Travel Tips for Paris, France

Monday:

• Palace of Versailles is closed

Plan your visit

• Petit Palais is closed (permanent collection is free on days the museum is open)

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Tuesday:

• Louvre is closed

Hours, Admission & Directions | Louvre Museum | Paris

Monday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Tuesday: Closed. Wednesday: 9 a.m.–9:45 p.m. Thursday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m.–9:45 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

• Palace of Versailles Musical Fountain Shows from end of March to end of October

Fountains Shows and Musical Gardens

From 29 March to 31 October 2024, enjoy the Musical Gardens and the Great Musical Waters in the gardens and groves opened for the occasion.

• Grand Palais is closed

Homepage | RMN – Grand Palais

Due to the Vigipirate Plan (increase security measures), access to Grand Palais is forbidden to all suitcases, all travel bags and backpacks larger than 42 x 30 x 20 cm. Thanks for understanding !

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Wednesday:

• Louvre is open extended hours (9:00 AM to 9:45 PM)

Hours, Admission & Directions | Louvre Museum | Paris

Monday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Tuesday: Closed. Wednesday: 9 a.m.–9:45 p.m. Thursday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m.–9:45 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

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Thursday:

• Musee d’Orsay is open extended hours (9:30 AM to 9:45 PM)

• Musee d’Orsay has reduced admission after 6:00 PM

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Friday:

• Louvre is open extended hours (9:00 AM to 9:45 PM)

Hours, Admission & Directions | Louvre Museum | Paris

Monday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Tuesday: Closed. Wednesday: 9 a.m.–9:45 p.m. Thursday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m.–9:45 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

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Saturday:

• Palace of Versailles Musical Fountain Shows from end of March to end of October

Fountains Shows and Musical Gardens

From 2 April to 29 October 2019, enjoy the Musical Fountains Shows and the Musical Gardens in the Gardens and the groves open for the occasion. During summer, every Saturday night discover the Gardens of Versailles differently with the Night Fountains Shows.

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Sunday:

• Palace of Versailles is free the 1st Sunday of every month from November to March

Conditions for free admission

Admission is free for certain visitors to the Palace, the palaces of Trianon, Marie-Antoinette’s estate and the temporary exhibitions.

• Palace of Versailles Musical Fountain Shows from end of March to end of October

Fountains Shows and Musical Gardens

From 2 April to 29 October 2019, enjoy the Musical Fountains Shows and the Musical Gardens in the Gardens and the groves open for the occasion. During summer, every Saturday night discover the Gardens of Versailles differently with the Night Fountains Shows.

Don’t waste money on expensive travel passes. The link below describes how to purchase a Navigo Découverte card.

Paris Train Metro Week Pass – Navigo Découverte – Paris by Train

Pass Navigo Découverte transit card for week or month pass valid on Paris Bus, Metro, RER, Trams, Transilien trains in Ile-de-France trains (Not TGV).

The official RATP website does not provide much information on this. It is valid for Monday through Sunday, includes 5 zones which will cover to and from the CDG Airport, Verailles, Disneyland Paris, etc. It can be purchased at the ticket office at CDG upon arrival, however if you arrive mid-week it will only be valid until Sunday at 11:59 PM. You will need a passport photo for the card. If you forget a photo, there are photo booths nearby in all the train stations…

The train station at CDG is easy to find, just follow the signs for “Trains to Paris”. The trains leave from tracks 11 and 12 at T2. If you are at T2, there is only one direction the trains go (Paris). There are two RER B trains, one that is a “Direct to Paris” which does not stop at all the stations between CDG and Gare du Nord. This will be quicker and have less pickpockets.

Also, be sure to hold onto your metro tickets until you leave the station at your destination. There are verifications both onboard and when exiting the station.

Forgot to purchase tickets for the Louvre ahead of time?

Please don’t wait in the queue that is for those without tickets. This queue only enters when the queue for those with print at home tickets enter. You can purchase the print at home tickets here for 15 Euro:

Billetterie officielle du musée du Louvre : achetez votre billet en ligne – accès garanti en 30 minutes. Fini les files d’attente !

Billetterie officielle du musée du Louvre: achetez votre billet en ligne.

If you didn’t buy the print at home tickets then there is a Tabac shop in the Caroussel du Louvre which is at the Louvre, but accessed through a staircase near the arch that is opposite of the pyramids. The tickets are still only 15 Euro, and then you can enter in the line for those with tickets. Instructions and pictures can be found here:

Guide to Louvre Secret Entrances | Sight Seeker’s Delight

Claire worked and wrote for Sight Seeker’s Delight for 7 years – read more here. Avoid long waits at the Louvre by visiting less-used museum entrances. If you’re like most visitors to Paris, you’re probably looking to schedule your trip in the summer. And who can blame you? Not me, definitely. One o…

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Don’t forget your adapters to charge your electronics. Here is a good website with the information you need for all the places you want to go.

Plug & socket types – World Standards

This is an overview of all electric plugs that are currently in use around the world. There are 15 types of plugs in use today, each of which has been assigned a letter.

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Before you leave the United States it is highly encouraged to register with the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. You will receive security messages from the Department of State and the Embassy of the country you are visiting. More information regarding this free program can be found on the U.S. State Department’s website shown below.

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

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The last thing anyone expects on vacation is rain… To protect my camera (and hide if from pickpockets) I recommend a ‘dry bag’. This is usually used for people enjoying watersports (kayaking, boating, etc.) and available at most outdoor stores (as well as online retailers).