Paris City Card: What’s Included, Prices & Is It Worth It?

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and also one of the easiest places to overspend on attractions if you don’t plan ahead. With world-famous museums, monuments, and paid landmarks spread across the city, a Paris City Card can offer real value, but only if it matches your travel style.

This guide explains what Paris City Cards include, what they don’t, current prices, who they’re best for, and when individual tickets are the smarter choice.

What Is a Paris City Card?

A Paris City Card is a sightseeing pass or bundled ticket that typically offers:

• Free or discounted entry to major museums and monuments

• Reserved or timed-entry tickets for popular attractions

• Optional public transport access (depending on the card)

• Discounts, audio guides, or hop-on hop-off bus access

Unlike some cities, Paris has multiple city pass options, ranging from museum-focused passes to attraction bundles. There is no single “one-size-fits-all” card.

What’s Included with Paris City Cards

Museums & Cultural Attractions

Most Paris City Cards focus heavily on museum access. Common highlights include:

• Louvre Museum

• Musée d’Orsay

• Centre Pompidou

• Palace of Versailles (often included or discounted)

• Musée de l’Orangerie

Individual museum tickets usually cost €12–€22, which means visiting just a few major museums can already justify a city card.

Monuments & Landmarks (Selected Cards)

Some Paris City Cards or bundles also include or discount access to:

• Arc de Triomphe

• Eiffel Tower (usually discount or separate ticket)

• Montparnasse Tower

⚠️ Important: Eiffel Tower summit access is rarely included and almost always requires a separate timed-entry booking.

Public Transport (Limited Inclusion)

Unlike cities such as Amsterdam or Barcelona, most Paris City Cards do not include unlimited public transport.

Some bundles may offer:

• Optional metro passes

• Hop-on hop-off bus access

If public transport is important to you, this is a key point to double-check before buying.

Paris City Card Options Compared

Paris visitors usually choose between three main types of passes.

Pass Name	Includes	Reserved Entry	Price (from)
Paris Museum Pass (2 days)	• Access to 50+ museums and monuments • Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Orangerie, Centre Pompidou • Versailles (palace & estate) • No public transport	⏱️ Yes (dedicated museum lanes where available)	€55
Paris Museum Pass (4 days)	• Same museum access as 2-day pass • Better value for museum-heavy itineraries • No public transport	⏱️ Yes (dedicated museum lanes where available)	€75
Paris Pass (all-inclusive bundle)	• Paris Museum Pass included • Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour • Seine River Cruise • Additional attractions & experiences • Optional metro pass (add-on)	⏱️ Yes (via included museum pass)	€139
Paris Attractions Bundle (reseller package)	• Louvre Museum (timed entry) • Seine River Cruise • Eiffel Tower access or city tour (varies by package) • Digital tickets & audio guides	⏱️ Yes (timed-entry tickets)	€89

Paris City Card Prices (Overview)

Prices depend heavily on the type of pass and duration:

• Paris Museum Pass (2 days) – ~€55

• Paris Museum Pass (4 days) – ~€75

• All-inclusive Paris Pass–style bundles – €130+

Museum-only passes offer the best value for culture-focused trips, while all-inclusive bundles are more expensive but reduce planning effort.

Where to Buy a Paris City Card

Online (Recommended)

• Immediate confirmation

• Secure museum access in advance

• Clear overview of inclusions

On Site

• Available at tourist offices and museums

• Limited availability during peak season

• No guarantee of preferred entry times

For most travelers, buying online is the safest option, especially for the Louvre and Versailles.

Is a Paris City Card Worth It?

✅ Worth It If You:

• Plan to visit multiple museums over 2–4 days

• Want flexibility without buying individual tickets

• Prefer walking between central attractions

• Focus on culture, art, and exhibitions

❌ Not Worth It If You:

• Mainly want the Eiffel Tower only

• Visit just one or two attractions

• Prefer a slow, café-focused itinerary

• Need unlimited public transport included

Sample Cost Comparison (3 Days)

If you visit:

• Louvre Museum

• Musée d’Orsay

• Centre Pompidou

• Orangerie Museum

Individual tickets can exceed €70, making a museum-focused city card good value, especially with flexible entry.

How to Use a Paris City Card

• Most passes are digital or printable

• Activated on first museum entry

• Valid for consecutive days (not calendar days)

👉 Start early on Day 1 to maximize value.

Paris City Card vs Individual Tickets

Paris City Card

• Best for museum-heavy itineraries

• Simplifies planning

• Often allows fast-track or dedicated entry lanes

Individual Tickets

• Better for landmark-only visits

• Necessary for Eiffel Tower summit access

• More flexibility for short stays

Many travelers combine a museum pass with separate landmark tickets.

FAQs – Paris City Card

Is the Paris City Card skip-the-line?
Some museums offer dedicated entry lines. Security checks still apply.

Does it include the Eiffel Tower?
Usually not. Eiffel Tower tickets must be booked separately.

Is public transport included?
Not with most museum-focused passes.

Is it good for first-time visitors?
Yes, especially if you plan to visit several museums in a short time.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy a Paris City Card?

If your Paris trip is museum-focused and spread over several days, a Paris City Card, especially a museum pass is often worth it and can save both money and hassle.

If your priorities are the Eiffel Tower, cruises, and neighbourhood exploration, individual tickets usually make more sense.

For most first-time visitors, the best setup is a Paris Museum Pass combined with pre-booked Eiffel Tower tickets: flexible, efficient, and realistic for how Paris works.