Musée d'Orsay Private Guided Tour in German
About this tour
Spend time inside the Musée d'Orsay with a private guide and a small group of six people or fewer. The museum holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, so you'll stand in front of paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne and Manet while your guide explains what made this period such a turning point. Your tour covers the permanent collection across the former railway station's floors, from sculpture in the main hall to the Impressionist galleries upstairs. This tour is guided in German.
Guide Languages
German
Highlights
- See the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, the museum's main draw.
- Stand in front of 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.
- Look closely at Degas' ballet dancers, Manet's groundbreaking canvases, and Cézanne's influential still lifes and landscapes.
- Take in the Beaux-Arts building itself, originally the Gare d'Orsay 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 smaller, more manageable alternative to the Louvre, ideal if you want depth without the crowds.
- Browse a collection that bridges the Louvre and the Centre Pompidou, covering Western art from roughly 1848 to 1914.
- Head straight for the Impressionist galleries on the top floor, where the best-known works hang and the crowds gather first.
- Beyond painting, see sculpture, decorative arts, photography and architecture from the same decades.
Places You Will Visit
Included / Excluded
- Entrance to the Musée d'Orsay
- Guided tour of the permanent collection
- Private tour for 6 people or fewer
Visiting the Musée d'Orsay: What to See, Hours and Getting There
The Musée d'Orsay fills a former railway station on the Left Bank of the Seine, and its collection runs across several floors. The main hall, under its vast glass roof, holds sculpture and large-scale paintings, while the upper floors are given over to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist work, including Monet's "Poppies" and Van Gogh's "Self-Portrait." Many visitors head straight up to those galleries first, then work back down through the earlier rooms. The old station restaurant still serves as a café with its original Belle Époque decor, and the glass clock on the upper level frames a view across the river toward the Louvre.
You'll find the museum at Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, 75007 Paris, 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 bus lines 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 87 or 94. If you've booked in advance, use Entrance C, reserved for individual visitors with pre-booked tickets and pass holders, to skip the ticket-purchase queues.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays, as well as on May 1 and December 25. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday hours run 09:30 to 18:00, with a late Thursday opening until 21:45 that tends to be quieter. Last admission is 17:00 (temporary exhibitions until 17:15) and galleries start closing at 17:30; on Thursdays, last admission is 21:00 and galleries close at 21:15. Plan on two to three hours for a visit.
Weather in Paris
Local time 7:13 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
Important Information
- Book your tickets ahead of time, since time slots sell out and entrance lines run long in peak season.
- Entry is timed, so plan to arrive close to your booked slot for smooth access.
- The museum is free on the first Sunday of each month, though those days are noticeably busier.
- The collection is large, so a guided tour or audio guide helps make sense of the artworks and their history.
- Combination tickets, such as those paired with a Seine River cruise, can save time and money.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as you'll be on your feet for most of the visit.
- Security checks are required at the entrance, so build in a little extra time.
- Food and drink are only allowed in designated areas, not in the galleries.
- Personal photos without flash are fine; tripods, selfie sticks and large equipment need prior authorization.
- Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premises.
- Bags over 55 × 35 × 20 cm aren't allowed inside and must go in the cloakroom.
- Do not touch the artworks.
- Sharp objects, art materials, large umbrellas and other dangerous items are not allowed.
- Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
FAQs
What is the Musée d'Orsay?
What is there to see at the Musée d'Orsay?
Is the Musée d'Orsay free?
How much does a ticket to the Musée d'Orsay cost?
Should I book Musée d'Orsay tickets in advance?
How do I skip the line at the Musée d'Orsay?
Where can I book Musée d'Orsay tickets?
How do I get to the Musée d'Orsay?
Why is the Musée d'Orsay building itself worth seeing?
What period of art does the collection cover?
Can I pair the Musée d'Orsay with other art stops?
How long should I plan for a visit?
Similar tours
Musée d'Orsay Private Guided Tour in English
Musée d'Orsay Private Guided Tour in Italian
Musée d'Orsay Small Group Guided Tour, Skip the Line
Musée d'Orsay Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket