Louvre and Musee d'Orsay in one day?
 

My husband and I are taking a 2 week trip, of which 3 days will be spent in Paris. With so much to see, we are wondering if seeing both the Louvre (3 hour version) and Musee d'Orsay is possible in one day. Your assistance is appreciated.

Sure, it's possible. Personally, I get tired of museums after about 3 hours, so I wouldn't want to do that.

The Louvre in the morning,D'Orsay afternoon.<BR>You will have to plan the Louvre so you can get some of the highlights in,maybe lunch at the cafe in the D'Orsay giving you more time there.<BR>The D'Orsay is much more doable...but if time is limited, do what ever you can!<BR>Have fun!

No. If you do that, all you will have accomplished is the ability to say "I saw and I saw and I saw" -- you will not have time to appreciate anything. Try to determine if you are a Renaissance sort of person or an Impressionism sort of person, and then choose. Save the other for another time. J.

i agree entirely with the last correspondent. More specifically I thihk that the third floor of the Mus&eacute;e d'Orsay is so terrific that it should not be spoilt by looking at other pictures on the same day. <BR>You could go to the Louvre and just look at the building but if you want to combine something with the d'Orsay why not go to the Rodin and see something completely different - and if you are getting a museum card go there first and you will not have to queue at either!

It's doable, but you'll probably be exhausted!<BR>I suggest you do it on a Wednesday (when the Louvre is open until 9:45 p.m.) or Thursday (when d'Orsay is open until 9:45 p.m.), allowing you the extra time.<BR>A previous suggestion about lunching at the d'Orsay is a good one. Its dining-room experience will be one of the highlights of your visit there.

I disagree :) <BR>If your time is limited and you want to see these places, why should you only see one? I think a little of each is good.and who cares about "I saw" ,etc?? this isn't a contest! The first time we were in Paris was over an Easter weekend.I didn't know if I would ever be back again, so I planned to see both in one day, I wanted to see certain things in the Louvre and in the DOrsay-besides the pleasure of just being inside them! My luck - they were both closed for Easter!<BR>See as much as you can!

Thank you for the advice. Does seem like a lot to do in one day. Once in a lifetime trip, so not really a choice to save one for another time. But based on the comments, we will probably rethink our itinerary for remaining two days to accommodate both museums. Thanks again.

I think you are wise Tina -- the evening option is one that may help you out.<BR><BR>Re: Rodin Museum -- It's 1 Euro to enter the gardens and it's full of sculptures -- IMHO no need to see the museum itself. It's also a nice place for a tea break as there is a small cafe under the right side trees.

Tina<BR>The Louvre and the Orsay each have at least one night when they are open late--you might want to plan it that way, and do something else in between.<BR>Check their websites; sometimes the entire Louvre is not open on the late nights, but the website calendar will tell you what is open when.<BR><BR>

Sorry<BR>I had missed the earlier posting about the evening hours.<BR><BR>I respectfully disagree though about eating at the Orsay. It's very good as museum dining places go, but there are so many other options in Paris, and I think getting out of the building for a while is a good way to clear the head.<BR><BR>On the other hand,I do vote for Cafe Marly, under one of the arcades on the exterior of the Louvre. Weather permitting, go and sit outside. If weather is bad, don't bother going as inside is noisy, crowded, and sometimes smokey. Food is high-priced, but you can make do with something simple, it's outdoors, and you will be overlooking the Pyramid.

Elaine, personally, I find the prices at the Cafe Marly absolutely out of consideration. They charge 6 Euro for a hot beverage (just a cup). Prices of the menu made me almost faint. Thanks, no.<BR>I agree, that the terrace is wonderful, but still.<BR>It's definitely not on my "go back list".

Actually there are several eating options at D'Orsay. I always use the little cafeteria -- the food is tasty and if you get a seat at the rail you have a great view through the station clock to the outside world. And it is FAST and right at the end of the 3rd floor galleries.

'Tis rare that I disagree with you, Elaine, but we found our lunch "break" in the dining room at d'Orsay to be an integral part of the total experience at the museum. It was a delightful experience and a quiet and relaxing oasis after a couple hours of viewing the great Impressionist masters at the museum.<BR>And, friend Sally, if you avoid the interior of the Rodin Museum, you miss some of his greatest works! And, it doesn't take that much of your time!<BR>

To have lunch at the cafe in the D'Orsay fits the bill for not only eating something, that is tastey every time we go, but also you are still inside the museum and can see things while you eat..if you look around.<BR>whereas the Marly is wonderful,it is too expensive and you are sitting there looking at the outside of the Louvre and the Pyramid.At least the D'Orsay keeps you inside the building.<BR>The Rodin is nice, but with such a limited amount of time, that might be too out of the way.

