Save On Paris Sights
Paris City Pass 2026: Which One Is Actually Worth It?
We compared the Museum Pass, the Go City Paris Pass and The Paris Pass with real 2026 prices and break-even math so you can pick the right one (or skip them entirely).
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Why Buy a Paris Pass At All?
Stack Multiple Attractions
Louvre plus Orsay plus Arc de Triomphe plus Versailles adds up fast. You typically break even on a 2-day pass after just 3 or 4 sites.
Skip Some Lines
Priority entry at select sites trims 30 to 90 minute queues on the Louvre, Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle and Arc de Triomphe. It is not a universal fast-track, but it helps.
All-in-One Transport + Sights
Some passes bundle Metro, bus and RER travel, a hop-on-hop-off bus and a Seine cruise. Convenient if you hate buying individual tickets on your phone every day.
A Paris pass is not a universal win. If you are only visiting 1 or 2 paid attractions, you almost always save money by booking individually. Read the math below before you buy.
The 4 Main Paris Passes Compared
2026 retail prices, what each pass covers, and the traveler type it suits best.
| Pass | 2026 Pricing | What It Covers | Not Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Museum Pass | 2 days €65 / 4 days €80 / 6 days €100 | 50+ museums and monuments including the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, Versailles palace, Orangerie, Centre Pompidou, Rodin Museum. | Eiffel Tower, public transport, hop-on-hop-off bus, Seine cruise, Disneyland Paris. | Museum-heavy trips where you already know how to use the Metro. |
| Paris City Pass (Go City Paris) | 2 days €99 / 3 days €129 / 4 days €154 / 5 days €174 / 6 days €194 | Museum Pass attractions plus public transport (Metro, bus, RER zones 1-3), hop-on-hop-off bus, Seine cruise and optional Eiffel Tower upgrade. | Disneyland Paris, airport transfers, some premium guided tours. Eiffel summit is a paid add-on. | First-timers and families who want one QR code for everything. |
| Paris Pass (The Paris Pass) | 2 days €129 / 3 days €174 / 4 days €194 / 6 days €244 | Hop-on-hop-off bus, 80+ attractions including Louvre, Orsay, Versailles, Montparnasse Tower, Seine cruise, wine tasting, select day trips. | Eiffel Tower summit, Disneyland, Metro tickets (sold separately as a Travelcard add-on). | Travelers who want the widest attraction menu and do not mind paying for it. |
| Navigo + Individual Tickets | €30.75 Navigo weekly + €22 Louvre + €16 Orsay + €14 Sainte-Chapelle etc. | Exactly what you book, nothing you do not. Pay-as-you-go flexibility. | Priority-entry benefits at most sites, bundled Seine cruise, hop-on-hop-off bus. | Slow travelers, backpackers, and anyone visiting just 1 to 2 paid sights. |
Prices reflect official 2026 retail. Promo codes and flash sales on GetYourGuide and Klook can shave 5 to 15% off.
Break-Even Math: 3 Real Scenarios
Plug your trip into the closest profile below and see if a pass actually pays off.
Museum-heavy 2-day trip
- •Louvre €22
- •Musee d'Orsay €16
- •Sainte-Chapelle €14
- •Orangerie €12.50
- •Arc de Triomphe €16
- •Pay-as-you-go total: ~€76
- •Paris Museum Pass 2-day: €65 / ~$70
Save about €11 plus priority entry at the Louvre and Orsay. Worth it.
All-in tourist 3-day trip
- •Museum Pass 4-day: €80
- •Metro weekly (Navigo): €30.75
- •Eiffel Tower summit: €35
- •Seine cruise: €18
- •Pay-as-you-go bundle: ~€163.75
- •Paris City Pass 3-day €129 / ~$140 + Eiffel summit €35 = ~€164
Basically identical price. Buy the Paris City Pass for the convenience of one QR code and skip-some-lines perks.
