Slow Travel Paris - Budget Tips To Maximize Museum Visits
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| Grand Palais, Paris Southeast Loggia Mosaic Walls © Slow Travel Tales, 5.2.2012 |
Wouldn't it be nice to take your time in a museum, to wander on each floor, and look in each room? A daily and weekly visit, of several hours at a time, allows you to linger, listen to audio, ponder the artist's technique and subject matter. You're able to fully appreciate the art and antiquities on display. You can even take along your Paris travel notebook or sketchbook and pencils, find a nice spot to sit inside the gallery, and practice your craft. If you've only experienced part of the art collection on one day, you can return to see more of the collection at other times.
The down side of regular multiple museum visits is that the individual entrance ticket fees will soon escalate and would put you over your living abroad budget.
The good news is, there are several cost saving ways to still attend multiple venues and participate in activities while staying within your travel and living budget. When doing your slow travel planning and research, seek out activities and events that offer:
- Free daily entrance
- Free once a week entrance
- Free once a month entrance
- Discounts based on age (youth under 19, student under 26, and senior over 60, 62, or 65)
- Discounts associated with airline or train tickets (British Airways, Eurostar, Thalys)
- City discount cards
- Annual membership
1 Year / Annual Museum Memberships
If you'll be living, studying, or working in Europe for 3 or more months, consider becoming a 'Friend' of the museum. You'll be able to freely visit as often as you want. Joining any museum association for a year, as a Friend, will end up saving you money during your time living in the city. It will also maximize your art appreciation. Think of it as becoming one of several thousand museum association members who love art. Your annual membership will help support the museum's missions in individual departments, as well as in education, information, restoration, and acquisition.
In any European city, the average yearly membership fee for an individual membership card ranges from €25 - €80 ($28 - $90). Compare this to buying a 1-3 day discount City Card which ranges from €27 - €65 ($30 - $73) or an average single entrance fee of €15 ($17).
A yearly Friend of the Museum membership will include several perks such as:
- Free admission to permanent collections and temporary exhibitions
- Free or discounted admission to sister or partner museums and galleries
- Free or discounted audio guides
- Free Friends membership booklet
- No need to book a spot in advance
- No need to stand in long waiting lines
- Discounts on tours, workshops, and other activities
- Discounts in museum shops
- Access to activities exclusively organized for the Friends
The museum membership cards I opted to purchase, while living in Paris, gave me a nice feeling of having more freedom of movement. If I was in the vicinity of an art gallery or museum, and wasn't ready to go home yet, I could pop into the gallery for an hour or two, and spend more time in specific areas of the building. In fact, I made it a point to visit the Musee d'Orsay on Thursdays because they stay open until 9:45 pm. I'd also go to the Louvre on Wednesday and Friday because they too stay open until 9:45 pm. On most nights you can view the Pompidou collections until 9 pm.
Special Security Note:
Each Paris museum and art gallery had very good security measures in place prior to the 13 November 2015 terror attacks. Since then, for the safety of their visitors, all museums and galleries have implemented strict security measures authorized by French authorities.
Therefore, the first line you'll be waiting in is for the extra security checks at the entrance (metal detectors and bag searches - usually, only bags smaller than 60 cm x 40 cm / 2 ft x 1 ft 4" are allowed). Once inside, I'd suggest that you locate the cloakroom to store your jacket and other heavy carry items so you may enjoy your visit and move around more freely. However, be sure to keep valuables with you. Some museums offer self-service lockers to store your small personal items.
If you don't have a special card, pass, or ticket already in hand upon your first visit, don't worry too much about having to wait long in ticket lines. My onsite ticket buying experience was always easier than anticipated.
Below is information about three primary Paris art gallery and museum annual membership card options.
Special Security Note:
Each Paris museum and art gallery had very good security measures in place prior to the 13 November 2015 terror attacks. Since then, for the safety of their visitors, all museums and galleries have implemented strict security measures authorized by French authorities.
