It's a question we're often asked at the front desk, especially when the stay is short: Orsay or the Louvre? Our answer fits in two lines. If you have half a day and you're staying with us in the 7th, go to Orsay. If it's your first time in Paris and the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, or the Winged Victory of Samothrace are on your list, keep a full morning for the Louvre.
Size changes everything
The Louvre is immense: around 35,000 works on display across more than 60,000 m². Allow 3 to 4 hours for a full visit, and at least 2 hours for a route limited to the most famous works. Orsay is easier to explore: painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography, with an Impressionist section and Rodin sculptures. You leave without feeling like you've been rushing.
The closing days are not the same
This is the point that avoids a nasty surprise. Orsay is closed on Mondays, the Louvre on Tuesdays. On a Monday, therefore, go to the Louvre; on a Tuesday, to Orsay. For holidays, both close on December 25th and May 1st. On January 1st, the Louvre is closed while Orsay does not list this day among its closures. January 1st, 2027 falls on a Friday: still check the museum's official website before you set off.
In the evening
Orsay stays open until 9:45 pm on Thursdays, with last entry at 9 pm. This is our favorite slot: the day is done, the rooms empty out after 6 pm, and you walk back along the quays. The Louvre also opens in the evening on Fridays; exact times should be confirmed on louvre.fr, as the sources we consulted do not agree.
From our hotel
We are on avenue Duquesne, on the Left Bank, like the Musée d'Orsay. The Louvre is on the other side of the Seine. For ticket prices, we prefer to direct you to the official websites rather than display a price that changes; in both cases, booking a time slot online saves time at the entrance.