Louvre Museum
Paris, France
Musée du Louvre
A royal palace turned into the world's most visited museum, home of the Mona Lisa.
Checked 6 October 2026
The Louvre is a former royal palace on the Seine holding around 35,000 works on display, from the Venus de Milo to the Mona Lisa. Since 14 January 2026 visitors from outside the European Economic Area pay €32 instead of €22 (that includes the UK, the US and Switzerland), and the only way to be sure of getting in is a timed ticket from ticket.louvre.fr. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
About Louvre Museum
The Louvre began as a fortress built under King Philip II around 1200, became the main palace of the French kings in the 16th century and opened as a public museum in August 1793, during the Revolution. You can still walk along the base of the medieval walls in the basement of the Sully wing.
Today it is the largest museum in the world by gallery space and the most visited, with close to 9 million visitors a year. Three wings (Denon, Sully and Richelieu) wrap around the Cour Carrée and the Cour Napoléon, where I. M. Pei's glass pyramid has been the main entrance since 1989.
Most people come for three works: the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo. They are all in the Denon wing within ten minutes of each other, which is why that wing is packed while the Near Eastern, Egyptian and northern European galleries can feel almost empty.
The museum is changing. In October 2025 thieves stole eight pieces of the French crown jewels from the Galerie d'Apollon, which led to new security measures. Under the 'Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance' plan announced in January 2025 (architects chosen in May 2026), the museum is to get new underground entrances near the Seine and Rue de Rivoli and a dedicated space for the Mona Lisa, expected around 2031. Until then the visit works as it does today.
What to see
Mona Lisa (Salle des États)
Leonardo's portrait hangs alone behind glass in room 711, Denon wing, level 1. There is a zigzag queue inside the room and you get a short moment at the barrier. Go straight there at opening or late on a Wednesday or Friday evening, and turn round: Veronese's huge Wedding at Cana fills the opposite wall.
Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Hellenistic marble of the goddess Nike stands at the top of the Daru staircase in the Denon wing. You pass her on the way to the Mona Lisa, so stop on the way back when the staircase is quieter.
Venus de Milo
The armless Aphrodite from the island of Milos is in the Greek antiquities on the ground floor of the Sully wing. The Roman antiquities and the Galerie Campana were closed in October 2026, so check the room schedule if you want the full antiquities route.
The great French paintings
Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, Géricault's Raft of the Medusa and David's Coronation of Napoleon hang in the large-format French galleries next to the Mona Lisa room. Far fewer people stop here, and the scale is overwhelming.
Code of Hammurabi
The basalt law stele from Babylon, almost 4,000 years old, is in the Mesopotamian rooms of the Richelieu wing (room 227). This wing has escalators and is usually the quietest part of the museum.
Napoleon III Apartments
Gilded 19th-century state rooms with chandeliers and red velvet on level 1 of the Richelieu wing. The museum warns they may close in hot weather, so check the room schedule on the day.
Medieval Louvre
In the basement of the Sully wing you walk along the moat and foundations of Philip II's fortress. It is a good first stop if you enter early and want to understand the building before the art.
Galerie d'Apollon
The gilded gallery where the crown jewels were stolen in October 2025. News reports say it reopened on 22 July 2026 as a ceremonial hall without display cases or jewels, which are to move to a new strongroom-style room, but the museum's own room list showed it as closed on 6 October 2026. The sources disagree, so check the official room list before you go.
Louvre Museum tickets: which to buy and where
Buy a timed ticket on ticket.louvre.fr: €22 if you are a citizen or resident of the European Economic Area, €32 if you are not. UK, US, Swiss and other non-EEA visitors pay €32, and the price list charges a €15 fee for buying the wrong ticket. Tickets cannot be changed or refunded, and you cannot leave and come back in on the same ticket.
The official ticket site
Musée du Louvre online ticketing
The only official online seller is ticket.louvre.fr, linked from the museum's own site louvre.fr. The museum warns about a rise in mirror sites and says tickets bought from street vendors or sold as 'queue-jumping' may be refused at the door.
