Paris Attraction Tickets: What to Book in Advance

Figuring out what to book in advance in Paris can be surprisingly tricky. 

Tickets for some of the city's most popular attractions - the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Paris Catacombs, Seine River dinner cruises, Disneyland Paris, and Galerie Dior - can sell out well before your visit, while others will be easy to buy a day or two before you want to visit, or even after you arrive in Paris. 

Readers of my free Paris Discoveries Newsletter regularly ask how far in advance to reserve, where to buy Paris attraction tickets, whether timed-entry reservations are required, and what to do when tickets are already sold out or an official booking website isn't cooperating.

In addition, booking requirements may vary depending on the season, the attraction, or special events.

This article is part of the Paris Travel Q&A Archives where you can find my answers to real reader questions, based on my own experiences with booking museums, monuments, tours, Seine River cruises, concerts, and special events in Paris.  I've lightly edited, expanded, and updated my original answers, and added practical tips and alternatives where useful. 

Top photo:  Notre Dame Cathedral, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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Do You Need Advance Reservations for Free Museum Days in Paris? 

Sharon's Question:

We are fortunate to be in Paris on the first Sunday of December, as I understand many museums are free. 

For museums that don't require a reservation, we can just show up and be admitted? 

For those that do require a reservation, is there a timeline for making those, or does it vary by museum? 

We're also hoping to get into the Louvre the first Friday evening as well.  We'll see if we have any luck with that.

Susan's Answer: 

Yes, when free admission is available but a reservation isn't required, you just show up, stand in the admissions line, and hope for a speedy progression.  

For those museums that do require a reservation (currently, the Louvre, the Orsay, Orangerie, Notre Dame Towers, Versailles, and possibly others) as well as those where a reservation is optional, such as the Picasso Museum, the process is basically the same, except that you need to make a reservation in advance and should bring proof - either a printed copy, or on your phone - when you visit.  

You typically can reserve tickets for only the coming month.  Available date/time slots usually fill up very quickly, even though the date when each attraction opens its reservations can be unpredictable. 

For example, I checked the First Sunday booking option for Musée d'Orsay, home to the wonderful Impressionist and Post-Impressionists, on August 23, and the following message popped up:

Since you can only book for the upcoming month, you should start checking for availability on or right after the previous First Sunday. 

What About the Louvre's Free First Friday Evening?

The Louvre offers free admission after 6pm on the first Friday of each month except during July and August, but you must reserve a time slot in advance.  The Louvre says these free slots are posted online only a few days before the visit, so start checking the ticketing information on its website (look for it in the "Visit" section on the top navigation bar) as the date approaches.

Which Paris Attraction Tickets & Passes Should I Buy in Advance?

Norina's Question:

This will be my first trip to Paris, France, and I am overwhelmed by all the attractions to visit. 

For sure, during my 8-day stay in October, I would like to visit the Eiffel Tower (all levels), the Louvre, the Latin Quarter, Notre Dame, Trocadero, a Seine River tour, a Galimard Perfume tour to make my own perfume, the Pantheon, etc. 

I need to get the right passes (Navigo pass and tickets), and tickets to my attractions.  Is it better to buy them before I arrive in Paris?

Susan's Answer: 

Norina, I am so excited for you!  Even though figuring out which tickets to get in advance may feel like a lot to juggle right now, you're smart to be making the most critical timed-entry reservations and buying those tickets right now.  For those in less demand, buying the tickets at the door is fine, although you may save some time by reserving in advance.

Among the Paris attractions that you mention, the reservations you should make in advance before you leave home include the Eiffel Tower (including the "Summit" level), the Louvre Museum, and possibly the perfume workshop and the Seine River cruise - especially since Paris attracts lots of visitors in the fall so the demand for tickets usually remains high.

If you want just an admission ticket for the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, you must either buy them directly from the venues' own websites -   https://www.toureiffel.paris for the Tower and https://ticket.louvre.fr for the Louvre - or be prepared to stand in line, possibly for a long time, to try to get a same-day ticket.  I've seen a number of fake websites appear in search results lately; some look totally legitimate, but they're not - they're scammers, and the "tickets" they sell will be rejected when you present them at the gate. 

