What to see at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris: opening hours, prices and advice

Photo by Benh. The Musée d'Orsay brings together works from three other Parisian museums and places them in a specific time span, from 1848 to 1914. Leading the way in this period, and thus also in the museum, is the Impressionist current, whose major exponents are housed on the fifth floor of the building, an old restored railway, with their world-famous masterpieces. Here's what to see at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris: tips, prices and how to get there.

What to see and how to visit the Orsay Museum

The Musée d'Orsay is basically arranged on five floors and is divided into two criteria: the first is chronological, which can be accomplished thanks to the presence of highlighted itineraries; the second is monographic, with special rooms dedicated to each artist.
Entrance to the museum is organised into four entrances, each reserved for a specific type of user: entrance A for individual visitors; entrance B for groups of adults with a reservation; entrance C for visitors with priority rights and individual visitors with a reservation; entrance D for school groups with a reservation.
As soon as you enter, here is what to see at the Musée d'Orsay, i.e. the ten works you must not miss.

1 - Self-portrait

Of the painter's many self-portraits, this is undoubtedly the most significant, as it was made during his stay in an asylum, where he even attempted to take his own life: the artist's traits of impatience and restlessness are evident.

• Date of creation: 1889

• Author: Vincent Van Gogh

• Dimensions: 65x54 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

2 - Breakfast on the Grass

A completely innovative painting, thanks to strong brushstrokes that contrast warm and cold tones, also moving the perspective out of the traditional schemes. This famous painting by Manet, among other things, was also judged vulgar, due to its depiction of naked young girls having breakfast in a park.

• Date of creation: 1862-1863

• Author: Edouard Manet - Claude Monet

• Dimensions: 208x264 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

3 - The Dancing Lesson

This painting depicts a dance class in a moment of pause, starring young dancers but, above all, a great choreographer of the time, Jules Perrot. Although it is a painting, this painting takes on the connotation of a photographic snapshot due to the immediacy of the painted moment.

• Date of creation: 1873-1875

• Author: Edgar Degas

• Dimensions: 85x75 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

4 - Two Tahitian Women

This work by Gauguin is the first that the author painted on Polynesian soil, during one of his trips in search of the authenticity and simplicity of the people. The main characteristic, which will accompany all paintings of this genre, is the portrayal of women in their daily actions, while they are absorbed in their thoughts. The strokes are deliberately marked and are accompanied by a contrast between bright colours and softer shades.

• Date of creation: 1891

• Author: Paul Gauguin

• Dimensions: 69 cm x 91,5 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

5 - Bal au Moulin de la Galette

Considered to be one of the absolute masterpieces of Impressionism, this painting by Renoir depicts a moment of popular life in Paris, a dance in a famous venue created from the renovation of two windmills and located at the top of Montmartre. The atmosphere is joyful and dancing and although its elaboration took a long time, the author managed to capture the particular moment of celebration.

• Date of creation: 1876

• Author: Pierre-Auguste Renoir

• Dimensions: 131 cm x 175 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

6 - The circus

Seurat's unfinished work (the artist died before completing it), is the last in a trilogy dedicated to mundane activities and nocturnal spectacles created by the artist. The liveliness of the moment is given by the use of strong colours, such as red, yellow and blue, although the colour of natural light, white, dominates the entire canvas. The contrast between curves and lines gives the painting an additional festive atmosphere.

• Date of creation: 1891

• Author: Georges Seurat

• Dimensions: 185.5 cm x 152.5 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

7 - The Card Players

Before finishing this work, Paul Cézanne produced five different versions of it. In this last one presented at the Musée d'Orsay, the artist depicts moments in a bistro that he knew well, as he himself was a regular patron. The entire subject of the painting is depicted in a square and the scene takes place in the centre of the painting. The characters are also represented through geometric shapes and this research will greatly influence the birth of Cubism.

