Paris Orangerie: Monet Water Lilies Tour with Reserved Entry

Monet’s water lilies in Paris, quiet halls and stories behind every brushstroke

You’ll slip past the lines into the Orangerie Museum with reserved entry, guided by someone who knows every corner and story behind Monet’s Water Lilies. Stand quietly in those curved rooms surrounded by color, then wander through works by Cézanne and Matisse before stepping back into Paris: maybe seeing light a little differently than before.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Orangerie Museum and Art Collection

• Arrive at Orangerie Museum
• Tour Tuileries Gardens surroundings
• View Monet’s Water Lilies gallery
• See paintings by Cezanne and Matisse
• Explore Picasso’s various career phases
• Admire works by Modigliani, Renoir, Utrillo
• Learn about French Impressionist art

The experience

We were already inside the Orangerie before I realized how quietly the place wraps around you. It’s not like the bigger museums where you’re dodging crowds or getting lost in echoing halls. Our guide, Camille, had this gentle way of pausing just long enough for us to notice things: the damp green smell from the Tuileries outside still clinging to my jacket, the faint hush of footsteps on old stone. She started right away with a story about how Monet’s Water Lilies got here. Something about a promise to Clemenceau after the war. I didn’t expect it to feel so personal.

We drifted into that oval room where Monet’s giant panels curve around you. It was almost too much color at first, like stepping underwater. Camille let us stand there for a minute without saying anything, which I kind of loved. Someone whispered (in Spanish?) about how you could see brushstrokes up close, and suddenly I noticed tiny flecks of orange in all that blue and green.

I kept thinking about how these paintings landed here instead of somewhere more obvious like the Louvre. After that, we wandered through rooms full of Cézanne apples and Matisse portraits: Camille pointed out a Modigliani woman who looked bored out of her mind (her words). There was this moment when she tried to explain why Renoir’s faces always look like they’re holding back a joke. I’m still not sure I get it but now I always look for it. We ended up back outside blinking into the Paris daylight, which felt sharper somehow after all those colors.

What’s included

Your visit includes reserved entry tickets to the Orangerie Museum in Paris’ 1st Arrondissement, an expert guide just for your group (on private tours), all entrance fees covered from start to finish, and two hours exploring both Monet’s Water Lilies gallery and other Impressionist masterpieces: all at your own pace before heading back out into Paris again.

Options for this experience

7 options

Private Russian Tour10:00 and 13:30Private museum tour that skips the queue, led by a professional guide just for you. Entrance fees are included. Lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Wheelchair friendly.

Private German Tour10:00 and 13:30Private museum tour that skips the queue, led by a professional guide just for you. Entrance fees are included. Lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Wheelchair friendly.

Private French Tour10:00 and 13:30Private museum tour that skips the queue, led by a professional guide just for you. Entrance fees are included. Lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Wheelchair friendly.

See 4 more options

Private English Tour10:00 and 13:30Private museum tour that skips the queue, led by a professional guide just for you. Entrance fees are included. Lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Wheelchair friendly.

Private Spanish Tour10:00 and 13:30Private museum tour that skips the queue, led by a professional guide just for you. Entrance fees are included. Lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Wheelchair friendly.

Private Italian Tour10:00 and 13:30Private museum tour that skips the queue, led by a professional guide just for you. Entrance fees are included. Lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Wheelchair friendly.

Semi-private, maximum 6 people, in English10:00English-language semi-private tour: save money with a small group of up to 6 guests per guide. Not suitable for wheelchair users.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and SundayDepartures at 10:00 and 13:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (under 10)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian

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

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Babylon Tours Paris

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (under 10).

How long does the Orangerie Monet Water Lilies tour last?

The guided tour lasts about 2 hours inside the Orangerie Museum.

Is reserved entry included in this Orangerie tour?

Yes, reserved entry is included so you skip standard lines at the museum.

Are all entrance fees covered for this tour?

All museum entrance fees are included in your booking.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

The private version of this tour is fully wheelchair accessible throughout.

What artwork will I see besides Monet’s Water Lilies?

You’ll also see works by Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani, Renoir and Utrillo among others.

Does this tour include a local guide?

Your group will be led by an expert guide familiar with French art history.

Where is the Orangerie Museum located?

The museum sits inside Tuileries Gardens in Paris’ 1st Arrondissement.