Is the Paris Pass worth it?
The break-even maths for Go City's all-inclusive pass, and when to buy tickets separately.
The Go City Paris Pass is the main all-inclusive sightseeing pass for the city, and whether it saves you money depends entirely on how you like to travel. Here is the maths.
What it includes
Entry to over ninety attractions and tours for a fixed number of consecutive days. The list covers the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe rooftop, Sainte-Chapelle, the Panthéon, Versailles, a Seine cruise, a hop-on hop-off bus, wine tastings, walking tours and, on the Plus versions, the Eiffel Tower second floor with reserved entry. Some attractions require timed reservations booked through the pass app.
The break-even
Roughly two paid attractions a day. The Louvre is about €22, Orsay €16, the Arc de Triomphe €16, a cruise €18, Versailles €32. Do three of those in a day and the two-day pass has paid for itself. Do one a day and it has not.
When it works
- A first visit with an appetite for museums and monuments.
- Two to four full days of sightseeing.
- Travellers who value not queueing at each ticket desk.
When it does not
- Slow travellers who want one museum and a long lunch.
- Visitors under 18 or under 26 from the EU, who get many museums free anyway.
- Trips where the Eiffel Tower is the only paid attraction; buy that on its own.
The Eiffel Tower question
The Plus versions include a reserved second-floor visit, which is significant because walk-up tickets are hard to get. If the tower matters, buy the Plus.
Alternatives
The Paris Museum Pass covers museums and monuments only, no cruise or bus, and is cheaper. The Big Bus tours on their own suit a first-day overview. For a mixed trip, the Go City pass is the one that covers everything.
