The Ultimate Guide to the Louvre
All about the Louvre: must-see, map of the Louvre entrances, accessibility, and top tips for planning your visit.
If you ever find yourself in the French capital, don’t miss the Louvre Museum, one of the top things to do in Paris.
Located on the right bank of the Seine River in the first Arrondissement, the Louvre is one of the world’s largest museums. It is home to incredible artworks, from ancient Egyptian statues to Baroque portraits. There’s something for everyone in the Louvre!
After visiting the Louvre Museum many times (at least once a year, most recently in 2026), I have put together this Louvre Guide to help visitors with the latest info and my top tips. Use this Louvre Museum Guide to learn how to navigate the Louvre, skip the longest lines, and enjoy the museum to the fullest!
Are You Planning a Trip to Paris Last Minute?
If you are booking a last-minute trip to Paris, I’ve got you covered! Below are our guides, top tours, hotels, and more:
» Plan: Paris Travel Planner; Paris Arrondissements Guide; Check out the best Paris Metro tickets for tourists
» Book your flight tickets with Omio; book your train tickets with Omio
Book your transfer from the airport to the city with Welcome Pickups.
» Where to Stay: Best Districts to Stay in Paris
- Le Pavillon de la Reine (historical 5-star hotel in Le Marais)
- Hotel La Comtesse (mid-range hotel with Eiffel Tower view from all the rooms!)
- Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne (super central 4-star hotel near the Louvre)
» Top-Rated Paris Tours & Tickets:
- Louvre Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Eiffel Tower Summit Access Ticket
- Seine River Night Cruise
- Château de Versailles and Gardens
- Catacombs Skip-the-line tour with VIP access to restricted areas
Want skip-the-line access at museums & attractions in Paris? Get your hands on a Paris Museum Pass!
» Don’t leave without travel insurance! SafetyWing Essential plan works well for long and short trips (from 5 days up). Can also cover electronics theft through their add-on.
Table of Contents
- Why Visit the Louvre Museum
- Louvre Opening Hours and Best Time to Visit the Louvre Museum
- Ticket Options and Free Entrance to the Louvre Museum
- Map of the Louvre Entrances & Best Louvre Entrance [2026]
- A Peek Inside the Louvre (Take a Louvre Map!)
- How to Navigate the Louvre
- Louvre Must-See Guide
- Other Tips for Visiting the Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is one of the top sights to visit in Paris. I recommend visiting the Louvre in the following Paris itineraries:
1. Why Visit the Louvre Museum
Haters will tell you to skip the Louvre because it’s expensive and the lines are long. However, the 10 million people who visit the Louvre Museum annually are no fools, carried along by clichés. Come to visit and experience this incredible museum for yourself!
The Louvre Museum is the world’s largest and most visited art museum. Its collection of more than 35,000 works of art, spread over 60,000 square meters, ranges from ancient civilizations from the 6th century BC to the 19th century. Even if you have a minimal interest in the arts, you will find something you like when visiting the Louvre!
Thanks to the Louvre’s Glass Pyramid, designed by the Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei, the Louvre Museum is also one of France’s most iconic monuments and one of Paris’s top photo spots for photographers. When night falls, the illuminated Louvre Pyramid is a must-see of Paris at night.
Here, you will find some of the world’s most famous paintings and sculptures. The Mona Lisa, the Venus of Milo, the Code of Hammurabi, the Regent Diamond, and Napoleon I’s Coronation are just a few examples.
The Louvre is also part of the history of Paris and France. The Louvre was built in the 12th century by King Philippe Auguste II as his royal palace. Over the years, the Louvre Palace symbolized the French monarchy’s wealth, power, and decadence, and its rooms and halls are stunning.
2. Louvre Opening Hours and Best Time to Visit the Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Monday. The last entry is one hour before closing time, and the rooms are evacuated at 5:30 p.m.
The Louvre is closed on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.
The Louvre holds two night sessions on Wednesday and Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The last entry is one hour before closing time, and the rooms are evacuated at 8:30 p.m.
The Louvre Museum is free for all visitors after 6 p.m. on the first Friday of each month (except in July and August) and on the 14th of July (National Day). Given the interest in visiting the Louvre for free, only online reservations guarantee free entry on Friday night.
Reservations for the free Louvre Friday nights open a few days before the end of the month. Your booked ticket will cost 0€ and will be valid only on the selected date and time slot.
Best Day and Best Time to Visit the Louvre
The table below shows the estimated visitor flow at the Louvre Museum, broken down by day and time slot for both low and high seasons. Green indicates lighter crowds, while red shows peak times. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.
