Things to Book in Advance in Paris, France
Don’t be disappointed — these are the most important things to book in advance for Paris, France!
Paris is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. I used to live in Paris and have also been to the city as a tourist numerous times over the years, so I know all the ins and outs of visiting.
Since Paris is a bucket list trip for many people, it’s important to plan ahead to ensure that you can do everything that you want to do and avoid disappointment. Part of that planning means booking certain popular museums and tourist attractions in advance, which is what I’m going to share with you below.
Some of the most visited places in Paris can literally sell out of tickets days in advance. Even if tickets aren’t sold out, you might waste an hour or more of your precious vacation time waiting in line to buy tickets. And some museums and tourist attractions don’t even sell tickets in person — only online.
It’s important to book tickets in advance at any time of the year. There’s honestly not much of an “off season” in Paris, and popular museums and tourist attractions are guaranteed to be busy year-round.
A Note on Booking Tickets in Paris
When it comes to booking tourist attractions in Paris, you have two options:
- Buying tickets for an attraction in advance directly from its official website
- Booking third-party tickets, or tours that include entry tickets to an attraction
Both are good options. Sometimes, if tickets appear sold out on the official website for a particular attraction, you will still be able to find tours that include entry tickets on websites like GetYourGuide or Viator. So this can be a good “hack” to use if you are getting tickets at the last minute.
Just be sure to double-check that the tour you’re booking does include entry tickets. I’ve included links below for the official websites to buy tickets for each attraction, as well as my tour recommendations. (All of my recommended tours also include your entry tickets for the attraction itself.)
Here’s a look at exactly what you should book in advance in Paris to avoid disappointment:
1. Louvre Museum
The Louvre is one of the most incredible art museums in the world, and it’s a must for any first-timer in Paris. The sheer volume of artwork on display here is staggering, and the museum is home to many masterpieces. Because of this, the museum is always busy, and tickets regularly sell out. I highly recommend that you book your tickets for the Louvre far in advance, ideally several weeks out!
The Louvre is open every day except Tuesday starting at 9 AM. I recommend booking the earliest time slot available, because the first hour in the morning after opening tends to be quietest. The museum is also open late (until 9 PM) on select days. Visiting in the evening on these days can also be a calm experience.
- Official tickets: Buy them here (€32)
- Recommended tour: Mona Lisa and Louvre Masterpieces Guided Tour
If you aren’t a big museum person and just want to see the highlights, a guided tour is a good option. Personally, I enjoy taking my time at the Louvre and discovering lesser-visited galleries away from the crowds. It’s an enormous museum, and you could easily spend an entire day exploring!
2. Orsay Museum
Another iconic Paris museum that needs to be booked in advance is the Orsay Museum, home to amazing art, notable Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. Although it might not fully sell out like the Louvre, it still gets very busy, and you can end up waiting a long time in line to buy tickets.
That’s why it’s important to pre-book tickets. The Orsay Museum is open every day except Monday starting at 9:30 AM, and like the Louvre, early morning is a great time to visit. The museum also stays open late one night a week (until 9:45 PM), and that evening is also an excellent time to peruse the collection.
- Official tickets: Buy them here (€16) or book on GetYourGuide (slightly cheaper!)
- Recommended tour: Orsay Museum Skip-the-Line Tour with Expert Guide
Like the Louvre, I personally prefer visiting the Orsay Museum independently. But a guide can certainly enhance your experience and impart deeper context about the artwork you’re looking at.
3. Eiffel Tower
Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower is an experience many tourists want to have. I’ve done it once before, but I’ll be honest, it’s not my favorite viewpoint in Paris (mainly because you can’t actually see the Eiffel Tower in the skyline since you’re in it!) Still, I think it’s worth doing if it’s your first time in Paris.
There are several different ticket types available: visiting the top floor or just the second floor (highly recommend going all the way up), and taking the elevator or taking the stairs (you should definitely choose the elevator!) There are also guided tours and packages that include a glass of champagne or brunch.
