Paris Pass Review 2025: Is It Worth It? Honest Pros & Cons
Paris is shaping up for another record year in 2025 – and if you’re planning to visit, you’ve probably run into the Paris Pass in your research. It’s one of the most popular sightseeing passes in Europe, offering entry to dozens of top attractions for one upfront price, plus extras like a Seine River cruise and hop-on hop-off bus tour.
But is it a good deal? And more importantly, is it the right pass for your style of travel?
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the Paris Pass in 2025 – what’s included, what’s not, current prices, who it’s best for, and how to get the most value from it. Whether you’re heading to Paris for the first time or just looking to skip the ticket lines and see more in less time, this review will help you decide if the Paris Pass is worth it for you.
Note: This article was last updated in July, 2025. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. This helps to keep this site going.
Wondering: Is the Paris Pass still worth it in 2025?
Paris continues to draw record crowds in 2025, and summer is especially busy. The Paris Pass and Paris Pass Plus bundle more attractions than in previous versions — and while prices have risen since 2024, gate fees have often increased even more — so the pass is actually a better value this year.
- Paris Pass includes a Paris Attractions Pass and access to major experiences like the hop‑on/hop‑off bus tour, Seine cruise, and guided Eiffel Tower climb.
- Paris Pass Plus adds the Paris Museum Pass, which covers popular museums like the Louvre, Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, Sainte‑Chapelle, and more.
Who the Paris Pass makes sense for:
- First‑time visitors who want to see and do a lot in just a few days
- Travelers keen on experiences like the bus tour, river cruise, wine tasting, or guided climb
- Visitors who want to skip ticket lines at major attractions
Who might choose something else:
- Museum lovers who don’t care about tours or daytime excursions — just get the Paris Museum Pass
- Visitors staying in Paris longer than 4 days who prefer to go at a slower pace
- Travelers on a tight budget who plan to skip most major attractions
Value check:
- Most 3‑day passes top out around €80–90/day, while a full Museum Pass alone costs about €90–€110 depending on duration
- Many users report saving 15–20% off full gate prices if you use it efficiently
Money‑saving tips:
- Start early — Louvre and the bus tour fill up quickly, and early hours let you hit two big attractions before lunch
- Group attractions by neighborhood (e.g., Louvre / Orsay / Seine cruise) to minimize transit time
- Make the Hop‑On Hop‑Off bus tour and sunset Seine cruise your first priority — they’re included and excellent value
Editor’s Note: How to Get the Best Value
After using many of these city passes over the years, I’ve learned that the biggest difference between those who love the Paris Pass and those who regret buying it comes down to planning and timing. The good news is, getting great value doesn’t mean rushing around — it just takes a bit of strategy.
- Start your day early. Paris’s top attractions (especially the Louvre, bus tour, and Seine cruise) get busier as the day goes on. If you start sightseeing by 9:00 AM, you can fit in two major activities before lunch.
- Plan your route the night before. The Paris Pass comes with a handy map showing attraction locations and opening hours. Use it to group nearby stops and avoid zigzagging across the city.
- Mix in shorter experiences. Places like Sainte‑Chapelle or the wine tasting take under an hour, making them perfect to slot in between bigger sights.
- Watch the weather. Save outdoor activities (like the Eiffel Tower climb or the hop‑on/hop‑off bus) for dry, clear days if you can.
If you’re willing to do a bit of pre-planning and pace yourself wisely, the Paris Pass can help you skip lines, save money, and see the best of the city in less time.
🎁 Exclusive Paris Pass Discount for Our Readers
We’ve partnered directly with the Paris Pass team to get an exclusive 5% discount for Price of Travel readers. It works on all passes — even the new Paris Pass Plus — and applies whether you’re visiting solo, as a couple, or with the whole family.