» The best day to visit the Louvre Museum depends on the season (low season or high season). Generally speaking, it’s best to visit during the week rather than the weekend.
» Since the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, visitor numbers are higher on Mondays (when many other museums are also closed) and Wednesdays. The best day to visit is therefore Thursday.
» What is the best time to visit the Louvre? Arrive early in the morning, before the Museum’s opening.
3. Ticket Options and Free Entrance to the Louvre Museum
3.1- Louvre e-Tickets
The Louvre ticket gives access to the Louvre’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. Some visitors are eligible for free admission (see the full list here below).
If you’re looking to secure your visit, it is best to buy your Louvre tickets online in advance. You’ll have to choose a date and time slot. The process is the same for visitors eligible for free entry (the amount to pay at the end of the process will be €0).
If you show up on the day of your visit, there may be few or no available time slots, and you might not get a chance to see the museum at all.
Starting 14 January 2026, tickets to the Louvre will rise by 45% (that is €32) for non-EEA visitors (that’s anyone from outside the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein).
EEA citizens may be asked to present valid photographic ID (identity card, driving license, passport, etc.) at the museum entrance and at ticket checkpoints. EEA residents may also be asked to present proof of residency.
If you purchased the Paris Museum Pass and want to visit the Louvre, you’ll still need to book a date and time slot on the Louvre website (instructions are included in your Paris Museum Pass confirmation email). Since the Louvre visit is included in the Pass, the ticket will cost €0 at checkout.
→ Read my review of the Paris Museum Pass
3.2- Free Entrance to the Louvre
In addition to the first Friday night of the month and on the 14th of July, other visitors are always eligible for free admission:
Under 18s, 18 to 25-year-old residents of the European Economic Area (EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), disabled visitors and the person accompanying them, art teachers (plastic arts, archaeology, applied arts, architecture and art history only), artists affiliated to the AIAP (Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques), ICOM and ICOMOS members, journalists, job seekers and residents of the European Economic Area, people on income support and residents of the European Economic Area.
To get free access, proof of identity or entitlement is required.
3.3- Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
If you want to avoid the Louvre lines, take a skip-the-line small group guided tour with an expert guide. Guided groups enter the Louvre through a separate entrance, which has zero (or almost no) waiting time. This entrance is reserved for guided groups or people with special membership cards (e.g. Société des Amis du Louvre).
Here’s a curated list of the best Louvre skip-the-line tours:
- Louvre Skip-the-Line small group guided tour
- Priority Entrance Ticket + Private Guided Tour
- Skip-the-Line Private Guided Tour for Kids and Families
- Skip-the-Line Louvre Semi-Private Guided Tour
- Priority Entrance Ticket + Small Group Guided Tour
- Other Louvre Guided Tour Options
Looking for a national licensed guide for a personalized private tour? Email me at bonjour [at] worldinparis [dot] com, I can help!
4. Map of the Louvre Entrances & Best Louvre Entrance [2026]
Knowing the best entrance to the Louvre to avoid the longest lines is key to a great visit. The Louvre entrances map below shows all five entrances: the Glass Pyramid, the Porte des Lions, the Carrousel du Louvre, and Passage Richelieu.
» The Glass Pyramid is the main Louvre entrance, and anybody can use it. It is the most impressive entrance to the Louvre and is divided into three different lines for different kinds of tickets.
» Passage Richelieu entrance is for guided groups of 6 people maximum with a national licensed guide or visitors with a membership card (Amis du Louvre, Louvre Pro, Ministère de la Culture, Pass Education, ICOM, but NOT for Paris tourist passes).
» Galerie du Carrousel (99 Rue de Rivoli) is another of the possible entrances to the Louvre. It has the advantage of direct access from the metro (metro station Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre, line 1, take exit #6). The Galerie du Carrousel entrance does not accept visitors without a ticket.
» Porte des Lions is another option, but it’s a bit eccentric and only available for visitors with a ticket. There’s no cloakroom nearby, so you will be denied access if you carry bulky objects. Please note that sometimes the Museum management closes this door without notice.
4.1 Best Entrance to the Louvre 2026
In my opinion, the best Louvre Entrance is Passage Richelieu, which has the shortest waiting time. However, this entrance is reserved for guided tours (up to 6 people with a national licensed guide) or for people with membership cards.
Looking for a national licensed guide for a personalized private tour? Email me at bonjour [at] worldinparis [dot] com, I can help!
The Louvre Glass Pyramid is the most popular entrance for individual visitors, and it is divided into three different lines – green, orange, and blue – for different kinds of tickets (including a line for disabled people). If you haven’t purchased your Louvre ticket yet, this is the only entrance you can use (orange line). Also, I like that the green line is split into three different lines for different time slots, so your waiting time will be 30 minutes maximum.
