Paris museums and transportation passes

Paris is a city with a truly enviable artistic and cultural heritage! Suffice it to mention the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay-the things to see and museums to visit in the French capital are truly many.
That's why in best organizing your travel itinerary, I recommend that you consider buying a Paris pass that will allow you to visit the city while saving time and money.

In this article you will find a comparison of the various cards and passes for museums and transportation in Paris (the choice is really wide!), highlighting advantages and disadvantages, to guide you in choosing the best tourist pass for your vacation.

Paris pass comparison

As is the case in many large cities, Paris has several passes for attractions, for transportation, and for both. Each obviously presents itself as the best and most advantageous on the market. With similar features and names so many times it gets confusing, especially if you are going on vacation to Paris for the first time and are trying to inquire online.
I have to say that when I first started evaluating Paris passes the confusion was so much, because they seemed very complicated. In reality, they are not.

I will try to shed some light and give you useful suggestions for choosing your Paris pass (or even the non-choice, sometimes it may be cheaper to buy individual attractions and visit Paris without a pass).

Be careful that by "convenience" I do not always mean "cheaper." Sometimes it can be more advantageous and, indeed, convenient, to spend a little more but have savings in terms of time and convenience, which are equally important factors when traveling.

First, let's distinguish between 2 categories of Paris Passes and see which is the best choice for you.

All-inclusive pass

These are the classic all-inclusive tourist passes, which include a long list of attractions that you can visit freely over a set period of time.

In Paris, all-inclusive passes are always made up from 1 basic pass, which can also be purchased individually if desired. This is the Paris Museum Pass, which provides access to 60+ museums, castles and monuments in and around Paris, skip-the-line, for 2, 4 or 6 days.

Various EXTRA attractions and tours are added to the museum pass. And it is precisely on the basis of the duration of the pass and these EXTRA attractions that you can lean toward one pass or another. Among the "extras," the cruise on the Seine is definitely one of the most popular attractions, highly recommended for your vacation, in addition, of course, to the climb up the Eiffel Tower.

All-inclusive passes fit for a nice rich vacation in which to visit the best Paris has to offer.

Paris all-inclusive pass comparison

Other formulas: Flexible passes

In addition to the classic all-inclusive passes, Paris offers other interesting formulas, which you will find summarized in the table below.

These are cheaper, flexible passes that are ideal for those who have already been to Paris or those who prefer to walk around and enjoy the city "en plein air" rather than visit lots of museums and attractions.

Which pass to Paris to choose?

Basically, a Paris pass will suit you if you plan to visit several museums or monuments. And given the heritage that a city like Paris has to offer, that will be the case in most cases.

If this is your first time in Paris and you want to take a classic sightseeing vacation of a few days, I recommend leaning toward an all-inclusive pass.
For the high initial cost of the pass, you will have virtually everything there is to see in Paris, and as you enter museums and visit attractions you will amortize the expense.

If perhaps this is not your first time in the French capital, or in any case you are not planning to visit many things, then you may want to buy a flexible pass, such as the Passlib or Explorer, or alternatively just take a transportation pass and enjoy the Parisian atmosphere outdoors.

Passes are generally not convenient for children or teens, as almost all museums in Paris are free for those under 26 years of age who are residents of the European Union. Therefore, avoid purchasing it for yourself or your children if in this age group.

Below I detail the individual passes, how they work, when they are convenient, and also point out the most attractive transportation pass formulas for tourists.

I start by reviewing the Paris Museum Pass, although in itself it is not the most affordable, as it is the basis on which many other Paris passes are composed.

The Museum Pass for Paris is the museum card, that is, a pass that includes more than 60 museums and monuments in the city.

For example, the Louvre, Orsay Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral (towers and crypt), Palace of Versailles, Centre Pompidou, Pantheon, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte Chapelle are included. Virtually everything you will want to visit in Paris is included in the Museum Pass.

