Les Invalides: Napoleon's Tomb & Army Museum Tickets Paris
- Duration2 hours
- Open onEvery day
- Meeting pointThe Les Invalides entrance on the Esplanade or Place Vauban
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Overview
This priority-entry ticket opens Les Invalides, the great complex in the 7th arrondissement built by Louis XIV for wounded soldiers. One ticket covers the Musée de l'Armée with its armour, weapons and wartime galleries, the Dome Church where Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb lies under the golden dome, the Museum of Plans-Reliefs, the Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération and the temporary exhibitions. It is an independent visit for history lovers, families and anyone curious about French military history. There is no guide.
Highlights
- Napoleon's tomb in the Dome Church, beneath the gilded dome of Les Invalides
- The Musée de l'Armée, one of the largest military history collections in the world
- Armour and weapons of the kings of France, and galleries from the Middle Ages to the modern era
- The Museum of Plans-Reliefs and the Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération on the same ticket
- Access to temporary exhibitions and to the cloakrooms
- Independent visit at your own pace, valid for one day
Full Description
Les Invalides: the royal hospital for veterans
Les Invalides was founded by Louis XIV in 1670 as a refuge for old and wounded soldiers, a radical idea at the time. The long classical facade, the vast courtyard and the golden dome by Jules Hardouin-Mansart make it one of the great monuments of Paris. The site still houses veterans and military institutions today, alongside the museums you visit.
To get to Les Invalides, take metro line 8 to La Tour-Maubourg or Invalides, or line 13 to Varenne or Invalides; the museum entrance is from the esplanade on the Seine side. If you are wondering how long to spend at Les Invalides, allow at least three hours to see the tomb and the main galleries without hurrying.
Napoleon's tomb in the Dome Church
The Dome Church is the reason most visitors come. Napoleon's remains were brought back from Saint Helena in 1840 and placed in a monumental red quartzite sarcophagus beneath the dome, in a crypt that you can view from above and walk around below. The scale is deliberately imposing. Around him lie the tombs of other national figures, including marshals and Napoleon's brother and son.
Napoleon's tomb in Paris is one of the most visited in the city, so plan to see it earlier in the day if you want a quieter view. The dome itself, covered in gold leaf, is best admired from outside on the esplanade, where it catches the sun.
The Musée de l'Armée: armour, arms and wartime galleries
The Musée de l'Armée holds more than five hundred thousand items across military history, from medieval armour and the ceremonial weapons of French kings to uniforms, cannon, paintings and objects from both World Wars. The armour hall is a highlight, with suits made for kings and horses, and the twentieth-century galleries use film, maps and digital displays to explain the great wars.
You do not need to be a military history expert. The galleries are arranged by period, and the interactive devices help you understand key battles. The ticket also covers the Museum of Plans-Reliefs, which shows scale models of fortified towns, and the Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération, devoted to Free France.
Practical visit: tickets, free categories and timing
This is a priority-entry ticket valid for one day. Free admission applies to visitors under 18 and to EU citizens under 26, but they still need a ticket issued at the museum, so they should not use this booking. Cloakrooms are available, and there is a multimedia guide to hire on site, not included here.
The site is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, the ticket desks close about half an hour before the museum, and some entrances close earlier than the main one. Opening hours change by season, so check your date in the booking panel.
Itinerary
- Arrive at the esplanadeEnter from the Esplanade des Invalides with your priority-entry voucher.
- Main courtyard and cannonCross the Cour d'Honneur and see the historic cannon, about 15 minutes.
- Armour and weapons galleriesWalk through the medieval and Renaissance armour halls, about 60 minutes.
- Modern wars galleriesFollow the twentieth-century and world war exhibits, about 60 minutes.
- Dome Church and Napoleon's tombVisit the crypt of Napoleon under the gilded dome, about 30 minutes.
- Plans-Reliefs or Ordre de la LibérationAdd one of the smaller museums if time allows, about 30 minutes.
What's included
- Permanent collections of the Army Museum
- Dome Church (Napoleon's Tomb)
- Museum of Plans-Reliefs
- Museum of the Order of the Liberation
- Temporary exhibitions
- Cloakrooms available on site
Not included
- Guided tour
- Multimedia guide (available on site)
- Tickets for family activities (available on site)
- Food and drinks
Is this right for you?
Great for
- History and culture lovers
- A short visit — about 2 hours
Not suitable for
- Visitors who want a guided tour; this is an independent visit
- Visitors who expect a multimedia guide to be included, since it is hired on site
- Under-18s and EU citizens under 26 who qualify for a free ticket issued on site
Meeting point
The meeting point is the entrance to Les Invalides on the Esplanade des Invalides, Rue de Grenelle side, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. Enter through the site gate and show your priority-entry voucher; some gates open only at certain hours, so follow the signs. There is no hotel pickup. The nearest metro stops are Invalides, La Tour-Maubourg and Varenne.
Important information
- Bring your voucher on your phone and photo ID if you belong to a reduced category.
- Under-18s and EU citizens under 26 enter free but need a ticket issued at the museum.
- Cloakrooms are available; large bags may be refused in the galleries.
- Ticket desks close about 30 minutes before the museum closes.
- The site is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
- Multimedia guides and children's family activities can be paid for on site; they are not included.
- Opening hours change by season and some gates open only at certain times.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does a Les Invalides ticket cost?
It depends on the date and the age category. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for adults and for children.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. This is a priority-entry ticket only. The nearest metro stops are Invalides, La Tour-Maubourg and Varenne.
How long does the visit take?
Plan around three hours. History lovers can spend half a day, especially if they add the smaller museums.
Is Les Invalides suitable for children?
Yes, especially for children who like armour and cannons. Under-18s qualify for free admission with a ticket issued on site, and family activities are available on some weekends.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable shoes. Bring your voucher, photo ID for reduced categories and a light layer for the cool galleries.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Often yes, subject to availability. Choose the date in the booking panel and your voucher is sent by email.
Does the ticket include Napoleon's tomb?
Yes. The ticket includes the Dome Church with Napoleon's tomb, the permanent collections of the Musée de l'Armée, the two smaller museums and the temporary exhibitions.
Is a guided tour or audio guide included?
No. This is an independent visit. A multimedia guide can be hired on site, and it is not included in the ticket.
Is Les Invalides worth visiting?
Yes. Napoleon's tomb and the armour collection alone justify the visit, and the setting is one of the most impressive in Paris.
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