# Musée d'Orsay — Paris, France

> The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the Left Bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900.

## Visitor facts
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM; Thursdays until 9:45 PM (Closed Mondays)
- Admission: €16 standard admission
- Free entry: Under 18 free · First Sunday of each month free · Youth (under 26) free on Thursday evenings
- Address: 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France
- Time needed: 2–4 hours
- Official website: https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en
- Facts verified: 2026-06-30

## Highlights
- A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte — Georges Seurat · 1884–1886
- Olympia — Édouard Manet · 1863
- Bal du moulin de la Galette — Pierre-Auguste Renoir · 1876
- The Dance Class — Edgar Degas · 1874
- Starry Night Over the Rhône — Vincent van Gogh · 1888

## Famous works covered
- Whistler's Mother (https://worldmuseumguide.org/artworks/whistlers-mother/)
- Bal du Moulin de la Galette (https://worldmuseumguide.org/artworks/bal-du-moulin-de-la-galette/)
- Olympia (https://worldmuseumguide.org/artworks/olympia/)
- Starry Night Over the Rhône (https://worldmuseumguide.org/artworks/starry-night-over-the-rhone/)
- Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe (https://worldmuseumguide.org/artworks/le-dejeuner-sur-lherbe/)

## FAQ
**What are the most famous paintings at the Musée d'Orsay?**
Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876) by Renoir — a joyful scene of dancing in Montmartre sunlight; Olympia (1863) by Manet — the shocking nude that redefined what painting could depict; The Floor Scrapers (1875) by Caillebotte — the first major painting to celebrate urban working-class labour; The Dance Class (1874) by Degas; L'Origine du monde (1866) by Courbet; and The Starry Night over the Rhône (1888) by van Gogh (not to be confused with The Starry Night, which is at MoMA in New York).

**Is the Musée d'Orsay free for anyone?**
Yes — EU citizens under 26 enter free at all times. The d'Orsay is also free for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month. Teachers from EU countries with appropriate credentials enter free. Otherwise, standard admission is €16 (subject to change — confirm on the official website).

**What is the difference between the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay?**
The Louvre covers art from ancient civilisations through to approximately 1848, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and European painting and sculpture up to the mid-19th century. The Musée d'Orsay covers 1848–1914, specialising in French Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and the art of the Belle Époque. Together they form a continuous art-historical narrative. If you have one day in Paris, a morning at the d'Orsay (Impressionism) paired with an afternoon at the Louvre (Old Masters) is the classic combination.

**What is the best time to visit the Musée d'Orsay?**
Thursday evenings (open until 9:45 PM) are the least crowded time to visit — most tourists have left and the museum is calmer and more enjoyable than on weekend mornings. Weekday mornings (especially Tuesday–Wednesday) are also significantly quieter than weekends. Book timed-entry tickets in advance at musee-orsay.fr to avoid queues.

**How long should I spend at Musée d'Orsay?**
Plan 2–4 hours for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.

**What is Musée d'Orsay best known for?**
The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the Left Bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. Key highlights include Bal du moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Self-Portrait by Vincent van Gogh, Olympia by Édouard Manet.


Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/musee-dorsay/ — World Museum Guide, independent and ad-free.