- Official tickets: Buy them here (price varies)
- Recommended tour: Eiffel Tower Tickets with Seine River Boat Cruise
The best time to go up the Eiffel Tower is at dusk, so you can see the sunset and watch the lights of the city come on. Early morning is also a good time to go to avoid the worst of the crowds.
4. Palace of Versailles
Although it’s not technically in Paris, the Palace of Versailles is just 45 minutes outside the city and is one of the most popular day trips to take from Paris. This 17th-century palace was the opulent home of Louis XIV, the Sun King. The splendid, gilded interiors and elaborate gardens of Versailles are a must-visit.
I’ve been to Versailles several times now. My biggest piece of advice is to rent a golf cart! It’s an extra fee, but you can fully explore the entire estate, which is almost too large to cover on foot. This way, you can see Trianon (famously known as Marie Antoinette’s private palace) and the other buildings.
- Official tickets: Buy them here (€35)
- Recommended tour: Skip-the-Line Tour of Palace and Gardens Access
I’ve done Versailles with a tour and on my own, and I think a tour is the best option here, because otherwise, you will miss so much of the history of Versailles! If you book a guided tour, you will still have time to roam around on your own afterwards, which I recommend doing via golf cart rental.
5. The Catacombs
The Catacombs is a very unique Paris attraction. These caverns beneath the streets of Paris form a massive ossuary, home to the remains of more than six million people. It’s a slightly spooky place to visit, but it’s fascinating to learn the history of the Catacombs, where human skulls and bones form elaborate displays.
A limited number of tourists are allowed in the Catacombs each day, so it’s a good idea to book your tickets at least a week in advance. All tickets include an audio guide tour of the Catacombs as well.
- Official tickets: Buy them here (€31)
- Recommended tour: Paris Catacombs Special Access Tour
Buying tickets on your own and listening to the audio guide is a good option, but a small-group special access tour is a cool experience if you want to see areas of the Catacombs that are not usually open to visitors. You’ll also learn more about the Catacombs from a knowledgeable guide in a small-group setting.
6. Disneyland Paris
One final thing to book in advance is tickets to Disneyland Paris. Although not technically in Paris (it’s about 35 minutes away), I wanted to include this since it’s another popular day trip. You actually can’t buy tickets at the gate on the day of, so it’s crucial that you buy your tickets online in advance!
There are two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World. They’re right next to each other, and while you can technically visit both in a single day, it will be rushed. If you only have one day, I recommend just visiting Disneyland Park, the most “classic” of the two. If you have a second day, you can also go to Disney Adventure World, which, in my opinion, isn’t quite as good.
- Official tickets: Buy them here (price varies) or book on GetYourGuide (more flexibility)
- Recommended tour: Disneyland Paris Tickets and Shuttle Transport
Getting to Disneyland Paris from central Paris is super easy — you just take the RER A train to the last stop, Marne-la-Vallée Chessy, which is a five-minute walk from the entrance to the parks. So I really recommend this, unless you would just prefer the extra service of taking a direct Disneyland Paris shuttle.
Also Good to Book in Advance
Although these are the most important things I think you should book ahead in Paris, it doesn’t hurt to book some other things in advance too, especially popular tours, experiences, and attractions.
That includes things like food tours, Seine River dinner cruises, photo shoot experiences, and guided tours. You can also book other museums in advance to avoid wasting time waiting in line for tickets.
These are some unique, popular tours that are worth booking in advance in Paris:
- Le Marais Guided Food Tour with Tastings
- Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise
- Private Photo Shoot at the Eiffel Tower
- French Croissant Baking Class with a Chef
- Guided Tour of Paris in Classic Convertible
While you might find last-minute availability, I wouldn’t leave it up to chance!
The great thing about booking tours on GetYourGuide and Viator is that both platforms offer you the flexibility to cancel your booking for a full refund or reschedule up to 24 hours in advance.
What to Book in Advance for Paris
This guide showed you what’s important to book in advance for Paris.
Since it’s such a popular tourist destination year-round, and since many of the museums and attractions here attract millions of visitors each year, it’s important to book certain things in advance to avoid disappointment. This will also allow you to relax and enjoy your trip, rather than being stressed.
Enjoy your trip to Paris!
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