Musée Grévin — Attraction in Paris

We booked this with a booking website and didn’t know but you do need to go and get proper tickets as the code it gives you isn’t an actual ticket. We found this museum in the best things to do with kids in Paris webpage and the reviews here were so good..… short review - give it a swerve go walk down the river instead that’s way more fun…

Long review- it’s ok Firstly we arrived and there was a huge queue I asked someone if this was those with tickets and he said yes. Seemed a bit odd to have to queue in a massive line when we had booked in advance. We were there for 20 mins with no idea why we were even queuing. When we did get to the main entrance it turned out the issue was 2 small bag check machines and gates to go through and it was a massive bottleneck.

Second stage was the ticket hall. We didn’t know we had to go back to the desk to change our tickets from the booking site code to small tickets. They required a print out of the screen for some reason and luckily I had brought one with us but she only tapped in the numbers on the paper which she could have done on the screen of my phone just wasted more time in our opinion.

Once through there was thought great finally in the museum. Nope another massive queue on some sweeping staircases. It seemed to be the only way in and we weee queuing on here not even sure why we were! We couldn’t see about but someone was talking about the museum and people we waiting to go into a light show. We’d have rather not done this and got on with the rest of the museum but we were again all herded into there. The room was full when we got to the front (typical at this stage in our queueing history here!) and then a woman proceeded to explain about the museum and the light show but it was all in French. I caught some bits that were actually important. As we didn’t know there was a strobing light show they should have translated this information or at lest given other guests who don’t speak French the important bits. Seemed a shame they didn’t cater for this when all over the rest of the museum there was dual languages in announcements and signage.

The light show was a large round room full of mirrors and it went dark (when full of people not very pleasant) and there were lights and images and music which was nice. The kids were impressed but it was just good for adults.

Finally out of that room we were able to explore the rest of the museum by ourselves. However, it’s housed in a sort of an old style mansion (which is very beautiful) so small doorways and one way entrance so in the end we were still in a queue that was moving and stopping low and again to take photos. We skipped some bits in order to move on. There were a number of local famous people we had no idea about so headed for other rooms.

The statues were impressive and the place seems well maintained and there’s always something to look at. The kids loved it when a person they thought was wax came to life! There were famous people from history which was nice and the kids learnt about the French Revolution. We ended up onto really wanting to see ladybug and cat noir the cartoon people so perhaps it wasn’t at all worth it just for that!

In the end we spent the same amount of time queuing as we did inside the museum. If you are in Paris for a few days and at a loose end then yes maybe it’s something to do but like us we regret buying tickets in advance as we could have done much more with our precious time than spend it in a queue in an sort of underwhelming place. The entrance system needs a serious overhaul and they could do without that light show room or at least an option not to go in.

We won’t be going again and there’s just other more interesting things to do in Paris - live...

The Musée Grévin (French: [myze ɡʁevɛ̃]; Euronext: GREV) is a wax museum in Paris located on the Grands Boulevards in the 9th arrondissement on the right bank of the Seine, at 10, Boulevard Montmartre, Paris, France. It is open daily; an admission fee is charged. The musée Grévin also has locations in Montreal and Seoul.==History== The museum was founded in 1882 by Arthur Meyer, a journalist for Le Gaulois, on the model of Madame Tussauds founded in London in 1835 [1] and named for its first artistic director, caricaturist Alfred Grévin. It is one of the oldest wax museums in Europe. Its baroque architecture includes a hall of mirrors based on the principle of a catoptric cistula[2] in 2018, a young American author, composer, interpreter and designer, Krysle Lip was in charge of the artistic and esthetical transformation of the Hall of Mirrors [3] The hall of mirrors was built for the Exposition Universelle in 1900.[4] It was originally housed in the Palais des mirages designed by Eugène Hénard.[5]The Musée Grévin now contains some 450 characters arranged in scenes from the history of France and modern life, including a panorama of French history from Charlemagne to Napoleon III and bloody scenes of the French Revolution, with the original wax figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessing their technical evolution. By contrast, the more contemporaneous movie stars, athletes, and international figures such as Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Shah Rukh Khan, Pablo Picasso, Michael Jackson, Josephine Baker and Pope John Paul II use the modern techniques of modeling. The tableau of Charlotte Corday murdering Jean-Paul Marat created in 1889 includes the actual knife and bathtub used.

New wax characters are regularly added to the Museum among more than 2000 made since it opened. They include Zinedine Zidane, Jean Reno, Monica Bellucci, Jean Dujardin, Isabelle Adjani[4] and Nolwenn Leroy.[

Bollywood celebrities whose wax has been added include Shah Rukh Khan[7], Aishwarya Rai[8] and...

The Musée Grévin is a delightful and immersive wax museum tucked away in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, offering a truly entertaining experience for visitors of all ages. Established in 1882, it is one of the oldest wax museums in Europe and boasts an impressive collection of over 450 wax figures. From historical icons like Napoleon Bonaparte and Marie Antoinette to modern legends such as Michael Jackson, Brad Pitt, and Queen Elizabeth II, the range of personalities on display is vast and diverse.

What makes the Grévin Museum especially captivating is how it blends French history, pop culture, and theatrical storytelling. Visitors can walk through intricately designed themed rooms that transport you through different eras—from the dramatic scenes of the French Revolution to glitzy Hollywood red carpets. There's even a special section for children featuring characters from cartoons and fairy tales.

One of the standout features is the Palais des Mirages, an illusion-based light and sound show originally created for the 1900 Paris Exposition. It’s a magical, kaleidoscopic experience that adds an artistic and surreal twist to the visit. The museum itself is housed in a beautifully preserved Belle Époque building, with elegant interiors, marble staircases, and ornate decoration that contribute to its charm.

The interactive exhibits, life-like wax figures, and beautifully curated settings make Musée Grévin more than just a photo op—it’s a cultural experience that showcases both French legacy and international fame. It's especially enjoyable for families, pop culture fans, and travelers looking for a fun and less traditional museum experience in Paris. Make sure to go early or book tickets online to avoid long queues, especially during school holidays...