How to Get Skip the Line Tickets for Paris Attractions

Should you get skip-the-line tickets for the most popular Paris attractions?

Yes. With well over 20 million tourists coming to the City of Lights to see its famous attractions each year, ticket lines get long - very, very, long. Don't waste your time in Paris by standing in ticket lines when you don't have to.

Skip-the-Line Tickets to Popular Paris Attractions

Which Paris attractions, museums, and monuments offer skip-the-line admission? All of the most popular places in Paris known for their long lines:

Louvre Museum Timed-Entrance Ticket - Walk past the long lines and get expedited entrance
Eiffel Tower Entry Ticket with Optional Summit Access - The most popular options
Eiffel Tower Stairs Tickets - Get a unique perspective of this archtectural wonder (and work off all the calories from your breakfast croissants)
Orsay Museum - Bypass the long lines on your way to see Van Gogh & other Impressionists
Catacombs - Lines here are long and slow-moving - so always get skip-the-line entry here
Versailles Skip the Line Tour & Garden Access - Includes transportation from Paris & a guided tour
Arc de Triomphe rooftop terrace - Bypass the long ticket lines
Disneyland Paris - Get fast entry to the Magical Kingdom
Paris Opera House (Opéra Garnier) - Absolutely dazzling!
Sainte Chapelle - Skip the notoriously slow ticket lines (although you'll still need to queue for security)

Skip-the-line (also called "fast-track" or "priority") tickets that let you reserve a specific date/time slot are almost always worth getting and are easy to buy online before you travel.

In addition to skip-the-line entrance tickets, you have two other ways to avoid waiting in long lines while getting a better touring experience:

1. Guided tours always include skip-the-line priority access; a few even give you access to private areas not available to most visitors. The expert guides who lead these tours will enrich your experience by telling and showing you things you might miss on your own.

Some skip-the-line guided tours for destinations outside of Paris such as Versailles, Giverny, and Disneyland even include transportation - another time and stress saver, especially if you're traveling with kids. (If you're traveling to these places on a train and your kids are seen putting their feet on the seat, you can be fined 65€. If your kids are like mine were at certain ages and you're on your way to Disneyland, for example, good luck with getting them to sit properly for a prolonged period of time when they're practically jumping up and down with excitement.)

2. The Paris Museum Pass lets you skip the line at many top museums and monuments by reserving a specific date/time slot.

To be clear, none of these ticket and tour options let you skip security lines, which are mandatory. The good news is that security lines normally move much more quickly than the slower ticket lines, which is what you do get to skip.

For the most popular destinations such as the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, and Disneyland Paris, you should order your skip-the-line tickets or book your tour as soon as you know your travel dates. The tours and tickets for these top attractions sell out faster than you might expect, especially for peak travel periods. Don't be left standing in line!

Top photo: Ticket lines in front of Versailles Palace in July

Louvre Museum Skip the Line Tickets

Ticket line at the Louvre winding around the courtyard; nearby signs warn of a 2+ hour wait

Home to the Mona Lisa - perhaps the most famous painting in the world - and countless other treasures filling its vast spaces, the Louvre Museum attracts massive crowds.

During peak seasons, getting through the regular ticket line can take up to three hours or more. Don't risk being stuck in it, or not getting in at all: get a skip-the-line-ticket with timed entry for a reserved date/time slot in advance.

Check availability:

Paris Discovery Guide's Louvre Skip-the-Line Picks

Louvre Museum Masterpieces Tour - Discover the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory on this popular guided 3-hour tour (if you don't want to spend 3 hours, here's a similar 1.5 hour small-group version of the tour - a personal favorite) (in case you're wondering, even though I've been to the Louvre dozens of times, sometimes I just want to see these 3 favorites and this guided tour is the quickest way to get in, through the crowds, and to these masterpieces, plus I always learn things from the guide - then after the tour, I wander around and see a few more things on my own)
Timed Skip the Line Louvre Entrance Ticket and 1-Hour Seine River Cruise - Skip-the-line Eiffel Tower access through a special entrance; use your Seine River cruise ticket on any day during the next 6 months
Louvre Museum: 3-Hour Comprehensive Skip-the-Line Tour - Skip the ticket line and go through a special guided-tour only security check - usually much faster than the regular security line. An expert guide leads you to the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Great Sphinx of Tanis, Napolean III's lush apartments, and other famous art, plus hidden gems you might miss on your own - another of my personal favorites

Booking a guided tour will give you skip-the-line priority entry through a special guided tour-only security check point, navigate the huge crowds, show you more of the Louvre's magnificent art than you might discover on your own, and share interesting insights about this palace-turned-museum. After the tour, spend as much time as you want to see even more on your own.