However, it does not include the Eiffel Tower or transports.

How does the Paris Museum Pass work?

The pass is a paper card, with an accordion closed map of the museums.
It is to be presented directly at the entrance to the museums; in most cases you do not need to go to the ticket office to convert it into a ticket. This allows you to skip the lines, a convenience not to be underestimated, especially during peak tourist periods.

Museum reservations

Some museums must be booked in advance. In detail you must book your admission for the Louvre, via the appropriate website (select the option for pass holders).

Visits to the Château de Versailles, the Conciergerie or Sainte-Chapelle, the Musée de l'Orangerie, the Museum of Art and History of Judaism, the Hôtel de la Marine, and the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine should also be booked online.

When is the Paris Museum Pass worthwhile?

If you plan to visit much of the artistic heritage the city has to offer during your vacation in Paris, the pass saves you a lot of money. What's more, with the Paris Museum Pass you skip the lines.

That said, however, the pass does not include the Eiffel tour, nor does it include the Seine cruise and other interesting experiences to do in the city. This is why I recommend that you move toward one of the other passes for a more comprehensive offer.
In fact, the Paris Museum Pass is a basic item included in other Paris passes.

Museum Pass Prices

• 2 days - €79
• 4 days - €94
• 6 days - €107

Validity

The Paris Museum Pass is valid for 2, 4 or 6 consecutive days, depending on the version purchased.
Validity starts from the first use.

Where to buy the Paris Museum Pass

The Paris Museum Pass can be purchased directly in Paris, at the airport, train stations, tourist office, or at some of the museums included in the pass.

It can also be purchased in advance online, on the official website, in the electronic version.
Below is the link to purchase on Get Your Guide, a secure and useful tourist portal, in English. The paper pass should be picked up at the tourist office in Paris, Rue d'Aboukir, 23 (a 10-minute walk from the Louvre). The office is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00.

When purchasing you can decide to combine the Seine cruise (super recommended) at a special price.

The Paris Pass is one of the more comprehensive Paris passes (And it goes without saying also more expensive).

It is the typical all-inclusive pass, included in the price you will have:

• Guided ascent of the Eiffel Tower
• Cruise on the Seine with Bateaux Parisiens (highly recommended!)
• Wine, beer, champagne tastings
• Guided tours of Parisian neighborhoods (Le Marais, Latin Quarter, Montparnasse, Montmartre, along the Seine, etc.)
• Montparnasse Tower
• Little train of Montmartre
• 1-Day Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
• Additional museums, attractions, activities and tours.

In addition, for the 4- and 6-day passes you also included the Paris Museum Pass, with free admission to more than 60 museums and monuments in and around Paris, including the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, Palace of Versailles, Centre Pompidou

A full list of included attractions can be found here.

Validity

The Paris Pass is available for 2, 3, 4 or 6 days. Validity is triggered from the first use and throughout the duration you can freely do and visit all attractions included in the pass.
The 4- or 6-day Museum Pass is valid for the same duration as the Paris Pass.

You have 2 years from the date of purchase to use it.

Paris Pass Prices

The price varies according to the number of days. Below are the list prices.

• 2 days € 159 - children 2-17 € 84
• 3 days € 194 - children 2-17 € 99
• 4 days € 229 - children 2-17 € 114
• 6 days € 269 - children 2-17 € 124

These are the prices normally already discounted in the official pass website, compared to the list prices.
Try using the discount code "AFFPP5" (if still valid) to get 5% off your purchase!

When is the Paris Pass worthwhile?

The Paris Pass is suitable for a vacation full of museums and attractions, to be enjoyed without much thought. Great for example if you are on your first time in Paris and plan to see as many things as possible. Also worth considering is theskip-the-line admission that can save you quite a bit of time.
The convenience is had by entering several museums, even without the commitment to stay long because "they are already paid for anyway."