The Carrousel du Louvre entrance is below ground, so visitors can avoid weather hazards. It is divided into two different lines – membership cards and visitors with timed entrance or Paris Museum Pass. However, this second line is not split into different time slots like the Pyramid’s green line, and it looked more chaotic (the last time I visited was in January 2026). This entrance does not admit visitors without tickets, and you can feel claustrophobic when it is overcrowded.
Porte des Lions can be a good entrance, but it’s a bit hit-and-miss, as sometimes it is closed without any previous notice.
GOOD TO KNOW: The last time I visited (2026, via the Glass Pyramid), I saw many visitors waiting in line with big suitcases. Although there’s a cloakroom inside the Louvre (more on this later), you cannot access the Louvre with suitcases or backpacks bigger than 55x35x20 cm (21.5x14x8″). If your luggage is bigger than this size, you will be refused access to the Louvre.
4.2 Entering the Louvre through the Glass Pyramid
The Louvre Glass Pyramid is the Museum’s main entrance. The Louvre Glass Pyramid has different lines marked with different colours:
- Green line for visitors with timed entrance tickets or with the Paris Museum Pass (or other tourist cards)
- Orange line for visitors without a pre-purchased ticket
- Blue Line for disabled visitors and staff members. These visitors have access to the lift down to the Main Hall.
The green line is split into three different lines, and each line is for different time slots. Before waiting in line, check that you are in the right line for your time slot!
To access the Louvre Museum through the Pyramid, you will find several controls:
- Before joining the line to access the Museum, there’s a first ticket control to ensure you are on the right day, time slot, and line (see picture above).
- Right after entering the Glass Pyramid, you will be asked to use the hand sanitiser, and then, there’s the security control (scanner).
After the scanner, you will take the escalators down to the Main Hall, which houses the Information Desk, Cloakroom, Visitors’ Assistance Area, one of the restaurants, and Paul’s bakery.
From the Main Hall, you can see the escalators leading to the three different Louvre Wings: Denon, Sully, and Richelieu. The entrances to the 3 Louvre Sections are located on the Mezzanine.
Choose the Louvre Wing (Denon, Sully, or Richelieu) that interests you most, and take the escalators up to the Mezzanine. Here, you can pick up the Louvre audio guide (on the desktop just before the tripods) and pass through the second ticket control. If you’re entitled to free or discounted admission, you’ll be asked to show proof at this point.
5. A Peek Inside the Louvre (Take a Louvre Map!)
5.1 Louvre Sections
The art treasures of the Louvre Museum are grouped into eight curatorial departments or sections:
- Egyptian Antiquities
- Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities
- Near Eastern Antiquities
- Islamic Art, Paintings
- Sculptures
- Decorative Arts
- Prints and Drawings
5.2 Louvre Layout
The Louvre’s treasures are exhibited in its three interconnected wings: the Richelieu Wing, the Denon Wing, and the Sully Wing, which are clearly marked on the Louvre Museum map.
In addition to these wings, the Museum’s inner courtyards display the biggest sculptures.
Denon Wing
On the Louvre map, the Denon Wing faces the Seine River. This Wing is named after M. Denon (1747-1825), the first director of the Musée du Louvre. In the Denon Wing, you can see important artworks such as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci or The Winged Victory of Samothrace.
If you want to concentrate on only one Louvre Wing, I suggest the Denon Wing.
Sully Wing
The Sully Wing is located between the Denon Wing and the Richelieu Wing and is named after M. Sully (1559-1641), Chief Minister of King Henri IV. In the Sully Wing, you can see the Medieval Louvre, the Egyptian Antiquities, and the Venus of Milo.
Richelieu Wing
On the Louvre map, the Richelieu Wing faces Rue de Rivoli. The Richelieu Wing is named after Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642), the Chief Minister of King Louis XIII. In the Richelieu Wing, you can see French paintings and sculptures, Napoleon III’s apartments, and Near Eastern Antiquities.
5.3 Take a Louvre Must-See Map
Taking a map of the Louvre is paramount for visiting the museum. Paper versions (Louvre map with highlights) are available at the Information Kiosk in the Central Hall, and there are also QR codes with the Louvre map to flash while you are waiting in line to enter the Glass Pyramid.
Not very tech-savvy? Just download the Louvre map PDF to your phone from the museum’s website.
The Louvre highlights map shows all four floors, with each section organized by floor and wing.