Therefore, the first line you'll be waiting in is for the extra security checks at the entrance (metal detectors and bag searches - usually, only bags smaller than 60 cm x 40 cm / 2 ft x 1 ft 4" are allowed). Once inside, I'd suggest that you locate the cloakroom to store your jacket and other heavy carry items so you may enjoy your visit and move around more freely. However, be sure to keep valuables with you. Some museums offer self-service lockers to store your small personal items.
If you don't have a special card, pass, or ticket already in hand upon your first visit, don't worry too much about having to wait long in ticket lines. My onsite ticket buying experience was always easier than anticipated.
Below is information about three primary Paris art gallery and museum annual membership card options.
Musee d'Orsay
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| Musee d'Orsay, Paris |
ADDRESS
Musee d'Orsay
1 Rue de la Legion d'Honneur, 75007, Paris
Ticket Desk 6 - Closed Monday
Thursday: 9:30 am - 9 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9:30 am - 5 pm
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES
Basic Member: €52 per person / €79 for a couple ($58 / $88)
Youth 18 - 35: €25 per person / €40 for a couple ($28 / $45)
BENEFITS
• Full year of unlimited access to:
The Musee d'Orsay
Musee de l'Orangerie
• Admission to temporary exhibitions
• Come and go as you please
• Discounts for:
Audio Guides
Concerts, and shows in the auditorium
• Receive advance information about events at the museums
• Special rates and benefits offered by the museums' cultural partners
In advance of your museum visit, you'll need to print and fill out the Carte Blanche membership form. I'd suggest that you bring supporting documents with you such as a copy of your passport and apartment rental paperwork so the museum representative may confirm your name and address if necessary.
When making your Paris apartment reservation, make sure the owner will give you access to the mailbox (and put your name on it) because you'll need a street and apartment mailing address to fill in on the membership form. This is necessary because the Musee d'Orsay will mail your permanent plastic membership card to your apartment address approximately 3 weeks after you apply.
By applying for and paying your membership fee in person, at the Ticket Desk 6, you'll be given a temporary paper membership card, valid for the interim period, which will allow you full membership access and perks.
During my Paris slow travel stay of 3 months, I thought that the apartment concierge knew who I was and which flat I was living in because I would greet him each day. But, apparently because my name was not on the mailbox, my permanent membership card was returned to the Musee d'Orsay.
One day when I returned to the Musee d'Orsay, a ticket attendant looked at my paper card, saw it was a month old, would not let me enter the main gallery, and told me to go talk to the ticket manager.
The manager understood my problem (I didn't receive the permanent card in the mail). He went to another office in the museum, found the returned mail with my permanent card inside the envelope, and gave it to me.
A few weeks later, I received more mail from the museum and the apartment concierge started sliding my mail under the door, which was a nice gesture.
MUSEE d'ORSAY ENTRANCES
Entrance A: Individual visitors
Entrance B: Pre-booked adult groups
Entrance C: Priority access and individual visitors with a ticket
Entrance D: Pre-booked school groups
TIP: The Musee d'Orsay partners with several other institutions. If you're a member of one of them, you may receive a reduction when you apply for a Carte Blanche card. You'll need to submit photocopy proof of your membership with your application.
Partner reduced membership fees:
Basic Membership - €42 per person / €65 for a couple ($47 / $73)
Youth 18 - 35 - €20 per person / €32 for a couple ($23 / $36)
Musee d'Orsay Partners
• Le Louvre Abu Dhabi
• Friend of the Louvre / Societe des Amis du Louvre
• Opera National de Paris
• Galeries Nationales - Grand Palais - Carte Sesame
• Paris Musees
• Theatre de l'Odeon
MUSEE d'ORSAY OPENING HOURS
Daily 9:30 am - 6 pm, except Mondays (closed)
Thursday is late night, open until 9:45 pm
Note: During my 3 month Paris stay, I went to the museum 12 times for their late night viewing. With the Carte Blanche card, the cost of admission worked out to be approximately €4.30 ($4.80) per visit
TICKETS
The first Sunday of each month, the museum is open from 9:30 am - 6 pm and admission is free for all visitors.