- Click the link below to go to the official Paris Pass website
- Add your desired pass(es) to the cart
- On Step 4 of checkout, enter promo code: GO5POT
✅ You’ll see the discount automatically applied before final payment
✅ If a bigger discount is available on the site, you’ll get the better deal — guaranteed
👉 Click here to get your Paris Pass with the exclusive GO5POT discount
What’s Included with the Paris Pass (2025)
The Paris Pass bundles a variety of attractions, tours, and experiences into one prepaid package. Here’s everything that’s included:
Included with the Paris Pass (Attraction + Museum combo)
- **Paris Museum Pass** access (2‑, 3‑, 4‑, or 6‑day durations) — covers entry to the \
Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Sainte‑Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe, Palace of Versailles, and more - **Hop‑On Hop‑Off Bus Tour (Big Bus Paris)** — 1‑day, perfect way to get oriented early in the trip
- **Seine River Cruise** — 1‑hour ride, ideally timed around sunset for the best views
- **Eiffel Tower guided climb to the 2nd Floor** — 700‑step climb with live commentary, included for Pass holders
- **Wine‑tasting experience** — small group tasting with an expert guide and a full bottle per person
- **Guided walking tour of Montmartre & Sacré‑Coeur** — 90 minutes exploring the famous hilltop neighborhood
- **Paradox Museum or Grevin Wax Museum** — choose either one quirky attraction during your stay
- **Parc Astérix** — entry to this theme park outside Paris (only on select Pass options)
Additional benefits:
- Skip‑the‑line entry at many attractions — prioritize the busiest sites (like the Louvre or Versailles)
- Travel‑friendly info booklet and app access — maps, opening times, and suggested itineraries
- Flexible Pass lengths — choose from 1‑, 2‑, 3‑, 4‑, or 6‑day options depending on your travel style
Top Paris Pass Attractions (Expert Picks)
If you’re wondering where to start with the dozens of attractions included in the Paris Pass, here are the ones we think are absolutely worth your time — especially for first‑time visitors:
- Louvre Museum — Yes, it’s crowded and massive, but you’ll want to go anyway. A focused 60–90 minute visit works surprisingly well — just hit the highlights like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, then explore a bit more on the way out.
- Musée d’Orsay — Less crowded, easier to navigate, and filled with iconic works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir. Many visitors enjoy this even more than the Louvre.
- Hop‑On Hop‑Off Bus Tour — A fantastic way to get oriented. Unlike most cities, Paris is compact enough that you can actually use this as transportation between major sights.
- Seine River Cruise — Go around sunset for the best photos. Seeing the bridges and monuments light up while cruising the Seine is pure Paris magic.
- Sainte‑Chapelle — Often overlooked, this Gothic chapel’s stained glass windows are absolutely jaw‑dropping. You can see it in under an hour and it’s a short walk from Notre‑Dame.
- Wine Tasting Experience — Not something you’d normally seek out, but it’s fun and includes a full bottle of wine to take home. Easy to fit in after your Louvre visit.
- Arc de Triomphe — Go up for the views — especially in the morning or at golden hour. Less crowded than the Eiffel Tower and arguably better photos.
- Eiffel Tower Guided Climb — If you’re in good shape, this guided walk up the 700 stairs is a memorable experience — and the views from the 2nd floor are arguably better than the very top.
- Montmartre Walking Tour — A great way to explore one of Paris’ most iconic neighborhoods. The 5PM tour is ideal for catching the golden light on Sacré‑Coeur.
- Paradox Museum or Grevin Wax Museum — A lighthearted option that’s easy to squeeze in between bigger sights. Both are surprisingly enjoyable if you want a break from art and architecture.
Paris Pass vs. Paris Pass Plus: Which One Should You Get?
In 2025, the Paris Pass comes in two main versions — the standard Paris Pass and the upgraded Paris Pass Plus. The difference comes down to whether or not you want museum access included.
