The Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museumone of the most celestial museums from Francelocated in the heart of Parisis a veritable showcase for art and history enthusiasts. Formerly the palace of the kings of France, it boasts remarkable collections spanning the ages and cultures of France, from Antiquity to the present day.

If you're captivated by the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace, or the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Nicolas Poussin, or Eugène Delacroix, the Louvre is sure to fill you with wonder. But how do you organize your visit to explore this colossal museum without missing a thing? This article gives you all the tips and advice you need to plan your discovery of the Louvre, so you can enjoy its wonders with complete peace of mind.

Find out more about the the Mona Lisa, read our detailed article here.

Before you leave

Prepare your visit to the Musée du Louvre by checking timetables and prices, planning your itinerary and means of transport, and selecting the type of ticket best suited to your needs and budget. Follow these tips for the best possible experience.

Access times and prices

The Musée du Louvre is open every day except Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.and offers late-night openings until 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Note that it is closed on January 1, May 1, December 25, and exceptionally on July 25 and 26, 2024, due to the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. Admission is €22, giving access to the permanent collections, temporary exhibitions and the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix on the day of your visit and the day after.

Free admission is available to certain categories of visitors, such as under-18s, under-26s from the European Economic Area, visitors with disabilities, teachers, and ICOM and ICOMOS members. For more details on the conditions of free admission, visit the official museum website.

Plan route and means of transport

Located at 99 Rue de Rivoli, in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, the Musée du Louvre is within easy reach. Take the metro (lines 1 and 7, Palais-Royal Musée du Louvre station), bus (lines 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81 and 95, Palais-Royal Musée du Louvre or Pyramides stops), or RER (line C, Musée d'Orsay station).

If you prefer to come by car, underground parking is available at the Carrousel du Louvre, accessible via avenue du Général Lemonnier and open from 7am to 11pm. Cyclists will find Vélib' stations nearby.

Choice of tickets: standard ticket, queue-cutting ticket or museum pass

To enter the Musée du Louvre, you need to book a visit online, even if you are a free visitor or have an access card. Buy your ticket via the museum's official online sales site or at the official ticket office. Choose between a standard ticket for access to the collections and exhibitions, a "coupe-file" ticket to avoid waiting times, or a "pass musées" to explore several Paris museums over a given period.

Consider booking an audioguide, guided tour, workshop or cultural activity directly on the museum website.

Musée du Louvre - During your visit

You've finally arrived at the Louvre, ready to immerse yourself in its artistic treasures. But how do you find your way through the thousands of works of art spread across a maze of rooms and corridors? How do you select the pieces that most captivate your interest from among the abundance and variety of collections? And how can you take advantage of the services and tools at your disposal to enrich your visit? Here are a few tips to make your visit to the Louvre a memorable experience.

Navigating inside the museum: practical tips

The Musée du Louvre is organized into three main wings: Denon, Sully and Richelieu, names inherited from the ministries that once occupied the palace. These wings are divided into departments, grouping works by geographic origin and historical period. Thus, you'll find French paintings in the Denon wing, Egyptian antiquities in the Sully wing, and sculptures from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Modern periods in the Richelieu wing.

To find your way around, download the museum map from the official website, or pick one up free of charge at the information points beneath the Pyramid. The signposts are also there to guide you to the museum's main attractions. If you need help, don't hesitate to ask the museum staff, who are always on hand to provide information and guidance.

Must-see works at the Louvre

With a collection of over 500,000 works, of which almost 35,000 are on display, it's impossible to see everything in one visit. So it's a good idea to select works according to your preferences, your desires and the time you have available. Consult the visit itineraries on the museum website to discover thematic or chronological itineraries, adapted to the length of your visit.

Let your curiosity lead you, too, as you wander through the rooms, discovering the works that catch your eye. Among the must-sees are the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace, the Raft of the Medusa, Liberty Guiding the People and the Virgin of Chancellor Rolin, all world-renowned and admired masterpieces.

Use the museum's services: instructions, audio guides and applications

Maximize your experience at the Louvre by using the services and tools on offer. Leave bulky items in the checkrooms and lockers under the Pyramid. To enhance your visit, rent an audio-guide with adapted commentary in several languages, including French sign language and audio description. Download the free museum app to access multimedia content on the collections and exhibitions, as well as an interactive map to help you find your way around.

