Everything practical about using the pass, in one place. If you are still deciding, start with whether the pass is worth it and the current prices. The how-to is below.
Last updated June 2026.
FAQs
How does the Paris Museum Pass work?
It gives you free entry to more than 50 museums and monuments, one visit to each, for 2, 4, or 6 days. You get it as a bar code to keep on your phone or print. The clock runs in hours from your first scan, so a 2-day pass is 48 hours, the 4-day is 96, and the 6-day is 144. Buying early costs you nothing, because it only starts counting when you first use it.
How do you use the pass once you are there?
At most sites you walk up, show the pass, and go in, with no ticket window and no fresh payment. A few sites still want a free timed slot booked ahead, and the Louvre is the one to reserve first because its pass-holder slots are limited. Plan a couple of nearby sites each day and you waste no time crossing the city.
Is the Paris Museum Pass digital or a paper card?
Bought online, it is digital. You get a bar code by email to print or keep on your phone, though it does not yet live in Apple Wallet. Bought in person, it is a paper card.
Where do you pick up the Paris Museum Pass?
If you buy the official e-ticket online there is nothing to collect, it just arrives by email. Some resold versions are a voucher you swap for a card at an office near the Louvre, so check the format before you buy.
Do you need to book the Paris Museum Pass in advance?
You can buy the pass any time, but a few sites need a free timed slot reserved ahead: the Louvre, the Orsay, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie, the Orangerie, the Hôtel de la Marine, and the Notre-Dame Towers. Book the Louvre as early as you can.
Does the Paris Museum Pass expire once activated?
Yes. From your first scan it runs for 48, 96, or 144 straight hours and then stops. Until you use it the first time it does not start counting, so there is no rush to activate it the day you arrive.
Can you use the Paris Museum Pass twice at the same museum?
No. The pass covers one entry per site. If you want a second visit to the Louvre, that is a separate ticket.
What is not included in the Paris Museum Pass?
Temporary exhibitions are not covered, and neither are the Eiffel Tower, the Catacombs, the Atelier des Lumières, or the Palais Garnier. You can see the full roster of what the pass does cover on the included sites list.
Is the Louvre included in the Paris Museum Pass?
Yes, the Louvre is on the pass. It is also the one to book a free timed slot for first, because popular dates fill up well ahead in peak season.
Does the Paris Museum Pass include the Eiffel Tower?
No, the Eiffel Tower runs its own tickets. Book it separately and well ahead, because it sells out.
Does the Paris Museum Pass include the metro or public transport?
No. The pass covers entry to museums and monuments only, so the metro, buses and the RER are all separate. The pass that bundles travel is the Go City Paris Pass, which I weigh against the Museum Pass in our comparison.
Is the Paris Museum Pass refundable?
A pass bought on the spot is final, with no refund or exchange. If you want the option to cancel, book through a seller with free cancellation up to a day before your start date.
Do children need a Paris Museum Pass?
Usually not. Under-18s from anywhere, and EU residents under 26, get in free at most sites, so they walk in without a pass. Carry photo ID, since staff often ask. A couple of science museums do charge for children, so check those.
Is there a student, senior, or family discount?
No. There is one fixed price for everyone, with no student, senior, family or group rate. The saving comes from the free entry the pass gives you, while the price stays the same for all adults.
Can two people share one Paris Museum Pass?
No. Each traveler needs their own pass, and everyone scans their own at the entrance. One card cannot be passed between two people.
Can you buy the Paris Museum Pass in Paris?
Yes, at major museums, the two airports, and Disneyland Paris, at the same price. Buying online first lets you reserve your timed slots straight away, and a resale booking can add free cancellation.