- Paris Pass: This includes the All‑Inclusive Attractions Pass. You’ll get access to things like the hop‑on, hop‑off bus tour, Seine cruise, Eiffel Tower guided climb, wine tasting, walking tours, and more — but not museums.
- Paris Pass Plus: This version includes everything above plus a Paris Museum Pass, which gets you into the Louvre, Orsay, Sainte‑Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe, and even the Palace of Versailles.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose the standard Paris Pass if you aren’t planning on visiting many museums — or if you just want to focus on tours, views, and experiences like the Eiffel Tower climb, river cruise, or wine tasting.
- Choose the Paris Pass Plus if you plan to visit the big museums or Versailles. Buying the Museum Pass separately can be expensive, and it’s not sold on its own by the official Paris Pass site.
- If you’re unsure, start by making a rough list of attractions you care about — then add up their regular prices. If that list includes at least two major museums, the Plus version is probably your best bet.
How Much Does the Paris Pass Cost in 2025?
Here’s the current pricing structure for the two versions of the Paris Pass, based on public pricing from the official Paris Pass website as of mid‑2025:
- Paris Pass (standard): Access to the hop‑on hop‑off bus tour, Seine cruise, wine tasting, Eiffel Tower climb, Parc Astérix, and many other attractions without museum entry.
- Paris Pass Plus: Includes everything in the standard pass PLUS the Paris Museum Pass (entry to 50+ major museums and monuments such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Sainte‑Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe, Palace of Versailles).
| Duration | Paris Pass | Paris Pass Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 1‑Day Pass | €89 | N/A |
| 2‑Day Pass | €139 | ~€179–199* |
| 3‑Day Pass | €164 | ~€224 |
| 4‑Day Pass | €184 | ~€264 |
| 6‑Day Pass | €214 | ~€314 |
*Prices include small seasonal discounts, for example a €179 price on the 2‑day Paris Pass Plus rather than €199. Some third-party guides list a €239 option for a 3‑day Pass, but those appear to be unofficial or bundled offers.
- The Paris Pass does not include transit—unlike older versions or some competing city cards, you’ll need to buy metro/RER/bus tickets separately.
- Many individual attractions cost €11–€23 (e.g. Louvre €23, Musée d’Orsay €16, Sainte‑Chapelle €11.50, Arc de Triomphe €16) so the Museum Pass reaches breakeven in about 3 or 4 visits alone.
- Optional experiences like a Seine cruise (€19), Hop‑On Bus (€49), or Eiffel climb (€39) offer extra value – but only if you use them.
Sample Itineraries for 1, 2, and 3-Day Paris Passes
Planning ahead is essential if you want to get good value from your Paris Pass. The city is compact, and many attractions are close together, so with smart routing you can pack in more than you might expect.
Here are a few suggested itineraries to help you make the most of your pass, depending on how many days you have.
1-Day Paris Pass Itinerary
- Start at 9:00am: Hop-on, hop-off bus tour – do the full loop or hop off at the Louvre
- Mid-morning: Louvre Museum (Paris Pass Plus only)
- Afternoon: Wine tasting near the Louvre (includes a free bottle)
- Sunset: 1-hour Seine River cruise (aim for golden hour for the best photos)
You’ll easily get more than €100 in value from a 1-day pass if you follow this route.
2-Day Paris Pass Itinerary
- Day 1:
- Hop-on, hop-off bus tour in the morning
- Louvre Museum and/or Orsay Museum (Plus only)
- Wine tasting or the Paradox Museum
- Seine cruise at sunset
- Day 2:
- Guided climb of the Eiffel Tower (reserve in advance)
- Arc de Triomphe observation deck
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Optional: Montmartre walking tour or the Wax Museum
With two days, you can easily fit in 6 to 8 attractions if you start early and plan your route by neighborhood.
