Orangerie tickets and tours: which to choose
What I tell people who ask me
I've spent more hours in the oval rooms than most guards, and the question people ask me is almost never the right one. They ask me which ticket to buy. The real question is what time you will be in front of the Water Lilies. The museum is small, two oval rooms on the ground floor and a collection on level -2. You can tour it in 1 h to 1 h 30. At 9 a.m., the two rooms are almost empty and you can hear your steps. At 2 p.m. on a Saturday, you look at backs.
The timed ticket sold online is therefore used to reserve this 9 a.m. slot, or the Friday nocturne slot. It costs a bit more than the ticket bought on site, it's the price of the guaranteed slot. The museum is closed on Tuesday, every Tuesday, and some of the people who write to me have learned this in front of the door.
The six products, and who they serve
Here are the six tickets and tours from GetYourGuide that I compare on this site. The first is the one I recommend by default. The others add something specific: a guide, an app, an hour on the Seine, or a guide just for you.
Most bookedReserved entry ticket to the Musée de l'Orangerie
Art history guideGuided tour of the Orangerie and the Water Lilies (6 pers. max)
Audio guideSkip-the-line Orangerie ticket + smartphone audio guide
Museum + SeineOrangerie ticket + one-hour cruise on the Seine
PrivateSkip-the-line private tour of the Musée de l'Orangerie
Private · 9 languagesEntrance tickets + private guided tour of the Orangerie
Simple ticket, audioguide or guided tour?
The three products that people really hesitate to choose between are these. The reserved ticket is the most purchased and the best rated in volume. The audioguide is a recent offer, with no reviews yet. The guided tour is rated 5.0 out of 45 reviews, with a maximum of six people per guide. No price lines here, deliberately: the price is read on the GetYourGuide page at the time of booking.
| Skip-the-line Orangerie ticket + smartphone audio guide | Our pickReserved entry ticket to the Musée de l'Orangerie | Guided tour of the Orangerie and Water Lilies (max 6 people) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Approx. 1 h 30 | 1 h à 1 h 30 | 2 h |
| Accompaniment | App on your phone | None, self-guided visit | Art historian guide |
| Group | You alone | You alone | Up to 6 people |
| Ideal for | A room-by-room commentary without a guide | Almost everyone | The Walter-Guillaume collection |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 h before | Non-refundable | Free up to 24 h before |
| Note | No reviews yet | 4.7 out of 7 188 reviews | 5.0 out of 45 reviews |
| See → | Book → | See → |
The reserved ticket is non-refundable. Before choosing the date, check that it does not fall on a Tuesday, nor on May 1st, nor on December 25th. The morning of July 14th is also closed. Details are on the opening hours page.
When the single ticket is not enough
The Water Lilies need no explanation. Eight panels, two rooms, a bench in the middle, the ceiling light. You don't need anyone for that. The collection on level -2 is another matter: 146 paintings, Renoir, Cézanne, Derain, Soutine, Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, hung without much commentary. An art historian who tells you about Paul Guillaume and why these canvases are together changes what you see. This is the only case where I advise you to pay more than the ticket: the guided tour for six, or a private visit if you are a family or if you want a language that the semi-private does not offer.
The ticket with cruise follows a different logic. It combines entry to the museum and an hour of boat from the port of La Bourdonnais, near the Eiffel Tower. The two sites are not side by side. It's a good product for a first stay in Paris, provided you accept the crossing of the 7th between the two.
Book the 9:00 AM time slot
The widget below displays the slots of the reserved entry ticket. Take the first of the day if you can. The free first Sunday of the month also exists, but on that day, booking a slot is mandatory and the museum is full.
Before booking, you can read what the reviews say about each of the six products, or browse how the price is composed, without figures but with the freebies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ticket do you need for the Musée de l'Orangerie ?
For most visitors, the reserved entry ticket with time slot. It gives access to the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, without audioguide or guide. I detail what it includes in the review of the reserved ticket.
Do you really need to book in advance ?
It's not mandatory, except on the first Sunday of the month, which is free, where the time slot must be booked. I still book, to have the opening time. See do you need to book.
Guided tour or single ticket?
Single ticket if you're coming for the Water Lilies. Guided tour if you want to understand the Walter-Guillaume collection in the basement, which is much enhanced by an art historian. Details on the guided tour page.
Is the museum open on Tuesday?
No. The Orangerie is closed on Tuesdays, every Tuesday. The Musée d'Orsay, on the other hand, is closed on Mondays. Full opening hours, including Friday late opening, are on the opening hours page.