How long does the visit to the Orangerie last ?
The timing, room by room
I give here the time I see people spend, not an ideal time. The two oval rooms take 30 to 40 minutes if you sit down. The eight panels total 91 meters, and you don't read them in one glance: the ceiling light changes with the clouds, the panel that seemed flat five minutes ago now has depth. Those who cross in ten minutes haven't seen it. Between the two rooms, a vestibule allows you to rest your eyes for a minute before entering the second one.
The Walter-Guillaume collection, on level -2, takes 40 to 50 minutes for its 146 paintings. Renoir, Cézanne, Derain, Soutine, Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, Utrillo, Laurencin, Rousseau: it's dense, and it's where visitors without a guide speed up without realizing it. The details of the rooms are on the page what to see at the Orangerie.
The temporary exhibition, when there is one, is added. Count 30 more minutes if the subject interests you. It is included in the entrance ticket, but neither the guided tour nor the audioguide comment on it, which is an argument to keep it for the end, alone.
How long people actually stay
The museum states 1 h to 1 h 30 and that's what I observe. In the morning at opening, visitors stay longer in the oval rooms because they can sit down. On weekend afternoons, they leave faster, not by choice but because the bench is taken and you get jostled. The duration therefore depends as much on the time as on you. I talk about it on the page best time to come.
With a guide, two hours
The small group guided tour lasts 2 h, with a stop at the Tuileries Garden along the way. Private tours last 1 h 30 for one, 2 to 3 h for the other. This extra time is almost entirely spent on level -2, in front of the collection, where an art historian is useful. See the guided tour.
What works
- A museum that fits into a morning, before the Louvre or Orsay
- Two rooms where you can sit and stay
- A dense basement, to do after the Water Lilies
- The free cloakroom, which avoids carrying a coat
To know
- No re-entry : once out, it's over
- The last entry is at 5 h 15, the rooms close as early as 5 h 45
- The ticket + cruise adds an hour of boat and a crossing of the 7th
- On Tuesday, the duration is zero : it's closed
Enter at 9 h, do the two oval rooms before the first group arrives, then go down to level -2. You will leave around 10 h 30 with the Tuileries Garden still quiet. If you follow up with Orsay, read first Orsay or Orangerie.
Book the first time slot
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit the Orangerie in one hour?
Yes, if you enter at opening time and do not linger on level -2. One hour is enough for the Water Lilies and a quick visit to the collection. See what to see.
How much time for the Orangerie and Orsay in the same day?
Half a day for Orsay, 1 hour 30 minutes for the Orangerie, 15 minutes walk between the two. It's doable by starting with the Orangerie at 9 am. Details on Orsay or Orangerie.
Does the guided tour last longer?
Yes, 2 hours for the small group visit, with a stop in the Tuileries Garden. See the guided tour.
Can I leave and come back with the same ticket ?
No, the ticket entitles you to a single entry. Plan your break before or after, for example under the arcades of rue de Rivoli. See where to eat.