Ground floor
Start hereMonet’s two oval Water Lilies rooms, lit by daylight through the glass roof.
2 must-sees on the ground floor →
← Orangerie guide overview
MUSÉE DE L’ORANGERIE · PLAN YOUR VISIT
How to visit the Orangerie in one unhurried morning
Tickets, opening hours, the two floors and a 90-minute plan that starts with the Water Lilies while the rooms are still quiet.
Tickets: everyone books a slot
Every visitor needs a timed reservation, including free entry. The museum is small, so midday slots sell out in high season. Book a morning slot if you can.
A combined ticket with the Musée d’Orsay is also available.
Book on musee-orangerie.fr ↗| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, online with a timed slot | €12.50 |
| Adult, at the museum | €11 |
| Under 18, and EU residents 18–25 | Free |
| Everyone, first Sunday of the month | Free |
Free visitors still need a timed reservation. Prices are from the official site. Confirm before booking.
Opening hours
- MON09:00–18:00
- TUEClosed
- WED09:00–18:00
- THU09:00–18:00
- FRI09:00–18:00
- SAT09:00–18:00
- SUN09:00–18:00
Last entry 17:15. Also closed May 1, the morning of July 14 and Dec 25. During some exhibitions, Friday hours run until 21:00. Quietest: 09:00 sharp, when the Water Lilies rooms are nearly empty for about half an hour.
Getting there
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Metro 1, 8 or 12
Concorde, then a 2-minute walk.
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From the Louvre
About 15 minutes on foot through the Tuileries.
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From the Orsay
About 15 minutes across the Seine on the Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor.
Two museums, one above the other
Upstairs are Monet’s Water Lilies. Downstairs is a whole second collection that most visitors rush past, because the stairs down look like the way out.
Lower level
Don’t skip itThe Walter-Guillaume collection: Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Rousseau and Picasso.
8 must-sees on the lower level →A 90-minute plan that works
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09:00 · 10 min
Arrive at opening
Come with a timed morning ticket. For about half an hour, the oval rooms are nearly empty.
Go straight to the Water Lilies. The downstairs collection can wait.
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09:10 · about 30 min
Sit down in both rooms
The panels were made to surround you. Take a bench in each oval room and give it ten quiet minutes.
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09:40 · about 45 min
Then take the stairs down
The Walter-Guillaume rooms run in a loop: Modigliani in Room 8, Laurencin in 10, Matisse in 11, Renoir and Cézanne in 12, and the two Rousseaus in 15.
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10:30 · done
Out by 10:30
The Tuileries are right outside. Walk on to the Louvre, or cross the Seine to the Orsay.
Pair it with the Orsay: a 15-minute walk across the Seine.
Six small things worth knowing
- Book a morning slotMidday slots sell out first in high season.
- Sit down in the oval roomsThe panels were made to surround you. Give them ten minutes.
- Keep your voice downSilence is asked for in the Water Lilies rooms.
- Go on a bright dayThe rooms are lit by daylight, so the panels change with the weather.
- Take the stairs downThe Walter-Guillaume collection is the half most people miss.
- Closed on TuesdaysSo is the Louvre, so plan both for another day.
Quick answers
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes. Every visitor needs a timed reservation, including free entry.
How long should I spend?
60 to 90 minutes is enough for both floors.
Which works shouldn’t I miss?
Start with Monet’s Water Lilies, then go downstairs for Renoir, Modigliani and Rousseau. See the full 10.
Do I need an audio guide?
Not required, but labels are short. A guide tells you what to look for while you stand in front of the work.
