Paris Sights

Musée d’Orsay

#3 of 1479 things to do in Paris

#11 of 49054 things to do in Europe

9 reviews | Write a review

Good for: everyone

  • Address
    • 62 rue de Lille 7e
  • Transport
    • Musée d’Orsay or Solférino
  • Website
  • Phone
    • 01 40 49 48 14
  • Price
    • adult/child €8/free
  • Hours
    • 9.30am-6pm Tue, Wed & Fri-Sun, 9.30am-9.45pm Thu

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Lonely Planet review for Musée d’Orsay

Facing the Seine from quai Anatole France, the Musée d’Orsay is housed in a former train station (1900). It displays France’s national collection of paintings, sculptures, objets d’art and other works produced between the 1840s and 1914, including the fruits of the Impressionist, post-Impressionist and art nouveau movements.

Many visitors to the museum go straight to the upper level (lit by a skylight) to see the famous Impressionist paintings by Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley, Degas and Manet and the post-Impressionist works by Cézanne, Van Gogh, Seurat and Matisse, but there’s also lots to see on the ground floor, including some early works by Manet, Monet, Renoir and Pissarro. The middle level has some superb art nouveau rooms.

English-language tours, lasting 1½ hours, include the ‘Masterpieces of the Musée d’Orsay’ tour. Audioguide tours (€5) point out around 80 major works. Tickets are valid all day, so you can leave and re-enter the museum as you please. The reduced entrance fee of €5.50 (€7 including temporary exhibition) applies to everyone after 4.15pm (6pm on Thursday). Those visiting the Musée Rodin on the same day save €2 with a combined €12 ticket.

 

Traveller reviews for Musée d’Orsay (9)

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    one of the museums in the world

    platecollector recommends this,

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    my favourite museum in paris

    euripidescraig recommends this,

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    I'd choose the Musée d'Orsay over the Louvre any day!

    christieann recommends this,

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    if you don't like it, you're a bum

    melyuan recommends this,

    Not even the most grumpy, ardent art-hater could not love this place. It's so beautiful it's a bit offensive. Take the time to get behind the beauty and learn a bit about the darker side of the impressionists.

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    One of Paris' great spaces

    vivekw recommends this,

    Airy and welcoming, the Orsay is a fantastic spot for those intimidated by the Louvre's endless corridors.

    Good for: everyone

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    A Wonderful Museum

    cubsfan123 recommends this,

    The Musee D'Orsay holds a spectacular collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, from Monet to Van Gogh to Rodin. The museum itself is set in a stunning old railway station, which provides a wonderful atmosphere. While busy, it is not overly crowded, and patrons will probably be able to get up close to the paintings they want to see, unlike some at the bustling Louvre. Tours, both personal with headphones or with a human guide, are available. The pieces housed in the museum ranged from paintings to sculptures, and there are exhibits of photographs and furniture which may change. It's a must-see for any art lover traveling to Paris.

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    Wonderful museum!

    anomolly recommends this,

    I have to say, I enjoyed the Museé de Orsay more than the Louvre. The train station is beautiful, and the overall layout is not nearly as stressful and crowded as the Louvre. The small galleries displaying the works are very well done. I highly recommend it!

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    a paris highlight

    heebee recommends this,

    So much more than a bunch of Monet's (not that there's anything wrong with that), the building is sublime, the paintings are amazing - but the big surprise for me was the furniture collection: rooms full of magnificent Art Nouveau swirlery and chairs to die for.

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    one of the world's great art museums

    djebru recommends this,

    the old railway station is genius - the light in this museum is fantastic, and the towering ceilings give it a sense of space that few museums are able to achieve. the art's pretty good, too. if you like impressionism, you'll like this.

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