If you're unsure what to do in Paris the Paris Museum Pass is a good place to start. With access to over 50 museums and monuments visiting a few will fill up your day. The pass can be bought in advance and saved to an app on your phone for easy planning. Another great thing about the Paris Museum Pass is that it offer a choice of 3 passes: 2 days, 4 days, or 6 days allowing you to be flexible with your plans.
WHERE TO START?
However, once you get it, where do you start? What should you do? During our time in Paris, we tried to reach way more sites than we were able to comfortably managed. We'd recommend picking 2-3 spots per day, max, to visit. Take note of where they are located in Paris as the city is quite large. And, don't stress out if you purchase the pass and don't do everything on there!
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Originally a railway station, the Musée d'Orsay was hands down our favorite spot in Paris. With art from world renown artists like Van Gough and Monet, this museum is a must see. It's not as popular as other sites in Paris which is also a bonus. However, you should be aware the lines are quite long. Having the Paris Museum Pass saved us nearly an hour of waiting in line. If you plan to visit the Musée d'Orsay, this pass is a huge help to save time entering the exhibit.
Left to Right: Statues on the main floor, Monet's Water Lillies, Musée d'Orsay clock
The Arc de Triomphe is a large monument that was built to commemorate French's victory in various battles. As you get closer to the structure, stay alert to the carvings in the stone. The intricate pictures tell a story of each wars struggle and accomplishment. The Arc de Triomphe was built to remind those soldiers returning from war of their bravery and pride they should have in their country, and themselves. Prior to visiting, I primarily knew this site for the iconic arch, but being there and learning about the history was very neat.
The view standing underneath the Arc d'triomphe. Such elaborate detail.
The Louvre!!!! Truly an icon. This museum not only contains art work, but is a piece of art itself. The grounds are expansive with many intricately built buildings and gardens that extend at the entrance, the Louvre has a profound presence in the city. When making your way around the Louvre there are guides you can purchase and wear to learn more about the history. Or, log into the free wifi and navigate the the Musée du Louvre official website and they have guides that you can read and follow along as you walk through the exhibits. Of course the famous Mona Lisa is at the Louvre, but don't bypass all of the other amazing works of art on the way. And, like any good tourist attraction, be prepared for mass chaos when you reach the Mona Lisa.
The Pyramid outside of the Museum - visitors here to reach the exhibits.
The Musée du Quai Branly is known for its large collection of artwork originating in Africa, Asia, Oceanica, and the Americas which provide a look into the cultural history during from the Neolithic period to the 20th Century. This represents over 20,000 years of history. From the museum you can clearly see the Eiffel Tower from the back gardens and even the rooftop. On the roof top is a fine dining restaurant, Les Ombres. There you can order a multi-course meal from a preselected menu and enjoy unobstructed rooftop views of the Eiffel Tower.
Stunning views of the Eiffel Tower from Les Ombres.
Saint-Chapelle is a Gothic style royal chapel that was apart of the homes of the Kings of France until the 14th century. Most known for its intricate stained glass windows, visitors should take note of the details of each window as they portray over 1,000 scenes from the Old and New Testament. The museum pass will get you in the chapel, but there are other passes that you can bypass the line. If you're short on time, we may recommend you look into that option as well.
Sainte-Chapelle can easily be recognized by the spire atop the church which is 108ft (33m) high.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
These were only 5 spots of the over 50 monuments and sites - this list is not all encompassing, but these were our favorites! At the end of the day we'd get the pass again for the convenience factor and the ability to hop in and out of places that spark your interest while you're there.
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