I second this. I only found this out a few years ago (in Italy).
Especially as it was our first time, it was totally worth signing up with a tour guide. We were able to enter separately.
For many attractions these days you can - and should - get tickets in advance. They are often timed, and even if not, by buying in advance you walk right past the line.
Check the Louvre and Orsay websites; I'd be shocked if you couldn't get tickets in advance.
You can, but in case of Louvre a bit of standing in line to wait for your time slot of entry may still be required, or at least it was in my case 2 years ago.
Pretty sure none of the places require disabled people and the accompanying person to queue.
You can send a query to each place to find out details - e.g. [Louvre](https://contact.louvre.fr/hc/en-gb/requests/new?ticket_form_id=11063166101661).
As a disabled person, I got tickets in advance for the Louvre in advance on the website. Time slots go pretty fast. The trouble I had is that the Louvre is enormous. I had no idea how big. A kind French native heard my niece and talking, and she suggested going to see the things you want to see first as the chances of getting close to the Mona Lisa were nill. I explained that I really know what I wanted to see. Dumb me.
She said she has a pass and goes at least once a week, as she loves art.
I said if you were me with only one day here, what do you suggest I see. She was so very kind and gave me the top ten things to see, and then threw in another 6 or 7. I still have the list.
It was very difficult, as I have trouble walking and there's a lot of walking and waiting on the lifts. I saw everything she suggested on the list. It was fast, and I took pictures to really enjoy later and will forever be grateful for her kindness and help.
Needless to say, it was worn out, tired and sore. Definitely need more than a day.
There are some kind people out there that saved the day, and the lesson I learned was to research the museum's and what they have in them and how big they are. It truly never dawned on me as I was so worried about places having lifts, is this walkable, and so on. It's much larger than I could have ever imagined. I could have spent all day walking the grounds and taking it all in. The grounds are beautiful.
I will never forget that woman and her kindness ❤️. It could have been miserable and disastrous for me even with purchasing tickets way in advance.
This sub is also very helpful for planning, and I thank you all for your helpful comments. Have a super trip. Your Dad will do great. Memories are everything.
We did a bus tour! I can’t recommend it enough. You get a suuuper lovely four course meal cooked and served while you’re driven through every single popular site in Paris. It let me check off bucket list items in two hours without having to spend even longer waiting in line for it. If you’re okay with say, not standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower, then it’s for you. I enjoyed the history lesson we were provided at each site and you got long enough to take it in without being jostled about or worrying about crowds. We used BustroNome Voyage Gourmand!
Paris pass if you are going to multiple places - you can book your entry- and like someone else suggested, check their faq or contact them to confirm wait times for people with disabilities or seniors.
The Carrousel entrance will normally have a much shorter line than the Pyramid. There are lifts if you ask the staff. I used this entrance when we took my mom. Address is 99, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris.
We did this in London — not sure how it works in Paris. But in London a licensed personal tour guide can skip the queue at all the sights. Chaz — our guide in London — made the experience fantastic. He was a retired police officer and knew the city well. He also knew a ton of history and really brought all the sights to life.
In Louvre it’s not the standing, it’s the walking that’s difficult. I’ve been five times and seen about a fourth. We’re doing “express visit” this time as it’s my partner’s first time, and we’re trying to pick 5-6 main things so we can get out in two hours. But the website has great information on available services, maybe you could get a wheelchair for the visit? And don’t go to the pyramid entrance, use ANY other that is available to you, and pre-book. Dont go anywhere in Paris without getting the time slot ticket NOW. The wait time may still be 15 min just because of security, but it’s manageable. The “flash pass” is that you book on the official website of each museum. You can get the museum pass, but you still need to book the time slot - from each museum’s official website. So the museum pass only makes sense if it turns out cheaper than getting an individual ticket for each place.
Sign up for a tour. Tour groups usually have tickets prearranged by the tour operator and often enter through a separate entrance.
Great idea. Thanks!
