The Musée d'Orsay holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, displayed inside a grand former railway station on the left bank of the Seine. If you want to see Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne and Van Gogh in one place, the Musée d'Orsay is the museum to choose, and it is far easier to take in than the Louvre across the river.
Why visit the Musée d'Orsay
The building was the Gare d'Orsay, built for the 1900 World's Fair. When its platforms became too short for modern trains, it was saved from demolition and converted into a museum that opened in 1986. The great arched hall with its huge station clocks is still the heart of the building, and part of the pleasure is simply walking through it.
The collection covers French art from roughly 1848 to 1914: painting, sculpture, decorative arts and photography. That period includes the move from academic painting to Realism, Impressionism and beyond, so the museum tells a clear story even if you are not an art expert.
Getting to the Musée d'Orsay by metro
The closest metro station is Solférino on Line 12, a walk of about five minutes to the museum. The RER C has its own stop, Musée d'Orsay, right beside the building, which is handy if you are coming along the river or from Versailles.
- From the Louvre or the Tuileries, it is a pleasant walk across the Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor footbridge, which lands almost at the museum.
- Assemblée Nationale on Line 12 and Concorde on Lines 1, 8 and 12 are also within walking distance.
- Paris metro tickets can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy card or bought in the RATP app.
Musée d'Orsay tickets and opening hours
Booking a timed ticket in advance on the official website, musee-orsay.fr, is the best way to avoid the long queue at the ticket desk, especially in high season. Entry is free for some groups, such as under-18s and young residents of the European Union, though they may still need to reserve a slot. Combined tickets with the Musée de l'Orangerie are also sold.
The museum closes one day a week, traditionally Monday, and has a late opening on one evening. Hours and prices change, so confirm them on the official site before you go.
Highlights at the Musée d'Orsay
The Impressionist galleries
The top floor holds many of the most famous works: Monet's paintings of Rouen Cathedral and his garden, Renoir's Bal du moulin de la Galette and Degas's dancers. Go here first while you are fresh.
Van Gogh and the Post-Impressionists
Van Gogh's self-portraits and his Starry Night over the Rhône draw a crowd, alongside works by Gauguin, Cézanne and Seurat.
Manet
Manet's Olympia and Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe, both scandalous in their day, show the break with academic art that set the scene for everything that followed.
The clock windows
On the upper level, the back of one of the giant station clocks frames a view across the Seine to the Louvre and towards Montmartre. It is one of the best photo spots in Paris.
Best time to visit and how long
The museum is busiest at weekends and in the middle of the day. The quietest times tend to be soon after opening on weekdays and during the late evening opening. Avoid the day after the weekly closure if you can, as it often brings extra visitors.
Plan on two to three hours to see the highlights without rushing. A cup of coffee in the café behind the clock or a meal in the ornate restaurant on the middle level is a good way to break up a longer visit.
Nearby on the same stop
Solférino and the Orsay riverbank are a good base for a walk through the 7th arrondissement and across the Seine:
- Musée de l'Orangerie: across the river in the Tuileries, home to Monet's large Water Lilies panels.
- Tuileries Garden and the Louvre: over the footbridge for formal gardens and the world's most visited museum.
- Musée Rodin: about 15 minutes' walk west, with a sculpture garden.
- Rue du Bac and Saint-Germain-des-Prés: shops, bakeries and cafés to the south and east.
To find more around this station, open the Musée d'Orsay on Around the Metro, or explore more stations on the Paris metro map.