3-Day Paris Pass Itinerary
- Days 1 & 2: Follow the 2-day plan above
- Day 3:
- Day trip to the Palace of Versailles (included with Paris Pass Plus)
- Return in the afternoon and visit any missed sights like the Orsay Museum or Sainte-Chapelle
The 3-day pass works best when you include a visit to Versailles, which alone is worth €21 and takes half a day or more.
How to Get the Most Value from Your Paris Pass
You can absolutely get great value from the Paris Pass – but only if you use it smartly. Most people who feel disappointed by passes like this either started their sightseeing too late in the day or didn’t plan a good route in advance. Here are the keys to making sure your pass saves you time and money rather than causing stress.
- Start early: Aim to leave your hotel by 9:00am. Top attractions like the Louvre and the bus tour get more crowded after 11:00am, so you’ll get a smoother experience and pack in more if you begin early.
- Plan by location: Use the included map or a Google Maps route to group attractions together. For example, the Louvre, Orsay Museum, Seine cruise, and wine tasting are all within walking distance.
- Use the HOHO bus for sightseeing and transit: Paris is one of the rare cities where the hop-on, hop-off bus is actually useful for getting between major sights—especially if you start with a full loop for orientation.
- Make a short list of “can’t-miss” items: Instead of trying to see everything, pick your top 5 or 6 attractions and build around those. That way, you won’t feel rushed or disappointed if you don’t fit in everything.
- Book timed entries where needed: Some popular sights like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower require advance reservations even with the pass. Don’t assume you can just show up.
And one final tip: don’t skip the included tours and experiences just because they seem like minor add-ons. The Seine River cruise and wine tasting are highlights for many, and even the Paradox Museum or Wax Museum can be a fun bonus when they’re already covered.
Who Should - and Shouldn’t - Buy the Paris Pass?
The Paris Pass can be a great deal—but not for everyone. It really depends on how you like to travel, how long you’re staying, and how much sightseeing you actually want to do each day.
- ✅ Great for: First-time visitors who want to see as much as possible in just a few days. The pass helps you skip lines and avoid juggling tickets and cash at every stop.
- ✅ Great for: Travelers who enjoy organized sightseeing and want to cover the main museums, monuments, and tours with less hassle.
- ✅ Great for: Visitors who would book the HOHO bus tour and Seine River cruise anyway. Both are included, and they’re genuinely helpful ways to see a lot fast.
- ❌ Not ideal for: Travelers who prefer to wander without an agenda or only want to see one or two sights per day.
- ❌ Not ideal for: Visitors staying in Paris for a week or more who want to take their time and stretch out sightseeing over many days.
- ❌ Not ideal for: Hardcore museum fans who plan to focus entirely on the Louvre, Orsay, and Versailles—those travelers will probably save more with the Paris Museum Pass on its own.
If you’re not sure which pass is right for you, ask yourself this: “Would I realistically do three or four paid attractions per day for two or three days straight?” If the answer is yes, the Paris Pass can easily pay for itself. If not, a more flexible (and possibly cheaper) option might suit you better.
Pros and Cons of the Paris Pass
Like most sightseeing passes, the Paris Pass is best for certain types of travelers and trip styles. Here’s a quick overview of the main advantages – and a few drawbacks to consider.
- ✅ Save money – If you visit at least 3 or 4 included attractions each day, the pass almost always pays for itself—and then some.
- ✅ Skip the ticket lines – Many popular attractions offer fast-track entry with the pass, saving you time at places like the Louvre and Orsay.
- ✅ Easy planning – Having one pass that covers nearly everything makes trip planning simpler and reduces stress once you’re in Paris.
- ✅ Includes tours and experiences – The hop-on hop-off bus, Seine River cruise, wine tasting, and walking tours add extra value beyond just museum entry.
- ✅ Encourages you to see more – If you’re on the fence about certain attractions, you’re more likely to check them out when they’re already included.
- ❌ Requires early starts – To get the best value, you need to hit the ground running—no sleeping in if you want to break even.