Full ticket price €14 ($15.50 +/-)
CLOAKROOM
The museum Cloakroom is on the ground floor on the right side before the gallery entrance. Depending on the seasons it may fill up soon. They accept jackets and small bags. Be prepared to leave ID for security reasons (I chose to leave my driver's licence). My favorite style of carry bag is a messenger bag and a small cross body purse/day bag. I can stuff my jacket in the messenger bag (with my water, sunglasses, notebook, snacks, etc.) and then check it in the cloakroom. I keep the valuables and small purse/bag with me.
INFORMATION
This Musee d'Orsay mini guide map will help you learn your way around the floors and rooms.
The Musee d'Orsay has prepared many, very interesting, educational information sheets (in PDF's) that you can use to prepare your own self guided visit. The first visitor information sheet is an 8 page presentation About the Musee d'Orsay, it's history, the collections, and suggestions for your visit.
However, to get you started learning more about the Musee d'Orsay, you might like to listen to this free online 56 minute podcast of the Orsay Museum Audio Tour by Rick Steves.
Musee du Louvre - the easiest way to become a Friend of the Louvre is to apply at the Amis du Louvre museum office. It's located in the Louvre passageway between the Pyramid and the Galerie du Carrousel. It's in the large main area (Cour Napoleon) with the exhibition hall entrances, the coatroom, and information desk. They may have a brochure application there for you to fill out. When I got my card, the representative took my photo and prepared the card on site. It was quick and easy.
However, I'd suggest that you come prepared with a passport size photo, just in case. I forgot to pack extra passport photos but was able to get new ones by using the photo booth inside the Carrousel du Louvre on level 0, which is in the passageway leading to the Palais Royal / Musee du Louvre Metro entrance.
If you apply via the online Membership Form, make sure you have access to your apartment mailbox and that your name is on the box, because your Friend of the Louvre membership card will be mailed to your home within 7 days.
ADDRESS
Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France, 75001
HOURS
Membership Office
Closed Tuesday
Monday, Thursday: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Wednesday, Friday: 9:30 am - 8 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am - 1 pm / 2 pm - 5:30 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 1 pm / 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE
Basic Member: €80 per person / €120 for couple ($89 / $134)
Youth Card: Under 26 - €15 per person / €28 for a couple ($17 / $31)
Age 26-29 - €35 per person / €60 for a couple ($39 / $67)
BENEFITS
• Free unlimited and priority access to permanent collections and exhibitions
• Free access for a companion on Wednesday and Friday evenings (after 6 pm)
• Free quarterly publications:
The Grande Galerie magazine
The Agenda du Louvre (event schedule)
The Amis du Louvre newsletter
• Invitations to lecture programs
• Reduced admission fees in over 100 French museums
• Special offers, discounts, and more
As a Friend of the Louvre, your membership entitles you to use the special Rue de Rivoli, Richelieu entrance. It's in an alcove between the exterior street and interior pyramid courtyard. By entering here, after a small security checkpoint, you'll continue into the Louvre's French sculpture gallery that is on the ground floor of the Richelieu wing or take the escalator into the entry hall.
You may learn more practical information by viewing this Louvre PDF brochure about the collections, floors, and wings.
If you take the Metro and arrive at the Palais Royal/Musee du Louvre stop, you may continue walking underground and enter the Carrousel du Louvre, which is a large 2 floor shopping and restaurant mall. Walk through the mall to the Louvre security check point. Once through security, you may enter the Louvre's main entrance hall. You may also enter the Carrousel du Louvre from their street side entrance at 99 Rue de Rivoli, and take the escalator down.
