We will be in France for two weeks in May 2008, staying mostly in Paris. If we buy the museum pass (probably the 4 day), do we still have to wait in line to enter, or are the line-ups only to pay for admission? I understand there are security checks for those with backpacks, so we'll try to travel lightly on the museum days.

Thanks for your help.

No, you won't have to wait in line; you just go up to the entrance or the special pass line.

This isn't the case everywhere. At St.Chapelle and at the towers of Notre Dame you must stand in line with everyone else. Both lines are slow.

At St. Chappelle there are two lines. There is the security line, which everyone must pass through and then the ticket line for those entering the church.

For Notre Dame there is a line and long wait to climb the towers, but there is no wait (at least there wasn't the last two times I was there) to enter the church. There is no charge to enter the church.

forever-travelers...I usually take a look at what museums I am interested in seeing in that 4-day period and add up their admission costs (look in guidebooks or at the museum websites and just start a tally). Almost always it ends up being cheaper for me because I go to enough museums to more than break even. My sister and I are buying one when we're there next week, because we know it'll save us money given how many museums we want to see. It also allows you to visit places you might not ordinarily if you are just passing by. If it's already paid for, why not? (Even if it's just to use a restroom!)

Cutting lines usually helps at the Orsay, Louvre and perhaps Orangeries, the museums that tend to be more crowded. 2 years ago at St. Chapelle, I did not wait in a line to buy my ticket, obviously, I went straight to security and in. I will reconfirm when I am there next week.

When in May? The earlier the less likely you will encounter long lines. Amyb's advice of looking at the museums you plan to attend and pricing it out is a good idea. The museums all have websites where the admission fee is easily accessible. Many people will find it is actually cheaper for them to purchase individual admission to museums rather than the pass. Of course that doesn't factor in time you may save in lines.

amyb,you will find that is still the case at St. Chapelle. The point images2 was trying to make is that everyone stands in the security line first.

For me, the time I save by not having to stand in line exceeds the money spent on the pass. I generally either break even or save a very small amount of money with the pass but my time is limited and I'd rather spend it inside the museum than outside.

As others have said, At Ste. Chapelle, you must first stand in the security line. Many times, this is the longest. Last time we were there (last spring), the line to purchase tickets snaked all the way to the end of the security line. Skipping that line alone paid for the pass!!!

Depends on how you will look at it. If it is something you feel like you need to 'get your money's worth' and will drive yourself crazy to amortize, then I'm not sure I would recommend it.

If you look at it like a fixed cost and anything else is gravy, it works. We 'popped into' a few museums and didn't last long (we were traveling with kids), but since it essentially was free, I didn't care and a small visit was worth it. As others have previously said, sometimes it is also a quick and easy break (with benches), and bathrooms if needed

I would also look at the 6 day vs. the 4 day... not much more incrementally, but 2 extra days to use.

Again, we didn't kill ourselves to 'make it pay', but used it in small doses (dosages ?).

DH & I used them in Feburary. We thought it was worth it.

We went to St Chappelle, Conciegerie, Invalides, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, and Rodin.

The only place we had to stand in line was at St Chappelle. That was the line to get through security.

Thanks for the replies and great advice.