Musée d’Orsay hours – the best time to visit, how long does it take

Musée d’Orsay is open from Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays.

The Musée d’Orsay opening hours are from 9.30 am to 6 pm.

The last entry to the museum is at 5 pm and the last entry to the exhibitions is at 5.15 pm.

All rooms of the Museum close by 5.30 pm.

On Thursday, visitors can enjoy extended opening hours until 9.45 pm.

The last access to the museum and exhibition on Thursday is at 9 pm, and the rooms close by 9.30 pm. 

Here is the Musée d’Orsay weekly schedule: 

Day of the week	Opening Hours	Last Entry
Sunday	9.30 am to 6.30 pm	5.15 pm
Monday	Closed	Closed
Tuesday	9.30 am to 6.30 pm	5.15 pm
Wednesday	9.30 am to 6.30 pm	5.15 pm
Thursday	9.30 am to 9.45 pm	9.30 pm
Friday	9.30 am to 6.30 pm	5.15 pm
Saturday	9.30 am to 6.30 pm	5.15 pm

Musée d’Orsay is closed every Monday, May 1 and December 25. 

Based on the Musée d’Orsay hours, plan your visit and keep in mind that there is a waiting time of 30 minutes to 1 hour at the main entrance. 

This waiting time increases to 2.5 hours during peak time. 

The queues at the entrance are short before 10 am.

Best time to visit Musée d’Orsay

The best time to visit Musée d’Orsay is at 9 am as soon as the museum opens for visitors.

We recommend you arrive 15 minutes before the opening hours to avoid long queues and crowds.

This will give you a head start in admiring the masterpieces, such as works by Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir, without having to contend with large groups of tourists.

Avoid visiting from 1 pm to 5 pm as it is the peak visiting hours at Musée d’Orsay.

The best day of the week to visit Musée d’Orsay is Wednesday to Friday.

Musée d’Orsay is most crowded on Sundays and Tuesdays throughout the week.

You should visit during the morning or afternoons on Wednesdays and Fridays for a pleasant visit.

It is best to visit late in the evening on Thursdays after 6 pm for a quieter and more serene atmosphere for art enthusiasts.

The best time to visit the Musée d’Orsay is during the off-peak season, generally the spring (April to June) and Autumn (September to October).

During these times, the museum tends to be less crowded, allowing you to fully appreciate the artwork without the hustle and bustle of large crowds. 

Additionally, the weather in Paris during these seasons is usually pleasant, making exploring the museum and its surroundings even more enjoyable.

How long does it take to visit Musée d’Orsay

Visitors usually spend 3 to 4 hours admiring all the permanent exhibitions in the museum.

Guests who do not pre-book their ticket spend 45 minutes to 2 hours in the ticket counter queue, depending on the season they visit.

On the other hand, visitors with an online ticket tend to skip all the ticket lines and get priority access. This saves them the waiting time and allows them more time to explore.

If you fancy learning about the paintings and allegories of the masterpieces, you could spend all day long visiting all the sections of the museum. 

However, if you are strolling around to experience the Musée d’Orsay, you can choose how long you want to spend in the museum. 

We recommend taking two hours to visit the highlights of the Musée d’Orsay if you have limited time or want to see only the well-known pieces.

The average length of visit to Musée d’Orsay is often two hours, after which guests frequently experience art fatigue. 

Before continuing your tour, take a break at one of the museum’s restaurants or cafes.

Tips for saving time at the Orsay Museum

• Buy entry tickets in advance: Purchasing your Musée d’Orsay admission tickets in advance lets you skip all the waiting lines and enter through a dedicated entrance. You can save 45 minutes to 2 hours with pre-booked tickets.
  
• Visit during early morning: The museum is less crowded during the initial opening hours at 9.30 am. If you visit before 10.30 am, you will go through faster and smaller waiting lines.
  
• Visit on Thursdays after 6 pm: On Thursdays, the museum is open until 9.45 pm and you can enjoy a crowd-free visit after 6 pm.
  
• Check the waiting time: You can check the waiting time at the Orsay Museum entrance on the official website. You can then plan your visit during the time with the least waiting time.

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

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

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Musée d’Orsay opening hours FAQ

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For all visitors planning to visit Musee d’Orsay, here is a list of tickets you can choose from. 

Dedicated entry ticket: This ticket offers dedicated entry to the museum with access to permanent and temporary collections. 
Buy This Ticket | Learn More

Guided tour ticket: Enjoy a 1 hour 45 minutes guided tour and skip the line access to Musee d’Orsay.
| Learn More

Musee d’Orsay and Seine River Cruise: Visitors can tour the Musee d’Orsay and then experience a cruise over the Seine. 
| Learn More

Musee d’Orsay and Louvre Museum: This combination ticket offers entry to both Musee d’Orsay and Louvre Museum.
Buy This Ticket | Learn More

Paris City Museum Pass: Visit the best museums in Paris with just one pass.
| Learn More

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