Timeline
16:06
Start with a Bloody Mary at Harry's New York Bar. The legend says the cocktail was invented here by Fernand Petiot, and Hemingway was a regular. It is a sturdy, classic way to begin the evening. The bar is open from 10:30 until 04:00, so it is fully open.
16:36
Walk to the Musée d'Orsay. The museum is open until 18:00 on weekdays (and until 21:45 on Thursdays). Even if you do not enter, the exterior and the surrounding area offer a perfect vantage point. The museum closes at 18:00, so ensure you are there before then if you plan to go inside. The sun sets at 17:21, so you will have time to view the building as the light fades.
17:21
Stand by the Seine opposite the museum. The sun sets toward the WSW. The light hits the water and the Beaux-Arts façade of the station, creating a dramatic contrast between the warm gold and the cooling blue of the twilight. This is the moment the city shifts from day to night.
18:06
End the evening at Café de Flore. This famous café has been a haunt for the Surrealists, Existentialists, and artistic crowds for decades. It is open from 07:30 until 01:30, so it is the perfect place to linger over a final drink and watch the night life of the Left Bank begin. The walk from the museum is about 13 minutes.
Local tip
The museum is open until 21:45 on Thursdays. If you are visiting on a Thursday, you can stay inside and see the Impressionist collection after the sun has set, but the outdoor golden light experience is best done before 18:00 when the museum is still open for entry if you wish to pop in.
Check before you go
- Musée d'Orsay closes at 18:00 (21:45 on Thursdays).
- Harry's New York Bar opens at 10:30.
- Café de Flore opens at 07:30 and closes at 01:30.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Paris (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).