Decisions to make before you travel
- Which sites charge you more? Since 14 January 2026 the Louvre costs €32 for visitors from outside the European Economic Area and €22 for EEA citizens and residents (Musée du Louvre, checked 9 October 2026). Versailles, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Palais Garnier also have a lower EEA rate, so carry proof of nationality or residence if you qualify. The Musée d'Orsay does not: its €16 online or €14 desk ticket is the same for everyone, and EU/EEA 18 to 25-year-olds enter free (checked 12 October 2026).
- What has to be booked? Stairs tickets at the Eiffel Tower need advance reservation since 29 September 2026, and its tickets cannot be changed or refunded. The Versailles palace needs a booked time slot even on a free ticket, the Notre-Dame towers sell online only, and the Catacombs sell online up to seven days ahead.
- Is the Museum Pass worth it? It costs €85 for 48 hours, €105 for 96 hours and €125 for 144 hours from the first visit, and it excludes the Eiffel Tower and the Catacombs. It pays off only when your single tickets would add up to more, and you still need free slots at the Louvre and Versailles.
- What is free? Entry to Notre-Dame cathedral is free; optional reservations are released on the day only. The Sacré-Cœur basilica is free too; only its dome climb is paid (€8 from age 16, on site only).
- Which sites sell nothing on the door? Palais Garnier visits are online only, up to 30 days ahead, and rehearsals can close the auditorium on any day.
Your planning order
Compare the big tickets
| Site | Adult price checked 9 October 2026 | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower | €14.80 (stairs, 2nd floor) to €36.70 (lift to the summit) | Fixed slot online; no changes or refunds |
| Louvre | €32 non-EEA, €22 EEA | Time slot recommended; closed Tuesdays |
| Musée d'Orsay (checked 12 October) | €16 online, €14 at the desk; same for all nationalities | Online tickets are timed (Quay entrance); desk tickets queue at the Forecourt; closed Mondays |
| Palais Garnier (checked 12 October) | €25 non-EEA, €15 EEA, self-guided | Online only; no visit tickets on site |
| Versailles Passport | €35 to 31 October, €25 from 1 November; €3 less for EEA | Palace slot required; closed Mondays |
| Sainte-Chapelle | €22 non-EEA, €16 EEA | 30-minute slot |
| Notre-Dame cathedral | Free | Optional same-day slots |
Getting out of the centre
A single Metro-Train-RER ticket costs €2.55 in 2026 and is valid across Île-de-France except to the airports. It covers RER C to Versailles and RER A to Disneyland Paris; see Paris to Disneyland Paris by RER A for journey times and the family maths.
Seine cruises and day trips by train
A one-hour sightseeing cruise costs €15 to €18 per adult online at the official operators, from three different piers; the Batobus hop-on shuttle costs €23 for 24 hours and doubles as transport between the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre and Notre-Dame (operator pages, checked 12 October 2026). See Seine river cruises compared.
| Day trip | Getting there (checked 12 October 2026) | Main ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Giverny | Train Saint-Lazare → Vernon-Giverny (about 50 min, from €10), then €5 shuttle | €13; open 1 April to 1 November 2026 only |
| Mont-Saint-Michel | Train to Rennes (from 1h25, from €10), then Keolis bus (about 1h15, from €25 return) | Abbey €13 from 1 October; timed slot |
Mont-Saint-Michel is a 13 to 14-hour day by public transport; the guide has the bus times and the tide rules. Giverny is a half day, but only until the gardens close for the winter on 1 November; see Giverny from Paris.
If this is your situation
What to recheck on the day
Several of these sites changed prices or booking rules in 2026, and some of their own pages still show older wording. Each guide names the page it follows and its check date; open that page again for your travel date, especially for Eiffel Tower slots and the Versailles November price change.
