Conciergerie Museum Paris Tickets: how to buy and prices

Visit the Musée Conciergerie in Paris, which served as a royal residence and was a notorious 18th century prison. You will learn about the conditions in which prisoners lived before they were guillotined.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

10 min read

Conciergerie Museum Paris Tickets: how to buy and prices

Vista del museo | ©Bruno Abatti

Paris is a European city considered to be a centre of world art, due to its variety of architecture and historic buildings. There are also numerous museums housing great works of art and iconic monuments of the Parisian city, such as the Conciergerie Palace, known as an important 18th century prison. Such is the case of the Conciergerie palace, known as an important 18th century prison.

You can visit this palace-turned-museum by purchasing general or group tickets. You can admire all the architectural details on the façade, vaults, pillars, columns, doors, windows and other areas. You will also see the main cells and walk up the stairs that the prisoners used to walk up minutes before going to the guillotine. Without a doubt, the Musée conciergerie is a must-see destination for visiting French history enthusiasts wondering what to see and do in Paris.

How much do tickets to the Musée Conciergerie cost?

tickets in people's hands| © Christian Dubovan
tickets in people's hands| © Christian Dubovan

Tickets to the Musée Conciergerie cost an average of 11.5 euros. For this price you can access the entire monument, i.e. the different rooms, the courtyards, the main cells, the kitchens, the chapel and other areas of the palace.

There are also tickets for groups of approximately 20 people, which cost an average of 9.5 euros per person. Meanwhile, tickets for school groups cost 40 euros and are valid for a total of 40 people: 35 pupils and 5 adults.

Any of these options require booking by emailing [email protected]. They also include a specialised guide who will provide the group with historical and architectural information on each of the rooms and areas visited. This makes the visit more interesting and educational.

Book tickets for the Conciergerie de Paris

How to buy tickets for the Conciergerie de Paris?

woman paying at the point of sale| ©Екатерина С
woman paying at the point of sale| ©Екатерина С

Buying tickets for the Conciergerie Museum is a simple task, for which you have a couple of options. You can buy your ticket directly at the ticket office before going on the tour.

In the first case, you will have to go to the Conciergerie Museum and queue at the ticket office. Depending on the number of people, you may have to wait a few minutes before making your purchase, which, by the way, must be made in cash or by credit card. You will then receive your printed ticket with which you can finally start your tour.

But if you want to buy your tickets online, then all you need is your mobile phone. Then go to the website of the Conciergerie Museum and follow the steps indicated in the ticket purchase area.

Regarding group tickets, whether you buy them at the ticket office or online, you must make your reservation at least 24 hours in advance. If you have any questions, please contact the museum at [email protected] or call 01 53 40 60 60 80.

Book tickets for the Conciergerie de Paris

What types of tickets are available? Are there skip-the-line tickets to the Musée Conciergerie de Paris?

group of people walking in the museum| ©Екатерина С
group of people walking in the museum| ©Екатерина С

The Musée Conciergerie de Paris offers general admission tickets for you to tour the palace at your own pace and group admission with a specialised guide from the palace itself.

Alternatively, there is free admission to the Musée Conciergerie on the first Sunday of November, December, January, February and March.

You will not have to pay for admission on any day of the year if you present an ID that proves the following requirements:

  • Under 18 years of age (except if you come on a group visit).
  • European Union citizen between 18 and 25 years of age.
  • University student not older than 30 years of age.
  • Teacher specialising in art history, graphic arts, architecture, landscape architecture, design, cinema, photography, archaeology and fashion.
  • Journalist.
  • Disabled person (in this case, the accompanying person can also enter free of charge regardless of age, citizenship or profession).

Regarding skip-the-line tickets, the museum does not offer this service with the payment of a special ticket. However, you are less likely to have to wait if you go to the Conciergerie on less busy days of the week, i.e. Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The opening hours also play a role, so you will find fewer people at 9:00 am, which is the opening time, or at 17:00 pm, just 60 minutes before closing time.** You also have the option of connecting with a **tour or using a tourist pass to go straight through.

Book tickets for the Conciergerie de Paris

Are tickets to the Conciergerie de Paris included in any of the city's tourist passes?

Paris Pass| ©ViajandoDescubre
Paris Pass| ©ViajandoDescubre

Yes, tickets to the Conciergerie de Paris are included in some of the city's tourist passes. This is the case of the Paris Museum Pass, Paris Pass or Go City Pass.

All you have to do is download the respective application on your mobile phone, check the options offered, pay the price of the selected pass electronically and make your reservation.

Then you can go to the Conciergerie and go directly to the ticket office without queuing, scan the QR code and enter the palace to enjoy the tour.

Buy the Paris Pass

Are there any tickets that include a guided tour of the Conciergerie Museum in Paris, and is it worth it?

people inside the museum| ©bageltam
people inside the museum| ©bageltam

Yes, the Conciergerie Museum offers a guided tour for groups of 20-40 people, which is certainly worthwhile as the guide in charge of the tour will tell you about the history of the palace and some interesting facts.

However, this guide service is not available if you enter the palace for free or pay general admission.

Are there discounted tickets for the Musée Conciergerie de Paris?

entrance to the museum| ©didimouman
entrance to the museum| ©didimouman

Yes, the Musée Conciergerie de Paris offers discounted tickets for large groups of no less than 20 people. You will save approximately 2.5 euros compared to the general price of 11.5 euros per person.

Are there special tickets for children at the Musée Conciergerie de Paris?

smiling child| ©drizdan
smiling child| ©drizdan

Children at the Musée Conciergerie de Paris are **free to enter any day of the week unless they **are in a large group on a school excursion ** In this case, they will have to pay 40 euros, i.e. 1 euro per person.

