Choose weekdays over weekends for a more enjoyable visit to the Louvre. With the museum closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays tend to be busier. For an optimal experience, consider Mondays and Thursdays as the ideal days to explore the renowned art collection.
The Louvre experiences its peak crowds from June to September, making the period between January and April more favorable for visitors seeking a less crowded experience to explore the famed museum's extensive art collections.
Consider visiting the Louvre during the early hours to maximize your exploration of the museum. Evening hours offer a captivating experience with the grand lighting display at the iconic Louvre Pyramid.
Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
The Louvre Museum is located within the grand Louvre Palace, which is situated on the right back of the Seine River.
Closest Landmark: Tuileries Garden (45 m)
Know More About Getting to the LouvreClosest Station: Palais-Royal / Musée du Louvre
Lines 1 & 7 will take you to Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre, the closest metro station to the museum. You can find a ticket redemption center here. Line 14 will drop you at Pyramides, which is a 6-minute walk from the museum.
Closest Stop: Louvre-Rivoli
Take the public bus service in Paris to get dropped directly in front of the Louvre Museum. It's comfortable, convenient, and saves excessive expenditure. Buses 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, and 95 will drop you close to the museum.
Closest Station: Châtelet-les Halles
You can reach Louvre by taking the Lines A, B, or D. The closest RER station to Louvre is Chatelet Les Halles, which is about 8 minutes away by foot.
If you decide to drive down underground parking is available on Avenue du Général Lemonier. Visitors with disabilities can enjoy a reduced car park rate, by going to the dedicated area for visitors with special needs under the Pyramid. If you take a taxi, the nearest drop-off area is at the Carrousel roundabout.
Cycling is a great way to explore the city as you try to make you way to your destination. If you use Velib cycles the closest station near Louvre are No. 1015, 2 place A. Malraux; No. 1023, 165 rue Saint-Honoré; No. 1014, 5 rue de l’Echelle, and, No. 1013, 186 rue Saint-Honoré. Cycles can also be parked in front of the École du Louvre, near the Porte des Lions.
If you are in Paris, you would be remiss to miss out on the experience of going on a Seine River Cruise. This is a great way to sightsee Paris. The Bateaux Parisiens/ Batobus makes nine stops along the River Seine and the closest one to the Louvre is Quai François-Mitterrand.
The Louvre Museum is visited by approximately 15,000 visitors each day. Considering its popularity, one can expect long lines in front of the museum. However, don’t let this discourage you, as there are ways for you to skip the line and enter the museum.
Tickets to the Louvre museum sell out weeks in advance, so you need to prepare in advance to gain entry. You can purchase skip the line tickets, where you can select the date and time of your choice and reserve the slot based on your preference. This way is more convenient, less chaotic, and you get to begin your experience without having to wait in long queues.
By going on a guided tour you can skip the lines and enter the Louvre with an expert guide who will take you through the highlights of the venue, and to answer any questions you might have. Discover the highlights in a small group and learn about some of the most important artworks in history in an intimate manner. While this option is slightly more expensive, it is worth every penny.
The Louvre museum opens at 9 AM every day except for Tuesdays, which is when you can expect the least crowd. Arrive at least 15 minutes early to avoid any delay, because once you miss the designated time slot, it can be difficult to access the venue. Enjoy priority access by reaching early and begin your experience by gaining direct entry into the museum.
Four entrances can be used to enter the museum:
If you don't want to go on a guided tour but want a more enriching experience, get hold on the audio guide. You can explore the museum's collection and learn about the palace, the artworks and their history, with the help of the audio guide on New Nintendo 3DS.
The audio guide is available in 9 languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. If you are feeling lost, don't worry. The audio guide uses geo-location to allow you to check which level and which part of the museum you are at. The audio guide also includes commentaries on the temporary exhibitions (in French & English only).
The audio guide can be rented for €5. One person can rent up to six audio guides.
If you prefer a self-guided tour but are unsure about where to begin, following one of the walking trails is your best bet. You can choose the tour based on how much time you plan to spend in the museum and your areas of interest.
Gift shops are closed on Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December. You can also visit the Louvre online boutique.
You will find a varied selection of restaurants, cafes and takeaway counters at Louvre. While some have been temporarily closed due to the pandemic, rest assured that you will still be spoilt for choice.
If you are visiting the Louvre with your family, here are a few things to keep in mind to make the most of your visit.
These are some of the facilities that you can take advantage of so that visiting the Louvre with your family is made a more comfortable experience:
Whether on a self-guided or guided tour, if you are travelling as a group, here are some things to keep in mind.
The Louvre is open from Wednesday to Monday, 9 am to 6 pm. Louvre Museum remains closed on Tuesdays.
The best time to visit the Louvre is on a weekday during the months between January and April. Visit during the early hours of a Monday or Thursday to avoid crowds.
No, it is recommended to reserve a time slot before entering the museum.
It can take you days to explore the Louvre palace in its entirety. To visit the most famous masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, The Raft of the Medusa, and more, head to the Denon wing. You will be able to explore the wing in an hour or two. If have the whole day, head to the Sully and Richelieu wings, as well.
Once you exit the Louvre, you will not be able to re-enter the museum with the same ticket.
Free admission will be granted to the Louvre museum for guests that are under the age of 18, EU residents under the age of 25, visitors with disabilities and the person accompanying them, and teachers of art and art history.
Yes, usually, independent tour guides can accompany groups of a maximum of 25 people.
The Louvre is located at Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France.
Taking the metro or the bus would be the most convenient way to get to the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Louvre Museum in Paris has 4 entrances: I.M. Pei Pyramid, Carrousel du Louvre, Passage Richelieu, and Porte des Lions
There is no mandatory dress code to be followed. However, It's going to be a long walk within the venue so ensure you carry plenty of water and wear comfortable shoes for an enjoyable visit. You can also borrow walking sticks and foldable chairs from the Museum Centre for free.
Prams are allowed inside the Louvre. You can also borrow a pram or a front baby carrier from the Help Desk under the Pyramid for the duration of your visit.
Yes, the Louvre organizes many activities for children such as workshops, storytelling sessions, and more at the Studio. However, these activities are conducted in French.
Yes, you are allowed to photos and videos of the permanent collections for personal use. However, use of selfie sticks, flash or lighting is not allowed.
Freehand lead pencil sketches on paper or light cardboard not exceeding 50 x 40 cm are permitted in the permanent collection and temporary exhibition galleries. However, you cannot obstruct the view or movement of other visitors.
Yes, the Louvre Paris has a cloakroom that you can use free of charge to store your belongings for the duration of your visit.
No, helmets, suitcases, large bags, and any items exceeding 55 x 35 x 20 cm will not be allowed in the museum.
Yes, one can rent strollers or wheelchairs by asking a staff member at the Help Desk.
The museum has a vast collection, and to see everything you might need to plan your visit for multiple days. However, if you want to make the best of your first visit, plan ahead and go for the exhibits you want to see the most. You can even opt to use one of the walking trails recommended by the museum.