In short
If you're short on time or want to skip the technical details, here's the perfect summary to guide your choice based on the type of trip you're planning:
- Paris Museum Pass: perfect for art and history. Covers over 60 state museums.
- Paris Pass® Plus (Go City): combines all state museums with unmissable experiences such as the guided ascent of the Eiffel Tower, the tourist bus and the cruise on the Seine.
- Paris City Card (Tiqets): Tickets to the city's 4 or 5 must-see icons on flexible dates and a 10% discount to use on any other attraction.
☰ Table of Contents
The advantages of choosing a pass
Planning your access in advance radically transforms the travel experience in the French capital, ensuring a smooth, economical and organized stay.
Guaranteed economic savings
Buying a pass dramatically reduces the overall cost compared to purchasing individual entrance tickets.
Drastic reduction in waiting times
Tourist cards include priority access or dedicated fast lanes.
Flexibility and budget control
By pre-paying for your pass before departure, you can explore additional sights or change your plans on the spot.
Centralized management and zero stress
You will have all your entries and barcodes grouped into one digital or paper document.
Our advice
If you're planning to visit two or more attractions a day, purchasing a pass will prove to be a winning choice. Conversely, if you prefer to experience the city by strolling through its neighborhoods, limiting your visits to just one major museum a day, purchasing individual standard tickets remains the best solution.
Paris Pass Comparison Table
To help you quickly compare options and figure out which investment best fits your budget and travel plans, we've summarized the key features, key inclusions, and starting prices of each solution in this concise table.
Paris Museum Pass: what it includes
This card is entirely focused on the historical, artistic and architectural heritage of Paris and its surrounding region.
What does the pass include?
Free, skip-the-line access to over 60 museums and historic monuments spread across central Paris and the surrounding region.
Main attractions included
- Louvre Museum (reservations required)
- Musée d'Orsay and Centre Pompidou
- Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle and Pantheon
- Palace of Versailles (reservations required)
What's not included
The pass is strictly cultural. It does not include access to the Eiffel Tower, cruises on the Seine, tourist buses, or public transport.
Duration and operation
Available in 2, 4, or 6-day periods. It activates upon first use and requires the physical pass to be picked up downtown.
Who is it recommended for?
Ideal for art and history enthusiasts who want to pack many cultural visits into consecutive days, maximizing savings.
Rates and purchase
Reserve your official pass before departure to organize your time slots.
Paris Pass Plus: What's Included
The richest digital formula, designed for those who want to combine classic cultural visits with a series of guided tours, tourist transport, and interactive experiences.
What does the pass include?
The most comprehensive all-inclusive package for Paris. It combines the cultural offerings of state museums with guided tours, tourist transportation, and culinary experiences.
Main attractions included
- All museums in the Paris Museum Pass (Louvre, Orsay)
- Guided ascent of the Eiffel Tower
- Cruise on the Seine with Bateaux Parisiens
- Hop-on Hop-off bus day ticket
What's not included
Does not include a public transport pass (RER or city metro) or access to the elevators on the top floor of the Eiffel Tower.
Duration and operation
100% digital card managed via app. Valid for 2, 4, or 6 consecutive days, it is activated by scanning the QR code at the first attraction.
Who is it recommended for?
Perfect for first-time visitors to Paris who want a complete 360-degree experience without the stress of separate bookings.
Rates and purchase
Receive your pass directly on your phone immediately after purchase.
Paris City Card: What's Included
A streamlined and essential package, designed by Tiqets to ensure you get to see the city's main attractions without having to squeeze too many visits into a few days.
What does the pass include?
A streamlined pass focused exclusively on Paris's absolute icons. It offers targeted entry and complete date flexibility.
Main attractions included
- Eiffel Tower (Priority Access to the 2nd Floor)
- Panoramic cruise on the Seine (1 hour)
- Entrance to the Musée d'Orsay or the Pantheon
- Entrance to the Arc de Triomphe or Versailles
What's not included
Does not include unlimited access to the other 60 city museums, public transport, or the elevator ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Duration and operation
No constraints on consecutive days. Choose your dates and times online for each attraction and receive your tickets by email.
