The Louvre, undoubtedly the most famous museum in Paris, is an absolute must-visit for tourists and art enthusiasts alike. We highly recommend a visit to the Louvre; the extensive exhibits are something that everyone should experience at least once.

Louvre Paris – Information on Admission Price, Tickets, Opening Hours, Wait Time, and Additional Tips

The Louvre, undoubtedly the most famous museum in Paris, is an absolute must-visit for tourists and art enthusiasts alike. We highly recommend a visit to the Louvre; the extensive exhibits are something that everyone should experience at least once. With daily visitor numbers reaching up to 25,000, long wait times at the entrance can be expected, particularly during the summer months and on weekends.

The history of the Louvre dates back to the 12th century when King Philip II ordered the construction of the castle to conduct his government affairs. Over the centuries, it served as a palace for various French monarchs, including Charles V, Francis I, and Louis XIV.

During the French Revolution in 1793, the Louvre was declared and opened as a museum. The intention was to make the art collections of the king and the state accessible to the public. In subsequent years, the museum was expanded and renovated to accommodate ever-growing numbers of visitors.

Today, the Louvre houses an impressive collection of art from around the world, including works from antiquity, the Renaissance, the Baroque period, and modern times. Some of the most famous works housed in the Louvre include Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," the "Venus de Milo," and the "Winged Victory of Samothrace."

The Louvre is also renowned for its striking architecture and its impressive collection of ancient and medieval sculptures. Since 1989, it has been the most-visited museum in the world, attracting millions of tourists every year.

How can I get to the Louvre?

The Louvre is located in the middle of the city (zone 1), on the banks of the Seine, and is very easily accessible by metro, bus, or train. The metro lines 1 & 7 stops at the station "Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre" directly at the Louvre. Alternatively, you can also use the metro station "Louvre-Rivoli" of line 1. If you want to go for a walk in the large park "Jardin des Tuileries" before or after your visit to the Louvre, you can get on or off at the station “Concorde” (lines 1, 8, 12).

It is just as easy to get to the Louvre Museum by public bus. The bus lines 21, 69, 70 and 72 stop only a few meters from the Louvre. It is best to use the bus stop “Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre”. If you want to travel by regional train, you can take the train line “RER C”. This stops at the station "Musée d'Orsay ". This is located exactly opposite the Louvre on the other side of the Seine. In a few minutes walk you can reach the museum with all its attractions.

Address	Transport
Pyramide du Louvre 75001 Paris	Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre
	Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre
	Musée d'Orsay

How much is the entrance fee to the Louvre?

Since January 15, 2024, the admission price for a standard adult ticket to the Louvre has increased to 22 Euros. However, for a faster and smoother entry, we recommend purchasing online tickets, which are available from 17 Euros. Children and teenagers under 18 years of age continue to enjoy free admission. Additionally, young adults from the EU under the age of 26 have the opportunity to visit the Louvre for free at any time.

To avoid long waiting times, it is advisable to purchase tickets in advance online. This can easily be done through our partner sites. In addition to regular admission, the Louvre also offers various guided tours that provide an in-depth experience of the collections. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased directly from the Louvre's website at a price of 22 Euros. Plan your visit in advance to make the most of your Louvre experience.

Type	Ticket price (on site / Online)
Adult	22.00 Euro / from 17.00 Euro
Children (<18 Years)	Free
EU citizens (<26 Years)	Free
Audio Guide	6,00 Euro

Book Louvre Paris Tickets alternative offered

What are the opening hours of the Louvre?

The Louvre is open all year round, except Tuesdays. Individual closing days are January 1, May 1, December 25, 26, and 31. Due to the current coronal age, the opening hours for all days have been adjusted. The long opening hours until 21:45 on Wednesday and Friday have been temporarily cancelled.

Day	Opening hours
Monday	09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	closed
Wednesday	09:00 - 18:00
Thursday	09:00 - 18:00
Friday	09:00 - 18:00
Saturday	09:00 - 18:00
Sunday	09:00 - 18:00

What are the waiting times like at the Louvre?

