IS THE DIOR MUSEUM ACTUALLY WORTH IT?

The Dior Museum is not only one of the most iconic museums in Paris, but one of the most famous museums globally. Considering that Paris is the fashion capital of the world, it's no surprise that tourists come from near and far to experience Parisian fashion in a variety of ways. The Dior Museum is a great way to not only encounter this luxury fashion, but to also understand how the brand's vision came to life. If you're looking to visit this popular spot in Paris, take a look at my guide. I recently went to the Dior Museum so I have all the tips and tricks so that you can save yourself time and so you can know exactly what to expect!

WHAT IS THE DIOR MUSEUM?

The Dior Museum, also known as La Galerie Dior, is a museum that takes you through the life of famous Parisian designer Christian Dior and shows how Dior came to be the designer we know him as today. It not only showcases his early work but also some of his most famous pieces, complete with an iconic spiral staircase of miniature dresses, hand bags, and shoes organized in rainbow order. The museum itself is 13 rooms that are spread across three floors, including a cafe and a gift shop, and most of the displays are of dresses. The exhibits also feature the work of Dior's six successors.

WHERE IS THE DIOR MUSEUM?

La Galerie Dior is located at 11 Rue François 1er in Paris, France 75008. It is nestled in the 8th arrondissement on the right bank of the Seine, and it is very close to the famous Avenue Montaigne. The Dior clothing store is on the same block at the corner, with the Dior restaurant Monsieur Dior between the Dior store and the Dior museum. There are countless luxury stores in the vicinity as well, including but not limited to Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Jimmy Choo, and Versace.

WHAT MAKES THE DIOR MUSEUM SO POPULAR?

The Dior Museum is so popular because of it's iconic spiral staircase organized with thousands of miniature dresses, handbags, and shoes, and because of its gorgeous exhibits featuring well-known Christian Dior gowns. This is not your the typical experience you picture when you think of the word "museum". La Galerie Dior allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world of luxury fashion, walking through exhibits with some of the world's most beautiful clothing and accessories.

MY OPINION ON THE DIOR MUSEUM

Before going to the Dior Museum, I had seen a few photos and videos on social media. I was excited to go because I had heard good things, but I was absolutely blown away by La Galerie Dior. When visiting, you start by taking the elevator all the way to the top floor of the museum, which is the third floor. You then begin by learning a little bit about Christian Dior and his childhood, where he grew up, the jobs he had, and how he got into fashion. Then comes the dresses. I saw probably about 100 dresses of all different colors, fabrics, and silohuettes, and they were all stunning. Not only that, but the way each dress was shown off in different exhibits was true art. There were rooms that were completely dark, rooms with installations coming from the ceiling, and more. Everywhere I looked there was something eye catching that made me both want to sit there forever looking at that particular exhibit, but also so excited and eager to see what was next. Overall, I went with my friend who is a seamstress and with my sister, and despite the fact that two out of three of us don't know that much about fashion, we were all equally enthused. We agreed that this was one of the top things we did on our trip to Paris, and that we would go back in the future.

No, it is not free to visit La Galerie Dior in Paris unless you are an unemployed individual, child under the age of 10, disabled visitor with one accompanying person, professional journalist with a valid press card, tour guide with professional ID, or you're an artistic member of the Maison des Artistes. Everyone else must pay a full or reduced admission price.

HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS TO THE DIOR MUSEUM?

The full price for a ticket to La Galerie Dior in Paris is €14. There is a reduced rate of €10 for students between the ages of 10-26 and for teachers. The following individuals are allowed entry into the Dior Museum for free:

DO YOU NEED A RESERVATION TO VISIT THE DIOR MUSEUM?

While reservations are not mandatory to visit La Galerie Dior, they are strongly recommended. To make a reservation, simply click here, choose a time slot, and make sure to have your ticket downloaded onto your phone when you arrive. The museum is open every day from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm except on Tuesdays and holidays, and last entry is at 5:30 pm every evening, so there are plenty of time slots to choose from. If you do make a reservation, there will be a special line when you arrive which is usually much shorter than the que for visitors who did not make a reservation. If you do not make a reservation you will still be permitted to enter but will likely have to wait in line.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GO THROUGH THE DIOR MUSEUM?

It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to get through all three floors of the Dior Museum. If you plan on stopping at the cafe/ gift shop or you just really love fashion, then I would advise you save about 2.5 to 3 hours to experience La Galerie Dior. This does not include the time you may have to wait outside before going into the museum.

ARE THE EXHIBITS IN THE DIOR MUSEUM ALWAYS CHANGING?

While the Dior museum does feature a permanent collection, there are also multiple temporary exhibits that rotate to showcase specific aspects of fashion, collaborations, or different designers who succeeded Christian Dior. If you're looking to find out which specific exhibits will be there when you visit the Dior Museum, make sure to head to the La Galerie Dior website. They usually post announcements about certain rotating exhibits and when they begin and end.

IS THERE A CAFE IN THE DIOR MUSEUM?

Yes, there is a cafe in the Dior Museum! This cafe is open from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm. It is only open to visitors, which means you must buy a ticket to La Galerie Dior in order to visit their cafe. It is located on the 2nd floor in the middle of the museum, and they serve everything from pastries and chocolates to sandwiches.

WHAT TO WEAR TO THE DIOR MUSEUM

While there is no official dress code for the Dior museum, most visitors dress in stylish casual because of the elegant setting. You can wear sneakers, jeans, whatever you think would be best to keep you comfortable while you're walking at a leisurely pace through the museum. However, if you plan on visiting the Dior store at the corner of the same street that La Galerie Dior is on, then I'd advise you dress business casual.

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