Guided private tour in nine languages: my review
Verdict: the longest and most accessible private visit on the list, in nine languages, with a meeting at the museum entrance. The 4.4 rating out of seven reviews is due to a specific complaint, too much Monet and not enough Picasso, which I take seriously and which you can correct yourself by telling the guide at the start. A good product for those who are excluded from other visits by language or mobility.
How does the tour go
The meeting point is at the museum entrance, which avoids any misunderstanding. The guide has your tickets, you enter together, and the visit lasts two to three hours depending on your pace and questions, which is long for a museum that most people cross in an hour and a half. This duration allows you to sit in the oval rooms without looking at your watch, then go down to the -2 level without skipping any room.
Nine languages are offered: Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean, English, Italian, French, Spanish, and Russian. This is, by far, the widest list of the six products, and the only one that covers visitors from East Asia in their language. The route is wheelchair accessible, the museum having elevators to reach the -2 level. Flash is prohibited, as everywhere in the rooms.
Included
- Private guide for your group only, for two to three hours
- Entrance tickets
- Nine languages, including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean
- Wheelchair-accessible route, free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Not included
- Audio guide
- Meals, drinks, transfers
- Photography with flash
- Guaranteed commentary on each artist in the collection
What reviews say
Seven reviews, more informative to read than average. Hallie (United States) talks about a "good, friendly and informative guide", nothing more. A Brazilian visitor names his guide, David, and describes a real culture lesson, the kind of visit you come out of with an idea of what Paris was like between 1900 and 1930, not just a list of paintings.
The criticism comes from an Argentine visitor: too much time on Monet, not enough on Picasso. I understand. The Water Lilies easily absorb an hour when you are well accompanied, and there is little left for the twelve Picassos, the twenty-two Soutines, or the twenty-nine Derains in the basement. On a private tour, this imbalance is corrected in one sentence at the start: tell the guide that you are coming for level -2. It's the main advantage of a group that only has you.
What works
- Nine languages, the only tour in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean
- Wheelchair accessible, meeting at the entrance
- Two to three hours: time to see everything without rushing
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
To know
- Seven reviews, and a criticism about the Monet / Picasso balance
- The 4.4 rating is the lowest of the guided tours on this list
- Three hours is long for young children
- The content depends on the guide more than a fixed program
Who it's for, and who it's not for
For whom: visitors who need one of the nine languages, and especially those that no one else offers. People in wheelchairs or who walk slowly, for whom the six-person tour is discouraged; the museum's facilities are described on accessibility. Those who want to take their time and are ready to guide the guide.
For whom not: those who speak French or English and want an art historian, for whom the six-person guided tour offers more reliable content. Those who prefer a short visit and a defined angle, for whom the other private tour is suitable. And those who come just for the Water Lilies, who only need the reserved ticket at 9 a.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tour really wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the operator states this, and the museum has elevators down to level -2, adapted restrooms, and wheelchairs available at the cloakroom. Details of the facilities are on accessibility. Notify your need when booking.
Can you ask the guide to spend more time in the basement?
Yes, and I recommend it if you are more interested in Picasso, Soutine or Derain than Monet. That's the point of a private tour. The 146 paintings and their authors are listed on the artists on display.
Two to three hours, isn't that too long for the Orangerie?
For a self-guided visit, yes. With a guide who stops in front of every room, no: the Water Lilies take easily an hour and the -2 level as much. The usual timing is on how much time to plan, and the comparison of the two private visits on the private visit page.