The Louvre: Visiting an Iconic Paris Museum

Paris has many intriguing museums covering various topics, from the city’s history to fashion and art. It can be hard to pick which ones to visit, but the Louvre is perhaps one of Paris’ most iconic museums and is the largest and most visited museum in the world. So we’d say it’s worth checking out!

It was our first time in Paris, and we were eager to see some of the sculptures, famous works of art, and other artifacts held in the numerous exhibits. Because the Louvre is such a popular spot to visit, a little planning is necessary for a smooth visit. Here, we’ll cover some of the need-to-know information and some tips for visiting the museum.

About The Louvre

The Louvre wasn’t always a museum. A fortress was built here in the 1190s, and pieces of the old fortress walls can still be seen in the lower levels of the museum today. A palace took its place in the mid-1500s. Multiple French monarchs added on to and lived in this royal residence until Louis XIV relocated to Versailles in the 1680s. It became a museum in 1793.

Some of the old fortress walls visible in the Louvre

As mentioned above, the Louvre is the largest museum in the world, containing around 490,000 pieces in its collection database. These date from over 9,000 years ago to more contemporary works. Thousands of people visit the museum every day, many hoping to catch a glimpse of famous pieces, like the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. But there are many, many other incredible works to see here!

Getting to the Louvre

The Louvre is in a great location with many things to do and see around the museum. The closest metro stations are Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre served by lines 1 and 7 and Louvre – Rivoli via line 1.

Many buses stop right around the Louvre too, including lines 21, 27, 39, 67, 68, 69, 72, 74, 85, and 95.

There are many other metro and bus stations in the area as well. Click here for maps showing the various lines and stops. Google Maps also has bus, metro, and RER stops pretty well marked.

Once at the Louvre, head to the Pyramid Entrance (the main entrance) and find your corresponding line. There are different lines for those without tickets, those with tickets or a Paris Pass, carriers of a specific membership cards, and those who qualify for priority access.

During certain busier times, the Louvre opens other entrances – Carrousel, Richelieu, and Porte des Lions. Check the website to see the opening status and whether you fit into a category that is permitted to enter via those entrances.

The pyramid is the main entrance, but check to see if the others are open because they often have shorter lines

Fees

Tickets purchased online cost €17 per person, whereas they cost €15 if you purchase them at the museum.

Individuals under 18, EEA residents under 26, disabled visitors, and others may qualify for free admission. There is free admission for all on the first Friday of the month (minus July and August) after 6 p.m.

To buy tickets online in advance and to see the various ticket options, click here.

Paris Pass

If you have the 4 or 6-day Paris Pass, admission to the Louvre is included once you pick up the included Paris Museum Pass. However, you still need to reserve your timeslot online. Just select the option that states you already have a Paris Pass and then confirm your time slot.

An old piece of pottery that has been re-pieced together. The Louvre doesn't just contain sculptures and paintings! — An old piece of pottery that has been re-pieced together. The Louvre doesn’t just contain sculptures and paintings!

Hours

The Louvre is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. On Fridays, it’s open from 9 a.m. until 9:45 p.m. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

The last admission is permitted one hour before closing. Visitors must vacate 30 minutes before closing.

We recommend checking the website for updates in case of any closures or holiday hours. Additionally, various exhibits are often closed for renovations, maintenance, and weather, so check the status of the galleries before your visit, especially if you have certain pieces you want to see.

Tips for Visiting the Louvre

1. Plan out your visit ahead of time

At any given time, there are about 35,000 pieces on display at the Louvre spread between hundreds of rooms in multiple wings of the building. If you spent 30 seconds at each of these pieces for 24 hours a day, it would take you over 12 days to see everything! And you’ll want more than 30 seconds at some of the remarkable works. So, it really is impossible to see everything in a day.

That’s why we recommend taking a look at the museum map before your visit. That way, you can make a reasonable plan for the exhibits and specific pieces you want to see in the given time you plan to spend there. This museum is HUGE, so taking a look at the map beforehand will help you get your bearings a little easier once inside.

The directions to exhibits in the Louvre are pretty well marked and you can also grab a map while there. We just kept the online one up on our phone in case we needed it.

There are so many beautiful paintings on display here

2. Book your tickets in advance

Though booking online is a bit more expensive than buying tickets upon arrival, we think it is worth it because this guarantees your access to the museum. Tickets for those who plan to buy them on site can be limited.

Additionally, the line for those who have a ticket and time slot moves faster, so you’ll spend less of your time waiting in line.

There are too many things to see inside in the museum to spend extra time waiting in line!

3. Budget a little extra time to see the most popular pieces

Popular works, particularly the Mona Lisa, often have a crowd gathered around them. If you want to see some of these famous pieces, give yourself a little extra time because you may have to wait a bit to make it to the front of the crowd to see them.

4. Don’t Visit the Louvre just for the Mona Lisa

Sure, the Mona Lisa is great and is one of the most renowned pieces of art in the world. But the Louvre is full of so many amazing works of art that are also worth seeing.

From sculptures, like the Great Sphinx and Venus de Milo, to stunning paintings, including The Raft of Medusa and Coronation of Napoleon, there is such an incredible display of artistic variety here. The building itself is a work of art.

The intricate ceiling of one of the rooms in the Louvre

5. Leave large and prohibited items at the hotel

All visitors have to go through a security check to enter the museum.

Large bags/suitcases are not permitted in the museum and cannot be stored here. The size limit is 55 x 35 x 20 cm (21.6 x 13.8 x 7.9 in). Selfie sticks, tripods, bike helmets, and food or drink are not permitted in the exhibition areas either.

There are free lockers available to store smaller items, like your backpack (limited to the previously mentioned size), jacket, umbrella, or other items you may not want to carry through the museum. We’d recommend leaving all but your essentials at the hotel if possible and avoid bringing in your own food or drink (minus water) to avoid any hassle at security.

6. Take a deeper dive into the Louvre

If you’d like to take a deeper dive into the history of the museum, learn more about specific pieces of art, etc., you can take a guided tour. Learn more about the guided tours offered by the Louvre here. You can also find tour options from independent operators, such as those found on Get Your Guide and Viator.

Additionally, there are audio guides available in several different languages for €5. These can also be reserved ahead of time if you book your tickets online.