Plan Your Visit to the Louvre Museum
Everything you need to know before visiting the Louvre — from opening hours and how to get there to what to bring, where to eat, and insider tips for the best experience.
Tickets
Book timed-entry tickets online in advance — the Louvre rarely sells same-day slots, especially from April to October.
Before you go
Check the bags, photos & rules before packing — large suitcases and tripods are not allowed inside.
Best timing
Wednesday and Friday evenings (open until 9:45 PM) are the quietest times to visit. See our best time to visit guide for month-by-month crowds.
On arrival
Skip the Pyramid queue by entering through the Carrousel du Louvre underground entrance on Rue de Rivoli.
Timings of the Louvre Museum
When to go, how long to spend, and how to plan a single-day route.
Opening Hours
Daily opening times, late-night Wednesday and Friday sessions until 9:45 PM, weekly Tuesday closures, and the public-holiday calendar that sets when the Louvre is shut.
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Best Time to Visit
Month-by-month and hour-by-hour breakdown of crowd levels — including the quietest weekday windows and the busiest summer peaks to avoid.
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How Long to Spend
Visit lengths from a 2-hour highlights run to a full day’s deep dive, with concrete plans for each timeframe and which works to prioritise.
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Explore Louvre in One Day
An hour-by-hour single-day itinerary covering Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory — with a route order that avoids backtracking through 15 km of galleries.
Read guide →Getting to Louvre Museum
Reaching the museum, finding the fastest entrance, and visiting with kids.
How to Reach
Metro, bus, taxi, and walking directions from anywhere in central Paris — with the closest stations, fastest line transfers, and pedestrian routes.
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Map
Floor-by-floor map of the Denon, Sully, and Richelieu wings, with masterpiece locations marked and a suggested route to keep walking time down.
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Visiting Louvre with Kids
Family-friendly visit plan covering kid-paced routes, stroller-accessible lifts, must-see works that hold children’s attention, and crowd-avoidance tactics.
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Entrance
How to skip the main Pyramid queue using Carrousel du Louvre, Passage Richelieu, and Porte des Lions — including which entrance is fastest and when.
Read guide →More Planning
Accessibility, hotels, food, museum rules, FAQs, and the official site.
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrances, lift locations, free wheelchair loans, companion ticket policy, and staff assistance options for visitors with reduced mobility.
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Hotels Near
Best hotel neighbourhoods within walking distance — 1st arrondissement, Palais-Royal, and Les Halles — plus where to stay for budget, mid-range, and luxury options.
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Where to Eat
Every café and restaurant inside the museum plus the strongest options on Rue de Rivoli — with prices, reservation tips, and which spots stay quiet at lunchtime.
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Rules
What you can and can’t bring — bag size limits, photography and selfie-stick rules, food policies, and free-cloakroom locations for storing larger items.
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FAQ
40+ answers to the most common visitor questions covering tickets, hours, refunds, dress code, audio guides, and last-minute booking changes.
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Official Website
How to use the official Louvre website to book timed-entry tickets, check current exhibitions, request accessibility services, and avoid lookalike scam sites.
Read guide →Practical Information
Quick-read guidance for scheduling, pacing, and general comfort during your visit.
Timing & Hours
The Louvre is one of the world’s busiest museums — when you arrive matters as much as what you see.
- Wednesday and Friday evenings (until 9:45 pm) are the quietest times to visit, especially after 6 pm.
- The museum is closed every Tuesday — don’t plan your visit around that day.
- Arrive before 9:30 am or after 3 pm to avoid the worst crowds at the Pyramid entrance.
- Check current opening hours before you go — seasonal schedules and strike days can change without much notice.
- January through March offers the smallest crowds; July and August are the most packed months.
Getting In & Getting Around
Choosing the right entrance and having a navigation plan saves you up to an hour of wasted time inside.
- Skip the Pyramid queue by entering through the Carrousel du Louvre underground mall or the Passage Richelieu (ticket holders only).
- Take Métro lines 1 or 7 to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre — it exits directly into the Carrousel entrance.
- Grab a free floor plan at any information desk; the three wings (Denon, Sully, Richelieu) each have distinct collections.
- The Denon wing (Mona Lisa, Winged Victory) is always the most congested — visit it first or last, never mid-afternoon.
- Use the wing-by-wing navigation guide to avoid backtracking through 15 km of galleries.
Practical Rules & Tips
A few Louvre-specific rules catch visitors off guard — knowing them in advance keeps your day smooth.
- Backpacks and bags larger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm must be checked at the free cloakroom beneath the Pyramid.
- Photography is allowed in most galleries (no flash, no tripods), but the Medici Gallery and some loan exhibitions prohibit all photos.
- Food and drinks are not permitted inside the galleries — use the on-site cafés under the Pyramid or in the Richelieu wing.
- Strollers are welcome and elevators serve every floor; folding carriers work better in the crowded Denon wing.
- Re-entry is allowed on the same ticket as long as you keep it — useful for a lunch break outside.
Planning Your Route
With 380,000 works across 72,735 m², a focused plan is the difference between a great visit and an exhausting one.
- A realistic first visit covers 2–3 hours and one wing — trying to see everything in a day leads to museum fatigue.
- Prioritise your must-sees (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace) and build your route around their locations in Denon and Sully.
- Follow a structured one-day itinerary if you only have a single visit — it prevents aimless wandering.
- The Egyptian Antiquities rooms in Sully (ground floor) and the Napoleon III Apartments in Richelieu are spectacular but often overlooked by first-timers.
- Families with young children should target the moat of the medieval Louvre fortress (Sully basement) — kids love the castle walls and it’s never crowded.
Things to Know Before You Book
Key reminders for a hassle-free visit.
Continue Exploring the Louvre Museum
Discover what to see inside and find the right ticket for your visit.
Tickets & Tours
Compare prices and book your preferred ticket, guided tour, or combo package.
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What to See
Discover the museum’s most famous masterpieces, iconic artworks, and must-see highlights.
Explore highlights →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions visitors ask when planning their trip.