- ❌ Not ideal for slow travelers – If you prefer to linger in one museum or spend long afternoons at cafés, you may not squeeze out full value.
- ❌ Some attractions need reservations – Especially post-pandemic, you’ll need to book time slots in advance for the Louvre, Eiffel Tower climb, and others.
- ❌ May feel rushed – Trying to fit in too many attractions to “make it worth it” can lead to travel burnout or museum fatigue.
The Paris Pass is a powerful tool for ambitious travelers who want to see the best of Paris quickly. But if your style is more slow and spontaneous, it might not be the best fit.
Final Verdict: Is the Paris Pass Worth It in 2025?
For many first-time visitors to Paris, the answer is a solid yes – especially in 2025. While the price of the pass has gone up slightly, the prices of individual attractions have increased even more, so the potential savings are actually better than they were in previous years.
If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to see the best of Paris in just a few days – Louvre, Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Seine River cruise, wine tasting, Eiffel Tower climb, Montmartre walking tour, and more—then the Paris Pass is a no-brainer. The convenience of skipping ticket lines, the ability to book everything in advance, and the added tours and experiences make it one of the best-value sightseeing passes in Europe.
But if you’re a slow traveler, visiting friends, or planning to spend your time wandering neighborhoods, relaxing at cafés, and seeing one or two sights per day, then it might not be the right fit. In that case, the standalone Paris Museum Pass or even just paying à la carte may serve you better.
Bottom line: The Paris Pass is worth it in 2025 for anyone who wants to see a lot, move efficiently, and avoid wasting time in queues. With a bit of planning – and a 5% discount – it’s one of the best ways to get the most out of a few amazing days in the City of Light.
Hello Roger,
My husband & I will be visiting Paris between Dec 24th – 30th. We have been recommended to take a 5-day Paris pass(for Dec 24 – 28). On Dec 29 we plan to take the tour of the Loire Valley. Dec 30th we return to India.
Can you help me put down a day-wise itinerary ensuring we make best use of the Paris pass, visit as many must-do places – places to visit in plan in the Lourve, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Palace of Versailles, catacombs, Montparnasse, Champs élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Hop on hop Off tour, Siene River cruise.. and anything else that i might have missed. I would like to keep aside one of the days for generally strolling around the city.
Vinaya,
The Paris Pass comes in a 2-day, 4-day, and 6-day version, so I think you’d want the 4-day version, especially if you are planning a (wise) free day of just roaming around.
I don’t have time to type out a whole itinerary for you, and I don’t think it’s a good idea even if I did have time. Sightseeing is quite personal and you might not like some of my favorite things. That said, I will give you a few tips to help you plan your own itinerary.
First off, I highly recommend doing the hop on, hop off bus tour on your first full morning in Paris because it provides an excellent orientation so you’ll know where everything is and you’ll have more ideas for things you want to see up close. Then I also recommend the one-hour Seine River Cruise for the same reason. You see many different things from the river than you do from the bus, so there is very little overlap. The river cruise leaves from the base of the Eiffel Tower, so you can obviously climb it or take the elevator before or after the cruise.
Within a fairly short walk (or fast Metro ride) from there, you are close to the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs élysées, just to name a few things. In other words, many of the top attractions are quite close together in that area, so you can see all of them that interest you in about two days there. Notre Dame is close by as well. Versailles Palace is about 30 minutes out of town on a suburban train, so it’s best to do that trip starting in a morning to avoid the heavy crowds close to noon.
Right there you have seen almost everything on your list, and you still have a day and a half left on your 4-day Paris Pass. Fortunately, there are quite a few more included attractions, including the wine tasting and some other tours, so you’ll have plenty of time to take even more advantage of your Paris Pass. I’m not a big museums guy, but if you are museum people there are plenty of excellent ones in Paris that are part of the pass. I hope this helps, and feel free to ask any other specific questions if you have them. -Roger
Hi Roger, thank you for taking time out and replying to all travel queries from travellers. Indeed a good deed. I need few suggestions from you:
I will be visiting Paris with my wife and 15 year old daughter as follows:
I will be landing in CDG at 5pm on April 9, take a cab to hotel in central Paris, after check in will travel to Trocadero to watch the Eiffel Tower illumination, have a dinner and head to hotel.
