Musée d'Orsay Impressionist Tour with Expert Guide in Paris

Walk straight past the queue and stand in front of the paintings that changed art forever.

A two-hour guided walking tour of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris's 7th Arrondissement with skip-the-line entry and an expert English-speaking guide. The tour covers the museum's finest Impressionist works (Van Gogh's Self Portrait and Starry Night Over the Rhone, Monet's Houses of Parliament, Manet's Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass, Gauguin's Tahitian Women on the Beach, and more) in a small group of up to six people. Groups will expand to a maximum of 20 starting in October. The tour is a moderate-pace walking experience. It is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs or strollers. The museum occasionally closes due to strikes. The operator will reach out before your tour if possible, though last-minute closures may be announced at the meeting point.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided tour of Musée d'Orsay highlights

• Skip the line into Musée d'Orsay
• View Van Gogh’s Self Portrait
• See Starry Night Over the Rhone
• Admire Manet’s Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass
• Observe Monet’s Houses of Parliament
• Explore Gauguin’s Tahitian Women on the Beach

The experience

The Musée d'Orsay holds one of the world's finest collections of Impressionist paintings, and this tour gets you past the entrance line with your prebooked ticket and straight to the works. Your expert guide walks you through the highlights (Van Gogh's Self Portrait and Starry Night Over the Rhone, Monet's Houses of Parliament, Manet's Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass, Gauguin's Tahitian Women on the Beach, and others) without the usual wait at the door. The two-hour pace is built around a small group of no more than six people, which means you move through the galleries without the crowds that fill the museum during peak hours.

The tour operates as a walking experience at a moderate pace through the museum's interior. You'll need to be comfortable walking without difficulty, and the museum's layout means this is not accessible for guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs or strollers. The Musée d'Orsay does occasionally close due to strikes. The operator will contact you before your tour if they know about a closure in advance, though last-minute shutdowns may only be announced when you arrive at the meeting point. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them to reach the museum.

Starting in October, the maximum group size will expand to 20 participants, so the intimate scale of the current tour will change. If you prefer the smaller group experience, book before that date. Your guide speaks English and leads the tour in that language throughout.

What’s included

• Skip-the-line entry ticket to the Musée d'Orsay.
• expert English-speaking guide leading the entire tour.
• small group experience with no more than six participants (expanding to 20 starting in October).

Options for this experience

2 options

Musée d'Orsay tour conducted in English09:45, 10:00 and 10:30Tour for a small group

Private - OrsayGuide in English · Available from 17 Nov · 5 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 15:00Get to know the Impressionists on this private, in-depth tour of the main highlights of the Musée d'Orsay, led by an English-speaking guide.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 2h, runs Tuesday to Saturday, 7 start times, from € 47 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesTuesday and Friday: 09:30, 09:45, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday: 09:30, 09:45, 10:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (2 to 14 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Walks - France

Is this one for you?Book the private option if you want the tour tailored to your interests alone. Choose the group tour if you prefer the smaller scale and the chance to meet other visitors while moving through the galleries at a shared pace. Either way, the skip-the-line access and the expert guide mean you spend your two hours looking at paintings, not standing outside the door.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 14 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What famous paintings will I see on the Musée d'Orsay tour?

The tour covers the museum's Impressionist masterpieces, including Van Gogh's Self Portrait and Starry Night Over the Rhone, Monet's Houses of Parliament, Manet's Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass, and Gauguin's Tahitian Women on the Beach, among many others held in the collection.

Do I have to wait in line to enter the Musée d'Orsay?

No, your ticket is prebooked, so you skip the line at the entrance and go straight into the museum with your guide.

How many people will be in my group?

The tour operates with a maximum of six participants through October. Starting in October, the group size will expand to a maximum of 20.

Is this tour suitable if I have difficulty walking?

The tour is a moderate-pace walking experience through the museum, and it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs or strollers. You should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.

What happens if the Musée d'Orsay is closed on the day of my tour?

The museum occasionally closes due to strikes. The operator will try to contact you before your tour if a closure is known in advance, but last-minute closures may only be announced when you arrive at the meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The tour runs for two hours and covers the museum's highlights with your expert guide.