So, you're heading to Paris and you're preparing your itinerary. By now, you might have come across a number of different attraction passes on offer to visitors. By now, you're probably also scratching your head trying to figure out which one is best for you... We here at Plum Guide understand the frustration, and that's why we're here to help with this guide to finding the best Paris attraction pass for you. (Aren't we just the best?)
The Paris Museum Pass
As the name suggests, the Paris Museum Pass is solely and specifically for museums and monuments. You can purchase it for a duration of 2, 4, or 6 days. With that, you have free, unlimited, and priority (aka no-queue) access to over 60 museums and monuments including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and the Notre Dame Cathedral Towers. You can order it online and it’ll be valid for a year after the purchasing date but once used, it has to be used consecutively thereafter. You can have it shipped to your home before your trip, or to your amazing home-from-home on arrival. Alternatively, you’re able to pick it up at the central Paris tourism office. There’s also the option to purchase it at one of the other many tourism offices around Paris or at one of the museums. This pass is especially beneficial for the people who want to spend their days going from museums to monument and back. If that doesn’t sound like you, then definitely check out one of the other passes.
Napoleon's Loft, Plum Guide home in Paris
Bourgogne in Paris, Plum Guide home in Paris
Paris City Pass
Next up is the Paris City Pass, which is an all inclusive sightseeing pass. This is a great way to discover the city during a first-time visit to Paris. It allows you free entry into 60 different attractions and tours with the ability to skip the long lines that plague Paris’ famous sights. Most passes won’t cover the price of a boat cruise on the Seine, but this one does. The best part is that it also includes unlimited travel on the metro, bus, and RER journeys in zones 1 to 3. You can purchase it for a validity of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 days maximum. The prices for this pass are broken down into age groups: adults, teens aged 12-17, and children aged 4-11. You’ll also receive discounts at select shopping partners. If your dream city break is to head out early from your wonderful vacation home and make your way from one landmark to the next, this pass is for you.
Big City Life, Plum Guide home in Paris
Paris Pass
Just like the Paris City Pass, the Paris Pass shares all the same benefits. The one edge that the Paris Pass has over the City Pass is that it includes a free one day hop on and hop off bus tour. So on top of the free entry to attractions, fast track entry, unlimited travel, and discounts at restaurants and shops, you also have the chance to take a bus tour and save on the normal admission price. You can only do the bus tour over one day during the pass’ duration, though. It can be bought for 2, 3, 4, and 6 day durations. The 3 day Paris Pass also comes with a 2 day Museum Pass. You can buy it in Paris or online, where you’ll be able to receive discounted pricing but with the cost of shipping, it may be worth picking it up in person. With this Paris attraction pass, you can pack a lot of exploring into your day...knowing you can put your feet up and enjoy a glass of wine in your stylish apartment afterwards.
Come and Play, Plum Guide home in Paris
Paris Visite Pass
The Paris Visite Pass only includes travel on public transportation like the metro, buses, RER, tram, and regional SNCF trains. So, if you only want something that covers your travel expenses, this is the Paris attraction pass for you. It offers unlimited travel on public transit for 1,2, 3, or 5 consecutive days. If you buy a pass for more than just a day, you won’t be able to use it one day, not use it the other, and then have it be valid on the day after - it will only be valid consecutively. They are also valid from the first day of use and not the first time of use which means that even if you started using it at 4 pm, the first day will expire at midnight.
In addition to being able to choose how many days its valid, you can specify if you want it just for zones 1 to 3 or zones 1 to 5. Zones 1 to 3 cover Paris and the nearby suburbs whereas Zones 1 to 5 cover that as well as the airports, Disneyland, and Versailles. If you don’t plan on visiting Disney or the famous chateau and have separate airport accommodations, choose zones 1 to 3. You can check the offical website for more information on pricing and you can purchase the pass online in advance or at any Paris metro station. It's also worth noting that Visite Pass holders also receive discounts at select restaurants, stores, and attractions such as 25% off the entrance fee to the Arc de Triomphe and the Tour Montparnasse observation platform.
So, you've figured out which Paris attraction pass is the best one for you. Now you need to figure out the best place to stay during your trip. Start by browsing our hand-picked collection of homes in Paris. Our home critics meticulously vet each and every award-winning home on our site, so you're guaranteed to find the perfect place for you. Whether you want to stay in one of Paris' most quirky homes or maybe in a luxurious penthouse overlooking the Eiffel Tower, our homes are all kinds of exceptional.