On April 10 we would like to do HOHO at 9am the full circle, walk a little bit, have a great lunch, walk a little more to see Arc de Triomphe from outside, stroll at Champs élysées than take a seine river cruise around 5pm, than visit Eiffel Tower at 6.30pm, have a dinner and back to hotel.
On April 11 we would like to take a tour of Roland Garros park since we are big fan of Rafa Nadal, have lunch nearby, come back to centre of Paris for some shopping, visit Montmartre in the evening, take a little walk, take funicular to see the cathedral and views, have dinner at Montmartre and head to hotel.
On April 12 we would like to visit Disneyland for the entire day and come back to hotel in the night.
On April 13 we take 11am Eurostar to London from Gare du nord
Do you suggest buying Paris pass as we don’t intend to visit any museums? Also should we buy metro travel pass for 3 days (April 10,11,12)? Please let me know your valuable thoughts and suggestions to make this better. Thank you very much for reading this and replying back…..
Kind regards,
Sanjay
Sanjay,
I’m happy to try to help when I can. It looks like you’ve got your trip very well planned out, and I think it’s clear that a Paris Pass would not be good value for you. The hop-on, hop-off bus tour is an excellent way to get oriented in Paris, especially when combined with the Seine River Cruise as you are doing. But it appears that those are the only Paris Pass attractions on your list, so it will be far better to just pay for those when you arrive.
As for getting a Metro Pass, it will mostly depend on the location of your hotel and your willingness to walk between things. In other words, many of the places are your list are, say, a 20-minute walk from each other, or 10 minutes using the Metro. If you think you might do more walking that Metro riding, you could just get a “Carnet” (10-pack) of Metro tickets for €14.10. That would allow you to take the Metro sometimes, without paying for an unlimited pass that you might not use fully. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful trip. -Roger
Thank you Roger for your advice. Much appreciated.
Many thanks for the info, Roger.
Hi Roger,
We are having a 23 hour layover in Paris.We are planning on staying at CDG. We land at 10 am and leave at 9.20am the next day. How much can we achieve in a day? If possible we only want to cover the main attractions? Any recommendations HOP ON/ PARIS PASS? How do we get to the Eiffel Tower from CDG and back? Any inputs are high appreciated.
Amy,
The shortest Paris Pass is 2 days (as you probably know), and I think it would be challenging to get value out of that in one day. From CDG Airport you can take the suburban train called the RER, take the B line, and it will take you into central Paris in about 40 minutes for €10. Once you are there I do think the hop-on, hop-off bus would be a great idea to get a quick orientation and at least see all the main sights from the outside. Then you might also want to do the one-hour Seine River Cruise, which leaves from the base of the Eiffel Tower. It takes you down the river and back, explaining all of the main sights as you pass, and the views and quite different from the bus.
After that you’ll want to probably go up the Eiffel Tower since you are right there. After that you can head over the the Arch de Triumph and the Louvre. By then you’ll be exhausted and ready to head back to your hotel near the airport. If you pay to visit all of those things it won’t be cheap, but it should be at least a bit cheaper than the 2-day Paris Pass. Of course, while you are on the bus tour or boat cruise, you might see some sights that look even more interesting that you’d want to visit instead. You’ll have far more interesting choices than time at that point, and it should be a pretty amazing day. Bon voyage. -Roger
Hello roger ,
Great work on helping out tourists visiting Paris. I’d be visiting Paris with my wife in December for 2.5 days and then continuing my trip to Amsterdam.i would be staying in trocadero.
