I just read that the Louvre has some sort of automated ticket machines that allow you to bypass the long lines. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of this? It sounds like what recently showed up at the local movie theater complex - you swipe your credit card and out pops your ticket. It is faster than waiting on the regular line? Is this the case at the Louvre? Also, how are the lines at the Louvre (and D'Orsay) in the late afternoon - like two or three hours before closing? Are they shorter then than earlier in the day? I'm trying to avoid getting a museum pass because I'd rather spread out my museum going, visiting each when I'm in that area, rather than going to several in one day. I'll be there for a week starting March 15. Oh, if there are ticket machines at the Louvre, does anyone know what entrance you use to get to them? Thanks

Ann. Just checked the Louvre web site. It doesn't say anything about ticket machines, but lists places you can purchase tickets (like FNAC) in advance and what entrance to use then.<BR>Usually, lines are shorter in the late afternoons. Most museums also have a late night per week. That's best in my opinion. Visit from 6 pm to 8 pm and then off for dinner.<BR>Get yourself a copy of "Pariscope" the weekly what'on for detailled information. Runs Wed-Tue, costs about 0.5 Euro.<BR>There is also a small section in English.<BR>Online at www.pariscope.fr (in French).<BR><BR>For the Louvre ticket sales check:<BR>http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm<BR><BR>Have fun and enjoy! There is great exhibition at the Centre Pompidou right now about the surrealists (Man Ray, Magritte, Max Ernst, Miro, etc.). Should be real good. Runs until June 24 and is on my list for May.

Yes, there are ticket machines -- sometimes faster, sometimes slower than the regular lines. They're next to the regular lines -- you really can't miss them...

ann<BR>there are ticket machines, but you'll still have to wait in the long line to get into the museum past security. That's the line that snakes around outside the Pyramid. That's where the museum pass also comes in handy because you can even use a different entrance.<BR>You can buy passes that are good for more than one day; no need to do them all in one day. But the biggest advantage, and to me worth the price of the pass alone, is avoiding the lines at the Louvre and the Orsay. Even if you end up paying a couple of separate admissions to other museums on other days, still worth it imo.

If you use the metro entrance or the shopping area entrance (which I understand you can get to from the rue du Rivoli) then can you use the ticket machines - and in that case would it eliminate some of the line waiting?

Ursula, thanks for the 411 on the Pompidou exhibit! Is there a website where you can find out about current/future exhibits? There is a good one opening at the Louvre Apr 19, I think--Artists of the Pharoahs. The Louvre site says there is no advance purchase for this particular exhibit.

When I went to the Louvre last month, the ticket machines were not working. The second time, I went in the evening and because there were less staff some of the rooms were closed off. Less people but if you were interested in certain rooms, you may not get a chance to view them.

Sue,the web site for the Centre Pompidou is <BR>http://www.centrepompidou.fr<BR><BR>Just go the English version and you will find all info re the current and future exhitions and lots of other info to.<BR>Thanks for mentioning the Louvre's exhibition. This will be a must as well.

With a museum pass, there is a side entrance on Rue de Rivoli where you avoid the pyramid lines. While the line there is perhaps 20-25 people in depth, it is a real treat. You end up in the same place inside, but wow...We used that last Thanksgiving so unless with the terrorist threats, it still there.