Buying Guide · 2026

Digital vs Physical
Paris Museum Pass:
Which Should You Buy?

E-ticket or physical card? Through the official site you can buy an e-ticket; through most resellers you get a voucher to collect a physical card in Paris. Here’s how each works — and which suits your trip.

Last updated: June 2026 · All purchase options compared · No guesswork

⚡ Short Answer

Through an reseller you receive a voucher by email and collect a physical card in Paris — that card is what you show at each venue. A digital e-ticket exists only via the official Paris Museum Pass site, and its online sale has been intermittent. Choose based on whether you’d rather collect a card on arrival or rely on the official site’s e-ticket.

Option 1
Physical Card (what you receive through us)
The physical Paris Museum Pass card you collect in Paris through an reseller

Buy online through an reseller, receive a voucher by email, and exchange it for a credit-card-sized pass at a collection point in Paris — the Paris City Vision office near the Louvre, tourist offices, FNAC stores, or the CDG/Orly airport desks. Present the card at each venue’s pass-holder entrance. Allow a little time to collect it on your first day.

Advantages
Works without a phone or battery
A tangible travel keepsake
The format every reseller provides
Drawbacks
Requires collecting it in Paris (add 20–40 min on day one)
Can’t be replaced if lost after collection
Collection points have set opening hours
Option 2
Digital E-Ticket (official site only)

The official Paris Museum Pass website sells an e-ticket you keep on your phone, removing the collection step. Availability has been unreliable, and it isn’t the format you get when booking through resellers.

Advantages
Nothing to collect
Retrievable from email
Drawbacks
Official site only
Online sale has been intermittent
Not offered by resellers

Full Breakdown

Digital vs Physical: Every Detail Compared

A complete head-to-head across every dimension that matters to a Paris visitor in 2026.

Category Digital E-Ticket (official site) Physical Card (via resellers)
Getting Your Pass
Where to purchase Official Paris Museum Pass site only Online via resellers
What you receive An e-ticket on your phone A voucher by email to exchange for a card
Collection in Paris None — kept on your phone Required — at a Paris collection point
Can I buy before I travel? Only when the official site has it in stock ✓ Yes — buy ahead, collect on arrival
Time to collect None 20–40 minutes on day one
Cruise ship / same-day arrival No collection — if available on the official site Plan time to collect your card
Using the Pass
What to show at venues E-ticket QR on your phone Physical card
Requires charged phone? Yes No
Accepted at all 50+ venues? ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Skips the ticket queue? ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Security & Loss
If phone is lost or flat Reopen the e-ticket from email on another device No impact — present the card
If pass is lost Reopen the e-ticket from email Voucher recoverable before collection; card can’t be replaced once collected
Cancellation policy Per the official site’s terms Free cancellation within 24h before collection
Other Considerations
Physical keepsake / souvenir No Yes — credit-card sized pass
Suitable for travellers less comfortable with smartphones May require assistance More intuitive to present
The format you get through resellers Official site only ✓ Yes — voucher → physical card

Where to Buy

Every Purchase Option, Explained

Whether you’re planning months ahead or arriving tomorrow, here’s where each format is available — and what to expect at each location.

Buy Online (Recommended)
→ Voucher → Physical Card

The simplest and most reliable way to purchase. Buy through a verified, reseller and receive a voucher by email within minutes, then exchange it for your physical card at a collection point in Paris. Available 24 hours a day, any day of the year.

Price: €90 / €109 / €139 · No booking fees
Voucher: Emailed within minutes; collect card in Paris
Available: Any time, before or during your trip
Cancellation: Free within 24 hours
CDG / Orly Airport Desks
→ Physical Card

Paris Museum Pass desks operate at Charles de Gaulle (Terminal 2E arrivals) and Orly airport. Convenient if you want to collect a physical card the moment you land — but queues can be significant in peak season.

