Paris: Musée d’Orsay Skip-the-Line Tour with Expert Guide
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Paris, France
- 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore one of the world's most important collections of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art on this guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay. Instead of trying to navigate the museum on your own, enjoy insight from a guide to make sure you see the top pieces and learn about the artists, such as Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, and Renoir. And with entry included, you're ensured a hassle-free visiting experience.
- The ideal Musée d'Orsay tour for art history loves
- Tour this Parisian museum at a relaxed pace
- Admire the architecture of the Beaux-Arts former train station
- Have free time to explore the museum on your own after the tour
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Instead of racing through the whole museum, this tour highlights its most famed collections.
What's Included
- Explore the world’s finest Impressionist & Post-Impressionist masterpieces.
- See iconic works by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and more.
- Enjoy a relaxed, intimate 1h45 tour with small groups and headsets.
- Discover one of Paris’s most dazzling museums and its vibrant art history.
- All ticket and pre-reserved entry through a special entrance are included.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 2 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France
Meet your guide opposite the main entrance to the Musée d'Orsay, next to the entrance of the Legion d'Honneur Museum. Your guide will be just by the entrance and will be wearing their guide badge on an orange lanyard. Please do not get in the lines for the museum!
End point
- Musée d'OrsayEsplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, 75007 Paris, France
Your tour will end inside the museum.
Itinerary
1
Musee d'Orsay
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Musee d'Orsay
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Infants aged 0-3 years are free of charge and do not require a booking
- You can cancel your tour up to 24 hours prior to departure and receive a full refund. Please note that refunds are not possible for missed tours.
- If you plan to arrive at the meeting point by taxi, please ensure you leave yourselves plenty of time, it can often take a considerable amount of time to find a taxi in Paris!
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 1,196 reviews
Amy_C, Jun 2026
Anthony was an amazing guide! Very knowledgeable, sweet and fun to listen to. He also gave us great recommendations for food/drinks, other spots to visit while we were in Paris. He was fantastic and made the tour even better!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you Amy! Anthony's passion for the d'Orsay really shines through, and as locals ourselves we love that our guides are always happy to share their favourite spots too — it's such a lovely bonus on top of the tour. So glad it made your visit to Paris even better! He'll be delighted to hear this.
Laura_S, Jun 2026
Anthony was so knowledgeable. He was incredibly accommodating and friendly. He had a broad depth of knowledge and enthusiasm about Impressionism!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you Laura! Anthony's enthusiasm for Impressionism is genuinely infectious and the d'Orsay is the most extraordinary place to experience it — the colours, the light, the stories behind those iconic works. We're so glad it all came together so beautifully for you. He'll be delighted to hear this!
Claudia_A, Jun 2026
Loved our tour guide Amalie! She knew her history of art during the age of Impressionism. Great tour
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you Claudia! The Impressionist collection at the d'Orsay is truly extraordinary and Amélie has a wonderful depth of knowledge that brings those incredible works and the artists behind them to life. So glad you loved the tour. She'll be delighted to hear this
Jay_M, May 2026
Excellent guided tour of the highlights of this very interesting museum. Lots to see, but compared to the Louvre, not overwhelming.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for the lovely review! The d'Orsay really is a spectacular museum — the colours, the light, the stories behind those Impressionist masterpieces — there is so much to discover, and our guides absolutely love sharing it. We're glad you had a great experience and hope to see you again in Paris! We'll share your kind words with your guide Cecile.
Patricia_W, May 2026
Learned such interesting details about the art periods, the culture during the period and about the artist personally.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Patricia! We sure love to take the amazing collections of the Orsay, and trace what the Impressionists were building on, reacting to and triumphing over. They are also a great springboard for learning about France of the 19th century in a way that makes the country make sense, even in the 21st, especially Paris. Thanks so much for the kind words, it was a pleasure!
JeanBlanken_R, May 2026
I just used this tour to skip the line. I didn't use or need a tour. I got to the museum early and they passed me right through.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Mx Blanken, we are so glad to know that we were able to get you past the lines that can eat into precious vacation time. That is one of our reasons for being certainly. Yet we were sad to have missed you when we had so much fun. A Memories guide is an expert guide, ready to share the collections’ many secrets, secrets that key us also into the mysteries of Parisian culture to this day. We have often been told that we’re the tour company specifically catering to non-tour kinds of people. We are sorry you chose to miss out on that but again, pleased to have been of service!