More about Louvre Museum guided tours

Eiffel Tower Skip the Line Tickets & Other Fast Entry Options

The Eiffel Tower is another top Paris attraction where a skip-the-line ticket can mean the difference between getting in - or not.

During peak seasons, getting through the regular ticket line just to buy your ticket can take up to three hours or more. Don't risk being stuck in it, or not getting in at all: get a skip-the-line-ticket with optional Summit access for a reserved date/time slot in advance.

Getting Tickets on the Eiffel Tower Website

Tickets go on sale on the Eiffel Tower's website about 60 days in advance but during the busiest seasons, they sell out quickly so you need to book as far in advance as possible.

Even with a skip-the-line ticket, you do have to stand in line for a security check and also (usually) another line to board the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Sometimes these lines move fairly quickly, but at other times, they don't.

Getting in Faster with a Tour Group

You can speed up the entry process by booking a guided or "hosted" Eiffel Tower tour because these groups usually go through a tour-only security line and elevator which reduces your wait time.

These tours are also a good option when the regular tickets are sold out for the date or time you need.

They do cost more, but can also save you some stress and hassle, especially if this is your first visit.

You meet your guide offsite near the Tower and walk over together. Your guide will share interesting information about the Tower's history and what you'll see, but the biggest advantage (aside from the faster tour-only security line and elevator) is that they will guide you through the crowds and give you tips about how to stay safe from pickpockets.

Here's the most popular guided option:

Skip-the-line tickets or tours are well-worth getting for the Eiffel Tower if you want to make the best use of your time, but there are even more ways such as dining in one of the Tower's restaurants, enjoy a classical concert on the first floor above ground level (one of my own favorite ET experiences, especially around the Christmas/New Year holidays), or climbing up the stairs (all 674 steps) to the 2nd floor.

More about other the ways to get Eiffel Tower tickets

Versailles Palace & Gardens Skip the Line Tickets - A Must!

Especially during spring, summer, and early fall, skip-the-line tickets for entrance to Château de Versailles, famous for its Hall of Mirrors and beautiful gardens, can save you up to 3-4 hours of wait time in the long, long ticket lines.

PDG's Versailles Palace Skip-the-Line Picks

Versailles Skip-the-Line Half-Day Tour & Hotel Transfer - Experience the lavish palace and gardens enjoyed by French kings and queens, including Marie Antoinette as an expert guide shows you the famous Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments, King's Bedroom, and more.
Skip-the-Line Versailles Palace Tour by Train from Paris - For this 3-hour small group tour of Versailles and its gardens, a guide meets you in central Paris, escorts you by RER train to Versailles, whisks you through the priority entrance, and takes you on a 3-hour-guided tour through the palace and its gardens. Depending on the day of the week you choose, you'll also enjoy a Musical Gardens or Fountain Show. Explore more on your own before taking the train back to Paris (your guide will give you the tickets).

More Versailles Skip-the-Line Tour Choices

Catacombs Skip the Line Tickets & Tours

Some Paris guide books describe the Catacombs, former quarries repurposed as a burial ground for millions of Parisians, as a little-known but cool Paris attraction.

But nothing could be farther than the truth, as you can attest if you get stuck for 2-3 hours or more in the slow-moving regular ticket line. Although you used to shorten your wait by arriving before opening time or late in the day, that hack no long works because everybody tries it.

The Catacombs' tunnels can hold only 200 visitors at one time, which adds to the line's slowness. To avoid the long wait, you should always get your priority reserved date/time slot Catacombs tickets in advance:

Another option is to get tickets for a small-group guided tour, with an expert guide to share information, insights, and stories - plus, you'll get to see some special "exclusive" areas!

