Give the Gift of Knowledge this Holiday Season 🌎 Gift Cards for the Curious Traveler

Musée d'Orsay Tour: A Guided Crash Course

Explore works from the Realists, Impressionists, Cubists and more with an art historian
From US$520 privately
Book a Tour
Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
Musée d'Orsay
Photos & Highlights
  • Take a captivating journey through the museum, once a railway station turned into an art haven, as you explore masterpieces from the 19th and 20th centuries
  • Join an expert in art history who will tailor the experience to your interests and level of knowledge
Tour Description
Embark on an immersive journey through the Musée d'Orsay that unveils the museum's fascinating history and showcases the evolution of its collections. You'll start your adventure by delving into the unique architecture of this former rail station, which was transformed into a museum in 1986.

As you step into the galleries, your focus turns to dozens of masterpieces on display. Taking a chronological approach, your tour begins on the ground floor, where the Barbizon school and Corot's works take center stage. These artists boldly broke free from traditional constraints, emphasizing nature and atmosphere, casting off the rules of antiquity and classicism.

Moving forward, you'll dive into the groundbreaking techniques and ideas of Realist artists like Courbet and Manet, tracing their influence on the future Impressionists. Witness the radical departure from tradition as Impressionism spread its wings through the mesmerizing works of Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Pissarro.

Your journey continues as you explore the profound impact of Impressionism on artists like Cézanne and Van Gogh. From there, you'll move into various movements such as Neo-impressionism, Fauvism, and Pointillism. You'll round off your tour by delving into these diverse movements, immersing yourself in the world of artists like Matisse and Gauguin.

By the end of your Context tour, you'll possess a deep understanding of these influential art movements and their pivotal role in shaping the landscape of Modern Art.
Experts
Celia Celia
Local Guide
Jessica Jessica
Local Guide
Thibaud Thibaud
Art Historian
Daniele Daniele
Art Historian
Eugénie Eugénie
Local Guide
Emmanuel Emmanuel
Local Guide
Stéphanie Stéphanie
Local Guide
Babis Babis
Art Historian
Violette Violette
Art Historian
Ulrike Ulrike
Architectural Historian
Aline Aline
Art Historian
Kasia Kasia
Art Historian
Anthony Anthony
Art Historian
Elli Elli
Art Historian
Sandrine Sandrine
Art Historian
Lindsey Lindsey
Art Historian
Carmina Carmina
Art Historian
Marie Marie
Art Historian
Sarah Sarah
Art Historian
Sean Sean
Tour guide/Historian
Evrard Evrard
Historian
Christina Christina
Local Guide
Sandra Sandra
Art Historian
Sunday Sunday
Art Historian
Laure-Caroline Laure-Caroline
Art Historian
Jessica Jessica
Art Historian
François François
Local Guide
Kotryna Kotryna
Art Historian
Marine Marine
Art Historian
Laurent Laurent
Local Guide
Lorraine Lorraine
Art Historian
Fatah Fatah
Local Guide
Béate Béate
Local Guide
Sylvanie Sylvanie
Art Historian
Susan Susan
Art Historian
Cecile Cecile
Local Guide
Caroline Caroline
Art Historian
Elisa Elisa
Art Historian
Isabelle Isabelle
Art Historian
Rémy Rémy
Local Guide
Pablo Jesus Pablo Jesus
Historian
Achille Achille
Historian
Aymeric Aymeric
Local Guide
Nadia Nadia
Historian
Amy Amy
Local Guide
Charlotte Charlotte
Art Historian
James James
Artist
Barbara Barbara
Art Historian
  • You relish connecting with fellow art history enthusiasts, eager to share your passion.
  • You want to uncover the captivating stories and profound insights hidden within famous paintings and sculptures.
  • If you're traveling with children under the age of 12, we recommend our family-oriented Musee D’Orsay Tour for Kids
  • The Musée d'Orsay, housed in a beautifully transformed Beaux-Arts railway station, is renowned for its exceptional collection of art from the 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring works from prominent artists of the Impressionist, Realist, and Post-Impressionist movements.
General Information
  • There will be a break in the tour to stop and use bathroom facilities as well as opportunities to stop and rest along the way if needed. Please communicate any mobility needs or concerns with our team at the time of booking. 
Tickets
  • Includes timed admission tickets to the museum
  • Our skip-the-line tickets will get us to a special lane where our group will have to stand in line due to security and crowd control measures.
Headsets
  • Depending on your group size, we may be required by the venue to order headsets, in which case you’ll see a “Headset Fee” added to your order. 
  • If you would like to guarantee headsets for your tour regardless of your group size, please email us and we’ll do our best to get them reserved for you.
Resources
Accessibility 
  • Information about the Accessibility at Musee D’Orsays is available here.
  • We kindly request that you inform us if any members of your group have mobility considerations, so we can ensure the best experience possible.
For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQ page.

There are 7 in my group but your website won't allow me to include more than 6 participants. Can't you make an exception?
No, unfortunately, due to venue reservation restrictions, we cannot accommodate groups larger than 6 people. If your group is larger, we recommend you split into multiple groups.

When is the best time to visit Musée d’Orsay? 
The Musée d’Orsay is very busy and not as spacious as the Louvre. We recommend visiting the museum when it is open late on Thursday evenings.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.

Where You'll Start
(4.79) 489 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Sandrine is so knowledgeable and pleasant. We had a fabulous tour; we learned so much!
Laurent , on guide was excellent. This museum was very crowded and he directed us to let elements and regaled us with significant details and stories.
Marie was in incredible and so well - versed in art. A fantastic tour.

See the d'Orsay with Context

Get to know one of the art historians leading this tour

Meet James

Discover Parisian Treasures: Secure Your Musée D'Orsay Tickets for Artistic Wonders

Embark on an unforgettable artistic journey with Musée D'Orsay tickets and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Impressionism and beyond.

Our guided crash course tour offers a curated exploration of one of Paris's most iconic museums, where masterpieces by renowned artists like Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir come to life. Led by knowledgeable local experts passionate about art and history, this experience goes beyond the surface, providing deeper insights into the cultural significance of each artwork.

Want to enhance your understanding further? Check out our related blog article on how to make the most of your visit to Musée D'Orsay in Paris, packed with tips and recommendations for an enriching experience. Dive into the world of Impressionism with our online lecture, delving into the movement's origins and impact on the art world, plus all you need to know before you go.  And for a more personalized exploration of Paris's Left Bank, don't miss our audio guide, guiding you from Notre Dame to the Latin Quarter with fascinating insights along the way.

Book your walking tour today, with Musée D'Orsay tickets included,  and unlock the beauty and brilliance of French art.