One day when I returned to the Musee d'Orsay, a ticket attendant looked at my paper card, saw it was a month old, would not let me enter the main gallery, and told me to go talk to the ticket manager.
The manager understood my problem (I didn't receive the permanent card in the mail). He went to another office in the museum, found the returned mail with my permanent card inside the envelope, and gave it to me.
A few weeks later, I received more mail from the museum and the apartment concierge started sliding my mail under the door, which was a nice gesture.
MUSEE d'ORSAY ENTRANCES
Entrance A: Individual visitors
Entrance B: Pre-booked adult groups
Entrance C: Priority access and individual visitors with a ticket
Entrance D: Pre-booked school groups
Partner reduced membership fees:
Basic Membership - €42 per person / €65 for a couple ($47 / $73)
Youth 18 - 35 - €20 per person / €32 for a couple ($23 / $36)
Musee d'Orsay Partners
• Le Louvre Abu Dhabi
• Friend of the Louvre / Societe des Amis du Louvre
• Opera National de Paris
• Galeries Nationales - Grand Palais - Carte Sesame
• Paris Musees
• Theatre de l'Odeon
MUSEE d'ORSAY OPENING HOURS
Daily 9:30 am - 6 pm, except Mondays (closed)
Thursday is late night, open until 9:45 pm
Note: During my 3 month Paris stay, I went to the museum 12 times for their late night viewing. With the Carte Blanche card, the cost of admission worked out to be approximately €4.30 ($4.80) per visit
TICKETS
The first Sunday of each month, the museum is open from 9:30 am - 6 pm and admission is free for all visitors.
Full ticket price €14 ($15.50 +/-)
CLOAKROOM
The museum Cloakroom is on the ground floor on the right side before the gallery entrance. Depending on the seasons it may fill up soon. They accept jackets and small bags. Be prepared to leave ID for security reasons (I chose to leave my driver's licence). My favorite style of carry bag is a messenger bag and a small cross body purse/day bag. I can stuff my jacket in the messenger bag (with my water, sunglasses, notebook, snacks, etc.) and then check it in the cloakroom. I keep the valuables and small purse/bag with me.
INFORMATION
This Musee d'Orsay mini guide map will help you learn your way around the floors and rooms.
The Musee d'Orsay has prepared many, very interesting, educational information sheets (in PDF's) that you can use to prepare your own self guided visit. The first visitor information sheet is an 8 page presentation About the Musee d'Orsay, it's history, the collections, and suggestions for your visit.
I didn't include links to any Musee d'Orsay apps because they each got very bad reviews.
However, to get you started learning more about the Musee d'Orsay, you might like to listen to this free online 56 minute podcast of the Orsay Museum Audio Tour by Rick Steves.
Musee du Louvre
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| Louvre, Paris - Richelieu entrance on Rue de Rivoli at Place du Palais Royal |
However, I'd suggest that you come prepared with a passport size photo, just in case. I forgot to pack extra passport photos but was able to get new ones by using the photo booth inside the Carrousel du Louvre on level 0, which is in the passageway leading to the Palais Royal / Musee du Louvre Metro entrance.
If you apply via the online Membership Form, make sure you have access to your apartment mailbox and that your name is on the box, because your Friend of the Louvre membership card will be mailed to your home within 7 days.