Hours: Typically 8am–8pm, check airport listings
Wait time: 10–30 minutes in high season
Payment: Card and cash accepted
Note: Not ideal for cruise ship or tight day-trip schedules
Paris Tourist Offices
→ Physical Card

The Office du Tourisme de Paris operates multiple locations across the city. The main office near the Opéra is the busiest; the Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon branches are handy if you’re arriving by Eurostar or TGV.

Main office: Rue des Pyramides, 1st arr.
Also at: Gare du Nord · Gare de Lyon · Champs-Élysées
Hours: Typically Mon–Sat 10am–6pm (check seasonal hours)
Also available: Select FNAC stores citywide

Arriving on a Cruise Ship? Buy Online Before You Dock.

Cruise passengers have limited time ashore — often 8–10 hours. Buy online through an reseller before you sail so you’re not queuing to purchase on the day — you’ll just need to collect your physical card at a Paris collection point, then head to your first museum. Build a little time for that collection into your route from the port. See our dedicated cruise ship guide →

Step by Step

How to Get Your Pass

Choose your format and follow the steps — from purchase to your first museum entrance.

  • 1
    Choose your pass duration
    Decide between 2-Day (€90), 4-Day (€109), or 6-Day (€139). If unsure, use our worth-it calculator first.
  • 2
    Buy the e-ticket on the official site
    The digital e-ticket is sold only through the official Paris Museum Pass website, and its online sale has been intermittent — so check availability. If it isn’t available, book through an reseller for the physical-card option instead.
    💡 You don’t need to choose an activation date at purchase — the pass starts on your first scan, not your purchase date.
  • 3
    Receive your e-ticket on your phone
    It arrives by email within minutes. Save it, screenshot it, or add it to your phone’s wallet if supported.
  • 4
    Book your timed entry slots (where required)
    Several major venues — including the Louvre, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Orangerie — require a separate timed entry reservation even with a valid pass. Do this before you travel for best availability.
    💡 You do not need your pass in hand to book time slots. Book slots as soon as your itinerary is confirmed.
  • 5
    Show your e-ticket at each museum entrance
    Present the QR code on your phone at the pass reader or to staff at the pass-holder entrance. Your first scan activates the pass and starts the clock on your days. No need to queue at ticket windows.
  • 1
    Choose your pass duration
    Decide between 2-Day (€90), 4-Day (€109), or 6-Day (€139). If unsure, use our worth-it calculator first.
  • 2
    Buy online through an reseller
    Select your pass and check out in under 3 minutes. You’ll receive a voucher by email within minutes. You can also buy in person on the day, but booking online means no purchase queue.
    💡 You don’t need to choose an activation date — the pass starts on your first use, not your purchase or collection date.
  • 3
    Collect your physical card in Paris
    Exchange your emailed voucher for the credit-card-sized pass at a collection point — the Paris City Vision office near the Louvre, a tourist office (Opéra, Gare du Nord, or Gare de Lyon), a CDG/Orly airport desk, or select FNAC stores.
    ⚠️ Collection points are typically open Mon–Sat 10am–6pm. Don’t plan to collect late in the evening or on a Sunday.
  • 4
    Book timed entry slots for venues that require them
    Even with a physical pass, you still need separate timed entry reservations for the Louvre, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, and several other sites. Book these in advance online — you don’t need your pass in hand to do so.
  • 5
    Present your card at each venue entrance
    Show the card at the dedicated pass holder entrance. Your first use activates the pass. Write the activation date on the back of the card as prompted — it helps you track your remaining days.
    💡 Keep the card in a secure wallet pocket — a lost physical card can’t be replaced once collected.

Common Misconceptions

Things People Get Wrong

Clearing up the most common confusion about formats, collection, and where to buy.

Myth
“There’s a secret discount code that makes the pass cheaper.”

There are no official discount codes for the Paris Museum Pass, and no reseller offers a genuine discount on the pass itself. Children under 18 and EU residents under 26 already enter the national museums free, so they don’t need one. Be wary of third-party sites listing the pass well above its normal rate.