Admission ticket, non-EEA visitor rate
€32 adult; free under 18
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Timed entry to the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions (Hall Napoléon shows need their own slot), plus the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix on the same day or the next day it is open
- Best for
- Visitors from outside the EEA, including the UK, US and Switzerland. Skips the ticket queue; everyone still goes through security
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Admission ticket, EEA visitor rate
€22 adult
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Same as above. For citizens of EEA countries, or residents holding a residence permit or a visa of more than 3 months; ID may be checked
- Best for
- EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway citizens and residents aged 26 and over
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Free admission ticket (time slot)
€0
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- A timed slot for anyone entitled to free entry: under 18s, EEA citizens and residents under 26, disabled visitors and one companion, and others listed by the museum. Bring the proof shown when booking
- Best for
- Families with children and young EEA visitors. Without a slot you rely on walk-up entry, which is not guaranteed
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Paris Museum Pass
€85 (2 days), €105 (4 days), €125 (6 days)
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Entry to the Louvre and 50+ other museums and monuments. You still have to book a free Louvre time slot, which only the museum's own booking site issues
- Best for
- Adults planning four or more paid museums in 2 days (the pass's own figure). Not worth it for under 18s or EEA under 26s, who get in free
Paris Museum Pass (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Skip-the-Line Louvre Museum & Mona Lisa Guided Tour
from €68 per person
ResellerSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- 2 to 2.5-hour guided highlights tour with a timed group ticket (the museum's group entry fee is €28 a person, included) and entry through the group entrance; security check still applies
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want a guide, or when official morning slots are gone
GetYourGuide (provider: The Tour Guy) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Louvre Museum: Entry Ticket + Semi-Private Guided Tour
from €159 per person
ResellerSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Entry ticket and a 2.5-hour guided tour, maximum 6 people, English or Spanish
- Best for
- Couples or small families who want a small group without paying for a private guide
Tiqets (provider: Babylon Tours) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- Go to ticket.louvre.fr (from the 'Tickets' link on louvre.fr), pick your date and a time slot, then choose the EEA rate, the non-EEA rate or the free-admission option that applies to you. Under 18s and other free visitors should book a €0 slot too.
- Create an account to finish the order. If the site rejects your email, recent visitors on the Rick Steves forum say a Gmail or similar mainstream address usually works; enter your phone number as one block of digits after the country code.
- Paris Museum Pass holders book a free Louvre slot the same way: the pass's own site links to the museum's booking page and says only a reservation guarantees entry.
- On the day, go to the green queue for ticket and pass holders at the Pyramid, or use the Carrousel or Porte des Lions entrances. Arrive at your slot time; last entry is one hour before closing.
- Tickets are valid only for the chosen date and time and cannot be changed or refunded unless the museum cancels.
Look-alike sites
Search results for Louvre tickets are full of sites that use the Louvre name, photos and 'official' wording. The museum's own domain is louvre.fr, and its ticket shop is ticket.louvre.fr; anything else is a reseller, however it looks. Resellers often charge more than €32 for a plain ticket or sell 'skip-the-line' entry that does nothing a timed official ticket does not. Check the address bar before paying, and note the official price: €22 or €32, with no separate booking fee in the museum's price list.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Louvre Museum
The Louvre's own 'Welcome to the Louvre' highlights tour is the cheapest guided option: €12 on top of admission, 1.5 hours, in English every day at 11:00 and 14:00 and on Fridays at 18:00 and 19:00. A paid tour from a platform mainly buys you a guaranteed slot and a guide who knows the route; it is worth it if official slots are gone or you want depth. For a self-guided visit, the official audio guide costs €6.
Official guided highlights tour
Welcome to the Louvre
Musée du Louvre
Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and the medieval moat with a museum guide. English daily at 11:00 and 14:00, Fridays also 18:00 and 19:00; also French, Spanish and Italian. Meets at the groups reception area. The museum also runs 'Another Louvre', a 1.5-hour tour of quieter rooms.