ADDRESS
Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France, 75001
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| Friends of the Louvre / Amis du Louvre Membership Desk Map, Paris Slow Travel Tales |
Membership Office
Closed Tuesday
Monday, Thursday: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Wednesday, Friday: 9:30 am - 8 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am - 1 pm / 2 pm - 5:30 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 1 pm / 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE
Basic Member: €80 per person / €120 for couple ($89 / $134)
Youth Card: Under 26 - €15 per person / €28 for a couple ($17 / $31)
Age 26-29 - €35 per person / €60 for a couple ($39 / $67)
BENEFITS
• Free unlimited and priority access to permanent collections and exhibitions
• Free access for a companion on Wednesday and Friday evenings (after 6 pm)
• Free quarterly publications:
The Grande Galerie magazine
The Agenda du Louvre (event schedule)
The Amis du Louvre newsletter
• Invitations to lecture programs
• Reduced admission fees in over 100 French museums
• Special offers, discounts, and more
As a Friend of the Louvre, your membership entitles you to use the special Rue de Rivoli, Richelieu entrance. It's in an alcove between the exterior street and interior pyramid courtyard. By entering here, after a small security checkpoint, you'll continue into the Louvre's French sculpture gallery that is on the ground floor of the Richelieu wing or take the escalator into the entry hall.
You may learn more practical information by viewing this Louvre PDF brochure about the collections, floors, and wings.
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| Galerie Carrousel Louvre entrance, 99 Rue de Rivoli, Paris © Slow Travel Tales 6.8.2012 |
By all means, find some time to enjoy the Carrousel mall, shops, and especially the beautiful inverted pyramid in the center of the mall, which 'marks the intersection of two main walkways'. The Carrousel map of shops, businesses, and services will help you navigate your way inside. The Carrousel and restaurants are open 7 days a week from 9 am - 10 pm. Shops are open from 10 am - 8 pm.
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| Paris - Carrousel Rue de Rivoli entrance, with it's down escalator to shops. Map of 5 Louvre entrances Slow Travel Tales |
LOUVRE ENTRANCES
The above left photos show the Rivoli Carrousel entrance. The top right photo shows the Louvre map with 5 entrance locations:
• Pyramid - main courtyard
• Carrousel - Rue de Rivoli
• Richelieu - Rue de Rivoli
• Lions - Quai Francois Mitterrand
• Carrousel - Arc de Triomphe
If you look at the bottom right map in the above photo, you'll see 2 red arrows. They indicate additional entrances to the Carrousel mall that are near the Carrousel Arc de Triomphe. They're lesser known entry ways, which are stairs going down to the underground mall. During busy seasons, this entrance may help you get into the Louvre a little quicker due to shorter security checkpoint lines.
TIP: As a Friend of the Louvre, The Society of the Friends of the Louvre offers all members extra perks. You'll see there are reduced rates for more than 100 museums in Paris, the region, and abroad.
Note: That link is in French. On my laptop with a Chrome browser, I'm able to have this information translated automatically. Look at the top right in the address bar area. Find the Google Translate icon and click on it. On an iPhone, and iPad the information is still in French. However, under the descriptive paragraph, you can click on the menu and on the Paris link. It will open up a section that shows you the various different venue information. "Tarif reduit" means reduced price.
This link to Google Translate will be helpful to read the French PDF.
LOUVRE OPENING HOURS
Monday: 9 am - 6 pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9 am - 9:45 pm
Thursday: 9 am - 6 pm
Friday: 9 am - 9:45 pm
Saturday: 9 am - 6 pm
Sunday: 9 am - 6 pm
TICKETS
The first Saturday of each month the museum is open from 6 pm - 9:45 pm, and admission is free for all visitors.
Bastille Day, 14 July, is free for all visitors
Purchase ticket online €17 ($19)
Purchase ticket at Louvre €15 ($16.75)
CLOAKROOM
On level -2 in the Denon wing, beneath the pyramid, in the main hall, you'll find the Cloakroom and self-service lockers, which are available free of charge. Usually you'll insert €1 euro into the locker key slot, which will allow you to lock and release the key. Your €1 will be returned when you unlock the locker.
INFORMATION
The Louvre has a new free app called My Visit to the Louvre.
The Louvre has also created 22 special thematic Visitor Trails (each approximately 1 hr 30 min). These routes have stations with stops (circuits/parcours), which are designed to give an overview of the museum's collections. In advance of your visit, you may view them to plan your own self guided tours. A good place to begin might be with the 3 hour route entitled Palace to Museum - 800 years of history.