However, both the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre allow third parties to offer admission tickets along with value-added services such as tours and expedited entries.  Here are a couple that I recommend:

• Eiffel Tower Entry Ticket with Optional Summit Access - The most popular option, with a guide who will provide interesting insights and expedite your ascent through the guides-only elevator
• Mona Lisa & Louvre Museum Tour with Reserved Access - You get expedited admission through the guides-only entrance, plus the guide will show you some of the most famous works; the Louvre can be hard to navigate on your own, especially on your first visit, so I highly recommend this tour for anyone

The perfume workshops and the Seine River cruises are much less likely to sell out, so if you want to keep your schedule open and flexible, you could make your reservations closer to your preferred date.  I would check availability online perhaps 5-6 days before you want to do these activities just to see how far out (if at all) they're booking in case you need to reserve a ticket sooner rather than later. 

The one exception is if you want to join a Seine River lunch or dinner cruise rather than one of the 1-hour sightseeing cruises.   If so, start checking availability online perhaps a couple of weeks before your target date, and book as soon as you begin to see dates somewhat sooner than your target date fill up.

For the Pantheon, getting a ticket at the door is easy and normally fast.  For the Latin Quarter neighborhood and Trocadero Gardens (the park across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower) no tickets are required - just roam around and explore whenever you please.

I do not actually find any information about Galimard perfume workshops in Paris (the ones I found were in Grasse, in Southern France) so in case you meant Fragonard or Molinard but "autocorrect" changed it, I found these workshops for Paris and checked availability for several of them.  Based on what I'm seeing right now, they should be fairly easy to book after you arrive if you want to keep your schedule flexible at this point.  I'd probably book a day or two in advance just to make sure of getting the one I want. 

As for the Navigo pass and tickets, I recommend getting them after you arrive, and getting the physical tickets rather than loading them onto your phone, as the phone app is currently still rather glitchy and if something goes wrong, you risk being fined.

Assuming that you plan to get a weekly Navigo pass (valid from Monday through Sunday) as well as or more ticket types (metro/train/RER, bus/tram/Paris-Airport tickets), you'll need two physical passes: one for the Navigo pass with a small 1"x1" color photo of you (a head shot) plus your signature which goes into a plastic holder, and another that's a plastic card where you can load the types of tickets you choose to get.  Although most metro stations have photo booths, it's most convenient to bring the photo with you.

Once you arrive, go to the nearest metro station (I usually choose a smaller, less busy one and avoid the bigger ones where multiple metro lines connect).  Go to the information window, tell them what you need, and they'll get you set up, including providing (if you ask) tape to secure the photo.  Be sure to say "Bonjour" when you first walk up (not doing so is considered quite rude and may impact the level of service you get), even if you need to revert to English for everything else; as long as you're in Central Paris (arrondissements 1 - 9), there's almost always someone at the window who speaks English. 

Once you have the physical tickets, just walk over to the ticket machines on the wall, where you can select English prompts, and load the tickets you choose onto your cards.  When you see the prompt regarding zones, choose 1-5.  Once you finish your selections, you can use your credit card to pay.

Since you'll be in Paris for 8 days, you're wisely not packing your schedule with too many things to do.  That will give you plenty of time to just explore neighborhoods, take long strolls along the Seine, and enjoy some leisurely meals.  Wishing you a fantastic first visit in Paris!

What to Do When Galerie Dior Tickets Are Sold Out?

Marnie's Question:

Do you have any suggestions for getting Galerie Dior tickets when they're totally sold out?  My travel companions were dragging their feet and I missed my opportunity.

Susan's Answer: 

Galerie Dior tickets have been notoriously hard to book in advance ever since this stunning venue opened a few years ago.  I thought that demand would lessen over time and booking would become easier.  But I was wrong. 

Galerie Dior makes its tickets available for about four months in advance, and they typically sell out several weeks in advance during the busiest times of the year.

I have heard that it's possible to stand in line and maybe get in eventually, but honestly, I wouldn't recommend possibly wasting your precious time in Paris by doing that.  

