Orangerie museum ticket booked: my review
Verdict: the most natural complement to a morning at the Marmottan. The ticket doesn’t add anything to the visit—it just sets the time, and at the Orangerie, timing matters: the eight panels of the Water Lilies are viewed in two oval rooms that fill up by midday. Booked for early afternoon after the Marmottan, it lets you enter without waiting. It’s non-refundable, which is its only downside.
What the ticket includes
One date and time slot, one voucher per person, and an ID to present. You’ll enter through the “ticket holders” entrance at the end of the Tuileries Garden on the Concorde side. The ticket covers the permanent collection, including the eight panels of Monet’s Water Lilies in the two oval rooms and the Walter-Guillaume collection in the basement, as well as temporary exhibitions. The audio guide is not included. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, so no time slots are available that day.
Under-18s and 18-25-year-olds from the EU enter free with ID, but must still book a time slot. The first Sunday of the month is free for everyone, unlike the Marmottan, a private museum, which does not offer free Sundays, as explained on is the museum free.
Marmottan in the morning, Orangerie in the afternoon
This is the day I most often recommend to those staying in Paris. The Marmottan at opening time, 10 a.m., without booking; an hour and a half in front of the easel paintings and the large late formats in the underground room; then line 9 from La Muette to Franklin D. Roosevelt, line 1 to Concorde, twenty-five to thirty minutes in total, or bus 63 to the vicinity. Book the Orangerie slot for early afternoon, with some leeway. These are two different sets of Water Lilies, the canvases at the Marmottan and the monumental panels at the Orangerie, and that’s precisely the point of seeing them on the same day; the comparison is on the Water Lilies at the Marmottan.
Included
- Timed entry on the selected date and time slot
- Permanent collection: Water Lilies and the Walter-Guillaume collection
- Current temporary exhibitions
- One ticket per person, wheelchair accessible
Not included
- Audio guide
- Guided tour
- Refund if unable to attend
- The Musée Marmottan Monet (separate ticket, at the door)
What the reviews say
Over seven thousand reviews, a 4.7 rating, and nearly all mention the crowds, one way or another. Felicia (USA) was " in the first group to enter ", which is the effect of an opening time slot. Tülay (Germany) finds the museum " central and not crowded, a pleasantly calm atmosphere "; I’ll add that this depends a lot on the time. Markus (Switzerland) simply says " very impressive museum ".
Regarding the artworks, the reviews are brief. Lubomír (Slovakia) describes the Monet and Picasso pieces as " irresistible ", Gabriela (Mexico) finds them " simply beautiful, perfect if you love Monet ", Judith (Brazil) writes that she " will return as soon as she can ". Madeleine (Australia) found the audio guide " really informative "; a useful note—it’s not included in this ticket and must be rented separately on-site. The only disappointments concern the crowds in the first oval room around midday, never the artworks themselves.
What works
- The guaranteed time slot, the only thing that changes the visit to the Orangerie
- The eight Water Lilies panels and the Walter-Guillaume collection in the same ticket
- 25-30 minutes from the Marmottan via line 9 then line 1
- Free admission maintained for under-18s and EU 18-25-year-olds
Good to know
- Non-refundable, even the day before
- No audio guide or guide included
- Closed on Tuesdays; the Marmottan is closed on Mondays
- The oval rooms are crowded on weekends between 11 AM and 4 PM
Who it's for, and who it's not for
For whom: anyone leaving the Marmottan who wants to see, on the same day, how Monet’s Water Lilies evolved on a grand scale. Visitors with only one day in Paris for Monet who can’t make it to Giverny. Families, since children enter for free with a timed slot.
Not for whom: those whose plans may change and will lose their ticket. Those torn between the two museums who’ll only visit one—I address that in Marmottan or Orangerie. Those seeking Manet and the full Impressionist context, for whom the Orsay ticket is more suitable. Details on the offer and directions are on the Orangerie ticket page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Musée Marmottan Monet and the Orangerie in the same day?
Yes, and it’s the day I recommend: the Marmottan at opening without booking, then line 9 and line 1 to Concorde, and a reserved time slot in the early afternoon. The route is detailed in getting there by metro, and the comparison of the two museums is in Marmottan or Orangerie.
Which time slot should you choose?
First thing in the morning if you're only visiting the Orangerie, or early afternoon if you're coming from the Marmottan. On weekends, the oval rooms are crowded between 11 AM and 4 PM. No time slot on Tuesdays, the museum's closing day; the Marmottan is closed on Mondays, see opening hours.
Are these the same Water Lilies as at the Marmottan?
No. The Orangerie displays the eight monumental panels installed in two oval rooms. The Marmottan exhibits easel paintings and large late formats, including the final Japanese Bridge series, in an underground gallery. Both collections are explained on the Marmottan's Water Lilies.