Note: With your annual Friend of the Louvre card, if you were to go on each of these 22 Visitor Trails, the cost of admission would be reduced to approximately €3.50 ($4.00) per visit.
The Louvre is so large that it's likely you won't be able to see it all. In fact, it has been said, to see it all you would need to view each object for 60 seconds at 8 hours per day which would equal a total of 75 days.
If you're living in Paris for 3 months, I'd suggest that you go to the Louvre on Wednesday and Friday evenings (6 pm - 9:45 pm). That would give you 24 wonderful leisurely visits.
Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004, Paris, France
HOURS
Membership Desk
Everyday (except Tuesday) from 11 am - 7 pm
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES
General Public: €49 per person / €76 for a couple ($55 / $85)
In order to receive the reduced rates below, applicants must show documents/proof:
Youth under 26: €24 ($27)
Artists/Musicians: €27 ($30)
Teachers/Organizers: €27 ($30)
You may notice that it's possible to buy the POP card online. However, you will need to make arrangements to access the mailbox associated with your apartment and have your name put on it by the owner. It will take approximately 7 days to receive the card in the mail.
BENEFITS
• Unlimited priority access to the Musée National d’Art Moderne
• Unlimited priority access to all main exhibitions
• Free entry to all cinema screenings
• Exclusive invitations to previews, workshops, talks, events
• Reduced prices for all performances
• Reduced prices for Face aux Oeuvres (Works up Close)
• Reduced prices for workshops
• 5% discount in the store and bookshops
• 6th floor panoramic view over Paris
• Receive exclusive discount offers from Pompidou partners
ENTRANCE
The main entrance to the Pompidou is in the middle of the building on the Place Georges-Pompidou. Entry into the very large Pompidou lobby is free; you may visit the bookstore, cafe, gift shop, and restaurant. However, of course, you'll need to go through the security checkpoint before being allowed into the building. Once inside, you'll easily locate ticket windows, ticket machines, and information desks, as well as the entrances to the auditorium, cinema, and museum.
TIP: Your POP membership comes with extra perks from the Pompidou Partners.
Note: The above perk link PDF is in French, but you'll be able to see the associated venues and the price reductions. If you'd like to participate in any of these other cultural options, I'd suggest that you print the PDF and take it with you, as employees of other venues may not know of the Pompidou offers.
Special Note: The Pompidou reduced rate information listed for the Louvre, indicates that your Pompidou membership may reduce your Louvre rate to €70 instead of €80 for a single 1 year membership and €80 instead of €100 for a couple membership. I would suggest that you may want to approach applying for the Louvre membership delicately (with the PDF information, your POP Pass, Passport, and apartment lease in hand) specifically because Louvre employees, likely, will not know about this reduction from the Pompidou. Getting into an argument about it at the membership desk would be quite unfortunate for all.
This link to Google Translate will be helpful to read the French PDF.
POMPIDOU OPENING HOURS
Daily 11 am - 10 pm, except Tuesday (closed)
Exhibitions close at 9 pm
Thursday late night, open until 11 pm (only level 6 exhibitions)
Brancusi's Studio open 2 pm - 6 pm, except Tuesday (closed)
TICKETS
The first Sunday of every month, admission to the museum, the View of Paris and the Galerie des Enfants is free for everyone.
Full ticket price €14 ($15.50 +/-)
View of Paris ticket €5 ($5.50)
Cinema ticket €5 ($5.50)
CLOAKROOM
The cloakroom is located on ground level 0. It's open from 11 am - 9:50 pm. You may use it free, upon presentation of a Pompidou admission ticket.
INFORMATION
A new free Pompidou App is available to plan your visit and view highlights of their collections. They also offer multiple educational resources that will enhance your visit.
