The Ultimate Louvre Guide: Curated Tips for a Perfect, Skip-the-Line and Smooth Visit

Get ready to explore one of the world’s most acclaimed museums! If you’re planning your next adventure to the City of Light, you know that the majestic Louvre Museum is a must-see. With its iconic works and stunning architecture, it’s home to some of humanity’s most famous paintings, such as the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Code of Hammurabi.

But let’s be honest, such an immense museum can be intimidating. Endless lines, crowds, and the feeling of not knowing where to start. We understand, and that’s why, at The Touring Pandas, we want your visit to be as magical as you imagine it, without any setbacks. We have created The Ultimate Louvre Guide: Curated Tips for a Perfect, Skip-the-Line and Smooth Visit, decoded with the latest information and valuable advice, so that your adventure in the Louvre is smooth, memorable, and full of discoveries. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of beauty without the stress that normally comes with being unprepared.

Essential Tips for a Smooth Visit to the Louvre

Visiting the largest and most visited museum in France is a unique experience, and with these tips, you’ll be able to make the most of every minute of your time.

1. Plan Your Visit and Buy Your Tickets in Advance

This is, without a doubt, the most important tip. The Louvre receives millions of visitors a year, and tickets sell out quickly. To avoid long queues and secure your access, buy your tickets online through the museum’s official website or secure your entry with a guided tour—read on to learn more about our available tours in your language. There are basically only two types of tickets: It is mandatory to reserve a time slot, even if you are entitled to free admission.

General Admission

Your ticket gives you access to the Louvre’s permanent and temporary exhibitions. Additionally, you can visit the Eugène Delacroix Museum within 48 hours.

Important: Only one entry per ticket is allowed. Once you leave the museum, you cannot re-enter with the same ticket. In-person purchase is only possible in cases of low attendance.

Find a Guided Tour that Includes Louvre Museum Admission

If you want to make the most of your visit, you can consider booking a guided tour. A guided tour will allow you to save time at the entrance, move through the museum efficiently, and get to know the masterpieces while learning from an expert guide in your language who will help you skip all the obstacles and challenges a tourist normally faces. At the end of the tour, you can continue exploring the more than 35,000 works on display.

Free Admission

Admission is free for visitors under 18 years old and for residents of the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) under 26 years old. There are other cases where the museum can grant free admission; you can review them in more detail here. But if you do not reserve your free tickets, you will have to queue at the ticket office to access the museum.

Admission is also free for everyone on the first Friday of each month from 6:00 p.m. (except in July and August), but keep in mind that if the lines are already immense, that day it will be even more so. These free tickets are only available a few days before the date on the official site.

Don’t forget to book your time slot online anyway!

2. Choose the Best Time to Visit Hours

Open every day, except Tuesdays. Last admission: 1 hour before closing. Evacuation of rooms: 30 minutes before closing.

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday

9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Wednesday and Friday

CLOSED

Tuesday

Tips:

• • You can take advantage of Wednesdays and Fridays for late-night visits. The last hours of the evening are the quietest. Many visitors leave for dinner, which leaves the corridors emptier and allows you to enjoy the works more calmly. Wednesday morning is usually very crowded. Avoid weekends if possible.

• • There are 4 entrances to the museum in total. However, it is very likely that only two of them will be useful for you, as the least-known entrance, Port des Lions, is often closed, and the Richelieu entrance does not allow access for people with general tickets (it’s for groups and museum members). This leaves the Carrousel entrance and the Pyramid entrance (main). You can confirm from here if an entrance is enabled.

• • The queues that form at the pyramid are only to pass through security filters. We recommend using the Carrousel entrance (Shopping Center). If you still wish to enter through the pyramid, use the green fast-access line if you have your ticket already reserved or the Paris Museum Pass.

Important: reserving your ticket online or participating in a guided tour is the only way that guarantees you queue-free access to the Louvre.

3. How to Get to the Museum: The Path to the Louvre

Getting to the Louvre is part of the adventure, and we want you to do it like a true Parisian. There is no need to stress, as the museum is perfectly connected to the heart of the city. Here are the best ways to get there, so your journey is as smooth as possible and you can enjoy the art that awaits you.

By Metro, the Locals’ Transport

The metro is, without a doubt, the most practical option. You can get to two stations that will leave you just a few steps from the iconic pyramid:

• • • Line 1 or 7: Palais-Royal / Musée du Louvre station. It is the closest stop, and you will exit directly into the Carrousel du Louvre, the underground entrance that often has fewer people!
    • Line 14: Pyramides station. You will be a few minutes’ walk from the main entrance.

By Bus, a Route with Views

If you prefer to enjoy the view of the city during the journey, the bus is ideal. Several lines drop you off right at the door, allowing you to see monuments like the Royal Palace along the way. Look for lines: 21, 27, 39, 67, 68, 69, 72, 74, 85, or 95.

If you take a tourist bus, they also have a stop near the Louvre.

By Boat, an Enchanting Arrival

For an experience worthy of a movie, why not arrive by sailing down the Seine? The Batobus has a stop at the Quai François-Mitterrand, a short walk from the museum. It’s a different and magical way to start your cultural day.

On Foot, for the Romantics

If your accommodation is nearby or you’re coming from a walk through the city center, the best option is to walk. Getting lost in the streets of Paris is a treasure in itself, and the view of the Louvre as you approach it along the rue de Rivoli or the Tuileries Gardens is simply unforgettable.

