A Practical Guide to Visiting the Musée D’Orsay in Paris

Of the many excellent museums in Paris, I wanted to make the Musée D’Orsay a priority for my visit. Located in what was previously the Gare d’Orsay train station, this vast museum features artworks from several eras. On top of that, you can get some cool views of the River Seine and Sacre-Cœur in the background. 

I’ll be completely honest with you: I was so unprepared for this part of the trip. I had done minimal research beforehand, and as mentioned in my Paris tips for first-time visitors, I was less aware of how big the city’s major museums are. 

Nonetheless, the Musée D’Orsay is well worth visiting. I really enjoyed my time there and think that you absolutely should visit. To ensure you’re better prepared than I was, I’ve put together this complete guide with suggestions on navigating the museum, what to expect when you arrive, how to buy tickets, and more. 

I’ll Say This From the Start: Do Not Underestimate the Museum’s Size

When I say that the Musée D’Orsay is huge, I’m not joking. The museum’s thousands of artworks are spread across five floors, and it honestly looks like a shopping mall when you enter. This is not a place that you can spend an hour or two at and see everything. 

On each of these floors, you’ll find a number of rooms with different exhibitions. Truly taking these in and appreciating the art will take more time than you expect. Make sure you consider this so that you don’t feel like you need to rush; I’d suggest keeping your itinerary a bit more relaxed so that you can spend as much time as you want. 

Passing the Security Check and Using the Cloakroom

Once you arrive at the museum, you will first need to join the queue that applies to you. I suggest purchasing your tickets in advance (more on that soon) to speed up the process. Because I already had mine, I didn’t need to wait in a long queue. 

Before entering the museum, you need to go through a security check. This is the same as most major attractions in Paris, and you’ll need to put your bag and coat through a metal detector. It doesn’t take long once you’re at the front of the queue, but you can speed things up further by preparing for when it’s your turn. 

Once you’ve passed through security and scanned your tickets, you can leave your belongings in the cloakroom. The lockers are see-through, so you can tell which is yours. Note, however, that there is limited space—and they fill up quickly. Also, be prepared for some people not to understand the concept of queueing and trying to barge past you. 🙂

The lockers are free to use and suitable for coats and small bags. You’re not allowed to bring big bags or suitcases. To lock them, you’ll enter a code; when you’ve visited the museum and are ready to leave, you can enter this code again to retrieve your items.

Since the lockers are see-through, I don’t recommend leaving valuables in clear sight for obvious reasons. 

I Recommend Buying Tickets in Advance to Speed Everything Up

Tickets are slightly cheaper (€14) if you buy them at the museum, but I recommend paying the extra money and buying a ticket in advance; it’s only slightly more expensive. You can buy tickets via the official website for €16 (adults), but if you do, you cannot get a refund unless the museum closes for some reason. If you need flexibility, you can buy tickets via Viator and get free cancellation within 24 hours; note, however, that you’ll pay slightly more. 

How I Recommend Navigating the Museum

To help me figure out where everything was, I picked up a map before continuing to explore the museum. You’ll find these at the front before you enter the exhibition area, and I suggest also picking up a map for your visit.

After picking up my map, I briefly visited all of the floors to get my bearings. You’ll find stairs, elevators, and escalators at the museum, so it’s pretty easy to get around. After quickly seeing each floor, I went back to the bottom. 

I then decided on what I was mainly interested in and prioritized those exhibitions. For example, there was one about Art Nouveau in Northern Europe that I really wanted to see. My idea was that if I focused on these, I could then see anything else that seemed interesting thereafter. 

Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Views of Paris While You’re Here

Besides being interested in art, one of the reasons I visited the Musée D’Orsay was for photography. While I was here, I found some great views of the River Seine with Montmartre in the far background. While it was a cloudy day (to the point that the Eiffel Tower’s top was obscured), I could still (somewhat) see Sacre-Cœur. 

I wasn’t allowed onto the balcony, but the views through the window were still cool. As I wandered around other parts, I could see parts of the nearby street and some of the roofs outside. 

Besides the views of Paris, the clock on the fifth floor is also worth seeing. This is where you’ll find many photos taken from the museum. I didn’t spend too long here because the crowds were big, but it was still cool to see. 

How Long Should You Expect to Spend at the Musée D’Orsay?

I spent around three hours at the museum, which frankly was not enough. However, I had other things I’d booked after my stay. To see everything at the museum, I think you need 4-5 hours. 

This includes breaks, because it does get exhausting to look at so much information in one go. Yes, that’s longer than some people recommend… but I want you to enjoy your visit without feeling rushed. 

The good news is that you’ll find several seating areas throughout the museum. As a result, you don’t need to be on your feet all the time. 

Since this is one of the most popular museums in Paris, I recommend arriving at the Musée D’Orsay as early as possible. If you can get here for opening time, that’s even better. It was quite relaxed when I first arrived, but things quickly became crowded thereafter. I was also lucky to visit early because it meant that I actually got a locker in the changing room. 

Getting to the Museum

The Musée D’Orsay has an RER train station right next to it. However, your best mode of transport will largely depend on where in Paris you’re staying. 

For example, I stayed at the Grand Hotel Lafayette in Le Marais. The easiest way to reach the museum was, as a result, to take the Metro to Solférino (it’s a six-minute walk from the Musée D’Orsay). 

Solférino is served by Line 12, and there are a handful of other Metro stations within walking distance. Concorde is 15 minutes away, for example, and Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre is roughly the same length. 

So, if you’re already exploring Paris before visiting the Musée D’Orsay, it may not take you too long to walk. I could’ve walked from my hotel in 45 minutes, but I know myself well enough to accept that I’d have been distracted taking photos instead 🙂. 

Final Thoughts

The Musée D’Orsay is one of my top recommendations for visiting Paris, and if you love art, I think it’s an absolute must for your itinerary. However, the museum can be overwhelming if you aren’t used to places of that size (clearly, I’m showing that despite being from London, I’m actually a village boy at heart). 

I don’t want you to make the same mistakes that I did, which is why I wrote this guide. Now that you’ve read all my tips, you should be in a better place to enjoy your visit without getting frustrated. If you have any further questions, you can always leave a comment, and I’ll help where possible. 🙂

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