Joe_G, May 2026
The tour covers a good portion of the Museum but there’s a lot more that you can see if you have the time. Fanny, our guide, was excellent. She is very knowledgeable about art and the artists. She’s easy to understand and has great enthusiasm for the arts. Excellent tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Joe, we do strive for excellence at Memories, and guides like Fanny come through every time. We particularly love to know that you took the knowledge gained from the tour to go on and make your own favorites through the rest of the amazing Orsay collections! Thanks so much for joining us!
John_G, May 2026
Excellent tour, very knowledgeable guide. Enjoyed time after tour to explore on our own. Amelia, our guide, was great.
Response from Host, May 2026
Amélie is indeed, like all Memories guides, cream of the crop, ready willling and able to make those paintings walk right out of their frames to welcome you into their world. It's especially rewarding to know that you decided to stay on and take in the amazing art in the Orsay, after our in-depth exploration of the most iconic masterpieces (and some hidden gems). Thank you John, for the kind words, we will transmit straightaway!
Trina_C, May 2026
Loved learning about the history of the train station and history of some of the paintings exhibited in the station. Julie, outlet guide, was engaging, knowledgeable and a great source of information. She knew her subject matter well. I would definitely recommend it.
Response from Host, May 2026
And on our end, Memories, the outlet in question, loves telling you all about the key pieces that make the one-time train station one of the premiere art pilgrimages the world over. Guides like Julie turn a wander around into something far more, an experience that stays with you for ages to come. Thank you so much, Trina, for the fantastic recommendation!
Anita_E, May 2026
Anthony Rosselot was our guide and, without exaggeration, he was one of the top two guides we've ever had. Anthony began before the tour by welcoming each of us and inquiring where we were from, while secretly memorizing our names, so that he could address us personally during the tour. The Musée d’Orsay houses the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art, so by necessity one has to understand the evolution of art in that period to really appreciate what the d'Orsay holds. So Anthony skillfully guided us through that period of art by getting our group to key pieces of art in time-ordered sequence, asking our impressions and feelings, sharing his, and describing the reactions of the public when these pieces were first shown -- often creating somewhat of a scandal. Anthony's approach was like a compressed art class, gently teaching us while also letting us fully enjoy these masterpieces. (We heard several other members of our tour group comment on that.) The d'Orsay building has been originally constructed as a train station, so another aspect of Anthony's tour was letting us appreciate the design of the building for that purpose as well, and its being saved from demolition to be turned into the exquisite museum that it now is.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Anita and thank you with all our heart. Anthony is right now leading the Memories family in our Happy Dance while we read your share your exceptional review! Anthony is indeed a national treasure and a fine ambassador of all that Memories has to offer and that you can expect when you choose to explore the Orsay with us! It IS an exquisite museum, and we make every effort to do the collections justice that also storytells the trials, tribulations and eventual triumphs of Impressionism - what they were reacting to, building on, up against, and so on. We are over the moon that we were able to provide you with just such an experience and are proud indeed of this uttterly magnificent review - and by the way, Anthony loved having you!
olivia_c, May 2026
I valued our tour guides perspective on art and society and appreciated her sense of humor. She made sure we were allowed in even though we were late.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Olivia! We at Memories love to make you smile while keying you into the mysteries of French culture and history using the beauty of the Orsay collections as springboard! We also will do everything possible to catch you up with your tour, as hiccups do happen when you're travelling abroad. Thank you so much for the great review!
Wanda_G, May 2026
Our guide was excellent, extremely informed and passionate about the subject. She was well-organized. Loved this experience!
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Wanda and thank you - this is what we strive to provide every single time, to bring your whole time at the Orsay to a next-level experience. We are so proud to know we hit a bull's eye for you!
Raymond_L, May 2026
Julie was very knowledgeable and gave an interesting overview of the paintings. I would recommend this tour
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Raymond, thanks so much for the fantastic recommendation - we'll let Julie know! It delights us to be able to show you the Orsay's amazing collection in a light that you simply can't get elsewhere. We're so glad you could join us!