I'd personally say set aside a day for the Louvre, it's well worth it. We also had a lovely lunch there. The D'Orsay is nowhere near as big, but we allowed 2 hours and this wasn't anywhere near enough time...<BR><BR>Hope this helps

I am a great advocate of evening hours in Museums. We were at the Louvre on Monday and Wednesday nights and found many galleries empty. We were working on the strategy of not seeing the entire museum and skipped things that are prominently featured in other museums, while concentrating on items that the Louvre “specializes in” and don’t go on tour very often. Check their website before going and try to make a list of which parts of the collection interest you most and leave the rest for another visit.

we came back from Paris yesterday!<BR>and we did Louvre and Orsay both in the same day..it is very much possible...but u have to start early!<BR>all the best!

We did it last August on a Wednesday when Louvre stays open till 9:45am. We went to d'Orsay when it opens. We went ready with our Paris museum pass, which we bought just for a day at a Metro station on the night before. With the pass we just went to the entrance bypassing all the people waiting in the long line (well.. that was kind of mean, but what the heck!!!). We also used the audio guides. Us being not so knowledgeable on arts, helped us a lot to get some insight on selected paintings and sculptures.

Hi,<BR><BR>We have done both museums in one day. We did them on the day that the d'orsay was open at night. We stayed four hours at the Louve, which is about as much as I can take at one time. We ate lunch on the top of the Samarine department store, right near the Louve. It is just sandwhiches and inexpensive, but you're outside with the most specatular views of Paris. Sit for an hour or two, relax and then go to the d'Orsay. It is smaller and more relaxing than the Louve. Have fun

I agree with David.<BR>We split our museum trips into different days as we found we get overwhelmed and can't take in what we see. The Louvre is HUGE and unless you have a really good idea of what you want to see and where it is, it could take a day. <BR>Our fav museums were the D'Orsay and Rodin (if you're going then you might as well do inside too) and these could be done in a day.<BR>Try to plan your days so you aren't crossing back and forth the city from one sight to the next.<BR>I know some people don't like his books, but Rick Steve's itineraries (sp?) were very helpful to me and his book was a useful addition to other info sources.

The d'Orsay can be seen in a few hours, but the Louvre is huge. It is impossible to see all of the Louvre in a day, even if you devote the entire day to seeing the Louvre and nothing else.<BR><BR>On the other hand, some people get very tired after a few hours of museum walking. If this is true for you, schedule only a few hours in each place.<BR><BR>If there are any specific items you want to see in the Louvre, I suggest putting together a list, and bringing the list to the Louvre. This will help to maximize use of your time during a short visit. The Louvre is so large, it is easy to miss entire sections of it.

Agree with the suggestion to do Louvre one day and the d'Orsey and Rodin the next day.

I think it is necessary to remember what Tina wrote in her post. To paraphrase her: they only have 3 days in Paris...there is so much to see...they want to see the Louvre and the d'Orsay.<BR>My suggestion is to do the museums in ONE day (or less!) and then spend the rest of your very limited time discovering Paris! Walk, sit at Cafes, get "lost" experience the city....

sure, why not? they are close enough to walk to each other, and as long as you know what you want to see in the Louvre at least, sure you can. you just won't see it all, so be prepared.<BR><BR>

I agree, the evening hours are great, and much less crowded. I love the D'Orsay, and it's much easier to take in than the Louvre. I think doing both in one day would be quite overwhelming, but of course possible (if you don't have to spend too much time in line). Anyway, get Rick Steve's Paris book. Extremely helpful for the museum visits, especially if you don't have a lot of time to try to figure out the logistics - the Louvre can be extremely overwhelming. His book will lead you to the "must sees" pretty easily, at both the Louvre and D'Orsay.

I agree with previous posters who suggested doing Orsay & Rodin in one day instead - they were my favourite too! However if you can be selective about exactly what areas you are interested in seeing at the Louvre (& have an approximate planned route mapped out) by all means give it a go - be aware though that is is humungous & it is very easy to get lost & find yourself wandering around in cirlces trying to find Egyptian antiquities...or maybe thats just me ;-)