Please help us for what I hope will be many future trips to Paris museums. Last year we bought a museum pass. But, I'm not sure we used it to its maximum value. Most places (Louvre, Picasso, etc.) we got in with no trouble as there were no lines. However, at the D'Orsay and San Chapelle we did stand in a line. I kept asking people, are we in the right line? Yes. Do you have your tickets already? Yes. Is this the line for those with museum pass? Yes. So, my question is were we in the right line? At the D'Orsay we were in a long line right in front of the museum, it didn't last too long, maybe 15 minutes, but I did see a couple of people entering from a side door (to the right as you look at the building). Were we to stand in line, use the side door you could see from the line, or another door? At San Chapelle, we stood in the line to the right (as you look at the building). There was a very short line to the left, but we were told this was to go into the government building on the left side. So, did we do right, or is there a quicker way to get in with the museum pass?Thanks, annieladd

Unless they've changed entrances, the entrace to the d'Orsay for pass-holders is the one on the far left. If you were in a different line, you were probably in a regular line for non-pass-holders. Did you notice when you got up to the door if anyone else was showing a pass?

As for Sainte-Chapelle, last two times I was there there was no line at all, so I don't know where the pass-holder line is, sorry.

When we were at the Orsay last month the door for passholders was to the right as you're looking at the building. Sorry, Annie! St. Chapelle has no special door for passholders. There wasn't a line when we were there, so it wasn't a factor anyway.

Where we REALLY needed our passes was Versailles! The regular ticket line was very long, but we got to go right in.

There's only one line at St. Chappelle, but towards the end of it forks, either go to the ticket counter or go straight in if you have a museum pass. You might not realize this but you can bypass the line with the museum pass.

One thing might be that the line is to go thru a security check; the other might be 'crowd control' if a limited number of people are allowed in at one time. The pass doesn't excuse you in either of those cases.

At St-Chapelle, you must go through security line (if there is one) along with everyone else.

As of our visit in May, the new entrances (now perpendicular to the river, on the west side of the building) to Musee d'Orsay had been completed. The entrance for those with a museum pass was on the far right. You can see it on a diagram at the museum's website.

In my experience, the only place you really need a pass to skip the ticket lines is Musee d'Orsay. You can get tickets ahead of time online or at any FNAC once you arrive in Paris.