Paris Museum: Tips for the Grevin Wax Museum

We aren’t experts on French culture. We don’t know all the French celebrities, politicians, sports icons, musicians or actors. But we didn’t let that stop us from visiting the Grevin Wax Museum (Musée Grévin) in Paris.

If you’ve ever explored a Madame Tussauds Wax Museum (Orlando, Nashville, Las Vegas, etc.), then you’ll have an idea of what to expect. But the culture, history and layout of the Grevin Wax Museum makes it the perfect stop for the entire family.

Here’s a rundown to help you know what to expect at the Grevin Wax Museum in Paris.

Walk-Through: From Check-in to the Exit Doors

After checking in and getting our tickets, we walked through a hotel lobby and up a grand staircase. We weren’t exactly sure what we were heading to, but eventually found ourselves in a round room full of mirrors and Middle Eastern elephants and statues.

A light show, which lasts about five minutes, is interesting – especially considering the endless reflections of all the mirrors. But when that presentation ends, the door opens to the next room and it’s off to the races.

There are more than 200 wax figures at the Grevin Wax Museum. They’re divided among several rooms. But the wax figures are divided into 10 major categories:

• Film stars: Gérard Depardieu , Leonardo Dicaprio, Nicholas Cage
• Music icons: Katy Perry, Phil Collins
• Sports stars: Kylian Mbappé
• Icons of fashion: Christian Dior, Chantal Thomass
• Politicians and decision makers: Queen Elizabeth, Vladimir Putin
• Famous comedians: Charlie Chaplin, Arturo Brachetti
• Great chefs: Paul Bocuse, Anne-Sophie Pic
• French celebrities: Edith Piaf, Johnny Hallyday,
• Historical characters: Charles de Gaulle, Joan of Arc
• Fictional characters: The Little Prince, Frankenstein

You’ll want to plan on anywhere from two to three hours to fully enjoy your experience. And be sure to have adequate space on your camera card or phone – you’ll be taking a lot of photos and selfies (see photo tips below).

International (and Recognizable) Wax Figures

With wax figures from around Europe, it was challenging to know who I was standing next to or taking a photo of. But we found some we recognized as we wound our way through the halls:

• Queen Elizabeth
• Vladimir Putin
• Donald Trump
• Ryan Gosling
• Michael Jackson
• Lady Gaga
• Mick Jagger
• Jules Verne
• Leonardo da Vinci
• The Pope
• Napoleon

Next to each wax figure is a gold circle (either on the ground near their feet or the wall behind them) that has the name of the wax figure, along with a short sentence about who they are. The text is in both English and French.

The history portion of the museum is a great test of knowledge. Can you identify King Louis XIV (the Sun King at Versailles), Victor Hugo, Joan of Arc or Napoleon? It’s a great learning opportunity (a.k.a. history lesson) in the event you pulled your kids out of school to experience the French culture.

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Find the Props and Photo Opps

As soon as you enter that first room, you’ll start finding photo opps. I’m not talking about simply standing next to a wax figure for a photo; rather sitting down in a news interview setting with Al Pacino or having a magician levitate you a couple of feet off the ground.

Don’t pass by these opportunities. My wife was put in a jail cell, before we were put in the stocks – just glad no one had brought any rotten tomatoes to throw at us.

Grab a photo on the green screen in the sports room, alongside some popular football (a.k.a. soccer) stars.

Tips for Better Photos at the Grevin Wax Museum

One of the biggest mistakes I see people making when they’re grabbing a selfie with a wax figure is to position the camera to where the figure isn’t even looking at the camera. Just think: If you were taking a photo with Nicholas cage, wouldn’t both of you be looking at the camera?

The answer: Yes!

Here are a few additional tips to help you come out of the Grevin Wax Museum with photos you’ll cherish once you return home.

• Position the camera so the wax figure is looking at it, too.
• You can use your cell phone camera in most instances – but a better camera will obviously capture better photos. The challenge will be to increase the ISO so you don’t have blurry photos – namely because it’s dark in some areas of the museum.
• Have fun – meaning engage with the wax figure for a photo – don’t just stand next to it and smile.
• Where possible, find a prop (a roman shield, a hat, etc.)

The Details

Address: 10 Boulevard Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France (Nearest metro stops: Richelieu-Drouot or Grands Boulvards)

Cost: 20-25 Euro for adults; 16-18.5 Euro for children. The Grevin Wax Museum is included in the Paris Attraction Pass and provides Fast Track entrance into the museum.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 to 6 p.m.

Website: https://www.grevin-paris.com/en

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