PUBLIC LIBRARY @ POMPIDOU CENTER
Hours:
Monday - Friday: 12 noon - 10 pm, except Tuesday (closed)
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 11 am - 10 pm
The entrance to the Public Library is on the opposite side of the Pompidou building. The library address is 19 Rue Beaubourg, 75004, Paris. There is a security checkpoint at the entrance, where you'll go through a metal detector and have your bags searched. The waiting line is likely to be long as this is a large and very busy research and study library. If you leave the library (to get something to eat), it will be necessary for you to go through security again. Consult the library web site for FAQ's and other information.
Note: The museum information, links, membership fees and conversion rates listed were correct at the time of publication. Please keep in mind the companies may make future changes.
Bon Voyage
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…”
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• Pyramid - main courtyard
• Carrousel - Rue de Rivoli
• Richelieu - Rue de Rivoli
• Lions - Quai Francois Mitterrand
• Carrousel - Arc de Triomphe
If you look at the bottom right map in the above photo, you'll see 2 red arrows. They indicate additional entrances to the Carrousel mall that are near the Carrousel Arc de Triomphe. They're lesser known entry ways, which are stairs going down to the underground mall. During busy seasons, this entrance may help you get into the Louvre a little quicker due to shorter security checkpoint lines.
Note: That link is in French. On my laptop with a Chrome browser, I'm able to have this information translated automatically. Look at the top right in the address bar area. Find the Google Translate icon and click on it. On an iPhone, and iPad the information is still in French. However, under the descriptive paragraph, you can click on the menu and on the Paris link. It will open up a section that shows you the various different venue information. "Tarif reduit" means reduced price.
This link to Google Translate will be helpful to read the French PDF.
Monday: 9 am - 6 pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9 am - 9:45 pm
Thursday: 9 am - 6 pm
Friday: 9 am - 9:45 pm
Saturday: 9 am - 6 pm
Sunday: 9 am - 6 pm
TICKETS
The first Saturday of each month the museum is open from 6 pm - 9:45 pm, and admission is free for all visitors.
Bastille Day, 14 July, is free for all visitors
Purchase ticket online €17 ($19)
Purchase ticket at Louvre €15 ($16.75)
CLOAKROOM
On level -2 in the Denon wing, beneath the pyramid, in the main hall, you'll find the Cloakroom and self-service lockers, which are available free of charge. Usually you'll insert €1 euro into the locker key slot, which will allow you to lock and release the key. Your €1 will be returned when you unlock the locker.
INFORMATION
The Louvre has a new free app called My Visit to the Louvre.
The Louvre has also created 22 special thematic Visitor Trails (each approximately 1 hr 30 min). These routes have stations with stops (circuits/parcours), which are designed to give an overview of the museum's collections. In advance of your visit, you may view them to plan your own self guided tours. A good place to begin might be with the 3 hour route entitled Palace to Museum - 800 years of history.
Note: With your annual Friend of the Louvre card, if you were to go on each of these 22 Visitor Trails, the cost of admission would be reduced to approximately €3.50 ($4.00) per visit.
The Louvre is so large that it's likely you won't be able to see it all. In fact, it has been said, to see it all you would need to view each object for 60 seconds at 8 hours per day which would equal a total of 75 days.
If you're living in Paris for 3 months, I'd suggest that you go to the Louvre on Wednesday and Friday evenings (6 pm - 9:45 pm). That would give you 24 wonderful leisurely visits.
Pompidou Center
 |
| Pompidou, Stravinsky Fountain, Saint-Merri - Paris |
The Centre Pompidou has a membership program called "POP". The easiest way to become a member is by applying on site at the museum Membership Pass area on ground level 0. You will then pay at the Cash Desk, and collect your membership card at the same time. The POP Pass is valid for one year from the date of
purchase.
