What is the best time to visit the museum?
Friday evening
That's the slot I recommend to everyone. After 6 pm, the groups have left, the lighting in the salons is electric rather than natural, and the tea room stays open until 10 pm with its after-work gathering in the courtyard during the warmer months. The day-by-day schedule is on the opening hours page.
What draws the crowds
On Saturdays between 2 pm and 5 pm, three groups overlap: the temporary exhibition, the brunch and tea time in the tea room, and drop-in visitors. The double-revolution staircase then fills up with a steady line, and the private apartments, which are small, become uncomfortable. The same pattern repeats during the first and last weeks of an exhibition, when the press coverage has just come out or the closing date is near.
Choosing your time slot
During an exhibition, the ticket including the exhibition requires a 15-minute time slot, which lets you aim for opening time. Take the first one of the day: Tintoretto at 10 am, then explore the house freely afterward. The details are on the do I need to book page.
The museum is open on Mondays and Tuesdays, which is unusual in Paris. On a Monday morning in February at 10 am, the grand salon is almost deserted.
Reminder: the above evening event is booked via GetYourGuide, but the museum entry ticket is purchased at the museum ticket office or at the desk at 158.
Frequently asked questions
Which day is the museum quietest?
Friday evenings after 6 PM, thanks to late opening until 10 PM, and weekday mornings at opening. See opening hours.
Should weekends be avoided?
Between 2 PM and 5 PM, yes, especially during an exhibition. The timing for your visit is on the visit duration page.
What is the low season?
January and February outside school holidays. For an evening in the salons after closing, see opera evenings.