Chill 4-day trip, 2 to 3 sights per day
- •4 museums at ~€22 each: €88
- •Sainte-Chapelle: €14
- •Seine cruise: €18
- •Navigo weekly: €30.75
- •Pay-as-you-go total: ~€150
- •Paris Pass 4-day: €194
You would lose ~€44 on the Paris Pass. Book individual tickets and enjoy a slower pace.
Which Pass Is Right For You?
First-time 3-day Paris
Pick: Paris Museum Pass 4-day + Navigo weekly
Cheapest way to hit the classics (Louvre, Orsay, Arc, Sainte-Chapelle, Versailles) with unlimited Metro. Buy Eiffel Tower tickets separately from the official site.
Family with kids, 4+ days
Pick: Paris City Pass 4-day (Go City)
Hop-on-hop-off bus saves tired legs, Seine cruise is kid-friendly, kids under 18 enter national museums free anyway so adult-only passes are enough.
Budget solo backpacker
Pick: No pass. Individual Sainte-Chapelle + Orsay only.
Most Paris highlights (Notre-Dame exterior, Montmartre, Luxembourg Gardens, Marais, Seine walks) are free. A pass rarely pays off under 3 paid sites.
Museum lovers, 5+ days
Pick: Paris Museum Pass 6-day + Navigo weekly
At €100 / ~$108 for 6 days you unlock 50+ sites. Add €30.75 Navigo and you have unlimited transport. Absurdly good value for culture-focused trips.
Where To Book Your Paris Pass
Three trusted platforms that sell legitimate Paris passes with instant mobile delivery.
GetYourGuide
Best Cancellation Terms
- ✓24 hour free cancellation on most passes
- ✓Verified traveler reviews for every operator
- ✓Instant mobile QR delivery to your phone
- ✓Customer support in 20+ languages
Go City Official
Widest Coverage
- ✓Official seller of the Go City Paris Pass
- ✓2 to 6 day options with transport bundled
- ✓Optional Eiffel Tower summit upgrade
- ✓All-in-one mobile wallet for 90+ attractions
Klook
Popular With Asian Travelers
- ✓Instant mobile confirmation with QR code
- ✓Frequent promo codes and flash sales
- ✓Customer support friendly to Asian travelers
- ✓Multi-language vouchers and receipts
What Is NOT Included In Any Paris Pass
- Eiffel Tower summit. No major pass covers the summit level. Budget €35 and book direct on the official Eiffel Tower site.
- Notre-Dame tower climb. The cathedral exterior is free but the tower access ticket is separate and tightly limited.
- Disneyland Paris. Never included in any standard Paris pass. Book 1-day or Park Hopper tickets directly.
- Some temporary exhibitions. The Louvre, Orsay and Centre Pompidou host paid blockbusters that require an extra surcharge even with a pass.
- Some guided tours. Hosted group tours of the Catacombs, Opera Garnier VIP access and evening wine tastings are usually extra.
- Airport transfers. RoissyBus, Orlyval and taxis to CDG or ORY are never bundled. Plan those separately.
Activation Tips & Common Mistakes
- Activating your pass on Day 1 then staying in your hotel half of Day 2. The clock runs whether you use it or not. Do not activate until you walk out the door on your first real sightseeing day.
- Buying the Paris Pass assuming the Eiffel Tower is included. The summit is not included in any major pass. Budget €35 extra for the summit ticket from the official site.
- Skipping museum pre-reservation. Even with a pass, sites like the Louvre and Sainte-Chapelle require a free timed-entry slot booked separately. Pass + reservation are both mandatory.
- Not checking closure days. The Louvre closes Tuesdays, the Musee d'Orsay closes Mondays, Versailles closes Mondays. Burning a pass day on a closed museum hurts.
- Buying a Costco or third-party Paris Pass without verifying the validity dates. Many discount passes have hidden expiration windows and cannot be rebooked.
- Picking a 6-day pass for a 4-day trip because the per-day price looks cheaper. You pay for days you never use.