Disneyland Paris Skip the Line Tickets & Transport

Parks Full sign at Disneyland Paris — The dreaded "Parks Full" sign at Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris has almost no "slow" season other than a short period during January, as rolling school vacation weeks in France and elsewhere in Europe means happy kids and their families almost always fill the park - it competes with the Eiffel Tower as the most popular tourist destination in the Paris region.

There are actually two parks: Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. You can get tickets for a full-day pass to one or both (based on which option you choose), with round-trip transportation on a luxury express bus from central Paris included.

During the busiest seasons (May through mid-September, school vacation periods, major holidays), the park may actually be closed to anyone who doesn't have a reserved ticket for a specific day.

More Disney Ticket and Transportation Choices

Musée d'Orsay Fast Access Tickets & Skip the Line Tours

Famous for its superb collection of Impressionist paintings, including Van Gogh's Starry Night, the Orsay Museum is not nearly as huge as the Louvre, but don't be fooled - it's crammed full of treasures, many of which can be easy to miss.

Admission lines can be long and slow - an hour or more in the queue is not unusual. To avoid this wait, get a reserved access " target="_blank" rel="sponsored">skip-the-line ticket.

For a special experience, take a small-group Orsay Museum tour with an expert guide who can help you understand the context and history of the fabulous art you're seeing and appreciate it at a whole new level.

More about what to see & do at the Orsay Museum

Arc de Triomphe Rooftop Terrace Skip the Line Tickets

Go straight to the front of the admissions line at Arc de Triomphe with a skip-the-line ticket - for the same price you'd pay at the gate but no wasted time in line, it's a sure bet, and the views of Paris, Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower from the terrace at the top of the Arc will thrill you.

More about visiting the Arc de Triomphe

Paris Opera House (Opéra Garnier) Skip the Line Tickets

Get a reserved-access ticket reserved access ticket and feel happy as you walk past the often long and slow-moving line to explore the spectacular Paris Opera House, widely considered the most flamboyant opera house in Europe.

See all the magnificent art, costumes, and sculptures in this Baroque masterpiece, and be dazzled by the over-the top display of gold, mirrors, and sparkling crystal chandeliers.

More Paris Attractions Where Skip the Line Tickets Save You Time

At the following Paris attractions, you'll sometimes encounter slow-moving lines, and at other times, you can breeze right in. Although longer lines typically happen during prime tourist season, special exhibitions throughout the year can attract crowds and crush your hopes for a speedy entrance.

All of them offer online tickets giving you priority access for the same price as the tickets you'd stand in line for, so even if you save yourself only 5-10 minutes line time, the advance tickets are well worth getting.

Pompidou Center

Show your e-ticket at the priority entrance of Centre Pompidou to bypass the ticket line to this famous showcase of modern and contemporary art. Your ticket includes temporary as well as permanent collections (but usually not special "blockbuster" exhibits) and access to the rooftop terrace and reflecting pool. Buy your Centre Pompidou ticket online

Another option for skipping the line at Pompidou - book a private tour with a guide who's an expert in art of this period.

Picasso Museum

"Priority" tickets let you go to the front of the line at the popular Picasso Museum, located in a gorgeous mansion in the Marais neighborhood. Only a limited number of these tickets are available each day due to the museum's smaller size, and they go fast.

Alternately, book a private tour with a Picasso expert as your guide.

Sainte Chapelle

Soaring stained glass windows make visiting the medieval Sainte Chapelle a memorable experience like no other. Skip-the-line tickets with priority access are worth getting in advance because the chapel can accommodate only a limited number of visitors at one time. Get your tickets

Money-saving combo skip-the-line tickets for Sainte Chapelle and the nearby Conciergerie, first a royal palace and then a prison where Marie Antoinette spent her final days during the French Revolution are also available. Get combo tickets

Another value-packed option is a 3-hour guided tour of Île de la Cité (the small island in the Seine River where Sainte Chapelle is located) that includes skip-the line-entry tickets and tours of Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior only until restoration completes), the Conciergerie, and Sainte Chapelle.

More about Sainte Chapelle visits, tours, & concerts

Grevin Wax Museum

Truly a fun experience as you wander through creatively staged rooms and pose next to 200 or so life-like wax figures, the fantastic Hindu temple and light show in the Hall of Mirrors, and fascinating historical re-creations.