With only a few days, however, although you can potentially access a lot of attractions, you will not have time to see much, so the pass is less convenient. The more days you stay, the more things you can see and therefore the more the convenience of the Paris Pass increases. So I would say that the convenience is if you stay at least 4 to 6 days.

How does the Paris Pass work?

The pass can only be purchased online and is used directly from your smartphone.
Similarly, Paris Museum Pass is also downloaded online through the reservation area.

The Paris Pass allows you to skip the line at some of the most popular attractions, thus providing you with nice time savings during peak season. You will have priority access to the Louvre Museum, the Musée d'Orsay, the Centre Pompidou, and the Grevin Wax Museum.

Where to buy it

The Paris Pass can be purchased online, on the official website. Try using the discount code "AFFPP5" (if still valid) to get 5% off your purchase!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR PURCHASING PARIS PASS: https://parispass.com/it-us/paris-attractions/pricing

The Paris All-inclusive Pass, or Paris All-inclusive Pass, as the name well anticipates, is a pass that Includes virtually everything there is to see in Paris.

Pricing and operation are identical to the Paris Pass, so I won't go into too much explanation, you can refer to the detail above for the Paris Pass. It is actually offered by the same company, Go City, which at the moment has chosen to show the same offer. I assume that it will soon combine the two passes or present a differentiated offer.

Again, the Paris Museum Pass is included only in the 4- or 6-day options.

No need to print or pick up anything, you just show the pass directly from your smartphone.

Paris All-inclusive Pass Prices

• 2 days € 159 - children 2-17 € 84
• 3 days € 199 - children 2-17 € 99
• 4 days € 229 - children 2-17 € 114
• 6 days € 269 - children 2-17 € 124

These prices are those usually already discounted in the official pass website, compared to the list prices.
Try using the discount code "AFFPP5" to get an additional 5% off your purchase!

When does it pay off?

Again, since the proposal identical to the Paris Pass, the same considerations apply.
The difference from other Paris passes is the extra attractions included. If they interest you, it is the right choice and the price is affordable!

Where to purchase it?

The Paris All-inclusive Pass is created and sold by Go City, which offers passes to many locations around the world. It can only be purchased online, on the official website, which can be reached by clicking the button below.

Use the discount code "AFFPP5" to get 5% off your purchase!

The Paris Passlib' is a pass to visit Paris, issued directly by the city's Tourist Board, includes visits to 3, 4, 5 or 6 museums or experiences:

• Paris Passlib' MINI - 3 attractions
  Free admission to 3 museums and monuments in and around Paris from a choice of 14, including a cruise on the Seine, Centre Pompidou, Rodin Museum, Panthéon, etc.
  Full list here.
• Paris Passlib' CULTURE - 4 attractions
  Free admission to 4 museums and monuments in and around Paris from a choice of 19, including a cruise on the Seine, Eiffel Tower, Centre Pompidou, Rodin Museum, Panthéon, etc.
  Full list here.
• Paris Passlib' CITY- 5 attractions
  Free admission to 5 museums and monuments in and around Paris, from a choice of 33, including a cruise on the Seine with a glass of champagne, the Centre Pompidou, the Rodin Museum, the Panthéon, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Orangerie, etc.
  Full list here.
• Paris Passlib' EXPLORE - 6 attractions
  free admission to 6 museums and monuments in and around Paris, from a choice of 38, including a Seine cruise with a glass of champagne, the Centre Pompidou, the Rodin Museum, the Panthéon, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Orangerie, a guided bike tour of Paris or a hop-on hop-off bus ride, etc.
  Full list here.
• Paris Passlib' EXPLORE + - 6 "special" attractions
  free admission to 6 museums and monuments in and around Paris, from a choice of 57, including a Seine cruise with a glass of champagne, the Centre Pompidou, the Rodin Museum, the Panthéon, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Orangerie, a guided bike tour of Paris or a hop-on hop-off bus ride, culinary tastings, macarons-making workshop, etc.
  Full list here.

