Cultural sites with disabled access?

You will find the “Tourisme & Handicap” logo on our web site to designate the provision of easier access for one or more disabilities accordingly.

Physical disability

Mental disability

Visual impairment

Hearing impairment

Sites without this label also offer ease of access for certain disabilities.

See the “Tourisme & Handicap” report

Museum opening times?

As a rule, museums are open from 9 or 10am until 5 or 6pm. Others open later and close at 8 or 9pm. Closing day is most usually Monday or Tuesday, with a few exceptions. Some are even open 7 days a week, such as some of the major monuments which can even be visited as late as 11pm or midnight.

Opening times tend to be longer during high season, sometimes from April to October or from May to September, or simply in July and August.

Don’t forget too that on public holidays – in particular, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December – many museums and monuments are closed. It’s a good idea to check beforehand.

How many make a group?

Depending on the venue, the number of people making up a group can vary from a minimum of 7 to 10 and a maximum of 20 to 30. Group visits are subject to certain conditions: specific times and days, advance bookings and, depending on the galleries or the type of exhibition, a limit to the number of people accepted.

Are there any special tours for groups?

If the range of scheduled guided tours for groups doesn’t come up to your expectations, you do have other alternatives. A group composed of people of a similar profile or who are all interested in the same subject can visit a museum or a monument independently: in order to do this, you have to be at least 7 persons, book the service of an approved guide who has prior knowledge of your requirements and book with the relevant department in plenty of time. Visits for schoolchildren accompanied by their teacher are also subject to certain conditions.

Consult the list of guides and interpreters  See “Guided tours”

Paris, city of light?

A total of 276 monuments, hotels, churches, fountains, bridges and canals light up in Paris every night. Get the best out of this beauty treatment for these magnificent structures with a magical tour of Paris starting with the Eiffel Tower, undisputed queen of the illuminations.

How do you define a monument?

A monument is generally a work of architecture or sculpture built to commemorate a person or an important event: a construction open for visits, listed facades, towers or private mansions… In Paris, as you’ll see, they are unvaryingly remarkable structures of outstanding beauty or historical significance.

Any reductions?

The museums and monuments of Paris make every effort to greet their visitors in the best way possible by offering a range of packages, reductions and even free admission, opening the doors to art for everyone, no matter what age, status or possible difficulty. Of course every place has its own price policy, in particular concerning reductions granted to children and students, but here are some tips worth remembering.

• National and city museums

Most national museums are free for under-26s and for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, depending on the time of year. Admission to the permanent collections of museums run by the City Council (Ville de Paris) is also free, all year round. For admission details, check the relevant information page for the museum or monument you wish to visit.

• The “PARIS MUSEUM PASS”

The museum and monument pass enables you to skip the queues and gives you free and unlimited access to the permanent collections of more than 60 museums and monuments in Paris and the surrounding region. Valid for 2, 4 or 6 consecutive days, it is on sale in participating museums and monuments, at the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Consult the list of relevant web sites.  See “Money: Free admission”

Tours in my own language?

At the very least, English is spoken in most museums and monuments in Paris. Leaflets and guidebooks are available in several languages at the reception desks and the commentary next to each work is often translated too. In addition, guided tours are also generally provided in several languages.

Museum visits with luggage?

Larger museums provide cloakrooms and left-luggage services where you can leave your heavy things free of charge for a more comfortable visit. Coats, large umbrellas, rucksacks and small pieces of luggage are accepted. Items that are not accepted are: cumbersome bags, suitcases, valuables such as cameras, money, identity papers and chequebooks, food and drink.

An exception is sometimes made for children’s pushchairs: at the Louvre for example, they are permitted in the galleries and at left-luggage.

Warning! During the “Vigipirate” security measures, left-luggage offices in some museums and monuments may be closed.

More details about security measures  See “Safety: Vigipirate security measures”