Even with a timed-entry ticket in my hand, I had to wait in line for almost 40 minutes (including 30 minutes past my reserved entry time) during my most recent visit.  I chatted with a couple of people who didn't have reservations but hoped to get tickets at the door.  They'd been waiting in line for almost three hours at that point.  I hope they got in.

The line moves so slowly even when you have a ticket because Galerie Dior, to its credit, does not pack the venue with too many people.  So that means you're literally waiting for someone else to leave before you're allowed in.

The Dior exhibitions include some spectacular gowns (as well as some rather frumpy ones) and overall are beautifully curated.  During my visit, I also watched an interactive demonstration of the process for hand-sewing tiny beads onto the gowns.  There's also a lovely tea room.  I totally enjoyed my visit.  But was it worth the hassle of getting a ticket and then spending 40 minutes waiting in line?  I wish I could say no - but my truthful answer is "Yes, absolutely."

But if you haven't been able to get a ticket to Galerie Dior, consider visiting one of Paris's other superb fashion museums where you may have an equally good experience (as I always have):  

• Galerie Fondation Azzedine Alaia in the Marais, which mounts two fashion-focused shows each year and also provides glimpses into the late couturier's workroom; I've always loved his designs, so I catch almost every show
• Palais Galliera, which focuses on the history of French fashion plus usually has at least one special exhibition, and the museum's gardens and late 19th century building (despite its name, it has always been a museum, not a royal palace) are also quite beautiful and add to the pleasure of a visit
• Musee des Arts Decoratifs, where you can easily spend an entire afternoon without realizing how much time has gone by; the period rooms are particularly stunning
• Musee Yves Saint Laurent, with wonderful displays of the designer's work and creative process; I like to sew, so I always find something inspirational here

So my recommendation would be to go to one of them instead and catch Galerie Dior on your next visit to Paris.

Should You Book Orsay & Orangerie Tickets in Advance?

Patricia's Question:

We will be in Paris February 20 to 27. Do we need to book tickets in advance for the Musée d'Orsay and l'Orangerie?

Susan's Answer: 

"Yes" for the Orsay, and "probably not" for the Orangerie.

I always book in advance for the Orsay because lines here tend to be long and slow at all times of the year (check out the above photo!).  

With an advance ticket in hand, entry is usually very fast and I love the experience of sailing right in.  Part of the reason for the year-round crowds is that the Orsay almost always has multiple interesting exhibits, so especially in the winter, you'll often see even more Parisians than tourists here.  

Also, the Orsay is a considerably more popular museum than the Orangerie simply because it has so much fantastic art by numerous artists from several major stylistic periods to see.  Visitors tend to stay much longer at the Orsay than at the Orangerie, and at times, it becomes so crowded that people without reservations must continue waiting in line until others leave.

You can find options for advance tickets here.  If you see a package deal for both museums, that's always worth getting because they're almost directly across the Seine River from each other - an easy walk.  Even if you only save a euro or two with the combined price, why pay more if you have time to see both in the same day? 

Otherwise, you probably don't need to get the Orangerie ticket in advance because a) the lines aren't usually too long, and b) they usually move fairly quickly - by "quickly," I mean you probably won't have more than a 10-minute wait. 

When & Where Are Tickets for the Masked Ball at Versailles Available?

Toinho's Question:

When and where I can buy a ticket for the masked ball at the Palace of Versailles in June?

Susan's Answer:

As soon as I read your question in December, I did a quick web search and saw that unfortunately this event had sold out for the coming June just hours after the tickets went on sale a few hours earlier.

For anyone who's not familiar with the annual Masked Ball held at the Palace of Versailles in June, this is a costumed ball/all-night DJ party that's become extremely popular during the past few years. Tickets sell out within a few hours of being listed on Versailles' website.  So not only do you need to book your tickets in advance, but you also need a strategy.

I happened to attend Versailles' Fireworks show a couple of years ago on the same night as the Ball. Seeing hundreds of people strolling around the gardens in full Baroque costume was truly astounding. I ended up chatting with a bunch of them, and learned a lot of "insider tips" about how to get tickets, Facebook groups to track, etc.

I added this information to a section in my main article about Versailles on the Paris Discovery Guide website, where I also add updates from time to time.