Validity

The Paris Passlib' is valid for 1 year. The validity starts from the first attraction you visit.

Paris Passlib' prices

• Paris Passlib' Mini: Adults € 49
• Paris Passlib' Culture: Adults € 75
• Paris Passlib' City: Adults € 99
• Paris Passlib' Explore: Adults € 169
• Paris Passlib' Explore+ (ex Prestige): Adults € 249

To understand the conditions that apply to children and teens check the official website
Consider that almost all museums are free for EU residents up to age 25.

When does it pay off?

The Passlib' might be the right solution for those who plan to visit or have already seen the museums of Paris.

The attractions included are not many, and the formulas involve having to choose from a shortlist. You might consider it for a short vacation, perhaps a weekend, where you lack material time to visit many things.

How does it work?

The operation of the Passlib' is similar to that of other passes: once you purchase the pass online you can choose the activities you like best. The pass is activated the first time you use it and is valid for one year from then on.
You will only need to present the pass at the entrance or in some rare cases you will have to convert the pass at the ticket office.

Where to buy it

The Paris Passlib' pass can be purchased online at the Tourist Board website, via the button below.
Once you purchase and enter your information, they will email you a QR code, and you can download the dedicated app. It is totally digital.

A interesting formula is the one offered by Go City with the Paris Explorer Pass. This pass allows theadmission to 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions of your choice Among the more than 40 included.
Validity is 60 days from first use.

The list of attractions to choose from is original. That is, there are not the usual cartel attractions, but guided tours, special experiences and activities to experience a different Paris.

The pass is digital, you can show it directly from your smartphone, no need to print vouchers or pick up the card when you arrive in Paris.

Paris Explorer Pass Prices

• 3 attractions € 104 - children 2-12 years € 69
• 4 attractions € 129 - children 2-12 years € 94
• 5 attractions € 159 - children 2-12 years € 114
• 6 attractions € 179 - children 2-12 years € 139
• 7 attractions € 204 - children 2-12 years old € 154

Use the discount code "AFFPP5" to get 5% off your purchase!

When does it pay off?

The Explorer Pass is suitable for those who may have already been to Paris and visited the must-see attractions.
It allows you to try a number of special activities, tours, and experiences outside the usual tourist routes. In addition to the classic boat ride on the Seine, you can participate in tastings, a pastry class to make macarons, take a tour of Montmartre on the little train, and best of all, there are tickets to Disneyland Paris! You can find thefull list of included attractions here.

Where to purchase it?

The Paris Explorer Pass is sold by Go City and can only be purchased online, on the official website, which can be reached by clicking the button below.

Use the discount code "AFFPP5" to get 5% off your purchase!

The Paris City Pass was another of the passes available for Paris. It currently no longer exists under that name; in its place is the Paris City Pass also known as the Paris Digital Pass, which includes some of the top attractions, plus a 10 percent discount on everything else.

It is in my opinion a very practical and functional solution, which is suitable for different types of trips.
It allows you to visit some of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris, in detail: climb the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Seine River Cruise. Plus you will receive a dedicated promo code to get 10% discount on all other attractions, museums, tours of Paris, always bookable on the same Tiqets site that offers these passes.

Also of interest is the excellent audio guide app included in the price, with descriptions and audio commentary by local experts, interactive maps, walking and public transportation routes.

Paris Digital Pass Prices

The base price per adult is €59

Discounts are then provided by age group. In fact, Tiqets takes into account the discounts available to EU Residents under 26 years of age by providing dedicated discounts.

When does it pay off?

One of the strengths of this pass is that you can book attractions in advance and can do everything online. Unlike other passes, in this case you have immediately included the city's most iconic attractions, namely the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Seine Cruise. Everything else (museums, tours, other attractions) you can purchase online at a 10% discount. The discount is applied to your specific ticket denomination, so if there is a reduction for children or youth under 26, 10% is added to the reduction.