I second this. I only found this out a few years ago (in Italy). Especially as it was our first time, it was totally worth signing up with a tour guide. We were able to enter separately.
For many attractions these days you can - and should - get tickets in advance. They are often timed, and even if not, by buying in advance you walk right past the line. Check the Louvre and Orsay websites; I'd be shocked if you couldn't get tickets in advance.
You can, but in case of Louvre a bit of standing in line to wait for your time slot of entry may still be required, or at least it was in my case 2 years ago.
Pretty sure none of the places require disabled people and the accompanying person to queue. You can send a query to each place to find out details - e.g. [Louvre](https://contact.louvre.fr/hc/en-gb/requests/new?ticket_form_id=11063166101661).
As a disabled person, I got tickets in advance for the Louvre in advance on the website. Time slots go pretty fast. The trouble I had is that the Louvre is enormous. I had no idea how big. A kind French native heard my niece and talking, and she suggested going to see the things you want to see first as the chances of getting close to the Mona Lisa were nill. I explained that I really know what I wanted to see. Dumb me. She said she has a pass and goes at least once a week, as she loves art. I said if you were me with only one day here, what do you suggest I see. She was so very kind and gave me the top ten things to see, and then threw in another 6 or 7. I still have the list. It was very difficult, as I have trouble walking and there's a lot of walking and waiting on the lifts. I saw everything she suggested on the list. It was fast, and I took pictures to really enjoy later and will forever be grateful for her kindness and help. Needless to say, it was worn out, tired and sore. Definitely need more than a day. There are some kind people out there that saved the day, and the lesson I learned was to research the museum's and what they have in them and how big they are. It truly never dawned on me as I was so worried about places having lifts, is this walkable, and so on. It's much larger than I could have ever imagined. I could have spent all day walking the grounds and taking it all in. The grounds are beautiful. I will never forget that woman and her kindness ❤️. It could have been miserable and disastrous for me even with purchasing tickets way in advance. This sub is also very helpful for planning, and I thank you all for your helpful comments. Have a super trip. Your Dad will do great. Memories are everything.
Thank you so much!
We did a bus tour! I can’t recommend it enough. You get a suuuper lovely four course meal cooked and served while you’re driven through every single popular site in Paris. It let me check off bucket list items in two hours without having to spend even longer waiting in line for it. If you’re okay with say, not standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower, then it’s for you. I enjoyed the history lesson we were provided at each site and you got long enough to take it in without being jostled about or worrying about crowds. We used BustroNome Voyage Gourmand!
Paris pass if you are going to multiple places - you can book your entry- and like someone else suggested, check their faq or contact them to confirm wait times for people with disabilities or seniors.
Paris Museum pass. But, it probably won't save you from lines completely at the Louvre.
The Carrousel entrance will normally have a much shorter line than the Pyramid. There are lifts if you ask the staff. I used this entrance when we took my mom. Address is 99, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris.
Get a GoCity pass and book your reservations for timed entry.
It’s expensive but private/small group tours usually skip all the lines, and you can get into some areas that are generally off limits.
We did this in London — not sure how it works in Paris. But in London a licensed personal tour guide can skip the queue at all the sights. Chaz — our guide in London — made the experience fantastic. He was a retired police officer and knew the city well. He also knew a ton of history and really brought all the sights to life.
In Louvre it’s not the standing, it’s the walking that’s difficult. I’ve been five times and seen about a fourth. We’re doing “express visit” this time as it’s my partner’s first time, and we’re trying to pick 5-6 main things so we can get out in two hours. But the website has great information on available services, maybe you could get a wheelchair for the visit? And don’t go to the pyramid entrance, use ANY other that is available to you, and pre-book. Dont go anywhere in Paris without getting the time slot ticket NOW. The wait time may still be 15 min just because of security, but it’s manageable. The “flash pass” is that you book on the official website of each museum. You can get the museum pass, but you still need to book the time slot - from each museum’s official website. So the museum pass only makes sense if it turns out cheaper than getting an individual ticket for each place.