Why is it worth buying tickets online rather than at the Musée Conciergerie de Paris ticket office?

person using laptop and card| © rupixen.com
person using laptop and card| © rupixen.com

Buying tickets to the Musée Conciergerie de Paris online is especially worthwhile during the high season, as you pay in advance and therefore secure your entry to the monument.

If you go to the Conciergerie ticket office directly, you may be in for a last minute surprise and not be able to get in on the day you want due to the crowds caused by private tours, school groups or tourists.

Opening hours of the Conciergerie Museum in Paris

museum clock| ©Raúl Alejandro Rodríguez
museum clock| ©Raúl Alejandro Rodríguez

The Musée Conciergerie de Paris is open to the public every day of the year except 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.

You can enter the building from **9:00 a.m. until approximately 45 minutes before closing time at 6:00 p.m..

How much time do you need to visit the Musée Conciergerie de Paris?

group of people gathered together| ©Katie
group of people gathered together| ©Katie

You will be able to tour the Musée Conciergerie de Paris in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. However, many people require a little more time to explore this legendary medieval palace at their own pace.

It is important to plan your arrival time at the Conciergerie Museum, as access is not direct. All visitors must pass through the security area, a perimeter around the building. Afterwards, at the entrance, some controls are again applied to ensure compliance with the museum's rules.

In any case, the time taken to enter the palace and tour it does not exceed a period of three hours, so you will have enough time to do other tourist activities. For example, visit the Gothic chapel Sainte Chapelle, which is only 40 metres away from the Conciergerie Museum.

Sainte Chapelle and Conciergerie ticket bookings

Best time to visit the Conciergerie Museum in Paris

empty space in the museum| ©Gilles Messian
empty space in the museum| ©Gilles Messian

When considering a visit to the Musée Conciergerie you should bear in mind the seasonal weather in the city, as this is a determining factor in the number of visitors to the palace.

The day of the week is also important, as, for example, the monument tends to be busiest on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays after 3pm.

For example, Paris in winter is considered low season due to the characteristic cold of these months. Therefore, you won't find many tourists waiting to enter the Conciergerie Museum.

The opposite will happen if you go to Paris in summer, when you will notice many people in the streets and, specifically, in this medieval palace.

On the other hand, the autumn and spring months tend to have a moderate influx of people, which can be defined as an intermediate between winter and summer. In this sense, you won't have much of a problem queuing.

In any case, if you want to enjoy your visit without encountering too many people, you should go to the Conciergerie in the early hours of the morning (between 9:00 and 10:00) or one hour before closing time (17:00).

How to get to the Conciergerie Museum in Paris?

view of the museum from the lake| ©Gilles Letang
view of the museum from the lake| ©Gilles Letang

The Musée Conciergerie is located next to the Gothic Sainte Chapelle temple on the Île de Cité. Specifically, the palace is at 2 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 in Paris - France.

To get to the Musée Conciergerie de Paris you can use several means of transport:

  • Bus via line 96, 85, 81, 58, 38, 27, 24 or 21.
  • Metro by taking lines 14, 11, 7 and 1 from Châtelet station or line 4 from Cité station.
  • Train on line B or C at Saint-Michel station.

The best thing is that this museum is close to several places of interest. So at the end of your visit, you can continue to explore the city. You will have the opportunity to join one of the best tours of the Latin Quarter of Paris, or visit the Notre-Dame Cathedral, as these places are 342 and 453 metres away respectively.

Book a tour of the Latin Quarter of Paris

What you can't miss at the Conciergerie Museum in Paris

objects from the museum's prison| ©Gilles Messian
objects from the museum's prison| ©Gilles Messian

At the Musée Conciergerie, every detail is important from the moment you arrive at the palace. You will see its imposing façade with its medieval cylindrical towers and some neo-Gothic elements added in the 19th century.

The first of the medieval rooms you will find on entering is the Hall of the War of Arms, made up of a total of nine sections and four naves, which were separated by sturdy pillars and lateral columns. You will also see the bricked-up windows, which once allowed light to enter the hall.

Afterwards, you can walk through some of the cells and marvel at the recreation. You'll find real straw on the floor, period vessels and jergones, which are mattresses made from dried plant waste.

You will also see a series of mannequins representing the guards and prisoners. You will feel like you are in the spooky Conciergerie of the 18th century.

There are also other rooms that you should not miss in the Conciergerie Museum:

  • The palacekitchens. These are medieval rooms built in the 14th century. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to access this area, but you will probably be lucky during your visit.
  • Guards' quarters.
  • Chapel of the Girondins.
  • Access gate to the prison, through which Marie-Antoinette walked on her way to her execution.
  • Marie-Antoinette's cell, with a complete installation of the furniture she used. You can also admire a life-size figure of the aforementioned Queen consort of France.

Tips for visiting the Musée Conciergerie in Paris

woman behind bars| ©Katie
woman behind bars| ©Katie

There are a few tips you should follow when visiting the Musée Conciergerie de Paris. This way, you will avoid having a bad time and you will help to preserve the good condition of this historical heritage.

Among the recommendations are the following:

  • Avoid using large bags or suitcases during your visit to the Conciergerie, as they are not allowed.
  • If you are taking the tour with small children who still use a car, you should make sure that the car is small and foldable. This way, you won't have any inconvenience when going through the X-ray machine.
  • Do not carry any sharp objects (knives, scissors, glass bottles, etc.) in your bag.
  • If you come to the museum by segway or bicycle, you will not be able to enter with your helmet or safety elements used for driving, as there is no special room to store them.
  • Respect the order of each of the signs in the palace for the tour.
  • Although taking photographs is permitted for any tourist, the use of tripods or stabilisers is not. Likewise, if you are a photographer, there are some other rules you will have to comply with, as stipulated by the French Ministry of Culture, regarding the capture of images to share culture in the so-called digital era.