6. How to Navigate the Louvre
With 403 rooms, 14.5 km of rooms and corridors, and 72.735 m2 of exhibition spaces, visiting the entire Louvre in one day is impossible. If you spent one minute seeing each Louvre artwork, it would take 64 days to see everything in the museum!
How to visit the Louvre? There’s no right or wrong Louvre itinerary. You can decide to visit just one wing, all floors, or walk through the different Louvre wings. If you return to the Central Hall and then head to another Louvre wing, you will have to show your ticket again at the tripods.
Any exit from the Louvre Museum (the building) is final, and you cannot return with the same ticket.
There are five ways to visit the Louvre, described in this Louvre Museum guide:
6.1- Louvre Guided Tour
While most people opt for a Louvre self-guided tour, a guided tour (private or with a small group) is an excellent idea if you visit the Louvre for the first time. Benefit from the special Louvre entrance for small, guided groups, with zero waiting time, and see the major highlights with the explanations of a certified and passionate English-speaking guide.
6.2- Louvre Self-Guided Tour (Random Tour)
Some people purchase their timed tickets online, enter the Museum, and walk through the galleries randomly. This is not the best option in a vast museum like the Louvre.
6.3- Louvre Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide
Follow the experts at your own pace with a Louvre audio guide. When purchasing the tickets, there’s the option to add the audio guide for €6 before checkout (available in French, English, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean).
With your pickup voucher, you can collect your audio guide at one of the two distribution counters located beneath the Pyramid.
6.4- Louvre Bucket List
Write down your Louvre must-sees, study it at home with the help of this Louvre Must-See Map, and try to make a Louvre itinerary that makes sense from a logistics point of view to avoid walking unnecessary kilometres.
TIP: Do you want to see the Louvre but don’t have much time available? Click here to see how to visit the Louvre in 2 hours or less
6.5- Focus on One Louvre Department or Louvre Wing
Pick a specific department (e.g., Italian Paintings) or a Louvre Wing (Denon, Sully, or Richelieu) and get the most out of it.
This is my favourite way to visit the Louvre because I am a local in Paris and can visit this museum whenever I want. This way of touring the Louvre is also perfect for frequent Paris travelers or people interested in a specific subject.
Whatever you decide, grab the Louvre map with highlights upon your arrival, take a break from time to time, and use the restrooms when you see them (I never find the restrooms when I need them most, lol).
7. Louvre Must-See Guide
If you are wondering what to see at the Louvre in one day, I can help too. Everyone has a different Louvre must-see list, but some artworks appear on everyone’s bucket list.
7.1 Louvre Highlights Self-Tour By Louvre Museum
The Louvre offers a curated selection of masterpieces you can explore on its website. This recommended route is ideal if you don’t have specific interests and want to cover the essentials. It includes 11 artworks and takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.
- The Caryatids
- Venus de Milo
- Winged Victory of Samothrace
- Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman (Botticelli)
- La Belle Ferronière (Da Vinci)
- Sainte Anne (Da Vinci)
- Mona Lisa (Da Vinci)
- The Raft of the Medusa (Gérciault)
- Liberty Leading the People (Délacroix)
- The Slaves (Michelangelo)
- Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss (Canova)
- The Glass Pyramid
7.2 Louvre Must-See List by CNN
To honour the Louvre’s 220th anniversary, CNN asked its users on Instagram to vote for the best things to see at the Louvre. Here’s the Louvre highlights list by CNN:
- The Winged Victory of Samothrace
- Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci)
- Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss (Canova) is one of the famous Greek Mythology stories.
- The Louvre Building
- The Raft of the Medusa (Gérciault)
- The Consecration of Emperor Napoleon and the Coronation of Empress Joséphine on 2 December 1804 (David)
- Venus of Milo
- The Young Martyr (Delaroche) – Depicts the sacrifice of a young Christian woman into the Tiber River.
- The Virgin of the Rocks (Da Vinci) – Another of Leonardo’s masterpieces.
- The Lacemaker (Vermeer) – With this painting, Vermeer’s maturity is achieved.
7.3 Louvre Highlights List by World in Paris
My Louvre must-see list is a combination of the two lists above plus some other Primitive Italian artworks (Duccio, Cimabue), The Wedding Feast at Cana (Veronese) – sharing the room with the Mona Lisa, – and something by Caravaggio.
On this bucket list, there’s also the oldest exposed item: the statue of Aïn Ghazal, dated around 7000 BC! (Sully Wing, Ground Floor, room #303).
I complete my personal bucket list with the most bizarre item exposed, The Hermaphrodite (Sully Wing, Ground Floor Salle des Caryatides #348).
