Villa Savoye

The Basics

An easy afternoon trip outside of Paris, Villa Savoye is a favorite destination for architecture and design buffs. Self-guided tours of the house take an hour, and guided tours are offered once or twice a week—check the website for up-to-date information. When booking tickets to Villa Savoye, skip-the-line admission is a time-saving option; if you’re visiting multiple sites around Paris, consider a budget-friendly pass that includes entry at multiple stops.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Since the free, guided tours of Villa Savoye enhance the experience, it’s worth planning ahead to visit when one is available.

• The on-site bookshop and gift shop offer great souvenirs for design lovers.

• The Villa Savoye is open to wheelchairs, but a gravel access road and steep ramp mean visitors need an accompanying person.

How to Get There

Located in the town of Poissy, 17 miles (27 kilometers) northeast of Paris, Villa Savoye can be reached by car or by a combination of train and bus. If arriving by train, take the RER line A to Poissy station, then take bus 50 towards La Coudraie to Villa Savoye. Alternately, Villa Savoye is a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) walk from the Poissy train station.

When to Get There

Villa Savoye is open Tuesday through Sunday. From September through April, hours are 10am to 5pm. From May through August, opening hours are extended to 6pm. The house is closed on May 1, November 1 and 11, and December 25–January 1.

Other Sights in Poissy

While Villa Savoye is Poissy’s star attraction, there’s plenty to fill a day of sightseeing here. Start at the Collégiale Notre-Dame de Poissy, a Catholic church a short walk from the train station, then check out the quirky Toy Museum (Musée du Jouet). Don’t leave without tasting Noyau de Poissy, a local liqueur made from apricot kernels. Take a tour of the downtown distillery, which also offers liqueur tastings.

Ways to explore

Set aside a couple of hours for visiting Villa Savoye. Wander freely around the villa during a self-guided tour, with information available at reception in multiple languages to give you context on the estate and its modernist history. You can also join a guided tour; tours are free and included with each ticket, but they’re only available at select times, so check in advance if you’re intent on joining one. Alternatively, pay extra for an audio guide. Entrance to the Villa Savoye is included with the Paris Pass.

Accessibility

The villa is accessible to visitors with disabilities, but there is no wheelchair-accessible restroom. Free entry is offered to visitors with disabilities and a companion. Service animals are welcome.

Age limits

None; visitors 18 and younger enter for free. Note that strollers aren’t permitted inside.

What to pack

Bring any snacks you might need, as there’s no food for sale at Villa Savoye. You’ll find restaurants in Poissy, a 15-minute walk away.

What to wear

Whatever is most comfortable for sightseeing.

Not allowed

Strollers (inside the house), pets, suitcases and large bags, smoking in the house and grounds

Amenities

Bookshop, audio guide, restrooms

Address

Villa Savoye is located just outside Paris in the town of Poissy in the western suburbs. It may seem far, but it is easily reached by public and private transportation; it is well worth the time it takes to get here.

Driving

From Porte de Saint-Cloud, merge onto A13 and take exit number 7 to Poissy. Take D153/Porte Maillot/A14 until exit number 6, then D153 until exit number 5. Follow signs for Villa Le Corbusier.

Public transportation

Take RER A (stopping at Chatelet-Les Halles) to Poissy. From the station, you can take bus line 3 toward La Coudraie and get off at Villa Savoye, arrange for a taxi, or walk for 30 minutes.

Best times to visit

Guided tours are offered Saturday and Sunday mornings year-round, and every day in summer.

Best days to visit

Villa Savoye is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays. Weekdays are usually quieter.

Best months to visit

April through June, when Le Corbusier’s rooftop garden is in bloom.

Special events

In early September, the City of Light hosts Paris Design Week, a 10-day festival. Expect pop-up events, meet-and-greets with designers, festive window displays, and gallery and store openings.