Who is it recommended for?
Ideal for those who prefer to explore the city at a leisurely pace and want to ensure only the main attractions, taking advantage of the extra discount.
Rates and purchase
Includes a 10% promo code valid on the entire Tiqets catalog.
Quick savings calculation
To understand exactly how much it's worth investing in a tourist card, we calculated the total cost of purchasing individual tickets to Paris's main attractions and compared it with the fixed cost of the cards.
| Attraction / Spending Option | Single Price | With Museum Pass (4G) | With Paris Pass® Plus (4G) | With Paris City Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance to the Louvre Museum | 22 € | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | 19,80 € (-10%) |
| Entrance to the Orsay Museum | 16 € | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Eiffel Tower Climb (2nd floor) | 40 € | 40 € (Excluding) | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Panoramic cruise on the Seine | 17 € | 17 € (Excluding) | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Palace of Versailles + Gardens | 24 € | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Sainte-Chapelle + Arc de Triomphe | 26 € | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | 23,40 € (-10%) |
| Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus (1G) | 45 € | 45 € (Excluding) | ✓ Included | 40,50 € (-10%) |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL COST | 190 € | 92 € + 57 € = 149 € | Fixed Pass = 189 € | Card + Extra = 150,70 € |
| NET SAVINGS | Nobody | You save €41 | Extra Value +€56 | Save €39.30 |
5 practical tips for those choosing Passes
Here are 5 practical and strategic tips for making the most of any tourist card purchased for Paris, avoiding the most common mistakes tourists make:
Block mandatory time slots immediately
Having a pass does not guarantee automatic entry into the busiest museums.
Plan your activation date logically
Timed passes are activated the moment they are scanned at the first attraction and count in consecutive calendar days, not 24 hours.
Group attractions by geographic proximity
Optimize the days of validity of your pass by consolidating visits that are in the same area.
Always check the closing days of the museums
Many major Parisian state museums observe a weekly day of rest. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, while the Musée d'Orsay and the Palace of Versailles are closed on Mondays.
Take advantage of the extra discount on secondary experiences
If you use a flexible card that includes percentage promo codes (like Tiqets' 10% off), use this to purchase tickets for expensive attractions that aren't included.
Need to know
- Prices drop in January and August.
- EU residents under 26 enter state museums for free
- The cards do not cover ordinary public transport
To keep in mind
- The days of validity are always consecutive
- The Louvre requires reservations even in low season
- Digital passes require a stable data connection
Top activities and experiences in Paris
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a museum is full but I've already purchased a pass?
Having a pass does not guarantee admission if the day is sold out. For the busiest attractions, particularly the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles, you must use your pass code to reserve your time slot on their official website several weeks in advance. If you don't find a spot, you'll have to reschedule your visit for another day within the validity of your pass.
Do Paris passes include priority security entry?
No pass in the world allows you to skip security checks (metal detectors and bag checks), which are mandatory for all visitors for public safety reasons. However, the passes allow you to skip the extremely long ticket line and access lanes reserved for pre-purchased tickets, drastically reducing overall wait times.
Is it worth buying the pass for the children and teenagers travelling with me?
Almost always, no, if they are European Union residents and under 26, as entry to the main state-owned museums and monuments (such as the Louvre, Orsay, and Versailles) is already completely free for them. In this case, the best strategy is not to buy a pass for them and to purchase individual tickets on-site only for private, non-state-owned attractions, such as the Seine River cruise or the Eiffel Tower.
If I purchase the pass today, how long do I have to activate or use it by?
Passes purchased online are valid for a very long time before activation, typically one to two years from the date of purchase. The number of days of use starts counting only when you scan the QR code or barcode at the first attraction you visit in Paris.
