Skip to content
Photo: Benh LIEU SONG ( Flickr ) / CC BY-SA 3.0
Paris · Museum

Louvre Museum

The world's most-visited museum — the Mona Lisa and 35,000 works.

Visit 3–4 hoursClosed Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May & 25 DecemberOur team's guide · 1 min
1 way in · for 1 adult
from €9.99
audio tours

Every way in

Same Louvre Museum, one way to do it — priced for 1 adult.

Audio tourLouvre — Self-Guided Audio Tour
  • 1–1.5 h · your pace
  • Free cancellation 24 h
for 1 adult€9.99

Our team's guide

From our Paris team · 1 min read · updated 12 Jul 2026

Louvre Tickets: How to Skip the Queues in Paris

Reserved-entry slots, the quiet wings, and the mistakes that cost visitors an hour at the pyramid.

The Louvre is the most visited museum on earth, and it shows at the door: on summer mornings the pyramid queue regularly swallows an hour before you see a single painting. Almost all of that wait is avoidable with a timed reservation and a little routing knowledge.

Why timed entry matters

The Louvre caps how many visitors enter per half-hour slot. Walk-up tickets — when they're available at all — join the slowest lane. A reserved-entry ticket puts you in the timed lane, which moves in minutes even in August. Our Louvre — Reserved Entry ticket locks your slot the moment you book, and your QR code arrives instantly by email.

Pick the right time of day

  • The 9:00 opening slot is the single best decision you can make — the Mona Lisa room is at its calmest before 9:45.
  • Wednesday and Friday evenings are the sleeper pick: the museum stays open late and coach groups are long gone.
  • Avoid the 11:00–14:00 window if you can; it absorbs both the morning coaches and the lunchtime walk-ups.

Route like a local

Most visitors turn right for the Mona Lisa and spend their first hour in a crowd. Do the opposite: start in the Richelieu wing — Napoleon III's apartments and the Near Eastern collections are spectacular and nearly empty — then loop to the Denon wing once the first wave thins.

Know before you go

  • Security still screens everyone, even ticket holders — arrive 15 minutes before your slot, not more.
  • Large bags aren't allowed; lockers are free but fill up by mid-morning.
  • Your reserved-entry ticket covers the whole permanent collection — there's nothing extra to buy inside.

Book the slot, start in the quiet wing, and the world's busiest museum feels surprisingly civilised.

Good to know

Louvre Museum · Enter at 9:00, or on the late Wednesday & Friday evenings; see the Mona Lisa first or last.

Know before you go

Timed entry — reserve a slot even with a museum pass
Use the Carrousel underground entrance to skip the pyramid queue
The Mona Lisa room gets packed — go in the first or last hour
Large luggage isn't allowed; lockers are available free for small bags

Questions about Louvre Museum

What are the opening hours of Louvre Museum?

Mon, Thu, Sat & Sun 9:00–18:00 · Wed & Fri 9:00–21:00 · Last entry 1 h before closing · Rooms cleared 30 min before closing. Closed: Closed Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May & 25 December.

Which days is Louvre Museum closed?

Closed Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May & 25 December.

How long do you need at Louvre Museum?

Most visitors spend 3–4 hours.

When is the best time to visit Louvre Museum?

Enter at 9:00, or on the late Wednesday & Friday evenings; see the Mona Lisa first or last.

How do I get to Louvre Museum?

Métro 1 or 7 to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre (2-min walk); drop-off at the Carrousel roundabout, pick-up at Place André Malraux; car park under the Carrousel.

How much does it cost to visit Louvre Museum?

At the door: €22 · free for under 18s and EEA residents under 26 · free for all on the first Friday of the month after 18:00 (except Jul–Aug). With us, one way in from €9.99, run by our own Paris team.

Also in Paris

Everything in Paris →
1 way infrom €9.99