1. Plan on visiting louvre, Notre dam, Eiffel, arc de triumph, catacombs. All places I would be using the metro/ RER.
2. Also from and to the airport , from the hotel to gare du nord to catch the train by RER/metro.
3. Would u recommend the Paris travel pass.also have been told about a booklet that one can buy at the station of tickets that would turn out to be more economical?
Also any of the attractions I could visit at night as I would like to utilise the half day I get when I reach there. Would be arriving in Paris around 5pm.
Thank you
AJ,
Thanks. This thread is mainly dedicated to helping people decide if the Paris Pass is right for them, but I do try to answer other questions if I know the answers. It sounds like you are asking about the Paris Visite Travelcard that comes with the Paris Pass. That pass is good for unlimited travel within zones 1 to 3. CDG Airport is in Zone 5 and Versailles is in Zone 4, so you’d need to pay a supplement to reach either of them. Also, the Paris Pass itself activates once you first use the Travelcard, so most people don’t use it until their first sightseeing day.
So you’d want to buy a 2-day Paris Pass, and start using it on your first full day. As for your first evening, the Eiffel Tower and Arch de Triumph are both open well into the evening, and many museums are open late at least one night a week (usually a weekday). If this is your first visit to Paris then you will likely be overwhelmed by the sights and sounds on your first evening and you’ll see many things that interest you. I hope this helps. Bon voyage. -Roger
hi ,
My upcoming trip in Paris will be over 5 days. Following your recommendation, i will be visiting Montmartre area in the evening and taking the Paris big bus tour, together with Seine river cruise.
Need your recommendation on the following.
1) Having 3 full day, i am not sure to get 2 or 4 day Paris Pass? Will likely visit the top 5 attraction, and spend the rest of time wandering around.
2) I have managed to change some Euro dollar, but the smallest value given was 500 Euro dollar. My train will arrive in Paris Gare Du Nord station, and the first thing i would like to do was to buy the metro tickets to my hotel.
However, I heard that it will be very difficult to break down the 500 bill as it is not readily accepted in Paris.
Please advise what can i do , or where i can go to change to smaller note.
TW,
If you have 3 full days in Paris then get only the 2-day Paris Pass. You’ll be able to see all of the things on your list plus a few more in two days as long as you plan ahead and start early. Then it will be great to have that other day free so you can just wander around at any pace you prefer.
I’ve never tried to break a €500 note in Europe, but I really doubt that it will be a major problem. The Metro booths might not take it, but your hotel or obviously a bank should be okay with it. To buy your Metro tickets you should be able to use a credit card as long as it has a chip in it (most banks in the US have been sending these out all year). Or what I normally do is go straight to the ATM at the airport or in the train station and withdraw euros. The machine will dispense €20 notes, and you can save the €500 note for when you see an open bank. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi,
I am planning a Europe Tour with 2 days in Paris in June 2016. The itinerary is :
Day 1 : Visit Eiffel Tower, Musée du Louvre (Quick Tour in 3 hours..?) , Seine-River (Takes 1 hour max..?)
Day 2 : Disneyland Paris
I have 4 questions :
1. Would you recommend me to take the pass , and will it be a good deal for me?
– If I don’t benefit from the pass, then 3 questions:
2. Where can I get tickets for Eiffel tower, Seine river cruise and Louvre online via any website ?
3. How far is Louvre from Eiffel? Should I start with Eiffel, do the seine river and move to Louvre ? Also is it possible to see Eiffel in day-light as well as in night-light on the same day in the same ticket ? If so, how should I plan the day ?
4. Can the Seine river boat trip drop us at Louvre ? I don’t know how to travel inside the city, from Paris station to Hotel, to Eiffel, do sight-seeings and come back to hotel at night?