• Date of creation: 1890-1898

• Author: Paul Cézanne

• Dimensions: 47.5 cm x 54 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

8 - The Origin of the World

Certainly the most controversial of the works exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay, Coubert's The Origin of the World depicts the female genital organ in its crudest and most realistic form, in a marriage of eros, femininity and fertility. Although highly allusive, the work does not fall into the category of pornographic paintings, thanks to the moderate use of colours and shadows.

• Date of creation: 1866

• Author: Gistave Coubert

• Dimensions: 46 cm x 55 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

9 - Poppies

Photo by КР"од Моне. This work depicts a warm summer afternoon spent in the countryside of the Ile-de-France, brought to life by the sparkling red of the poppies and the contrasting blue of the sky. Populating the landscape are the artist's wife and small son who, placed low down, create a feeling of movement to the whole work.

• Date of creation: 1873

• Author: Claude Monet

• Dimensions: 50cm x 65 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

10 - The Church of Auvers

Like the Self-portrait, this painting by Van Gogh reflects the last days of the artist's life and, especially in this work, his torment is more vivid than ever. The author, in fact, leaves realism and impressionism behind for a moment to paint a glimpse of life according to his feelings: the depiction, in fact, is not realistic, but manifests his unease, through shapes and colours that seem to stagger.

• Date of creation: 1890

• Author: Vincent Van Gogh

• Dimensions: 94 cm x 74 cm

• Technique: oil on canvas

Opening hours and prices

• Hours: open Monday to Sunday, 9:30am to 6pm; Thursdays until 9:45pm. Closed every Monday, 1 May and 25 December. Groups only Tuesday to Saturday, by prior arrangement

• Best time to avoid queues: the days with the lowest attendance are estimated to be Wednesdays, Fridays and Thursdays from 18:00. The highest attendance is estimated to be on Tuesdays and Sundays

• Ticket price: €14.00

• Reductions: €11.00 for accompanying persons of a child under 18 years of age resident in the European Union, for a maximum of two accompanying persons per child

• Free admission: for everyone every first Sunday of the month; for under 18s; for 18-25 year olds resident in the European Union; for disabled people with an accompanying person; for unemployed people on employment lists; for Paris Museum Pass holders; for Carte Blanche holders; for members of the Louvre Abu Dhabi; for members of the Societé des Amis du Musée d'Orsay or American Friends of the Musée d'Orsay.

• Combined ticket with the Musée de l'Orangerie: €18.00

• Combined ticket with theMusée Rodin: €21.00

Online tickets and guided tours

Useful tips for visiting the attraction

1. Priority ticket: Waiting times can sometimes exceed an hour so, to avoid endless queues, buy the priority ticket and enter through entrance C without queuing.

2. Buy the Paris Museum PassWith this card you can visit several museums and enter the Musée d'Orsay for free.

3. Don't throw away your ticket: in the eight days following your entry, you can use your ticket to receive a reduction on the purchase of a ticket to the Gustave Moreau National Museum; on the purchase of a ticket to the Palais Garnier (Paris National Opera); on the purchase of a ticket to the Jean-Jacques Henner National Museum.

4. Watch out for restrictions: following the terrorist attacks in Paris, security controls have become tighter. Backpacks and bags larger than 60x40 cm are not permitted.

5. Minimum time: we recommend that you spend about 3 hours visiting the museum.

Where it is located and how to get there

• On foot: overlooking the Seine, the Musée d'Orsay is located in the Saint Germain des Prés district - get directions

• By bus: reachable by bus lines 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 94

• By metro: from Solférino station, line 12

• RER: from Musée d'Orsay station, line C

History and curiosities: what to know in brief

The Musée d'Orsay owes its name to the Gare d'Orsay railway station that has housed it since 1st December 1986 and was created primarily to exhibit works from 1848 (beginning of the Second Republic) to 1914 (beginning of the Great War).
The favourite style housed within the museum is undoubtedly Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, whose works have brought fame and prestige to the museum itself, but important galleries are also reserved for sculpture, such as those dedicated to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Goustave Coubert.
For the organisation of the interior spaces, the Italian architect Gae Aulenti was also involved, who strongly wanted a large exhibition area, in order to allow the visitor greater freedom of movement.