Myth
“I have to print the e-ticket.”

Through most resellers there’s nothing to print — you receive a voucher by email and exchange it for a physical card in Paris, then present the card at each venue. The official site’s e-ticket simply lives on your phone, so there’s nothing to print there either.

Myth
“I can pick up the pass at the Louvre or other museums.”

The Paris Museum Pass is not sold at individual museum ticket windows — only at designated tourist offices, FNAC stores, and airport desks. Arriving at the Louvre expecting to buy a pass there will leave you disappointed and queueing twice.

Myth
“The digital pass starts counting from the moment I buy it.”

Your pass — digital or physical — only activates on your first use. Purchasing it weeks before your trip has no effect on validity. The clock starts the first time a museum scans or checks your pass, not your purchase date.

Myth
“If I lose my phone, my pass is gone.”

If you booked through a reseller, your pass is a physical card you collected in Paris, so losing your phone doesn’t affect it. If you bought the official-site e-ticket, it lives in your email and can be reopened on another device. Either way, keep your physical card safe once collected — a lost card can’t be replaced.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

They cover the same venues for the same duration, but they’re different products. Through most resellers you receive a voucher by email and collect a physical card in Paris — that card is what you present. A digital e-ticket kept on your phone is sold only through the official Paris Museum Pass site. They give the same access; they differ in how you obtain and show them.
If you booked through an reseller, there’s nothing to screenshot — your pass is a physical card you collect in Paris, and you present that card at each venue. A QR code only applies to the official-site e-ticket; if you bought that version, a screenshot of it on your phone works fine.
After booking online you exchange your emailed voucher for the physical card at a collection point in Paris — the Paris City Vision office near the Louvre, the Paris tourist offices (main office near the Opéra at Rue des Pyramides, plus branches at Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon), the CDG and Orly airport desks, or select FNAC stores. Passes are not handed out at individual museum ticket windows. Collection points are generally open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm — hours vary by season, so check before you go.
You can buy online through an reseller any time and receive your voucher by email within minutes — but you then need to collect the physical card at a Paris collection point during its opening hours, so leave time for that on your first day. The official-site e-ticket, when it’s available, can be bought the same day and used straight from your phone.
If you collected a physical card through a reseller, your phone’s battery doesn’t matter — just present the card. A dead battery only affects the official-site e-ticket; if you’re using that version, carry a portable charger (powerbank) and screenshot the QR code before leaving your hotel. Staff at major venues are used to brief waits while you find it.
No — the pass is strictly non-transferable and covers one named person only. Each adult in your group needs their own pass, whether that’s a physical card or the official-site e-ticket. Museum staff check, particularly at high-traffic venues like the Louvre, and a pass that has already been used will be flagged when someone else tries to enter with it.
Children under 18 who are EU residents, and young people under 26 who are EU nationals, enter most covered venues free of charge and do not need a pass at all. For non-EU children, check individual museum policies — many offer free entry to children under 12 regardless of nationality. If a child does need a pass, it works the same as an adult’s: through a reseller you collect a physical card for them in Paris.
Yes — it’s a handy collection point. The Gare du Nord tourist office is inside the station and is often less busy than the main city-centre office, so it’s a convenient place to exchange your voucher for your card. Buying your voucher online before you board the Eurostar means you only need to collect on arrival, not queue to purchase.
Related guides: Read our full How It Works guide for everything about using the pass at specific venues, timed entry requirements, and consecutive day rules. Or see all purchase options and verified resellers →

Ready to Buy Your Paris Museum Pass?

Buy online through an reseller, receive your voucher by email, and collect your physical pass in Paris.

Buy the Pass Online → How It Works First
Voucher by email · collect in Paris Buy Now →
Paris Museum Pass · 2-day €90 · 4-day €109 · 6-day €139 Buy the Pass →