Paris Skip the Lines: 6 Best Ways to Skip The Lines in Paris And Not Waste Time
Looking for ways to skip the lines in Paris? Keep reading and you’ll know how to beat the long queues in Paris!
Paris is such a popular destination with iconic landmarks that are on almost everyone’s travel bucket list!
With some attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, etc receiving over 5M visitors per year which is roughly 13,000 people per day, you know that the queues will be incredibly long!
And why wouldn’t they be!! Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and the world at large!
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To paint a real picture for you, it’s possible to spend 3 hours at the Eiffel Tower just queuing!
And it’s not to climb the Tower but just to buy the ticket itself! So, you waste time in a queue buying an entry ticket yet you also queue to enter the tower itself!!
And for a traveler like you who has just a few days in the city, you don’t want to waste hours in queues as that time would better be used for actual sightseeing!
I know some attractions are worth queuing for however long it takes but you should do that only if you don’t have any other option! But luckily for you, I am here to show you that there are ways to skip the long lines in Paris!
So, if you’re ready to enjoy Paris without spending hours in queues and suffering from boredom while at the popular attractions, continue reading for the best ways to skip the lines in Paris!
Psst… Looking for a summary of the Paris skip-the-line tickets and not the details? Then check out this post here instead.
Disclaimer: This post might contain affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) should you choose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using one of our links. It’s okay – We love all of the products we recommend anyway, and you will too! Also, that commission helps us keep this awesome free blog up to date! You can read our full disclosure here for more details!
Before You Go, Here’s How to Plan Your Visit To Paris: Practical Quick Tips
WHERE TO STAY
Best Eiffel Tower Views: Hôtel Le Walt (8.9)
Luxury stay: Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel (8.3)
Mid-range stay: Hôtel Eiffel (8.6)
Budget Stay: People – Paris Bercy (8.8)
Apartment Rental: Résidence Charles Floquet (9.2)
BEST GUIDED TOURS
Louvre Museum guided tour: (4.5/5)
Seine River Dinner Cruise: (4.7/5)
Montmartre Walking Tour: (4.8/5)
Le Marais Walking Food Tour: (4.9/5)
Versailles Guided Tour: (4.7/5)
Eiffel Tower Guided Tour: (4.7/5)
Private Transfer from CDG Airport to Paris: (4.7/10)
MUST-DO EXPERIENCES HAPPENING NOW IN PARIS
Château de Lumières in Vincennes: A fascinating show on the history of the château through the centuries
Candlelight show: Perfect if you want to be treated to a candlelit music show in a beautiful Parisian venue: (4.8/10)
Cabaret at Moulin Rouge: A cabaret in the iconic Moulin Rouge is a must: (4.7/10)
How to skip the lines in Paris
Here is exactly how to skip the lines in Paris.
1. Purchase skip-the-line Paris tickets in advance
One of the best ways to skip the lines in Paris is by purchasing Paris skip the line tickets. Skip-the-line tickets give you fast-track entry to popular attractions without wasting time in queues.
Some of the popular Paris Skip the Line Tickets you should buy include:
Louvre Museum: The famous art museum receives over 10M visitors a year (approx. 20k visitors a day). But with this Louvre skip-the-line ticket, you can beat the queues.
This ticket also comes with a free Audio guide so you can be sure to learn everything about the museum.
Eiffel Tower: The most iconic landmark of Paris receives over 7M visitors a year (approx 13K visitors a day). Imagine all the time you’d save if you bought the Eiffel Tower skip-the-line tickets.
The Eiffel Tower has a number of tickets depending on which level you want to go to. You can check out this Eiffel Tower skip-the-line ticket to the second floor, or this skip-the-line ticket with direct access to the summit and choose the one that suits your needs.
Arc de Triomphe: With the impressive views of Paris it offers, you’re bound to find over 4k visitors a day. But with this Arc de Triomphe skip-the-line ticket, you’ll not waste time in a queue.
Catacombs: A number of people want to experience the Catacombs as it’s a unique place in Paris, so you can expect long lines. But with this Paris catacombs skip-the-line ticket with an audio guide, you’re guaranteed fast entry.
Orsay Museum: Buy this skip-the-line ticket to Orsay Museum to avoid the queues.
Other skip the line in Paris tickets for popular places you should check out include;
- Disneyland Paris 1-day entry ticket
- Opera Garnier Timed entrance ticket
- Centre Pompidou Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket
- Versaille Palace skip-the-line ticket
- Chateau of Chantilly: Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Musée de l’Orangerie skip the line ticket
You can also check out my complete list of Paris skip-the-line tickets here.
Related post: Essentials items to pack for Paris
2. Purchase a Paris Tourist Pass
Another way to skip the lines in Paris is by buying at least one Paris tourist Pass. Paris has a number of tourist passes and depending on the way you travel, you can choose one that suits your needs.
Tourist passes will save you lots of time by offering fast-track entry and free entry to the most popular attractions in the city.
But since they’re a number of tourist passes in Paris, let’s look at a few that I believe you should buy to make your stay in Paris easier and more enjoyable.
