Where do you purchase a museum pass for Paris before going? I am going March 2nd. Or should we wait until we get there? In that case, where do I go to get?
Has anyone ever heard of Fat tour bike tours in paris? Any opinions?

Wait until you're in Paris, and buy it at a less-frequented museum. We got ours at the Notre Dame Crypt (right in front of the cathedral) and there was no line at all.

I agree to wait until Paris. We were staying near the Rodin, so we got it there, but Robes' suggestion of a less-frequented museum is a good one.

Have a couple of museums in mind when you go to get the pass. The day we were at the crypt, they had a big hand-lettered sign posted there - passes sold out! My guess is that being right next door to Notre Dame, all the tourists went there for passes on the way to the cathedral. Try for the ones away from the popular sites just to be safe.

I agree -- wait till you're in Paris. Unless you buy a pass that's good for the whole time you're there, or you know exactly when you will be doing your museum-going, this will give you the flexibility to decide on the spot, particularly with March weather. If you arrive to good weather, you might want to spend your first day or two doing outdoor things,or take a day trip that the pass wouldn't be useful for.

Someone suggested getting a pass at the Notre Dame Crypt. Another place not far away would be the Conciergerie, where you should be able to just walk up and get one. Whether you actually go in is up to you.

Go to the "Search this forum" box above and type in Fat Tire Bike tours (or Paris museum pass) to get links to lots of feedback. Many fodorites have taken fat tire tours and have enjoyed them.

What is the cost of the museum passes? Do you think it is a good expenditure? Would buying one be worthwhile for only 3 days in Paris?
Thanks.

The officiel site for the Paris Museum Pass (formerly known as the Cartes Musée) is www.parismuseumpass.fr

It is available in 2/4/6 day versions for 30/45/60€, same as last year. When we were in Paris in July, we bought the 4-day version, and made thorough use of it. It gets you front-of-the-line privileges at some attactions, which is really worth it's weight in gold at e.g. the Orangerie. Another advantage is that it lets you visit museums that you may not otherwise want to pay to see; dropping in for 15 minutes seems OK since it didn't cost you 6€ for the privilege.

We bought ours at the Louvre (which we visited 3 times) without any wait at their basement shop, but YMMV.

Whether it is worth it to you is something only you can decide.

Anyone know when the Pompidou is going to have their regular colllections exhibited again?

Last July, they only had some temporary exhibition of some contemporary works, like installations of multimedia on display. Only the 4th floor was open.

dlhindi,
We always buy ours when we get there. You can get it in any of the museums that take the pass. We've bought them at the Louvre, the Pantheon, and also at the Delacroix museum in Saint Germain des Pres. http://www.parismuseumpass.fr/flash/hp_en.html
Sandy