€12 plus admission (€9 reduced)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Small-group guided tour with entry
Skip-the-Line Louvre Museum & Mona Lisa Guided Tour
The Tour Guy (sold on GetYourGuide)Fast-paced highlights route: Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, Mona Lisa and the big French paintings. Meets at the Louis XIV statue by the Pyramid. English or Spanish; semi-private and private options. Not wheelchair accessible. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Semi-private guided tour with entry
Louvre Museum: Entry Ticket + Semi-Private Guided Tour
Babylon Tours (sold on Tiqets)Maximum 6 people, English or Spanish, meets at the Pyramid. Wheelchair users need to book a private tour instead. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
from €159
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Small-group or private tour with an art historian
Signature Louvre Tour: Mona Lisa & Iconic Works
Context TravelSlower, discussion-led tour that puts the masterpieces in context; entry tickets included. The operator warns that under the Louvre's group rules you must leave with your guide, so staying on afterwards needs a separate ticket.
US$177 small group; US$585 private (charged in US dollars)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Louvre Museum deals and discounts
The official ticket is the best buy for a single visit. The real savings are free entry for under 18s and young EEA residents, the free first Friday evening of the month (not July and August), and the Paris Museum Pass if you will visit four or more paid museums in two days.
Free for under 18s, any nationality
Bring ID showing date of birth and book a free time slot. Adults still need their own €22 or €32 ticket.
Free for EEA citizens and residents under 26
Citizens show photo ID; residents need a residence permit of more than 90 days with name and photo. UK and Swiss under-26s do not qualify unless they live in the EEA.
Free first Friday evening and 14 July
Everyone gets in free after 18:00 on the first Friday of each month, except in July and August, and all day on 14 July. Expect it to be busy; book a free slot.
Free for disabled visitors and one companion
Bring a disability card or certificate. Disabled visitors and their companion also get priority access without queuing.
Two museums on one ticket
Your Louvre ticket also gets you into the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix in Saint-Germain on the same day or the next day it is open (otherwise €9).
Paris Museum Pass
€85 for 2 days, €105 for 4, €125 for 6, counted in hours from first use. The pass says it pays off from the 4th visit on the 2-day pass. You still book a free Louvre slot.
Best time to visit Louvre Museum
Time of day: book the 9:00 slot and walk straight to the Mona Lisa, or come after about 17:00 on a Wednesday or Friday, when the museum is open until 21:00 and the Mona Lisa room thins out. Last entry is an hour before closing and rooms start clearing 30 minutes before.
Days: the museum is closed on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays and Fridays the level 2 rooms (northern European and French paintings) only open at 10:30.
Season: close to 9 million people visit a year and the museum caps entry at around 30,000 a day, so summer and holiday days can sell out. In October 2026 the official calendar offered dates about three months ahead (to 3 January 2027), and morning slots for the next few days were already gone. The free first-Friday evenings (October to June) are busy.
Check the room schedule: renovation closes some galleries on certain weekdays, and in October 2026 parts of the Greek, Roman, Spanish and Islamic galleries were closed. The list is on louvre.fr under 'Open rooms'.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Book even if you get in free
Under 18s, EEA under-26s and pass holders should all book a free timed slot. On busy days walk-up entry can take hours or stop altogether.
From Louvre FAQ and Paris Museum Pass reservation page, 2026
Use Carrousel or Porte des Lions with a ticket
The Carrousel entrance (99 Rue de Rivoli, through the underground shopping centre) and the Porte des Lions on the Seine side take ticket holders and are usually quieter than the Pyramid. Porte des Lions closes at 18:00 (last entry 17:00), is shut on Tuesdays, has no equipment loans and its cloakroom closes at 15:00.
From louvre.fr entrances page, 2026; Rick Steves France forum, 2024
Head straight for the Mona Lisa, then turn round
From the hall under the Pyramid, follow the 'La Joconde' signs into the Denon wing and up past the Winged Victory to room 711. At opening you can reach the barrier with little wait. While the crowd faces her, the Wedding at Cana on the opposite wall goes almost unseen.