A great solution for first-time visitors to Paris who want to enjoy all the privileges of booking online in advance.

Where to purchase it?

This Paris pass is a creation of Tiqets, sold directly on their official website. It is not available for purchase on site.

The Paris Summer Pass used to be a good tourist card for sightseeing. I say "was" because it has not been available for several years.

Paris transportation passes

If you are looking for a Paris pass that includes only public transportation, I recommend evaluating between Paris Visite and Paris Navigo.

These are passes designed for tourists, allowing unlimited use of Paris transportation, for short periods.

Better Paris Visite or Navigo Découverte?

There is no exact answer to this question. Your choice of Paris transportation pass depends on how many days you stay, when you arrive, where you are staying, etc.

On balance, the Paris Navigo pass costs less than the Paris Visite, lasts more days, and you can use it again if you return to Paris within 10 years.
On theflip side, however, it is valid only from Monday to Sunday, while you often go on vacation at the turn of the weekend, and it does not provide discounts on attractions and museums, which are offered by the Paris Visite instead.

Paris Visite

The Paris Visite is a pass that includes only public transportation. You will have unlimited access to Paris transportation for the duration of the pass. Public transportation is defined as the metro, RER, streetcars, buses (except the Fileo, tourist circuits and Air France lines) and the Montmartre funicular.
With the Paris Visite you can also take advantage of a number of discounts for stores, landmarks in Paris. For example, you have 25% discount on the Tour Montparnasse, 25% on the Grévin Museum, and a reduced ticket for a 2-day pass to the Palace of Versailles.

The Paris Visite Pass can be purchased for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days , which correspond to the period of validity of this Paris transportation pass.
It can be purchased for zones 1-3, which correspond to the center of Paris and immediate suburbs, or for zones 1-5, which include Orly and CDG airports and around Paris, going as far as Disneyland and Versailles (see image).

As a reference, keep in mind that from 5 or 6 rides a day you are better off doing the Paris Visite.

Prices Paris Visite

ZONES 1-3

• 1 day: Adults € 14.90 / children (4-11) € 7.50
• 2 days: Adults € 24,30 / children (4-11) € 12,10
• 3 days: Adults € 34 / children (4-11) € 17
• 5 days: Adults € 48,90 / children (4-11) € 24,40

ZONES 1-5

• 1 day: Adults € 31.40 / children (4-11) € 15.70
• 2 days: Adults € 47,70 / children (4-11) € 23,90
• 3 days: Adults € 68,50 / children (4-11) € 34,30
• 5 days: Adults € 81,80 / children (4-11) € 40,90

The Paris Visite transportation pass can be purchased at the Paris at stations, at ticket offices or vending machines, or online at thetourist office website.

Paris Navigo

What is called Paris Passe Navigo Découverte is an "empty" card that is purchased at the cost of 5€. The card is valid for 10 years and you can load lump sums into it or Weekly or monthly subscriptions.

The weekly subscription is valid strictly from Monday to Sunday, and can only be purchased until Thursday for the current week.
The monthly one can be purchased from the 20th day of the previous month, until the 19th day of the month of validity.

Despite limitations on validity, the Navigo pass is very affordable, even if you only use it for a few days. The cost of the pass varies depending on the metro and transportation zones you want to include. To give you an idea, theweekly zone 1-5 pass costs € 30.75, to which must be added the € 5 one-time pass fee. This makes a total of € 35 - definitely a good price when compared to the Paris Visite.
The monthly one costs € 86.40. There are no reductions for children.

The Navigo Pass cannot be purchased online, only at metro ticket offices or SNCF stations in Paris, or at RATP contracted merchants.
To get the pass you will have to hand in an original passport photo. So I recommend that you bring one from home, otherwise you will also have to add the cost of issuing passport photos!

The Navigo Pass unlike the Paris Visite is not valid on the Optile network, Orlyval, which among other things connects the city with Orly Airport.

More information on the official website.