Entrance to Musée d’Orsay

Musée d’Orsay welcomes visitors through four main entrances: A, B, C and D. 

There are two riverside Musée d’Orsay entrances and two on the side of Rue de Lille. 

Knowing which entrance to Musee d’Orsay to take before your visit is essential, or you will waste time waiting in the wrong queue. 

If you are confused about which Musée d’Orsay entrance to take, this article covers you. 

Here is a quick video explaining all the entrances of the museum:

Seine Riverside entrances

Entrance A

The first entrance to the Musée d’Orsay is open for visitors with or without tickets. 

This entrance has ticket counters for visitors to buy their Musée d’Orsay entry tickets. 

If you plan to visit without purchasing your ticket, note that the waiting time could go up to 2.5 hours during peak season.

To skip the waiting lines and enjoy easy access, purchase your Musée d’Orsay entry tickets online.

The Q1 in this entrance is dedicated to:

• Pregnant women
• Disabled persons with a disability card or a “priority” card for disabled persons, with an accompanying person
• Carte blanche from the Orsay and Orangerie museums
• Member of the Society of Friends of the Orsay and Orangery Museums
• Member of the American Friends Musée d’Orsay
• Annual pass, VIP
• Musée d’Orsay pass
• ICOM and ICOMOS cards
• Press card
• Culture Card (with a companion)
•  Sotheby’s card
•  Louvre Abu Dhabi card
•  Barnes Foundation card
•  Ecole du Louvre card
•  Guide-lecturer (see group access conditions)
• Professional artists
• Scientific staff of French and foreign public museums (curators and museum inspectors)
• Staff of the National Institute of Art History
• Members of Parliament, senators and members of the European Parliament
• Personalities on official visits
• Auditorium ticket
• Ticket for an activity

The Q2 at entrance A is allotted to visitors with reserved time slots for permanent or temporary collections.

Entrance B

The second option for the Musée d’Orsay entrance allows large groups with a prior reservation. 

Entrance B is the entrance for you if you are part of a large group with prior bookings. 

If you have booked a group tour, this is your entrance. 

Entrances on the Rue de Lille side

Entrance C

This is the main entrance of Musée d’Orsay.

If you bought your Musée d’Orsay tickets online, this is your entrance.

The Musée d’Orsay Entrance C is open for

• AFMO members
• Visitors with tickets
• Pass holders
• Visitors with special needs
• Disabled visitors

Queues at this entrance move the fastest as visitors have already purchased their Musée d’Orsay tickets. 

If you are a Paris Museum Pass holder, this is your entrance. 

Queue C1: visitors with tickets without time slots and without the need to make a reservation. You can join this queue if you have:

• Paris Museum Pass
• Combined Orsay/Orangery tickets
• Twin tickets Orsay/Rodin
• Paris Pass’Lib
• Admission tickets without time slots

Queue C2: visitors buying their ticket on the spot or beneficiaries of free admission like:

• Under 18 years old
• 18-25 year olds who are nationals of the European Union or the European Economic Area.
• 18-25 year olds who are not citizens of the European Union but are long-term residents of France or another EU country (holders of a visa of more than three months)
• Students in art programs at public universities and art schools (up to age 30)
• Teachers of art courses in public universities and art schools
• Job seekers
• Beneficiaries of minimum social benefits, asylum seekers and refugees
• Holders of the minimum old age pension
• Disabled persons holding a disability card or a “priority” card for disabled persons, with an accompanying person
• Holders of the Education Pass
• Students in ESPE (formerly IUFM, 1st and 2nd year)

Entrance D:

The Musée d’Orsay Entrance D is open only for school groups with reservations before visiting.

Planning to visit Musee d’Orsay? Here are some more relevant information to help you plan your visit.

• Opening hours
• How to reach
• Parking information
• Map
• Restaurants and cafes
• Tips to visit
• FAQs
• Musee d’Orsay vs Louvre Museum 

FAQs

Featured Image: Musee-orsay.fr