From Rick Steves France forum, 2024
Leave big bags behind
Nothing larger than 55 x 35 x 20 cm is allowed in, and suitcases are refused at the door. Free lockers under the Pyramid take smaller bags and must be emptied the same day. Selfie sticks, flash and lighting are not allowed.
From louvre.fr museum rules, 2026
Do not step outside until you are done
Every exit is final, so eat in one of the museum cafés. If you join a guided group, the group rules mean you also leave with the guide, so staying on alone needs a separate ticket.
From louvre.fr museum rules, 2026; Context Travel tour page, 2026
Escape the Denon crowds in Richelieu
The Richelieu wing has escalators and quieter galleries: the Code of Hammurabi, the Napoleon III Apartments, then Vermeer and Rembrandt on level 2. Regular visitors on the forums describe having the Persian tile rooms almost to themselves on busy days.
From Rick Steves France forum, 2024
Decide on a guide by what you want to know
Forum regulars in October 2026 were split: an audio guide (€6) and a written route suit people who want their own pace, while the museum's own 1.5-hour highlights tour suits first-timers who get overwhelmed by the size. Note that the English tour runs only a few times a day.
From Rick Steves France forum, October 2026
Book a museum activity to use the Richelieu entrance
Passage Richelieu is reserved for groups, members and individual visitors taking part in a museum activity, such as an official guided tour. It closes after 17:30 (19:30 on Wednesdays and Fridays).
From louvre.fr entrances page, 2026
See the Tuileries and courtyards for free
You do not need a ticket for the Pyramid courtyard (Cour Napoléon, open 7:30–21:00) or the Tuileries Garden, which has free public toilets near the Concorde and Rue de Rivoli gates.
From louvre.fr hours and admission page, 2026
Book mornings at least a week ahead
In early October 2026 the official calendar had no morning slots left for the next five days (only from 11:30 or 12:00), and the 9:00 slot was gone ten days out. Afternoon slots from 13:00 were still free the next day, so a last-minute booking means an afternoon visit or a Wednesday or Friday evening.
From ticket.louvre.fr booking calendar, October 2026
How to get to Louvre Museum
- Metro: lines 1 and 7 to Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre, the closest stop, or line 14 to Pyramides, about 5 minutes' walk. Line 14 runs direct from Gare de Lyon and, since June 2024, from Orly airport.
- Bus: lines 21, 27, 39, 67, 68, 69, 72, 74, 85 and 95. Batobus river shuttle: Louvre stop on Quai François-Mitterrand, next to the Porte des Lions.
- Taxi: drop-off at the Carrousel roundabout; the nearest pick-up rank is Place André Malraux.
- Car: the Indigo underground car park at 1 Avenue du Général Lemonnier leads straight to the Carrousel entrance and has spaces for disabled drivers.
- Bike: Vélib' stations at 2 Place André Malraux and on Rue Saint-Honoré; bike parking by the Porte des Lions and in front of 158 Rue de Rivoli.
Scams and problems to watch for
Look-alike ticket websites
Copycat sites use the Louvre's name and photos and charge more than the official price, or sell tickets the museum may refuse. The museum itself warns of a rise in mirror sites. The tell-tale sign: the address is not louvre.fr or ticket.louvre.fr, or a plain ticket costs more than €22 or €32.
Street sellers with 'skip-the-line' tickets
People around the Pyramid and the Carrousel sell tickets or 'fast-track' entry. The museum says not to buy them and that you may be refused entry. Nobody skips security, and the only shorter line is the one for timed-ticket holders.
Unlicensed guides offering on-the-spot tours
Only licensed guides may speak to groups inside the galleries, and a guided group must have a booked group slot. Someone offering a cheap tour 'right now' outside cannot get you in faster than your own ticket would.
Pickpockets in the queues and the Mona Lisa room
Organised pickpocket gangs have been a problem at the Louvre for years (staff walked out over them in 2013). The crush in the Mona Lisa room, the hall under the Pyramid and metro line 1 are the obvious spots. Keep your phone and wallet in a zipped front pocket while you take photos.
