I was admittedly ambitious with how much I could cram into the time I had in Paris, especially when I wanted to go at a slower pace. I also did not consider how long it would take to visit each attraction (and I was not willing to move faster just to tick more off my list). 

If you only want to visit a few attractions, you should book single tickets instead. And if you’re going to be a power user, you may want to even consider getting the Deluxe pass. If you do use MegaPass, you will at least get access to several attractions and very good customer support—regardless of your choice. Moreover, you don’t need to download an extra app to get your tickets.

If you want to explore each pass in more detail, you can do so (and purchase your preferred option) on the MegaPass website.

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