Musée d'Orsay Private Guided Tour in English

KTLY726413

Musée d'Orsay Private Guided Tour in English, photo 3

Musée d'Orsay Private Guided Tour in English, photo 4

Paris, France

Non-refundable

This ticket cannot be cancelled and is non-refundable

About this tour

Walk the Musée d'Orsay with a private guide and a small group of six or fewer, all in English. Set inside a grand former railway station on the Left Bank of the Seine, the museum holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, from Van Gogh and Monet to Degas, Renoir, and Cézanne. Your ticket and a tour of the permanent collection across five floors are both included, so you spend your time looking at the art rather than figuring out where to go.

Guide Languages

English

Highlights

See the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, the Orsay's signature draw.
Stand before Van Gogh's Starry Night Over the Rhône and Self-Portrait, Monet's Water Lilies, and Renoir's Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette.
Take in Degas' ballet dancers, Manet's era-defining paintings, and Cézanne's groundbreaking compositions.
Admire the Beaux-Arts building itself, a railway station built for the 1900 World's Fair.
Look out over the Seine through the museum's giant glass clock on the upper level.
A calmer, more focused alternative to the Louvre, well suited to art lovers who want depth without the crowds.
The great gilded clock upstairs is one of the most photographed spots in Paris, framing the Seine and Montmartre beyond.
The collection picks up where the Louvre leaves off, covering Western art from roughly 1848 to 1914.
Beyond painting, the Orsay holds sculpture, decorative arts, photography, and architecture from the same decades.

Places You Will Visit

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Musée d'Orsay Paris, France 6 tours & tickets

Included / Excluded

Entry to the Musée d'Orsay
Guided tour of the permanent collection
Tour of the permanent collection
Private tour (six people or fewer)
Private tour (6 people or less)

Visiting the Musée d'Orsay: Hours, Getting There, and What You'll See

This is a private, English-guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay for a group of six or fewer. You'll meet at the Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, right at the museum on the Left Bank of the Seine, and with pre-booked entry you can head straight to the individual visitors' entrance (Entrance C) rather than queuing for on-site ticket sales. The building spreads across several floors: the main hall under its iron-and-glass roof holds sculpture and large-format paintings, while the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist galleries fill the upper floors. Many people climb straight up to those first, then work their way back down through the earlier rooms. Save a few minutes for the view through the great glass clock toward the Seine and Montmartre, and for the restaurant that still wears its original Belle Époque decor.

The Orsay sits directly across the river from the Tuileries, an easy walk from the Louvre and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. By public transport, take Metro Line 12 to Solférino, RER Line C to Musée d'Orsay, or buses 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 87, and 94. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays, as well as on May 1 and December 25. Hours run 09:30 to 18:00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with a late Thursday opening until 21:45 that draws thinner crowds. Last admission is at 17:00 (21:00 on Thursdays), and the galleries begin closing about half an hour later. Most visits take two to three hours, though the collection easily fills a half day.

Weather in Paris

Today 57°F14°C 50°F10°C Rain 88%

Today 58°F15°C 48°F9°C Rain 100%

Tomorrow 63°F17°C 51°F10°C Rain 95%

Mon, Oct 26 59°F15°C 49°F9°C Rain 45%

Tue, Oct 27 67°F20°C 55°F13°C Rain 34%

Wed, Oct 28 60°F16°C 47°F8°C Rain 21%

Thu, Oct 29 60°F15°C 43°F6°C Rain 3%

Local time 6:22 AM, UTC+02:00

Available Days / Times

Monday
Tuesday : 10:00, 13:30
Wednesday : 10:00, 13:30
Thursday : 10:00, 13:30, 17:00
Friday : 10:00, 13:30
Saturday : 10:00, 13:30
Sunday

Last updated: Oct 23, 2026

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Important Information

Book in advance; timed slots sell out and lines run long in peak season.
Entry tickets are timed, so arrive close to your chosen slot.
Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month, but those days are far more crowded.
The collection is large, so a guided tour helps you make sense of the works and their context.
Combination tickets, including some with a Seine River cruise, can save time and money.
Wear comfortable shoes; you'll be on your feet for most of the visit.
Security screening is required, so allow extra time at the entrance.
Food and drink are only allowed in designated areas, not in the galleries.
Personal photography without flash is fine; tripods, selfie sticks, and large camera gear need prior approval.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premises.
Bags over 55 × 35 × 20 cm must go in the cloakroom.
Do not touch the artworks.
Sharp objects, art materials, large umbrellas, and dangerous items are not permitted.
Children under 13 must be with an adult.

FAQs

What is the Musée d'Orsay?

It's one of Paris's major art museums, set in a former Beaux-Arts railway station on the Left Bank of the Seine. It's best known for its exceptional Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection.

What should I see at the Musée d'Orsay?

Look for masterpieces by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, and Manet, along with sculpture, decorative arts, and photography. Don't miss the view over Paris through the giant glass clock on the upper level.

Is the Musée d'Orsay free?

Entry is free for everyone on the first Sunday of each month. Otherwise a paid ticket is needed, though some visitors, such as EU residents under 26, may qualify for free admission.

How much is a ticket to the Musée d'Orsay?

Prices depend on the type of entry, such as standard admission, a guided tour, or a combination ticket with other Paris sights. Check the verified options listed on this page for current prices.

Should I book Musée d'Orsay tickets in advance?

Yes. It's one of the city's busiest museums and timed slots often sell out, especially in peak season. Booking ahead through this page lets you compare entry types and lock in your preferred time.

How do I skip the line at the Musée d'Orsay?

Book a timed-entry ticket online in advance, which lets you use the priority access lane instead of the main ticket queue. This page makes it easy to compare skip-the-line options.

Where can I book Musée d'Orsay tickets?

You can buy them online or at the museum. Booking through this page lets you compare verified options, including standard entry, guided tours, and combo tickets.

How do I get to the Musée d'Orsay?

The museum is on the Left Bank, and the easiest way there is RER Line C to the Musée d'Orsay stop. You can also arrive by Metro, bus, or on foot from nearby landmarks like the Louvre.

Why is the Musée d'Orsay building so distinctive?

It was built as the Gare d'Orsay, a railway station completed in 1900 for the Paris World's Fair. Its soaring iron-and-glass hall still reads unmistakably as a station.

How is the collection organized?

It's arranged to bridge the Louvre and the Centre Pompidou, covering Western art from about 1848 to 1914. The Impressionist galleries sit on the upper floor and tend to be busiest.

How long should I plan for a visit?

Most visits run two to three hours, but the collection easily fills a half day if you want to slow down. It's closed Mondays, so plan around that.

Can I pair the Orsay with other art museums?

Yes. It sits directly across the Seine from the Tuileries, an easy walk from the Louvre and the Orangerie, so it's simple to combine several art stops in one day.