Pro tip* The Eiffel Tower is not included in the Paris city Pass so even if you buy the pass, you’ll still have to purchase the skip-the-line Eiffel Tower ticket alone. <<You can purchase it here>>
Paris Museum Pass
If you love Paris museums and everything that comes with them, then you should buy a Paris Museum Pass. With this pass, you get access to over 60 museums and monuments in Paris and some museums outside Paris.
From the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Musée National d’Art Modern, Musée d’Orsay, Panthéon, and Sainte-Chapelle to so many others, you can be sure to enjoy these attractions with ease.
You can check out the full list of museums you’ll have access to with the Museum Pass and if it works for you, make sure that you buy it before your trip.
The Pass is available for 2, 4, or 6 days so regardless of how long you’ll stay in Paris, this Paris Museum Pass will work for you.
If you’re not sure if this museum pass is right for you, you can first read my article that explains all the pros and cons of the Paris museum pass.
Paris City Pass
Another pass to consider is the Paris City Pass! This card comes with free entry to over 80 attractions in Paris like the Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum, Centre Pompidou, a cruise on the Seine, etc.
On top of that, you get yourself a free Paris guidebook, you get to enjoy the city from a hop-on hop-off bus for a day, an experience that is worth going for.
And if that wasn’t enough, you get some discounts on select restaurants in Paris, now that’s something you shouldn’t miss out on.
So, get yourself this Paris city pass for either 2, 3, 4, or 6 days and enjoy Paris without the hustles of queues.
Paris Night Pass Silver (This Pass is Currently Unavailable)
If you want to enjoy Paris at night without any hustles, then grab yourself a Paris night Pass. Actually, not so many people know about it hence missing the chance to save money while enjoying the Paris nightlife.
The pass will land you a seat in Paris’s famous night show, the Cabaret, and enjoy a glass of wine while having fun.
You’ll also enjoy the sights of Paris from a 1-day hop-on-hop-off bus tour not forgetting cruising the Seine while taking in the sparkling lights of the famous Paris monuments.
Now when you add the individual prices of these activities and compare them to the Paris night pass, you’ll realize that this pass is literally a steal. And the best part? Everything is confirmed as soon as you book.
You can also check out my list of the best night tours of Paris!
Related post: Big mistakes to avoid in Paris
3. Join Paris guided tours
If you want to skip the lines in Paris while learning more about the Paris monuments from knowledgeable people, then the best way is to go on guided tours.
There are a number of guided tours in Paris and it can sometimes be hard to choose which ones to go to but having gone on a number of them, I am here to recommend to you some of the best tours to popular attractions with professional English-speaking and friendly tour guides.
Eiffel Tower guided tours
Depending on what you want to see, which level you want to stop at, or whether you want an adventure of climbing the steps or just an elevator, there is a great tour for you.
- Eiffel Tower: Tour to 2nd Floor by Stairs and Summit by Elevator: Very informative, friendly, and yet professional guide! You can read more reviews here and later book your tour.
- Eiffel Tower: Tour to Summit by Elevator: Very knowledgeable and kind guide. Read more reviews here and book your Eiffel Tower tour.
- Eiffel Tower: Tour to 2nd Floor by Stairs: Very thoughtful, encouraging, and friendly tour guide. You can read more reviews about this tour from here and later book your climbing tour of the Eiffel Tower.
- Eiffel Tower: Direct Access Tour to 2nd Floor by Elevator: Incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and very kind guide. You can check out more reviews here and then book this tour if it works for you.
Louvre Museum guided tours
I honestly don’t think you should visit the Louvre Museum without a tour guide! There is so much to see, so much to learn and it’s so easy to get confused about where to go and what to see since you’ll want to see everything in the museum which is absolutely impossible to do in one visit – even if you spend a full day.
So take a guide to direct you to the must-see painting in the Louvre while giving you detailed information about everything.
And if you’re ready to book a tour guide, here are some tours that are highly rated.
- Louvre Museum: Private Tour for Families and Children: If you’re visiting as a family, this is the perfect tour for you as it will also provide child-friendly content that your kids will love. The entire family will leave content by booking this tour. Read what other families had to say about this tour.
- Louvre Museum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour: You’ll meet tour guides who are extremely in love with history and museums which really comes through as they share their knowledge about the Louvre and its arts. Don’t take my word for it, check out the reviews here.
- Paris: Louvre by Night Skip-the-Ticket-Line Guided Tour: Want to enjoy the Louvre museum at night? Then this is the perfect tour for you. The knowledgeable guides of this tour will make you want to visit the Louvre once more just to appreciate the art and history even more. You can read more reviews here.
Catacombs guided tours
- Paris Catacombs: Tour: Skip the ticket line and uncover the secrets of the world’s largest underground burial site with this guided tour. And with this tour, you’ll get access to a “private” area in the catacombs that can only be accessed by a few people. You can read more reviews about this tour here.
Other guided tours you should go on while in Paris include:
- Paris: Opera Garnier Tour with Expert Guide: Discover Europe’s largest opera house on an informative 90-minute tour of Opera Garnier by booking this tour.
- Musée d’Orsay: Tour: Enjoy a guide to the world’s most complete collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art with knowledgeable and professional guides by booking this guided tour.