4. Don’t Try to See Everything in One Day

With more than 35,000 works on display, the museum offers a universe of art to explore. To make your visit memorable, we recommend focusing on the works that interest you most rather than trying to cover everything.

Choose your must-sees: Before you go, research the works that excite you the most. Beyond the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, the Louvre houses treasures like Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Veronese’s The Wedding Feast at Cana, and Caravaggio’s The Death of the Virgin. Did you know that on the Louvre’s website you can find a map of the museum with the locations of some of the masterpieces it houses? Follow this link to download the map and plan your visit in detail.

Don’t miss the Code of Hammurabi, a set of 282 laws inscribed on stone by the king of Babylon around 1750 BC. It is considered one of the oldest and best-preserved sets of laws in human history and is very similar to what governs a nation today. Its best-known law, and the one that probably constitutes the prelude to justice as we know it today, is: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

You can always consider participating in a guided tour; you will save yourself headaches and be able to get the most out of your day.

5. Take Advantage of Free Services

The museum is designed for your comfort. You can find free luggage storage to leave coats and backpacks under the pyramid, bathrooms in the reception area under the Pyramid, as well as in the rooms. Also, Wi-Fi is free throughout the premises.

6. Take a Break

Fatigue accumulates, and touring the Louvre can be challenging. Take advantage of the numerous cafes and restaurants in the museum for a coffee, a snack, or even a full meal. The Café Mollien or the Café Marly are excellent options with spectacular views. You will find options for a well-deserved break inside and outside the Museum.

Options for Visiting the Louvre Museum

The adventure at the Louvre is yours, and you can experience it in different ways. The opportunity to visit the Louvre does not come every day, which is why we offer you the options for the most complete experience.

Option 1: Direct Purchase on the Official Website

The most basic option for those who prefer to explore on their own. Reserve your ticket at http://www.louvre.fr in advance to secure your access within a time slot.

Option 2: Purchase Through Our Partner Tiqets

Tiqets offers a simple way to book tickets with access to the Louvre. It is an excellent option if you are looking for a hassle-free experience that guarantees your entry and allows you to save time from long lines.

Option 3: Guided Tour in Your Language with The Touring Pandas

If you are looking for a premium, worry-free experience with a touch of intimacy, our Guided Tour of the Louvre Museum is the ideal option. Our 1.5-hour tour allows you to quickly access the Louvre Museum and be guided by an expert guide in your language, who will reveal the secrets behind masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. You will not only see the most famous works, but you will also discover hidden gems and immerse yourself in the stories and culture that surround them.

For a limited time, take advantage of our launch promotion with a 25% discount on all our Paris tours by booking directly through our website. Our guide will take care of everything, allowing you to enjoy the art without worries.

Complete Your Day in Paris

Paris has much more to offer. After immersing yourself in the world of art at the Louvre, you can complete your day with other unforgettable experiences. At The Touring Pandas, we present you with options to create the perfect itinerary for you.

Visit the Majestic Eiffel Tower

Our Guided Tour of the Eiffel Tower with access to the summit is an adventure that will take you to the top of this Parisian icon. With skip-the-line access and the company of an expert guide, don’t settle for the views from below. Take the elevator to the top and live an unforgettable experience.

Our tour includes the most complete ticket you can find: you can go up to the summit by elevator, visit all levels of the Eiffel Tower, and if you wish, explore the interior by walking the stairs.

Explore the Palace of Versailles and its Gardens

Step into the past of French royalty. Our Guided Tour of the Palace of Versailles and Gardens with Priority Access offers you priority access to explore the majestic Hall of Mirrors and the opulent royal apartments, while our expert guide narrates the fascinating stories of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette.

Sail Down the Seine and Relax

Enjoy the city from a different perspective with a cruise on the Seine River. It is the most relaxing way to see the city’s illuminated monuments, a perfect end to a day of adventure.

Tour the City at Your Own Pace

For a complete view of Paris, the Hop-On Hop-Off tourist bus allows you to explore the city at your leisure, getting on and off at the most iconic stops, such as the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Musée d’Orsay.

Admire the Gothic Beauty of Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle

A few steps from the Louvre, discover the Sainte-Chapelle, with its dazzling stained-glass windows that bathe the interior in a spectacle of light and color. The majestic Notre Dame Cathedral, an icon of French Gothic, awaits you a short distance away, revealing its imposing beauty and ancient history.

Let Yourself be Carried Away by the Art at the Musée d’Orsay

For art lovers, the Musée d’Orsay, located in a former train station, is a must-visit. Here you will find an impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas.

The Adventure Awaits

Now that you have your hands on the definitive guide to visiting the Louvre, you are ready to live an unforgettable experience. At The Touring Pandas, we are here to ensure that your trip to Paris is perfect. Explore our guided tours and book today to discover the City of Light without worries, with the company of our expert guide who will reveal all its secrets in your language (English, Chinese, Korean, or Japanese).

Your Parisian adventure awaits you!

And if you are on a tour of Europe, we have prepared the Day Trip to Rome: The Vatican and the Colosseum, where you will have a guided tour in your language that will take you to visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel to then see St. Peter’s Basilica and end with a visit to the Roman Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. You can also check our varied offer of tours to see Rome and choose the one that best suits you.

And if you are interested in getting to know Spain, we invite you to explore our tour offers for Barcelona, where you can get to know the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. And for the more adventurous, we have prepared our Montserrat Tour from Barcelona or our Toledo Tour from Madrid. Our tours are designed to be the perfect plan to discover the wonderful things that all our destinations have to offer!