As the Louvre is one of the most visited museums and attractions in Paris, there can be very long wait times. In the summer months and peak season, waiting times of over 3 hours are not uncommon, rather the rule. Since security checks similar to those at an airport are carried out at the entrance to the Louvre, this leads to very long waiting times. If you purchase tickets online in advance, you can at least shorten a large part of the waiting time. Holders of a valid ticket for the Louvre have their own waiting areas or queues. But you don't have to queue again at the cash desks or ticket machines. This way, you should be in the Louvre in less than 30 minutes. We recommend that you buy tickets at least 4-5 days in advance. This will save you a lot of stress and time, and furthermore, tickets are often sold out at short notice. In the peak season, you should book your ticket at least 14 days in advance.

You usually have the shortest waiting times in the late afternoon when most visitors have already left the Louvre or are already in the Louvre.

How do I get into the Louvre in Paris or what entrances are there?

Most visitors to the Louvre use the main entrance through the glass pyramid in the forecourt of the Louvre. It can take several hours to get inside the Louvre. Especially for all visitors who do not yet have a ticket, as only the pyramid provides these visitors with access to the cash desks. For those who already have a ticket for the Louvre, there are other entrances. As already written, most visitors use the access via the pyramid, so the waiting times are longest at this entrance. Most visitors only know this one entrance, but there are 3 more entrances to the Louvre.

The "Richelieu" entrance is reserved only for guided groups and members of the Louvre, and is therefore uninteresting for the normal visitor. The situation is quite different with the "Carrousel" and "Porte des Lions" entrances. In addition to groups and members, visitors who already have a ticket can also enter the Louvre via these entrances. At the two aforementioned entrances, the waiting times are usually significantly shorter than at the main entrance, as most visitors are not aware of them.

Where can I buy tickets for the Louvre Paris?

Tickets for the Louvre can be purchased directly on site at the box offices and ticket machines, and online. But before you get to the ticket office, you must first “overcome” the security checks and the sometimes very long queues, which can last several hours, at the Louvre. Our tip to you: Buy the tickets in advance. The best way is to do it online. So you save the long lines for visitors to the Louvre without tickets. If you already have a ticket before your visit, you can use a specially designed entrance.

Important: People entitled to free admission will be admitted when accompanied by a ticketed person. No separate ticket is necessary – just an ID.

Book Louvre Paris Tickets alternative offered

Visit Louvre for free

Like most Paris museums and other sights in Paris, the Louvre can be visited free of charge.

• Children / Teenagers under 18
• European persons under 26 years
• Disabled persons and one companion
• Fridays from 18:00 for all young people up to 26 years old (Museum Day)
• Teachers of art history and plastic arts
• Unemployed persons on presentation of a certificate less than one year old
• 1st Sunday of the month – free admission for all visitors from 6:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
• 14 July (National Day) – free entrance for all visitors

Tickets for Paris Museum Pass holders

Holders of the “Paris Museum Pass” must reserve a free ticket online at least 24 hours before their visit to the Louvre. For this purpose, the Louvre provides a reservation platform online. There you can choose the day and the time of your visit. Please note that not every time and day is always available for Paris Museum Pass holders due to high demand. Timely reservation of admission tickets is therefore recommended by us.

Current Special Exhibitions at the Louvre

During your visit to the Louvre, you have the opportunity to be enchanted by rotating exhibitions that range from ancient civilizations to groundbreaking artistic movements. Imagine standing before masterpieces that are only publicly accessible for a limited time and immersing yourself in stories preserved over centuries.

Each special exhibition at the Louvre is a tribute to the creative human legacy and offers you a rare opportunity to gain deep insight into the art and culture of days gone by. Take advantage of the chance to experience current research, restored artworks, and thematic collections designed especially for the curious mind.

This is what you can expect during a visit to the Louvre in Paris

Besides the famous Mona Lisa, you will be able to admire thousands of paintings, sculptures, reliefs. The museum offers something for everyone – whether he is interested in newer art by Picasso or Ancient Egypt. The area of the Louvre is so extensive that you can not visit everything in one day.