How far ahead to book Paris attractions
Six sellers so far. The Eiffel Tower sells elevator tickets up to 90 days ahead, and the Palace of Versailles and the Sainte-Chapelle require a time slot, except on the Sainte-Chapelle's free first Sundays.
Booking rule for each Paris ticket
- Eiffel TowerBook ahead
- LouvreTime slot advised
- Palace of VersaillesBook a time slot
- Musée d'OrsayBooking advised online
- Sainte-ChapelleBook a time slot
- Bateaux-Mouches dinner cruiseBook for a table
- Bateaux-Mouches sightseeing cruiseOpen ticket
Booking rules for six Paris attractions
Each row is the seller's own rule, read from the seller's official pages on the day shown. The table does not say which ticket to buy: the page named in the last column decides that.
Where the pages read do not say how far ahead tickets go on sale, the table says so instead of giving a number.
Eiffel Tower
- Rule
- Elevator tickets go on sale up to 90 days ahead, stair tickets up to 60. Book early for peak periods and school holidays. Tickets are also sold at the ticket office on the day.
- Sale window
- Elevator tickets up to 90 days ahead, stair tickets up to 60 days ahead. The top by stairs and then elevator is sold online 60 days ahead only in low season
- Ticket page
- Eiffel Tower tickets
Louvre
- Rule
- The museum strongly recommends a time slot and says only advance booking guarantees access. Tickets are time-stamped and valid strictly on the selected date.
- Sale window
- Not stated
- Ticket page
- Louvre tickets
Palace of Versailles
- Rule
- All visitors must book a time slot to enter the Palace. The Palace and the Estate of Trianon are closed on Mondays. Passport tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
- Sale window
- Not stated
- Ticket page
- Palace of Versailles visit and tickets
Musée d'Orsay
- Rule
- Online booking is highly recommended. Booking a time slot is mandatory for Paris Museum Pass holders.
- Sale window
- Not stated
- Ticket page
- Musée d'Orsay tickets
Sainte-Chapelle
- Rule
- Visitors must have a ticket and a time slot, except on the free first Sundays.
- Sale window
- Not stated
- Ticket page
- Sainte-Chapelle tickets
Bateaux-Mouches dinner cruise
- Rule
- The help page says you must book a dining cruise to be sure of a table on board, and the cruise page recommends booking online. Cancel up to 72 hours before for a refund.
- Sale window
- Not stated
- Ticket page
- Bateaux-Mouches cruises
Bateaux-Mouches sightseeing cruise
- Rule
- Open ticket with no time slot, valid for one year from purchase. The ticket does not guarantee a seat on a given departure and is non-refundable. The operator says cruises are generally available the same day.
- Sale window
- No date to book by: the ticket is open and generally available the same day, subject to availability
- Ticket page
- Bateaux-Mouches cruises
What required, recommended and open tickets mean
- Required booking
- Some sellers require booking, for all visitors or for some of them. The Palace of Versailles states that all visitors must book a time slot to access the Palace. A Passport also covers the Estate of Trianon and the Gardens, and only the Palace visit needs the slot. The Sainte-Chapelle says visitors must have a ticket and a time slot for their visit, except on its free first Sundays, when booking is not possible. At the Musée d'Orsay, booking a time slot is mandatory for Paris Museum Pass holders. The Musée d'Orsay rates page also lists the first Sunday of the month as free with the reservation of a visit slot mandatory, while its programme page lists no upcoming dates for that day. The Bateaux-Mouches help page says a dining cruise must be booked to be sure of a table on board. The Bateaux-Mouches cruise page words the same rule as a recommendation, so book a dining cruise ahead.
- Recommended booking
- The seller advises booking ahead and says what is at stake. The Louvre says time-slot bookings are strongly recommended and that only advance booking guarantees access. The Musée d'Orsay says online booking is highly recommended while it renovates its public areas. The Sainte-Chapelle strongly recommends paying in advance. The Eiffel Tower advises buying tickets in advance on its online ticket office, especially for the top. The Bateaux-Mouches cruise page recommends booking online, especially for dinner cruises and special events.
