Orsay in 2 hours: the essential route, level by level
Quick answer
In 2 hours you can see Orsay's highlights in this order: go up to level 5 for Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh and Cézanne, go down to level 0 for Courbet, Millet and Manet, and finish in the central nave with the sculptures. Start at the top at 9:30am before it fills up.
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The route: 7 stops in 2 hours
Collections change rooms often; the floor plan at the entrance shows current locations. Timings are approximate and include walking.
- 1
0:00 · Level 5
Impressionists: Monet and Renoir
Go straight up to level 5. Look for Monet's Gare Saint-Lazare and Rouen Cathedral and Renoir's Bal du moulin de la Galette, which captures light filtering through foliage.
- 2
0:25 · Level 5
Degas and the world of ballet
Degas's dance class and ballerinas show his obsession with movement and photographic framing.
- 3
0:40 · Level 5
Van Gogh and Gauguin
Van Gogh's Starry Night over the Rhône, Self-Portrait and Church at Auvers, along with Gauguin's Tahitian women, round off the post-impressionist tour.
- 4
1:00 · Level 5
Cézanne: The Card Players
Cézanne's gaze paved the way for cubism. Notice how he builds volume with patches of colour.
- 5
1:15 · Level 5
The glass clock
Pause at the giant glass clock: it frames a view over the Seine and Montmartre.
- 6
1:25 · Level 0
Realism: Courbet and Millet
Head down to the ground level. Courbet's A Burial at Ornans and Millet's The Gleaners changed the subject of painting: ordinary people as protagonists.
- 7
1:40 · Level 0
Manet: Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass
The two paintings that scandalised Paris and opened the door to modernity.
Tips to make the most of it
- Enter at 9:30am: the first hour is the quietest on level 5.
- On Thursday evening, from 6pm with a reduced ticket, there are fewer people.
- Leave large bags in the free cloakroom; they are not allowed in the galleries.
- Point the AnyArt camera at any painting to hear its story: a good alternative to an audio guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Orsay in 2 hours?
Yes, if you focus on the impressionists on level 5 and the realists on the ground level.
What about 1 hour?
Go up to level 5, walk through Monet, Degas, Van Gogh and Cézanne and come down to Manet and Courbet. That is about 60 minutes.
Where are the impressionists?
On level 5, next to the giant glass clock.
Is Thursday evening worth it?
Yes: fewer people and a cheaper ticket from 6pm.