Musee d’Orsay or Louvre – which is a better Museum?

You aren’t alone if you cannot decide whether to buy Musee d’Orsay tickets or Louvre Museum tickets.

Many tourists face this dilemma, especially those on a budget holiday or those who have only spent a few days in Paris. 

Musee d’Orsay and the Louvre Museum are equally fantastic, and missing one for the other isn’t advisable if you are in Paris.

The visitor experiences each museum in a completely unique way. 

However, if you don’t have the time, budget, or inclination to visit both art museums, check out our Musee d’Orsay vs. Louvre Museum analysis.

Louvre and Musee d’Orsay

If time and money permits, we suggest you visit both the art galleries.

You can purchase the self-guided tickets to Musee d’Orsay and Louvre Museum individually or opt for a 5-hour guided tour of both the art museums

If you want to save time and money, you can also opt for two Paris Discount Passes, which include entry to the Louvre and d’Orsay.

Paris Museum Pass

Distance between Musee d’Orsay and Louvre

Louvre Museum and Musee d’Orsay are just 950 meters (two-thirds of a mile) apart.

After exploring one of the galleries, tourists cross the river Seine on Pont Royal or Pont du Carrousel bridges to get to the other attraction. 

The leisurely walk takes approximately 12 minutes. 

Musee d’Orsay vs Louvre Museum

Musee d’Orsay and the Louvre Museum are excellent art museums in Paris and globally. 

Sometimes, due to lack of time and inclination, one is forced to compare and choose one of the two.

Though it is impossible to select one out of the two as the best, we can compare the two museums on various parameters.

This article compares the Musee d’Orsay and the Louvre Museum on various parameters such as the beauty of the buildings, paintings on display, crowds to expect, masterpieces on display, etc. 

The beauty of the buildings

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Interestingly this tourist attraction in Paris is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay railway station. EnricoRubicondo / Shutterstock.com

Louvre Museum is in a 13th-century Castle, and Musee d’Orsay is in a converted 19th-century train station.

Even though The Louvre is older than the Musée d’Orsay, the d’Orsay is better for architecture fans.

At d’Orsay Art Museum, visitors can still see many of the station’s well-preserved original features, like the intricate ironwork ceiling and the ornate station clock.

Winner: Musee d’Orsay

The time it takes to explore

While the Louvre has 35,000 artworks and historical objects, the Musée d’Orsay has a compact selection of 2,000 paintings and 600 sculptures. 

From a size perspective, the Louvre is almost four times that of the Musee d’Orsay. 

Opt for the d’Orsay art museum if you are short on time or prefer not to pack much into your morning or evening visit.

Winner: Musée d’Orsay

History on display

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Visitors surround the Statue of Winged Victory of Samothrace in Louvre Museum. LoboStudioHamburg / Pixabay.com

At the Louvre Museum, visitors can see more than 35,000 artworks and historical objects exhibited in a space of over 652,000 square feet. 

The Sully Wing holds treasures from the pyramids of Egypt and artifacts from Ancient Greece and Rome. 

And the Richelieu Wing has an impressive collection of Medieval scrolls, tapestries, and more.

If you are into history, the Louvre is better than the Musee d’Orsay. 

Musee d’Orsay also has many fascinating paintings and artifacts on display. 

Winner: Louvre Museum

Crowd expected

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Image: Worldinparis.com

If you prefer to enjoy art without being crowded, d’Orsay wins hands down over the Louvre. 

Musee d’Orsay attracts less than one-third of the tourists the Louvre gets.

While The Louvre receives almost 10 million visitors annually, Musee d’Orsay gets only three million footfalls every year. 

However, if you want to avoid the crowd, you can also visit the Louvre Museum at night.

After dark, the Louvre Pyramid gets all lit up, making it even more romantic.

Winner: Musee d’Orsay 

Impressionist paintings on display

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Poppy Field by Claude Monet.

If you prefer impressionist paintings, give preference to Musee d’Orsay, for it has the world’s most extensive collection of impressionist paintings. 

Some of the highlights include Manet’s Olympia, Degas’s The Ballet Class, Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait, Monet’s Poppies, etc.

Winner: Musee d’Orsay

Ultimate Masterpieces

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Image: Wikimedia

If you want to see the ultimate masterpieces, such as the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, Napolean’s rooms, etc., book your tickets for the Louvre Museum.

However, be ready. These three iconic women—the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and the Mona Lisa—attract the most visitors.

At least twenty-five thousand tourists spend more than five minutes in front of the Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre daily.

Winner: Louvre Museum

Price of tickets

Both the Louvre Museum and Musee d’Orsay have same ticket prices. Both museums charge entry tickets only for visitors 18 years of age and above. 

Musée d’Orsay and Louvre Museum tickets cost €17.50 per person (including the booking fee).

All kids 17 years and below can enter the art galleries for free. 

Private tours of the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay are also priced similarly.

Winner: Tie

Restaurants at the museums

Although the Musée d’Orsay has a cafe and restaurant, the Louvre Museum has more than a dozen dining options.

One of these is the Cafe Richelieu, which serves fine gourmet cuisine just steps from Napoleon’s rooms.

Look no further than Cafe Richelieu at The Louvre if you want a sit-down, leisurely dining experience.

Ultra-chic Coffee Marly serves cafe au lait and some of the most fantastic macarons in Paris.

Winner: Louvre Museum

Visiting with kids

Visiting Louvre Museum with KidsPin

If you are traveling with kids, the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay are equally good. 

At both the Parisian art galleries, 17 years and younger visitors don’t need to buy tickets. 

Check out the child-friendly tour of Orsay and the family-friendly tour of The Louvre.

Winner: Tie

Louvre or Musee d’Orsay – the winner

If you are short on time, we recommend Musee d’Orsay.

D’Orsay gives you a general idea of art. It is small, thus more manageable and less crowded, and the Museum itself is very beautiful from the inside.

The Louvre Museum is the better option if you love history, want to see masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, and want to see the big picture of the Western art scene.

If you are not short on time, we highly recommend the guided combo tour, which provides access to the Parisian art Museums.

Still undecided? Read up on everything you must know before visiting the Louvre Museum or Musee d’Orsay and take a call.

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Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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