What to Do When Eiffel Tower Tickets Are Sold Out?

Marianne's Question:

My husband and I will be in Paris the first week in April. I have gone on the official website for the Eiffel Tower, and all tickets are sold out.

I also went on guided tour sites, and they have tickets, but we are not interested in a tour at this time. Any suggestions? Thank you!

Susan's answer:

Here's the situation: the Eiffel Tower prohibits third parties from selling just their tickets, so they are indeed the only source for buying tickets - and as you discovered, once they sell out online, there's no other legitimate website where you can buy just an admission ticket without add-ons.  The Eiffel Tower's website states that if you find someone offering stand-alone tickets, they're fraudulent. 

What I see in French news sources from time to time confirms that scammers do try to sell fake tickets in person and online, and the Eiffel Tower is highly skilled at detecting them.

The Eiffel Tower provides their authorized reseller partners (Viator, Get Your Guide, Tiqets, ClassicTic, and a few others) with blocks of tickets to provide along a "value-added service" - in other words, a guided tour or a concert.  Although usually happen just a few times a year, numerous value-added tours take place daily and you can usually find space available even when stand-alone tickets have sold out. 

You can also enter the Tower with a confirmed reservation at one of the (very pricey) restaurants (you can find more about that in this article) - but your reservation will not allow you to go anywhere else in the Tower.

However... there are two other possible ways to get a legit ticket, even when you haven't booked far enough in advance to get "just" a ticket.  As you may have noticed on the Eiffel Tower's website, they also offer a couple of "premium" services themselves.   The one that's the most interesting and the least expensive is the Ticket + Glass of Champagne combo for just an extra €10 (at this time).  That's a decent deal, even if you don't want the Champagne.  

The only other option when tickets here are sold out - and from a time perspective, it's not a good one, and I totally don't recommend it based in my own experiences - is to stand in line at their onsite ticket office in case they have any tickets available on the spot. Even in the best of times (ie, relatively non-touristy months such as March, November, or early December when the weather is pleasanter than January or February), trying this runs the risk of enduring a several-hour wait in line only to learn that they've filled all the open slots for the day.  Unfortunately, you're there during the busy Easter Week, when the city fills up with people from elsewhere in France and the rest of Europe, as the holiday also coincides with school vacations. 

So a different approach is to enjoy views of the Eiffel Tower from various locations in the city - you'll find some suggestions in this article about where to find the best skyline views.  Every single one of them is far better than standing in a never-ending ticket line for hours and hours.  And, if you choose one of the free locations, you'll save money which you can then spend on a nice dinner. 

In April, cherry trees will be in bloom so consider going across the river to Trocadero Gardens for views like the one in the photo above.   Also, check out Harold's question above regarding river cruises as well as bars and restaurants with Eiffel Tower views.

Where Can You Buy Eiffel Tower Tickets Without a Tour?

Tracy's question:

I guess we missed all the tickets for the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower for our July 8-14 trip.

We cannot walk up so I am asking why there only "guided" tours of the Tower on sites such as Get Your Guide and Viator that are at such high prices?

I only want to go up to the 2nd floor, look around and leave.  Is there any other site, other than the official Eiffel site, to just get a ticket?

Susan's answer:

Unfortunately, there is no other legitimate website where you can buy just an Eiffel Tower admission ticket. You can try buying one at the Tower's ticket office for immediate use on the day of your visit, subject to availability, but I wouldn't rely on that during a busy period such as July, August, or around major holidays such as Easter weekend.  Based on my own experiences, waits can be very long and there's no guarantee you'll get a ticket, much less for the Summit due to its small size and great popularity.

The Eiffel Tower requires its authorized 3rd party ticket sellers (Get Your Guide, Viator, Tiqets, etc) to offer a value-added service such as a guided tour or concert in return for being allocated the tickets and allowed to use the fast-entry elevator.

So if you see any 3rd party sellers offering tickets only, they are certain to be scammers.

However, I checked the website and the "ticket plus a glass of Champagne" option does appear to be available, at least on some dates (see Marianne's question above for details).

So you might consider that.  You could toast each other and the experience with your glasses of Champagne for a special moment.