And if you need a break, the museum's many restaurants and cafés offer a variety of dining options.

Maximizing the experience

Get ready for a memorable visit to the Musée du Louvre. To enrich your experience, consider taking part in guided tours or workshops, exploring the temporary exhibitions and following our tips for an enjoyable visit.

Take part in guided tours or workshops

The Musée du Louvre offers a variety of cultural activities to suit all ages and tastes. Opt for enriching guided tours with a lecturer or mediator, choosing from options that are thematic, chronological or tailored to the length of your visit. Or take part in hands-on workshops to experiment with artistic techniques, create your own work, or play with shapes and colors. These workshops, designed for adults, families and children, are often held in conjunction with temporary exhibitions.

For reservations, visit the museum website or call 01 40 20 52 63.

Explore temporary exhibitions

Temporary exhibitions of the Musée du Louvre are an opportunity to discover previously unseen works and surprising aspects of art and history. In 2024, don't miss "Masterpieces from the Torlonia Collection", featuring ancient sculptures from Italy's prestigious private collection, or "Olympism: a modern invention, an ancient heritage", exploring the link between the modern Olympic Games and ancient Greece. Access to the temporary exhibitions requires online booking, including admission to the permanent collections.

Tips for a pleasant visit: best time of year, recommended duration, etc.

A visit to the Louvre should be a pleasure. Choose the time of your visit wisely: the museum is less crowded in the mornings, on weekdays, and outside school vacation periods. Nights on Wednesdays and Fridays offer a quieter atmosphere. Adapt the length of your visit to your needs and interests, and don't hesitate to take breaks in the Carrousel or Tuileries gardens. Remember to stay hydrated, protect yourself from the sun and respect health regulations.

The Musée du Louvre is a place for culture, pleasure and sharing. Make the most of your visit!

Musée du Louvre - Conclusion

At this stage, you have all the information you need. to organize your visit to the Musée du Louvre, the world's most emblematic and busiest art museum. You'll find out how to book your ticket, transport options to get there, tips for navigating the collections, services and tools available to enrich your visit, as well as ways to maximize your experience with guided tours, discovering temporary exhibitions and following expert advice. Now it's time to take the plunge and let yourself be captivated by the wonders the Louvre has to offer, ready to be discovered beneath the famous Pyramid.

Don't forget to share your experience, impressions and photos on social networks using the hashtag #Louvre. We wish you an unforgettable visit!

Musée du Louvre - FAQ

What are the opening times and prices of the Louvre Museum?

The Musée du Louvre is open from Wednesday to Monday, 9am to 6pm, with late-night openings on Wednesdays and Fridays until 9:45pm. Admission is €22 for adults, and free for under-18s, under-26s from the European Economic Area (EEA), and other special categories.

How do I book a ticket for the Louvre?

To book a ticket for the Musée du Louvre, we recommend you buy your ticket online, either via the museum's official website or via partner sites. When purchasing, you'll need to select a date and time slot for your visit. This ticket gives you access not only to the Louvre's permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, but also to the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix on the day of your visit and the day after.

What are the Louvre's most famous and unmissable works of art?

Among the must-see works at the Musée du Louvre are Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Jacques-Louis David's Coronation of Napoleon, Paolo Veronese's Marriage at Cana, Théodore Géricault's Raft of the Medusa and Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's Death of the Virgin. These major historical and artistic masterpieces attract millions of visitors every year.

How do I get to the Louvre by public transport or by car?

To get to the Musée du Louvre by public transport, you can choose between the metro, bus, RER and batobus. The nearest metro stations are Palais-Royal - Musée du Louvre (lines 1 and 7), Louvre-Rivoli (line 1) and Tuileries (line 1). The nearest RER station is Châtelet - Les Halles (lines B and D). Bus stops and a batobus stop are also nearby.

If you prefer to come by car, head for the center of Paris and follow the signs to the Louvre. Underground parking is available at 1 avenue du Général-Lemonnier, accessible via the Carrousel du Louvre shopping mall.

Disabled visitors benefit from a reduced rate, and can go to the museum's "Assistance" area under the Pyramid for further information.