Jill_R, May 2026
We would definitely recommend this tour with Anthony. He bought a fresh view of art, concentrating on colour, shapes and artistry periods which made appreciating the art different, rather than concentrating on history which is already displayed. Very engaging and wonderfully remembered everyone’s name. Thank you very much for the experience.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Jill! Anthony loved having you, and it is we who thank you for being such a lovely guest. We so appreciate the kind words and detailed review of what it is we do here at Memories and we are simply delighted to know we provided you with an experience that will long stay with you!
Kevin_B, Apr 2026
Meeting point address not recognized by taxi gps because the street is closed in front of the Legion of Honour bldg. Recommend using different address reference.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello Kevin, thank you for the feedback. Yes because the Musée d'Orsay is so popular, the small road that runs parallel to the doors is closed to traffic, a pedestrian street. As most of our visitors come from the Metro, RER or by foot, we have chosen the most easily accessible and locatable meeting point possible for all concerned. A taxi would drop you off mere yards away, as well. We are glad your time with us was otherwise a five star experience, and thank you!
Carol_Z, Apr 2026
Anthony, our guide, was very charismatic and knowledgeable. The museum was amazing. We loved it. Since it was formerly a train station, there is very cool, unique architecture, too.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
The museum is indeed amazing and deserves someone no less amazing to tell its tale to you. We so enjoyed doing so and will transmit your kind words to Anthony - thanks so much for the great review!
Gay_O, Apr 2026
Our guide was excellent in connecting the different genres of the paintings. I just loved the degas ballerina paintings and sculptures.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello Gay! Yes those Ballerinas, seen in person, will mark your heart forever. We were delighted to have shown you these masterpieces and to have fit them for you into the story of Impressionism's trials and triumphs across the Orsay collections. Thanks so much for letting us know and for choosing us to explore the museum with!
Diane_B, Apr 2026
It’s was an excellent way to see such a large museum and to be able to focus on Impressionists. Fascinating
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Diane and thank you for the warm review. We offer smaller tours than our standard which never go over 20 people, but your choice was what is the overwhemingly popular one, as it allows us to offer an accessible price. We are so glad you benefitted form your guide's unique perspective on how 19th century French art culminated in Impressionism, a movement that rocks the world to this day. Thanks so much for booking with us!
Robert_H, Apr 2026
Excellent tour!! Our guide was excellent! Had no issues with finding the tour start location and getting all around was made so easy!!!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello Robert! We at Memories love to make it all a breeze for you so that you can enjoy your hard earned vacation time to its utmost. The real heart of what we do, though, is of course the tour itself and there too we aim for no less than excellent. It is so rewarding to know we hit a bull's eye, thank you!
Michael_G, Apr 2026
Our guide was amazing. We enjoyed his commentary and his insights. Entering the museum with the tour group saved a lot of time and bypassed the walkup line.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
It must be admitted, we love nothing more than to amaze! Sailing you past those pesky lines, however, is a close second, every.single.time. Thanks so much for letting us know we hit a bull's eye - it was a pleasure!
Megan_L, Apr 2026
Excellent informative guide.
Imressive builing and stunning collection.
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Response from Host, Apr 2026
Even the walls of the Orsay rival with the masterpieces hanging on them, but we at Memories have the inside secrets of both. Thanks so much, Megan, for coming along and sharing in the experience, it was a pleasure!
Melinda_F, Apr 2026
Beautiful Day at the Orsay! Great guide!! Sylviana (sp?) was extremely knowledgeable! Perfect amount of information!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Sylviane will be so very pleased, as is the whole Memories famiy! We aim for perfect so it's always so rewarding when you tell us we hit a bull's eye! Thank you for the fantastic review!
MariAnne_M, Apr 2026
The tour was very organized, we started on time, Mica our tour guide was a very good storyteller. We learned about the story behind the paintings as well as the artists. Whether you are an art aficionado or a first-time visitor, this guided tour transforms the Orsay from a beautiful gallery into a deep, narrative journey. It saved us time and left us with a newfound appreciation for the era.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello Hello MariAnne. We can tell from here you're a kindred spirit and Mika loved having you! Storytelling our way through the Orsay collections is a kind of time travel that we love to take you on, a narrative journey indeed that can make you feel as though you're stepping right through the painting frames into 19th century France that has so much to say about today. We were delighted to do that for you and hope only that our paths cross again. Thankyou so much for this stellar review!