ADDRESS
Rue Rambuteau / Rue Saint-Merri / Rue Renard /Rue BeaubourgPlace Georges-Pompidou, 75004, Paris, France
HOURS
Membership Desk
Everyday (except Tuesday) from 11 am - 7 pm
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES
General Public: €49 per person / €76 for a couple ($55 / $85)
In order to receive the reduced rates below, applicants must show documents/proof:
Youth under 26: €24 ($27)
Artists/Musicians: €27 ($30)
Teachers/Organizers: €27 ($30)
You may notice that it's possible to buy the POP card online. However, you will need to make arrangements to access the mailbox associated with your apartment and have your name put on it by the owner. It will take approximately 7 days to receive the card in the mail.
BENEFITS
• Unlimited priority access to the Musée National d’Art Moderne
• Unlimited priority access to all main exhibitions
• Free entry to all cinema screenings
• Exclusive invitations to previews, workshops, talks, events
• Reduced prices for all performances
• Reduced prices for Face aux Oeuvres (Works up Close)
• Reduced prices for workshops
• 5% discount in the store and bookshops
• 6th floor panoramic view over Paris
• Receive exclusive discount offers from Pompidou partners
ENTRANCE
The main entrance to the Pompidou is in the middle of the building on the Place Georges-Pompidou. Entry into the very large Pompidou lobby is free; you may visit the bookstore, cafe, gift shop, and restaurant. However, of course, you'll need to go through the security checkpoint before being allowed into the building. Once inside, you'll easily locate ticket windows, ticket machines, and information desks, as well as the entrances to the auditorium, cinema, and museum.
Note: The above perk link PDF is in French, but you'll be able to see the associated venues and the price reductions. If you'd like to participate in any of these other cultural options, I'd suggest that you print the PDF and take it with you, as employees of other venues may not know of the Pompidou offers.
Special Note: The Pompidou reduced rate information listed for the Louvre, indicates that your Pompidou membership may reduce your Louvre rate to €70 instead of €80 for a single 1 year membership and €80 instead of €100 for a couple membership. I would suggest that you may want to approach applying for the Louvre membership delicately (with the PDF information, your POP Pass, Passport, and apartment lease in hand) specifically because Louvre employees, likely, will not know about this reduction from the Pompidou. Getting into an argument about it at the membership desk would be quite unfortunate for all.
This link to Google Translate will be helpful to read the French PDF.
POMPIDOU OPENING HOURS
Daily 11 am - 10 pm, except Tuesday (closed)
Exhibitions close at 9 pm
Thursday late night, open until 11 pm (only level 6 exhibitions)
Brancusi's Studio open 2 pm - 6 pm, except Tuesday (closed)
TICKETS
The first Sunday of every month, admission to the museum, the View of Paris and the Galerie des Enfants is free for everyone.
Full ticket price €14 ($15.50 +/-)
View of Paris ticket €5 ($5.50)
Cinema ticket €5 ($5.50)
CLOAKROOM
The cloakroom is located on ground level 0. It's open from 11 am - 9:50 pm. You may use it free, upon presentation of a Pompidou admission ticket.
INFORMATION
A new free Pompidou App is available to plan your visit and view highlights of their collections. They also offer multiple educational resources that will enhance your visit.
PUBLIC LIBRARY @ POMPIDOU CENTER
Hours:
Monday - Friday: 12 noon - 10 pm, except Tuesday (closed)
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 11 am - 10 pm
The entrance to the Public Library is on the opposite side of the Pompidou building. The library address is 19 Rue Beaubourg, 75004, Paris. There is a security checkpoint at the entrance, where you'll go through a metal detector and have your bags searched. The waiting line is likely to be long as this is a large and very busy research and study library. If you leave the library (to get something to eat), it will be necessary for you to go through security again. Consult the library web site for FAQ's and other information.
Note: The museum information, links, membership fees and conversion rates listed were correct at the time of publication. Please keep in mind the companies may make future changes.
Bon Voyage
Art • Travel • Write
© Slow Travel Tales
SLOW TRAVEL TALES
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…”
from the book “Innocents Abroad” by Mark Twain
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