Reservations Are Still Required, Even With a Pass
This is the single biggest source of confusion for Paris pass holders. Many top sites now require a free timed-entry slot on top of your pass.
Louvre Museum
Mandatory free timed-entry slot. Book on the official louvre.fr site after you receive your pass. Slots in peak season disappear 3 to 4 weeks out.
Sainte-Chapelle
Same setup as the Louvre. Free online reservation required on top of your Museum Pass or City Pass. Morning slots go first.
Palace of Versailles
Free timed-entry reservation required for the Palace, book via chateauversailles.fr. Closed on Mondays. The train (RER C) is not included in any pass.
When To Skip the Pass Entirely
If your trip is 1 to 2 days and you only plan to visit 1 or 2 paid attractions, skip every pass. Buy individual tickets on GetYourGuide or direct, use a Navigo Easy with daily t+ tickets, and enjoy Paris the slow way.
You will also skip the pass if you are traveling with kids under 18: most national museums (Louvre, Orsay, Versailles) are already free for minors, so only the adults need any ticket at all.
Paris Pass FAQ
Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it in 2026?+
For most 2 to 6 day museum-focused trips, yes. You break even at roughly 3 to 4 paid sites. At €65 for 2 days and €100 for 6 days it pays for itself quickly if you visit the Louvre, Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe or Versailles. It does not include the Eiffel Tower, transport, or a Seine cruise.
What's the difference between the Paris Museum Pass and the Paris City Pass?+
The Paris Museum Pass covers 50+ museums and monuments only. The Paris City Pass (Go City) includes the Museum Pass, adds public transport, a hop-on-hop-off bus, a Seine cruise and an optional Eiffel Tower upgrade. The City Pass costs more but bundles everything.
Does the Paris Pass include the Eiffel Tower?+
No major pass includes the Eiffel Tower summit. The Paris City Pass offers it as a paid upgrade, the Paris Pass and Museum Pass do not cover it. Book the summit separately on the official Eiffel Tower website to avoid third-party markups.
Can I buy a Paris City Pass at Costco?+
Costco and other warehouse resellers occasionally list Paris Pass bundles. They are usually legitimate but have rigid activation windows and cannot be rebooked. Buying direct from Go City, GetYourGuide or the Paris Museum Pass official site gives you better cancellation terms.
How far in advance should I buy my Paris pass?+
You can buy most Paris passes 1 to 7 days before travel with no price difference. However, you should reserve mandatory timed-entry slots for the Louvre and Sainte-Chapelle as soon as you have the pass, because slots for popular days book out 2 to 4 weeks in advance in peak season.
Is the Paris Museum Pass valid for Versailles?+
Yes. The Paris Museum Pass covers entry to the Palace of Versailles including the state apartments and the Hall of Mirrors. It does not cover the Musical Fountains Show, the Musical Gardens, nor special exhibitions. The train to Versailles is also not included in the Museum Pass.
Do I still need metro tickets with a Paris City Pass?+
No. The Paris City Pass (Go City) and The Paris Pass (as an add-on Travelcard) both include unlimited Metro, bus and RER zones 1-3 for the duration of the pass. The Paris Museum Pass by itself does NOT include transport, so with that one you still need a Navigo weekly or t+ tickets.
What's the best pass for a 3-day Paris trip?+
For most 3-day first-timers, the Paris Museum Pass 4-day (€80) plus a Navigo weekly (€30.75) is the best value at about €110 total. If you prefer one-QR-code convenience and the hop-on-hop-off bus, the Paris City Pass 3-day (€129) is almost the same price and includes a Seine cruise.
Related Paris Reading
Plan the rest of your Paris trip with these in-depth guides.
Paris in 3 Days Itinerary
Day-by-day plan with Metro stops, reservation timings and dinner picks.
Paris First-Time Guide
Everything rookie visitors wish they knew before landing at CDG.
Paris Museums Guide
Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Pompidou and hidden gems ranked by wait time.
Is Paris Expensive in 2026?
Real daily budgets for backpacker, mid-range and luxury travelers.