Musee L'Orangerie
 

DH and I are heading to Paris for a long weekend November 30 - December 4. Tops on our list is Musee L'Orangerie. I have been trying to get advance tickets thru the FNAC website and for the past week or so notice that it doesn't go past 11/20. Anything I should know, or will they move up the dates eventually. Do I need tickets? We're planning on Saturday the 2nd to go and don't want to spend hours on line. Also, do I need advance tickets for the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais - haven't been to either. I know there is a Disney exhibit going on. Thanks all.

Without tickets this past July my wife and I waited about an hour in line in the early afternoon. The people with the Museum cards waited about ten minutes. I think your wait, with or without a Museum card would be less at this time of year.

I went twice in July and waited no more than 20 minutes either time. I don't imagine you will have any problem.

Oops! I responded too quickly. I was referring to waiting times for l'Orangerie. I have never waited very long for either the Petit Palais or the Grand Palais, but I imagine it would depend on what is going on at the time.

FNAC should move up the dates, but I'm not sure it's really necessary to have advance tix.

Someone asked this same question a while ago, FNAC does have dates until March on there, I saw them. I think you are searching incorrectly or just not looking at all listings or something. They change exhibits at that date, so they have another listing beginning 11/22 and later. At the simplest, if you just type orangerie into the search box on Spectacles, it is the third listing.

With a FNAC ticket there is an appointed time, so no waiting. Lines may not be too long in Dec., but what if it is raining?

oh, as for the Petit Palais -- no, you don't need advance tickets. I don't think they even have any, admission is free and not timed. In any case, I was there in July not as long after it re-opened and on a Sunday to boot, and had no problem going right in. It isn't as wellknown and not as crowded as many of the museums. It is a lovely museum, though, now one of my favorites.

I don't know about the Grand Palais, but I suspect not. In July, I didn't see long lines at it, that's all I mean, as to not needing them. But if you know when you want to go, might as well, I guess. I really wouldn't for your dates, but I don't know how popular that portrait exhibit is now (there were no lines last summer that I saw, although I didn't go in). I can't imagine the Walt Disney thing is creating crowds.

Well, I don't think you'll have a problem here, except for the fact that you're going on a Saturday, that might present a bit of a crowd, not enough of one to necessitate buying tickets in advance, though-just go late.

I walked in this past September and bought a ticket about an hour and a half before closing time and there was no wait, and not too many people there-I have to say, though, the new re-opening of this Musee didn't do a whole lot for me-I'd seen most all of this same art many years ago before the l'Orangerie was closed for renovation. Same Monet cycle, same pearly Renoirs, Picassos, same, same-even the renovation work did not impress at all-which is unusual for Paris, since the Quai Branly is so architecturally impressive on all fronts.

But you can judge for yourself whether you think the renovation of the l'Orangerie is the essence of bland.

Christina, thanks for your assistance. I did reserve 2 tickets following your search suggestion. the reason I want advanced tickets is with limited amount of time, we don't want to spend it waiting on lines if it can be avoided. We are also considering the Musee Quai Branly to see the architecture, it looks fascinating.