JosephJ_T, Apr 2026
Too big a group and a tour guide who was a little too Devoted to her view of art history in kind of long winded way.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Dear Mr. Trento,
We read of your experience with great dismay. Of course we do offer smaller group tours of the magnificent Orsay, but for a sweet spot of group size and price we also offer the one you selected, with no more than 20 people, the most popular choice by far. We only wish you had gone with the number of visitors that you found more suitable to your visiting style. On the other hand we are mystified by your remarks concerning your guide. She regularly garners five-star reviews and our guests comment that they wish they had more time to spend with her. Our devotion to art and to history is no secret, and those who choose to join a Memories visit far and away leave delighted with our secret sauce of storytelling and laughter in with the learning, and the unique perspective of your expert guide into the bargain. An audio guide is “just” that, as you say, and could not so much as answer the least question. For some visitors, that suffices. We, however, offer so much more, and love doing so. We are sorry that our content is not what you were looking for and hope nonetheless the rest of your stay in Paris exceeded all expectations.
Cynthia_D, Apr 2026
I had a great time on this tour with Stephanie who was very knowledgable, kind and charming! It was a fantastic experience and I learned so much! Thank you for a great experience!!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Style and substance is what you can expect with a Memories guide, where expertise has a human touch! We were delighted to share all the backstory to the triumph of Impressionism as told through the Orsay collections, and loved having you, thank you.
Ellen_W, Apr 2026
This museum is spectacular and our guide was wonderful. Two areas were of concern… one was that the whole group had the code to the locker and could potentially go there, retrieve their own things (and possibly someone else’s) and even leave it unlocked. That did not happen, but if I were to do this again, I would not leave my things in the locker, or I would get my own. The other issue was that we had to spend some time because two of the people on our tour left without notice, taking with them the radio and headset. Perhaps the guide should take collateral from the people on the tour or just tell them that if they are going to leave the tour they need to return the radio and headset or their card will be charged. Other that those two concerns, the tour was awesome and we would highly recommend.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello Ellen and thank you for the feedback. Although we appreciate your concern, unfortunately the museum does not allow reserved groups to take individual lockers. Further the museum also owns the headsets: we are not permitted to use our own, and we could not very well ask for deposit on materials that do not belong to us. We are nonetheless happy to know that your guide's presentation of the Orsay was all you hoped it could be for a museum of exceptional beauty. We were happy to share all our expertise of the backstories of its masterpieces as well as a glimpse into the France of yesterday that created the Paris of today. Thank you for all the stars!
Catherine_H, Apr 2026
The tour was great and being able to skip
the long entrance line was a plus. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. I’m really glad I took a tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
And we at Memories are so delighted to have had you as a guest. Sailing you right past those lines is also a joy, every. single. time! Stanislas will be so pleased at your kind words and we'll hope we do meet again!
Adele_D, Apr 2026
Miki was an anazing guide-so full of knowledge about the art in Musee D’Orsay. I highly recommend taking this tour!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello Adele and thank you for the whole hearted endorsement of what Memories offers. We'll let Mika know of your high praise - it makes the day for all of us, thank you!
Maryann_J, Apr 2026
Our guide delivered a professional and sequentially concise lecture, with succinct descriptions of each artist’s life and style. Loved it!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello Maryann and thank you for this stellar review. We are so pleased to have joined learning with some laughter and have thus revealed sides to the Orsay collections that you would otherwise have passed right by. Thanks again for coming with Memories!
Stefanie_B, Apr 2026
A wonderful experience! They were very communicative as to where to meet and the tour itself was great. Our tour guide was so lovely! Incredibly knowledgeable and very funny! My family is still talking about the interesting things we learned
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello Stefanie and thank you so much! Memories is absolutely in the business of wonderful experiences- it's what we're all about. And we firmly believe that laughter and learning go together like cheese and wine, as you saw. We so appreciate the rave review and are delighted you could join in the fun!
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