French museums plan to hike prices for non-EU visitors
Visiting some of France's biggest tourist attractions - from the Chateau de Versailles to the Arc de Triomphe - could be more expensive for visitors from non-EU countries from next year, due to extra powers given to state-run museums by president Emmanuel Macron.
Macron
announced in January
that the Louvre would begin, from January 1st 2026, charging a higher ticket price to visitors from non-EU countries.
He added that this power would also be extended to other museums, galleries and tourist attractions run by the state. The final decision on pricing, however, remains with the management of each site.
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French newspaper
Le Monde reported that
several of France's key sites will be taking up this option from 2026. Those named were Versailles and the Loire Valley chateau of Chambord, plus the Arc de Triomphe and the Conciergerie in Paris as well as Paris' Opéra Garnier.
Other museums and tourists sites either have not decided or did not respond to questions.
New price structure
Speaking in January, Macron said that the Louvre will introduce "a varied pricing structure, with higher prices for foreign visitors coming from countries outside the EU".
He added that the legislation due to take effect from January 1st 2026 "will allow other museums and French monuments to modify their entry policies" along the same lines.
The legislation applies only to tourist sites that are owned and run by the state, but that includes most of the best known and famous sites in France.
It remains unclear whether this will affect non-EU citizens who live in France.
Macron said it was aimed at "foreign visitors coming from countries outside the EU" but the final text of the legislation is not yet available so it is not clear whether there will be exceptions for French residents.
Some of the current discount pricing schemes - for example the free entry scheme for EU citizens aged 26 and under - also apply to non-EU citizens who have residency in an EU country and can prove it via a residency card or permit for their country (eg a
carte de séjour
for France or a
permesso di soggiorno
for Italy).
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Prices
The final decision on price hikes, and overall prices, stays with each individual museum or attraction.
At present the price of a standard adult ticket with no discounts is;
Louvre - €22
Versailles - €21 for the chateau, €15 for the gardens only or €32 for the chateau, gardens and Trianon
Chambord - €19
Arc de Triomphe - €16 for a ticket that includes access to the top of the structure, the base is open to the public for free
Conciergerie - €13 for an access ticket, entry to specific exhibitions or events can be extra
Opéra Garnier - ticket prices depend on the performance and seating, but prices range from around €35 to €175
There are multiple discount options for French museums with groups including students, teachers, journalists, those on a low income or people and 26 and under eligible for free entry. The Louvre estimates that around 40 percent of its visitors benefit from free entry.
READ ALSO
Do you qualify for free entry to French museums?
There are also 'free museum Sundays' in cities including Paris, where museums are free on the first Sunday of the month.
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