The line here can be long and very slow, so an advance ticket is always a good idea.

Get your skip the line tickets

Espace Dali

Espace Dali, located in the scenic Montmartre neighborhood in Paris, boasts the largest collection of surrealist artist Salvador Dali's work in France. Skip-the-line tickets let you enter without waiting and cost about the same as those sold at the door. Get your tickets

Frequently Asked Questions: Skip the Line Tickets

Q: How soon before my trip should I get skip-the-line tickets?

A: For the most popular destinations such as the Eiffel Tower, you should order your skip-the-line tickets as soon as you know your travel dates. The tickets do sell out, especially for late spring and summer dates - sometimes as much as several weeks in advance.

Q: Do you pay more for skip-the-line entry tickets compared with regular tickets that you'd stand in line to get?

A: It depends. Museums such as the Louvre typically offer skip-the-line tickets purchased in advance at the same cost as regular tickets. Other attractions such as the Catacombs and Eiffel Tower sell skip the line tickets at a premium price, whether you buy them on the attraction's website (if available) or through a ticket booking website.

Q: I've heard you still have to go through a security line. True?

A: True - you cannot skip the security line. But many of the biggest attractions now have special expedited security lines for people with skip the line tickets, so they usually move fast. Typically, the longest wait in a security line might run about 5 minutes.

Q: Should I get skip-the-line tickets even if my trip to Paris isn't during the busy summer months?

A: Currently, due to the pandemic, many attractions require that you buy your tickets online. Even before the pandemic hit, buying skip-the-line tickets online before going saved lots of time and trouble. Why waste even 5-10 minutes of your time in Paris by standing in line when you don't have to?

Q: Why do you show skip-the-line tickets on Paris Discovery Guide from GetYourGuide and other ticket distributors instead of directly from the attractions?

A: GetYourGuide, Viator, and other ticket distributors offer secure ticket booking platforms and offer tickets for many different attractions, tours, and experiences in one place - usually a much more convenient way to find out what's available, compare offers, and quickly book tickets, and, when necessary, reschedule or get refunds. Their websites are also easier to navigate.

GetYourGuide lets you book in your own currency, which can save you conversion fees. They do not add booking or service fees of their own; on the rare occasions when an attraction charges an online booking fee, GetYourGuide tells you the amount up front. They also pass on small discounts to you when available. If you need to change a date, cancel a ticket, or get help with something else, they provide customer support in English and other languages.

Alternately, in many cases you can purchase tickets directly from the attractions' or tour guides' websites - just remember to convert Euros to your own currency to get an accurate idea of your ticket cost. If you have to book your tickets in Euros instead of your own currency, use a credit card that doesn't charge extra currency conversion fees (beyond the 1% that almost all cards charge) if possible.

Paris Museum Pass: Another Way to Skip the Lines

The Paris Museum Pass gives you free skip-the-line admission to 60+ top museums and monuments in Paris and the nearby suburbs for a fixed period of time - you choose 2 days, 4 days, or 6 days when you buy the card.

The Paris Museum Pass includes fast track skip-the-line access to most of the popular attractions mentioned above: Sainte Chapelle, the Louvre Museum, Conciergerie, Musée d'Orsay, Pompidou Center, the Arc de Triomphe, and Versailles Palace. It also covers plenty of others for which skip-the-line options are not normally available, such as the Branly Museum, Cluny Museum (Musée National du Moyen Âge), and the Air and Space Museum located north of the city.

Not every museum in the city is included in the Pass nor are attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland Paris, Catacombs, or the Paris Opera House.

But if the Paris Museum Pass includes enough of the places you want to visit and if you can compress your visits into 2, 4, or 6 days, it can save you money - and of course also time, due to the skip the line feature.

An enhanced version called the Paris Pass is also available for 2-6 days. It bundles the Paris Museum Pass with other benefits such as free travel on the Paris metro, buses, trams, and trains, a Seine River cruise, a Paris Opera House guided tour, additional attractions such as the Grevin Wax Museum and the Chocolate Museum, Hop On Hop Off sightseeing buses, a wine tasting experience, and discounts on still more attractions.