How to Get Louvre Museum Tickets When the Website Doesn't Work

Kathi's Question:

We live in St Louis, Missouri and are coming to Paris with another couple July 31-August 2.

We have been trying to reserve tickets to the Louvre for July 31 at 5:30 pm.  Something is wrong with their web site and it won't complete the transaction. 

Any ideas what we can do to get the tickets?  Thank you.

Susan's Answer:

In my experience, the Louvre's website can definitely be glitchy.  I tried it myself a few moments ago and was able to get through the booking process for that date and time up to the point of paying for four tickets, which of course I didn't want to do. 

Hopefully, you tried again soon after you sent your message to me and were able to get your tickets.  If not - keep trying. 

Louvre admission tickets used to be available in advance on the large international booking platforms such as Get Your Guide and Viator. Once the decision to charge non-EEA (European Economic Area) visitors €32 vs €22 for EEA residents went into effect, those tickets were no longer available (at least not for now), which I'm sure has put even more pressure on the Louvre's somewhat dysfunctional website. 

According to the Louvre's website, you now must have reservations between July 1 and August 31, which is their peak season for visitors. That would be fine - if their website worked reliably.  But it doesn't, so it's very frustrating.

The Louvre's website also states that "a limited number of same-day tickets are sold at museum ticket desks, although only advance reservations guarantee admission."  So as a last resort, you could try waiting in line at the ticket counter - the one near the underground Carousel entrance (enter on Rue de Rivoli and go down the escalator; you'll spot it on your right) is usually the shortest. 

If you have a Paris Museum Pass, it includes admission to the Louvre - but to use it, you must also reserve a date/time slot on the Louvre's website.

Can You Book Paris Tours & Tickets After You Arrive?

Marianne's Question:

Am I able to order tickets through Get Your Guide while in Paris?

My husband and I would like to do the Pere Lachaise Cemetery tour, but I do not want to over-schedule us before we get to Paris.

Susan's answer:

Yes, that works well - I do it all the time myself when I'm in Paris.

The Pere Lachaise Cemetery tours are usually easy to book - I might do it a day or two in advance rather than at the very last minute just to be safe and to have more choices.

The tours or tickets that you typically need to book much more in advance are for the Eiffel Tower, Sainte-Chapelle, the Louvre, the Orsay, Versailles, food tours, Disneyland Paris, some of the evening dinner cruises on the Seine River (plus those on major holidays such as Bastille Day and New Year's Eve), Galerie Dior, and some day trips.  

Galerie Dior reservations are typically the hardest to book - at times, they have zero availability for more than a month in advance.

Where Can You Buy Sainte-Chapelle Concert Tickets?

Ana Maria's Question:

I'll be in Paris in September. Where can I buy tickets to see the "Candlelight concert" at Sainte-Chapelle?

Susan's Answer:

You can buy tickets for the Candlelight Concerts at Sainte-Chapelle through Paris Discovery Guide's article on Paris concerts, which includes schedules for classical concerts, ballet, and opera each month - just scroll down to the listings for September (or click on the quick link near the beginning).

You can also find the list for September in my Paris in September article, along with other things to do.

The Sainte-Chapelle tickets as well as other classical concert, opera, and ballet tickets are sold through ClassicTic, which is an authorized ticket seller for all of the classical concert venues. In my experience, they're the best ticket-seller option for purchases by international buyers, especially if you want to get the best exchange rate; for others, you need to have a credit card issued by a French bank account for the best results. 

ClassicTic's website follows strict security protocols, they provide the best available exchange rate for transactions, and in my experience, their customer service has been excellent. I've used them on Paris Discovery Guide for over a decade and even longer than that for my personal ticket purchases.

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See Questions & Answers on Related Topics

Wondering if you need to book tickets in advance or make reservations for other activities during your Paris visit?  You'll find those Q&A archives here:

• Paris Attractions: Tips for Choosing What to See & Do - Which ones are worth your time?
• Paris Jazz Clubs - Do you need to reserve a ticket or can you just drop by?
• Paris Cabarets - Should you make reservations for Moulin Rouge, despite the cost?

Paris Attractions & Activities - More questions & answers

Paris Discoveries Q&A Archive - See Q&As on all topics

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