Is the Paris City Pass Worth It?
Paris Pass Review – Is It A Good Deal For You?
The Paris City Pass is one of the most popular multi-use passes available to visitors to Paris. In this article, I will explain the main features of the Paris Pass. I will outline the costs of the pass and give some examples of how it might best be used. After reading this guide, you will be better prepared to make the decision about whether to buy a pass on your next trip to Paris, which pass to buy, how to buy it, and how to most effectively use your pass. But is the Paris Pass worth it?
When most people take trips to Paris, France, they have limited time and budget, and want to make the most of their time and money. With some prior planning and preparation, visitors can save substantial time, money, and aggravation by using the Paris Pass.
Paris City Pass Main Features
- Free admission to over 60 top attractions and tours
- Central Paris transportation on Big Bus, metro, city buses and trains
- Big Bus Hop-On-Hop-Off tours
- Fast Track Entry to some top attractions including: Louvre Museum, Musee d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, and Grevin Wax Museum
Top 12 Attractions Offered On The Paris Pass
For some examples of what’s offered on the Paris Pass, here are the Top 12 (of a total of over 60) attractions along with the normal admission price in Euros:
Paris Big Bus Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour: € 38
Louvre Museum: € 15 (fast track € 23) Remember to book your time slot for the Louvre!
Palace of Versailles: € 18
Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise: € 15
Paris Aquarium Cineaqua: € 20.50
Arc de Triomphe: € 12
Montparnasse Tower: € 18
Centre Pompidou: € 13
O Chateau Wine Tasting: € 32
Opera Garnier Guided Tour: € 17
The Orsay Museum: € 12
The Paris Story: € 11
Total: € 221.50

A 2 Day Itinerary With The Paris Pass
For a sample 2 day Paris itinerary, let’s say you buy a 2 Day Pass for 130 Euros and follow this two-day schedule:
- Early morning take the Big Bus to the Louvre. Arrive at the Louvre before it opens at 9 and spend the morning. Have lunch, check out the Orsay Museum, and finish up with the fascinating O Chateau Winetasting near the Louvre in the late afternoon. That night, take an evening Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise.
- The second day, take the Big Bus to the Opera Garnier for a tour of this grand building and then on to The Paris Story and the Grevin Wax Museum. Have lunch, and head to the Centre Pompidou. Then take the Big Bus up the Champ Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. Enjoy the arch with its fantastic views over Paris and walk back down the Champs Elysees (or get back on the bus and head to the Eiffel Tower).
The total admission for these attractions priced individually would be 189.50. In addition, you would receive Fast Track Entry to the Louvre Museum, Musee d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, and Grevin Wax Museum.
In this scenario, you would save about 60 Euros on attractions alone. You would have tickets already purchased and have fast track entry to four of the most popular attractions. In addition, you have transportation within Paris paid for with your metro, bus, and RER train pass. Finally, you would have the 120+ page guide and Paris maps to help you plan your day.

Is the Paris Card Worth it?
To determine if the Paris Card would be a good investment for you, follow these steps:
- Identify specific places you are interested in seeing and how many days it will take. Compile a list with a rough itinerary and see how much each would cost individually.
- Compare the total cost of the attractions priced individually with the cost of the Paris Pass.
- Also, take into consideration the other features, including transportation on the metro, buses, and RER trains, as well as the Fast Track Entries for select attractions. Another important factor to me was the fact that with one transaction I had most of my purchases for things I wanted to see and do taken care of. In addition, you can take advantage of the Paris Pass Free Download Centre and gain access to the free 120-page guidebook as well a variety of useful Paris maps.
What’s Not Included In The Paris Pass
The Eiffel Tower
The most notable attraction not on the Paris Pass is the Eiffel Tower. However, we easily purchased the tickets for the Eiffel Tower separately and visited on a day that we did not use the Paris Pass. If you only plan on seeing a few attractions during your time in Paris, the pass may not be the best buy for you.
Eiffel Tower Tour Tickets
- Skip-The-Line Summit Access
- Eiffel Tower Skip-The-Line Entry
- Summit Tour by Elevator
- Eiffel Tower and Seine River Cruise
- Tower Second Floor or Summit Priority Access
- Skip-The-Line: Eiffel Tower By Night
- Eiffel Tower Summit and Cruise Tickets By Night
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is on the pass, but transportation all the way to Versailles is not. You will have to pay a nominal amount extra to take the RER train to Versailles. Remember to get there early before they open (and before dozens of tour buses loaded with thousands of tourists arrive) and allocate at least half a day for transportation and touring the palace, gardens and grounds.
You also may want to consider coming mid-afternoon and stay till closing at 6:30 in the evening, since many tour buses are gone by mid-afternoon and the crowds will be thinner. Be sure to check the current schedule.
Tours of Versailles
- Ultimate Versailles: Skip-The-Line Guided Tour
- Château de Versailles: Saturday Night Fountain Show
- Skip-The-Line: Versailles and Trianon Audio Pen Tour
- Versailles Palace and Gardens: Tickets, Audio Guide, and Transfer
- Full-Access Ticket Options: Versailles and Gardens
- Other Versailles Tour Options
Where To Buy Paris City Pass?
So is the Paris Pass worth it? Buying the pass is easy. Go to the website, and you can order your passes and have them mailed to you, or you can arrange to pick them up once you get to Paris. Shipping costs are 3.95 – 9.95 Euros. Allow up to 15 working days for standard delivery.
The Paris Pass is owned by Leisure Pass Group. The company also offers great passes in many other major cities throughout Europe, the US, and other cities throughout the globe. You can buy the Paris City Pass on GetYourGuide. In fact, buy it right here.
Overall, the Paris Pass is a great choice for those who want to make the most of their time in Paris. With transportation covered by the Big Bus Hop-On-Hop-Off, metro, local buses, and the RER train system, you can get to just about anywhere in the city. Over 60 top attractions are covered, and useful maps and guides are included with your pass. Plan your trip to Paris today with the help of the Paris Pass.

Is the Paris Pass Worth it was written by Scott Kendall for EuropeUpClose.com.
Disclosure: The author was hosted with a two day Paris Pass during his recent stay.
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