Buying the cheaper EEA ticket when you are not entitled to it
Not a scam on you, but a trap: the museum's price list includes a €15 fee for an incorrect ticket purchase, on top of the right price. UK, US, Swiss and other non-EEA visitors should buy the €32 ticket unless they live in the EEA with a long-stay permit.
Accessibility
The Louvre is largely step-free. At the Pyramid a cylindrical lift (the 'tube') takes wheelchair users, visitors with reduced mobility and families with prams down to the main hall, and there are lifts throughout the wings. Disabled visitors and one companion get in free with proof and skip the queues at the entrances. The Assistance desk under the Pyramid lends wheelchairs, folding stools, canes, multifunction rolling chairs and sensory bags free of charge in exchange for ID; there are no equipment loans at the Porte des Lions. Accessible parking is in the Carrousel car park (1 Avenue du Général Lemonnier), with a drop-off area on Place du Carrousel. Some platform group tours are not wheelchair accessible, so book a private tour instead. For advance questions use the accessibility form on louvre.fr or call +33 1 40 20 59 90.
Combine it with
Tuileries Garden
The formal garden runs from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde, is free and open from 7:00 (7:30 in winter). It is the natural place to sit down after the museum, and the Musée de l'Orangerie with Monet's Water Lilies is at the far end.
Palais-Royal
Just across Rue de Rivoli from the Richelieu wing: arcaded gardens, Buren's striped columns and quiet cafés. A five-minute walk and a good lunch break.
Musée d'Orsay
The Impressionist collection is across the Seine via the Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor, about a 15-minute walk. It opens on Tuesdays, when the Louvre is closed, so it fills that gap. Its reception area is being renovated until summer 2028.
Île de la Cité
Walk east along the river for 15–20 minutes to Pont Neuf, Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame. The Paris Museum Pass covers Sainte-Chapelle and the Notre-Dame towers, both of which need a time slot.
Eiffel Tower
On SightsaleAbout 3.5 km west along the Seine, 45 minutes on foot along the river, or a short ride by metro or the Batobus river shuttle from the Louvre stop.
Questions people ask about visiting Louvre Museum
How much are Louvre tickets in 2026?
Since 14 January 2026 a ticket costs €22 for citizens and residents of the European Economic Area and €32 for everyone else, including UK, US and Swiss visitors. Under 18s and EEA citizens or residents under 26 get in free. The ticket includes temporary exhibitions and the Delacroix museum.
How do I buy tickets for the Louvre?
Online at ticket.louvre.fr, the museum's only official shop, by choosing a date and time slot. In October 2026 it sold dates about three months ahead; morning slots were sold out about a week ahead, while afternoon slots were still free for the next day. The ticket office on site only sells tickets on days when attendance is low, and tickets cannot be changed or refunded.
Can you skip the line at the Louvre?
A timed ticket or Paris Museum Pass with a booked slot puts you in the faster green queue at the Pyramid, or lets you use the Carrousel and Porte des Lions entrances. Everyone still goes through security. Groups with a licensed guide enter through Passage Richelieu.
Do I need to reserve a time slot with the Paris Museum Pass?
Yes. The pass covers admission, but you must book a free time slot on the Louvre's booking site. The pass's own site says only a reservation guarantees entry, and walk-up entry can be very slow or impossible at busy times (as of October 2026).
What day is the Louvre closed?
Every Tuesday, plus 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. It opens 9:00–18:00 on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and 9:00–21:00 on Wednesday and Friday (as of October 2026).
How do I see the Mona Lisa without the crowds?
Book the 9:00 slot and go straight to room 711 in the Denon wing, following the 'La Joconde' signs, or come after 17:00 on a Wednesday or Friday evening. Expect a short queue inside the room even then.
Is the Louvre free on the first Friday of the month?
Yes, after 18:00 on the first Friday of every month except July and August, and all day on 14 July. The museum advises booking a free time slot even then, as these evenings are busy.
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- From
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Before you go
The things that apply at every big sight: booking ahead, what skip-the-line really means, and the scams that follow tourists everywhere.