Orangerie & Monet Water Lilies Guided Tour Semi Private 6ppl Max
Description
On this 2 hour semi-private (6 Guest Maximum) tour, your expert guide will lead you through history to explain why this unique, yet overlooked collection is one of the best in Paris. A former home for royal orange trees, the Orangerie today houses artwork by some of France’s most notable names.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Situated in the beautifully manicured Tuileries Gardens, the Orangerie transformed into a museum in the early 20th century when Paris’s over-crowded museums needed new galleries. The Orangerie most famously houses the series of various waterlilies Monet granted to France thanks to his friendship with George Clemenceau, which earned their own private gallery space. The expansive collection of 19th century and early 20th century paintings features works by other famous Impressionists and those who came after. View Cezanne’s studies of fruits and flowers, seductive portraits by Matisse, and various phases of Picasso’s career through several nudes. Other artists including Modigliani, Renoir, and Utrillo, all make the Orangerie a must-visit for anyone who appreciates French art and the Impressionist movement.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
- A maximum of 6 people per tour allowed
- Minimum numbers apply. This tour will not run without a minimum of 2 guests to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
- Notes: Orangerie museum may be subjected to occasional closures without previous warning from the museum management. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an appropriate alternative if the museum opening time is delayed more than 1h from the tour starting time. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. No large bags or suitcases are allowed inside the museum, only handbags or small thin bag packs are allowed through security. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line' or 'No Wait' access. Some specific rooms inside the museum are subjected to a very quiet or restricted right to speak inside, in this cases your guide will provide the information about this places before entering the specific rooms where this rule applies. Some collections may vary along the year.
Reviews(83)
We had an amazing tour of the Muse de Orangerie with Anatole S. He was so knowledgeable about Monet and his process for painting. He really showed us how to see the light Monet achieved in his beautiful Water Lilies. He brought to life not only Monet, but explained what was going on in Paris at the time he painted these masterpieces. His humor and charm only added to the experience. I would highly recommend this tour.
Our guide, Sunday, was a knowledgeable and delightful resource for this museum. She wove together stories that gave us undiscovered knowledge and context of the works we were studying. I strongly recommend having a practiced and enthusiastic guide like Sunday and her company be a part of your museum experience. Well done and thank you!
This small-group tour of the Orangerie was absolutely worth it! Our tour guide Sunday was WONDERFUL — extremely knowledgeable as well as entertaining. The water lillies collection was beautiful as expected, but I also really enjoyed the rest of the collection (more so with Sunday’s insight).
Our tour of the Musée de l’Orangerie with Manu was truly excellent. He has an impressive depth of knowledge in art history, and it shows in the way he brings each piece to life. His explanations of the works—especially the context, techniques, and historical significance—made the experience far more meaningful than simply viewing the art on our own. Manu has a great ability to connect individual paintings to broader movements and ideas, helping us understand not just what we were seeing, but why it matters. His passion for art history is clear, and he presents information in a way that is both engaging and accessible. Overall, the tour was outstanding and well worth it. Manu is a fantastic guide, and we would highly recommend him to anyone visiting the Musée de l’Orangerie.
We had a wonderful tour from Dunja. We got some time to experience the paintings first by ourselves and after that Dunja really added a lot of extra insights that really made it a memorable experience
Tina was friendly, extremely knowledgeable and just a delight to spend time at the museum with.
Our family had an absolutely wonderful experience visiting the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris with our guide, Anatole. From the moment we booked, his communication was excellent—clear, friendly, and timely. Although the tour was advertised as semi-private, it ended up being just the three of us, so it felt like a truly private tour. Anatole was incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating stories about Monet’s life, his friendships, and the inspiration behind the Water Lilies cycle. On top of his expertise, Anatole was funny, engaging, and made the two-plus hours fly by. He struck the perfect balance between giving us insightful information and allowing us time to simply take in the beauty around us. Our family felt comfortable asking questions and his passion for art made the visit even more memorable. We left the museum with a much deeper appreciation not only for Monet but for the museum itself. We highly recommend a tour with Anatole—he made our visit exceptional
Our family had an absolutely wonderful experience visiting the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris with our guide, Anatole. From the moment we booked, his communication was excellent—clear, friendly, and timely. Although the tour was advertised as semi-private, it ended up being just the three of us, so it felt like a truly private tour. Anatole was incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating stories about Monet’s life, his friendships, and the inspiration behind the Water Lilies cycle. On top of his expertise, Anatole was funny, engaging, and made the two-plus hours fly by. He struck the perfect balance between giving us insightful information and allowing us time to simply take in the beauty around us. Our family felt comfortable asking questions and his passion for art made the visit even more memorable. We left the museum with a much deeper appreciation not only for Monet but for the museum itself. We highly recommend a tour with Anatole—he made our visit exceptional
Was a wonderful and informative tour!! Our guide was so so knowledgeable and easy to speak with! We learned a lot and he answered all our questions! Huge appreciations!
We had a wonderful experience with Lili! She was so detailed, attentive, and truly brought the Orangerie Museum to life for us. We learned so much and she opened up our imagination in ways we didn’t expect. Highly recommend this guided tour—it made our visit unforgettable!