- Open ticket
- The ticket needs no time slot. A Bateaux-Mouches sightseeing ticket is valid for one year from purchase with no time slot, and the ticket does not guarantee a seat on a given departure.
Eiffel Tower sale windows: where the official pages differ
The Eiffel Tower's planning page says elevator tickets can be booked up to 90 days ahead and stair tickets up to 60 days. The official ticket office agrees for elevator tickets: with a few exceptions, they can be bought online 90 days before the visit. The tips article's own list adds that the top by stairs and then elevator is sold online 60 days ahead only in low season, and that each ticket is also sold at the ticket office on the day. The planning page strongly recommends booking as early as possible for peak periods, school holidays and public holidays.
The release planner on the Eiffel Tower tickets page turns a visit date into the day tickets are sold, and that page decides which ticket to buy.
What the sellers say to do when a date is sold out
- Eiffel Tower: the official ticket office says that if e-tickets are sold out for the date, time or destination you search, it is always possible to buy tickets on the spot on the day of the visit.
- Louvre: tickets may be purchased on site when museum attendance is low, subject to availability. Visitors who buy on site do not get priority access at the security checks, and the help center says no waiting list is available.
- Bateaux-Mouches: sightseeing cruises are generally available on the same day, subject to availability, and the operator's terms say a full boat can move boarding to a later departure. For a dining cruise, the help page says to book to be sure of a table.
- Sainte-Chapelle: the FAQ says visitors who have not paid in advance risk waiting a very long time, or not getting in, during busy periods, and the accessibility page says the monument is sometimes fully booked. The pages read do not say when slots open.
- Musée d'Orsay and Palace of Versailles: the pages read do not say what to do when slots are full.
This guide uses no release-hour or booking-trick claim from a community thread. When a seller does not state how far ahead tickets go on sale, the table says so. The method is on how this guide checks prices, rules and times.
Questions about booking Paris attractions in advance
How far in advance should I book Paris attractions?
The answer depends on the attraction. The Eiffel Tower sells elevator tickets up to 90 days ahead and stair tickets up to 60 days ahead, and the Palace of Versailles requires a time slot. The Sainte-Chapelle does too except on its free first Sundays. The Louvre strongly recommends one. The table of booking rules gives each seller's wording and the day it was checked.
Which Paris attractions need to be booked in advance?
Of the attractions this guide has read, the Palace of Versailles requires a time slot for the Palace, the Sainte-Chapelle requires a ticket and a time slot except on its free first Sundays, and the Bateaux-Mouches help page says a dining cruise must be booked to be sure of a table. The Musée d'Orsay requires a slot for Paris Museum Pass holders. The Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower recommend booking ahead. A Bateaux-Mouches sightseeing ticket is open and needs no slot.
Do I need to book Paris museums in advance?
The Louvre says only advance booking guarantees access, the Musée d'Orsay says online booking is highly recommended, and the Palace of Versailles requires a time slot. The table lists the three, each with its ticket page.
Do I need to book the Musée d'Orsay in advance?
The Musée d'Orsay says online booking is highly recommended and a time slot is mandatory for Paris Museum Pass holders, and its pages differ on the free first Sunday, so check the official ticketing website for that day. The Musée d'Orsay tickets page decides which ticket to buy.
Do I need to book the Sainte-Chapelle in advance?
The Sainte-Chapelle says visitors must have a ticket and a time slot for their visit, except on its free first Sundays, and strongly recommends paying in advance. The Sainte-Chapelle tickets page decides which ticket to buy.
How far ahead can I buy Eiffel Tower tickets?
Elevator tickets up to 90 days ahead and stair tickets up to 60 days ahead, per the Eiffel Tower's planning page checked Oct 8, 2026. Other official pages state it differently, as the section on sale windows explains.
Can I buy Louvre tickets on the day?
The Louvre says tickets may be purchased on site when museum attendance is low, subject to availability, and that only advance booking guarantees access. The Louvre tickets page decides which ticket to buy.
Does a Bateaux-Mouches sightseeing cruise need booking ahead?
The sightseeing ticket is open, with no time slot, and the operator says sightseeing cruises are generally available on the same day, subject to availability. A dining cruise must be booked to be sure of a table, per the operator's help page, and the cruise page recommends booking online.