8. Other Tips for Visiting the Louvre Museum
This Louvre guide also includes insider tips for visiting the Louvre to save money, feel more comfortable, and enjoy your time there:
Book Your Louvre Timed Entrance Ticket Online
Following the pandemic, the Louvre has reduced the number of daily visitors. This means that there are fewer Louvre tickets to sell each day.
Tickets may be purchased on-site when attendance is low (e.g. during the low season), but they are not always available.
I strongly advise buying your Louvre tickets online in advance, as only online booking can guarantee your entrance to the Museum on a specific day. When you purchase the tickets online, you choose a specific date and time slot, ensuring a quick entry in less than 30 minutes.
Save Money with a Paris Tourist Pass
The Paris Museum Pass grants access to over 50 museums and monuments in Paris and the surrounding region, including the Louvre Museum. The more you visit, the more you save! Read my Paris Museum Pass review, with a couple of simulations to help you maximize the pass on your next trip.
The Paris Museum Pass has three formulas for 2, 4, or 6 consecutive days – Click here to buy your pass
There are other Paris tourist passes that include the Louvre Museum. Check out my Paris Pass Comparison to find the best tourist pass for you.
The Louvre Ticket is a Combined Ticket
Few people know that in addition to the Louvre’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, the Louvre ticket gives you to the Musée Eugène Delacroix (6 Rue de Furstenberg, Paris 6) within 48 hours of first use.
To visit the Musée Eugène Delacroix for free, you need to purchase and visit the Louvre Museum first.
Louvre Dress Code: Dress Like an Onion!
What to wear in the Louvre? There is no Louvre dress code, so you can wear what you want. Just keep in mind that you will walk a lot.
Wear comfortable shoes, and dress in layers like an onion! Wearing layers is perfect in wintertime, when it is cold outside and warm inside.
Leave Your Coat and Backpack in the Cloakroom
Under the Glass Pyramid, the Cloakroom provides you with lockers and places for umbrellas free of charge. Remember that suitcases and bulky bags are prohibited. If you have difficulty, you can contact the help desk next door.
Carry a Power Bank
A power bank is essential if you want to take pictures and navigate the Louvre with your phone all day. The last time I visited, I entered the Louvre at 9.30 a.m., and two hours later, I needed to recharge my phone.
Remember you must show your Louvre ticket whenever you want to access the rooms from the Main Hall. If you have your ticket stored on your phone, it is essential that you keep it charged.
If you don’t want to carry a power bank, simply print out the ticket.
Accessibility in the Louvre
The Louvre is accessible to disabled visitors, with various elevators and wheelchair lifts and even a Tactile Gallery. If you have mobility issues, look for the disabled symbols in the Louvre Museum map and adapt your itinerary accordingly.
At the Glass Pyramid, there’s a line (blue line) for disabled visitors or visitors with mobility issues. These visitors have access to the lift down to the Main Hall.
Walking sticks, folding bags, strollers, baby carriers, and wheelchairs are available free of charge for visitors at the Visitors Assistance Area, located in the Main Hall (level -2), behind the Information Area and next to the Cloakroom. An ID card will be requested as a caution.
Bring your Snacks and Water
Inside the Louvre are a couple of restaurants, but they are overpriced, and the food is so-so. Bring your snacks, sandwiches, and water if you travel on a budget. There are no restrictions on bringing your refreshments to the Louvre.
Eating inside the Louvre exhibition rooms is forbidden, but there are some benches in the Central Hall (Mezzanine), just before the ticket control, and nobody will bother you if you are eating a sandwich or a snack there.
Once you are done and have some energy back, show your tickets again to return to the exhibition areas. You can drink water wherever you want.
TIP: Fans of the Angelina Paris tearoom will be happy to know that there is an Angelina inside the Louvre, with no line! Angelina Louvre is located in the Richelieu Wing, on the 1st floor, between the Napoleon III Apartments and Decorative Arts galleries.
Beware of Pickpockets
I never had any problem when visiting the Louvre, but it seems that pickpockets are an issue in this Museum. Never leave your bag unattended, and if somebody comes to you asking for your email or a donation, ignore him and walk away. It is a scam.
TIP: travel safely; use an anti-theft shoulder bag or an anti-theft backpack
Visit the Louvre Museum More than Once (If You Can)
If you are interested in the Arts, you will have to revisit the Louvre Museum to enjoy other paintings and sculptures that you missed during the previous visit. Paris is always a good idea, and another visit to the Louvre may be the perfect excuse to come back to Paris 😉
And there you have it – a quick Louvre Museum guide packed with the best tips for visiting the Louvre. Use this Louvre guide to find the best way to explore the museum, avoid the longest lines, and enjoy the best possible experience inside.
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