- Paris: City Highlights Segway Tour: Want to see Paris in style? Then book this tour to learn about Paris’ popular attractions while on a segway. Read reviews about it here.
- From Paris: Full-Day Guided Tour of Versailles with Lunch: Want to embark on a day trip to Versailles palace with everything done for you while still having fun and learning so much about the palace? Then book this guided tour.
4. Visit popular attractions at night
If you want to have a different and quite interesting experience as you skip the line in Paris, then you might consider visiting during the dark.
There is no doubt that there are so many things to do in Paris at night, that you’ll never run out of what to do. However, not all places can be visited at night.
So some of the popular attractions you can visit at night include:
The Louvre Museum
This incredible museum becomes even more lit at night. The crowds are fewer so you won’t feel like you’re competing with anyone to see the famous Mona Lisa Painting.
The museum stays open until 9:45 PM on Wednesday and Friday giving you a chance to see a different side of it.
To make things even easier for yourself, you can buy the Louvre Museum night ticket in advance or better yet book a guided tour of the Louvre Museum.
But whether you choose to go on your own or with a tour guide, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time.
The Catacombs
Just like the Louvre Museum, the Catacombs stay open till night — at 8:30 PM to be exact. And since most people visit during the day, you’re likely to find fewer crowds.
If you want to prebook your ticket to the catacombs even when visiting at night, then you can get it from here.
But for an even more exciting experience where you’ll have access to a private section, then book this Catacombs guided tour as it’s only possible if you go with a tour guide.
Arc de Triomphe
There is no better place in the city that offers spectacular views of Paris than the Arc de Triomphe and visiting at night will treat you to those without the hustles of long queues.
From the incredible views of the Eiffel Tower, the beautiful Champs-Élysées stretch to the beautiful shimmering lights from popular attractions, you’ll see the glory of Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe even up to 10:30 PM or 11:00 PM (depending on whether it is winter or summer) when it closes.
You can still book your Arc de Triomphe ticket in advance even if you want to visit at night.
5. Visit attractions early in the morning
If you don’t want to invest in the options given above (which I honestly think you should), then try going to the attractions early instead.
Going early in the morning hours will definitely help you skip the lines in Paris as most people will not be there yet. However, don’t go too early before the places you want to visit even think of opening.
The way you can achieve this is by checking the opening hours of the places you want to visit and try to be there 1 hour or even 2 hours before they open. This means that when admissions start, you’ll be among the first people in the queue.
Alternatively, you can even plan to see a sunrise before so that you visit them first thing after enjoying a beautiful Paris sunrise.
6. Visit Paris during the low season
Paris’ shoulder season is usually the winter season (between November and March) and since most people are looking for winter sun destinations instead, the city doesn’t receive as many visitors as during the Paris spring or in the summertime.
So visiting during Parisian winter or even in the fall will mean that there are generally fewer crowds at almost all Paris attractions.
But don’t get me wrong, fewer crowds in Paris may not be the same as in other lesser-known cities.
You’ll still find thousands of people compared to the hundreds of thousands on normal days. Regardless, you’ll still be able to enjoy Paris with lesser crowds.
FAQs About How to Skip The Lines in Paris
How do you skip lines in Paris?
In summary, the best way to skip lines in Paris is by buying this Paris pass. The pass comes with skip-the-line entry tickets to various attractions. You can also opt for this Paris museum pass which comes with free and fast-track entry to various museums and monuments — over 60 to be precise. Others ways to skip lines in Paris include visiting early in the morning or joining guided tours since most of them come with a skip-the-line option.
Does the Paris Pass allow skipping the line?
Yes, this Paris Pass allows skipping the line to over 35 attractions in Paris.
How do you avoid queues at the Eiffel Tower?
The best way to avoid long queues at the Eiffel Tower is to buy your entry ticket in advance which means that you don’t have to waste time in the long queue to buy one. You can purchase your ticket here.
Can you skip the line at Arc de Triomphe?
Yes, you can skip the line at the Arc de Triomphe by buying this skip-the-line entry ticket.
How do you avoid long lines in Paris?
As mentioned above, you can skip the long lines in Paris by purchasing a Paris pass or museum pass or by buying independent skip-the-line tickets in advance.
Final Thoughts on How to Skip the Long Lines in Paris
It can be hard to miss the long lines in the French capital but if you use the tips provided above, you’ll be on your way to skipping the lines in Paris.
Have you been to Paris before? How did you find the queues? Did you sweat it out and wait for hours in queues or did you apply some tips I mentioned in this post? Let me know in the comments below.
And if you’re just visiting Paris for the first time, the lines can be stressful and they kinda take away the excitement of seeing something you’ve been longing for a while – so try to apply the tips above and you will be happy you did.
And if you have any questions about skipping lines in Paris, don’t hesitate to ask me and I will answer Asap.
Check out these posts to help you plan your trip to Paris
- How to Plan a Picnic in Paris
- Where to stay in Paris
- Best desserts to try in Paris
- Where to get the best views of Paris
- Best places to see the Eiffel Tower
- Best Paris hotels with Eiffel Tower views
- Skip the lines Tickets for popular Paris attractions
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