Musée d’Orsay is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and it stays open late on Thursdays until 9:45 p.m. It is closed every Monday, as well as on May 1 and December 25. If you’re planning your timing, note that last access to the museum is 5:00 p.m.
on regular days (and 9:00 p.m. on Thursday late openings), so arriving earlier makes the visit feel much more relaxed.
Closed days
Musée d’Orsay is closed every Monday. It is also closed on two fixed public holidays each year: May 1 (Labour Day) and December 25 (Christmas Day).
If you’re planning around a tight Paris itinerary, it’s still wise to check the museum’s official “Admission, opening times” page close to your visit, because exceptional closures or schedule changes can happen.
lastentry
For Musée d’Orsay, the “last entry” depends on whether you mean the museum entrance or the galleries. On regular days (Tuesday to Sunday), the last access to the museum is 5:00 p.m., while the last access to the exhibitions is 5:15 p.m., even though the museum closes at 6:00 p.m.
On Thursday late-opening nights, the museum stays open until 9:45 p.m., and the last access to both the museum and exhibitions is 9:00 p.m.
Admissiondays
Musée d’Orsay’s admission days are Tuesday through Sunday, so you can visit any day except Monday. The museum is also closed on May 1 and December 25, which are the two fixed holiday closures to remember when you’re building a Paris itinerary.
On most open days, it runs from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Thursdays it stays open late until 9:45 p.m., which is a great option if you prefer a quieter evening-style museum visit. If you’re timing entry, note that last access to the museum is 5:00 p.m. on regular days and 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
Musée d’Orsay packing
When you visit the Musée d’Orsay, pack for comfort and smooth entry rather than anything complicated. A crossbody bag or a small backpack is the easiest option, because the museum can get crowded and you’ll be moving through galleries, stairs, and long corridors. If you bring a larger bag, be prepared to use the cloakroom, which can add a little time at the start and end of your visit.
Comfortable shoes matter here more than people expect. Even though it’s an indoor museum, you’ll still walk a lot, and you’ll probably stand in place for longer than planned in front of the big names like Monet, Van Gogh, or the iconic clock-window viewpoint. A light layer is also useful, because indoor temperatures can feel cool after you’ve been outside in Paris weather.
If you’re taking photos, a portable charger is a practical addition, but keep expectations realistic: flash is not allowed, and some temporary exhibitions may have additional restrictions. It also helps to carry a small bottle of water for the walk to and from the museum, but remember that eating and drinking rules apply inside galleries, so plan on using designated areas for breaks.
How long
Most travelers can enjoy the Musée d’Orsay comfortably in about two to three hours, especially if you focus on the “must-see” rooms and the big names you came for. Japanese Paris travel guides often use this as the standard planning window, and it matches how the museum feels in real life: large enough to be satisfying, but not so sprawling that you need an entire day just to get oriented.
If you want a slower, more complete visit—taking time with sculpture, decorative arts, and the flow of the building itself—three to four hours is a better target. One recent Japanese guide describes two hours as a fast highlights visit, while three to four hours allows you to look properly without constantly checking your watch.
Art lovers often stretch it into a half-day, especially if they pause for a break and stay longer in the Impressionist galleries or add a temporary exhibition. The practical detail that shapes your timing is the museum schedule: on most days it closes at 6:00 p.m., so late arrivals can feel rushed, while Thursday’s late opening to 9:45 p.m. gives you room to slow down.
If you’re building a Paris itinerary, planning “around three hours” is the safest sweet spot for the Musée d’Orsay—long enough to feel complete, short enough to pair with a Seine walk or another nearby stop.
Musée d’Orsay entrance fee
The standard entrance fee for the Musée d’Orsay is €16 when you buy a timed ticket online, while the same general admission ticket is typically €14 if purchased at the museum. That ticket covers access to the permanent collections and the temporary exhibitions (subject to availability), so it’s the one most visitors need for a first visit.
If you’re visiting on a Thursday evening, the museum also offers a late-opening rate for entry starting after 6:00 p.m., and it’s usually cheaper than the daytime ticket. And if you’re flexible with dates, the museum is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, but you still need to book a free ticket online because time slots can fill up quickly.