Sourabh,
1. No, I don’t think you should buy a Paris Pass for only one day of sightseeing with it.
2. You can buy Eiffel Tower tickets online from the official website. You can buy Louvre tickets from their site, but at this point you still have to pick them up at a store or office in Paris (not at the Louvre itself), so it may not save any time. For the river cruise you can buy a ticket from the official website of the company. The cruise takes one hour and begins and ends next to the Eiffel Tower.
3. The Louvre is about 3 kilometers from the Eiffel Tower, which takes about 40 minutes to walk along the river, or about 30 minutes if you take the Metro and change lines once. Both things are just off the river and easy to find so I’d visit whichever is closest first and then take the Metro to the other. As far as I know you only get one entry into the Eiffel Tower per ticket, so I don’t think they’ll let you back in at night.
4. The Seine Cruise does take you right by the Louvre, but it’s not a hop-on, hop-off cruise so you can’t get off midway. The cruise is really interesting throughout so it would be a shame to miss half of it anyway.
The easiest way to get around Paris is by Metro (underground). There are stops every couple of blocks so you are always near one. It might seem a bit mysterious at first but once you try it once you’ll discover that it’s a really fast and simple system. If you are going to use it a lot you might buy an all-day pass (Paris Visite Pass), which is going for €12.30 at the moment and it’s also good on buses and even the Montmartre funicular. A single ride will cost €1.80 as of now, so you have to use it a lot to make it worth it. Or you could buy a 10-pack of passes called a Carnet for €14.10. The good thing about that is you can use the 10 passes among your group, so 2 people could take 5 rides each for that price. Bon voyage. -Roger
Great article and comment response section Roger. Our upcoming Paris stay is over the next 5 days and I unfortunately stumbled onto your site a bit late. Nonetheless, I have learned a lot and I am now wondering where the best place to buy the Paris Pass is located if we need to purchase the pass on our arrival via train station (and wanting to give you advertising credit with 10% discount of course)?
Also, if we use the 2-day Paris Pass on Days 2-3, what do you recommend for days 4-5 when we just want to meander the city and explore? Pay-as-you-go or some sort of Metro/bus pass?
Thank you!
Dan,
I’m always happy to hear that this information is helpful. The best thing to do is to buy the pass online and then pick it up at the Paris office for an extra €2. The office is a very central location and easy to find, and that way you can lock in the 10% discount.
If you use a 2-day Paris Pass on days 2 and 3 of your trip, I’m confident that you’ll have a long list of places you want to return to on your following days, just by moving pretty quickly around the city. And depending on where you are staying, you might not be taking too many Metro rides on those days, so you might be best off just buying a few tickets as you need them. You’ll discover that one of the great joys of a visit to Paris is just strolling the historic central neighborhoods. Montmartre at night is my favorite, but you’ll be stunned by the gorgeous parks and boulevards all over.
So long story short, you’ll be finding plenty of things to see on those last two days, so you’ll have no trouble filling them with interesting possibilities. I hope this helps. -Roger
If I purchase a Paris Pass can I use it more than once per attraction, e.g. do a bus tour more than once?
Also, do the River Cruise and Bus Tours have hop on/off points or are they start-to-finish tours with no chance to hop off (or on) at different points?
Thank you
Mario M,
Generally, you can do each tour or attraction only once during the valid period of your Paris Pass. The Seine Cruise lasts one hour and starts and ends from Pier 3, just next to the Eiffel Tower. For the hop-on, hop-off bus tour, you can get on and off for one full day at any of the 9 stops. One of those stops is in front of the Eiffel Tower, so if you plan well you can cover many of these things in a short time. Bon voyage. -Roger
I just purchased a 3 day pass and I.T. ticket for my wife and I for Sept 25-27 but either there was no place for the ^% discount code or I missed it. … is it too late to get that? .. if it’s too much of a hassle to deal with it after the fact, then forget it. It’s ok.
Wayne,
The discount code entry field can be hard to find, so I do mention it near the link on this site. But if you bought without using it, you’d have to contact the Paris Pass people to see about using it after. Best of luck. -Roger