How to Get to the Louvre: Metro, Bus, Walking

The Louvre sits in the heart of central Paris — the 1st arrondissement, right on the Seine — so it’s one of the easiest sights in the city to reach. The question isn’t usually can you get there but which way saves you time and lines. Using the right metro exit can shave 30 minutes off your visit before you’ve even seen a painting.

This guide covers every realistic way to get to the Louvre, with tips on the smartest entry point for each mode of transport.

Louvre Museum Address

Musée du Louvre, Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France

The museum occupies the former Louvre Palace on the Right Bank of the Seine, directly across the river from the 6th and 7th arrondissements. The main glass Pyramid entrance is in the large central courtyard (Cour Napoléon).

Getting to the Louvre by Metro

The metro is the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable way to reach the Louvre from almost anywhere in Paris. The museum is served by one direct metro station and two nearby ones.

Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre (Lines 1 and 7)

This is the station to use. Lines 1 (yellow) and 7 (pink) both stop here. After exiting the platform, follow the signs for “Musée du Louvre” — they lead you directly into the Carrousel du Louvre, an underground shopping gallery that opens straight into the Louvre’s Carrousel entrance. This route is indoors, climate-controlled, and avoids the main Pyramid line entirely.

Louvre–Rivoli (Line 1)

One stop east of Palais Royal. Surfaces onto Rue de Rivoli, about a 5-minute walk from the Pyramid. Useful only if you’re specifically meeting someone on Rue de Rivoli — otherwise stay on the train one more stop.

Tuileries (Line 1)

One stop west. Surfaces at the edge of the Jardin des Tuileries, about a 10-minute walk from the Louvre along the gardens. Good option if the weather’s nice and you want to approach the Pyramid from the Tuileries — the view is spectacular.

Pyramides (Line 14) and Bourse (Line 3)

Both are 8–10 minutes’ walk north of the Louvre. Use only if you happen to be changing at those lines for other reasons.

Metro tickets & costs

A single Paris metro ticket costs €2.15 (2026 rate). If you’re using the metro multiple times in a day, consider a day pass or the Navigo Easy reloadable card. For multi-day visits, the Paris Museum Pass includes unlimited metro access on certain bundles — see our Paris Museum Pass guide for cost-benefit analysis.

Getting to the Louvre by Bus

Bus routes through central Paris are slower than the metro but offer street-level views and are useful if you have luggage or mobility needs.

Direct Louvre bus stops: – Line 21 — stops at Musée du Louvre on Rue de Rivoli – Line 27 — stops at Palais Royal–Comédie Française – Line 39 — stops at Musée du Louvre – Line 68 — stops at Musée du Louvre – Line 69 — stops at Musée du Louvre on Rue de Rivoli – Line 72 — stops at Pont Neuf–Quai du Louvre – Line 81 — stops at Pont des Arts – Line 95 — stops at Palais Royal–Comédie Française

Buses are accepted with the same €2.15 metro ticket (valid for 90 minutes with transfers on bus, but single-use on metro). All Paris city buses are wheelchair-accessible.

Getting to the Louvre on Foot

Paris’s central sights are closer together than people expect. Walking to the Louvre is often the most pleasant option.

If you’re approaching from the Tuileries side on foot, you’ll pass through the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel — a much less crowded arch than the famous one — and the Pyramid appears at the end of a dramatic axis. That walk-in is one of the best city experiences in Paris.

Getting to the Louvre by Taxi or Ride-Share

Taxis and Uber/Bolt are widely available in Paris. From Charles de Gaulle Airport, a fixed-rate taxi to the Right Bank (including the Louvre area) is €56; from Orly Airport, €44. These rates are fixed by Paris regulation, so don’t negotiate.

Drop-off point: Ask the driver for “Place du Carrousel” or “Rue de Rivoli, Louvre” — either gets you within a 2-minute walk of the Carrousel underground entrance. The Pyramid itself is inside a pedestrian courtyard and cannot be reached by car.

Rush-hour traffic in central Paris is slow. The metro beats a taxi for journeys under 5 km except late at night.

Getting to the Louvre from Paris Airports

From Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

– RER B + metro (cheapest): RER B to Châtelet–Les Halles (35 min), transfer to metro Line 1 westbound to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre. Total journey: 45–55 minutes. Ticket: €11.80 (RER) + €2.15 (metro). – Taxi (fastest): Fixed rate €56. Journey 45–70 minutes depending on traffic. – Roissybus: €16.60 to Opéra, then 15-minute walk or 2 metro stops. Total ~75 minutes.

From Orly (ORY)

– Orlyval + RER B (cheapest): Orlyval to Antony, RER B to Châtelet, metro Line 1 to Palais Royal. Total: 50 minutes. Ticket: ~€14.50. – Taxi: Fixed rate €44. Journey 30–60 minutes. – Orlybus: €11.50 to Denfert-Rochereau, then metro. Total ~60 minutes.

From Beauvais (BVA)

Beauvais is 85 km from Paris. Take the official Beauvais shuttle bus to Porte Maillot (€17, 75 minutes), then metro Line 1 east to Palais Royal (15 minutes). Total: ~2 hours.

Parking Near the Louvre

Parking in central Paris is expensive and limited. If you’re driving, the underground Louvre Carrousel car park is directly below the museum and costs approximately €5 per hour or €30 for 12 hours. Entrance is on Avenue du Général Lemonnier.

Other nearby car parks: – Parking Rivoli (Rue de Rivoli) – Parking Pyramides (Place des Pyramides) – Parking Palais Royal (Place André Malraux)

Paris has a low-emission zone (Crit’Air). Non-compliant vehicles can be fined. Check your car’s classification before driving in. In practice, most visitors find taking the metro simpler.

Best Entry Point After You Arrive

Once you’ve reached the Louvre, your next decision is which entrance to use. The main Pyramid isn’t always the fastest — read our dedicated guide on Best Louvre Entrance: Avoid the Pyramid Queue for the full breakdown. A skip-the-line ticket lets you use any entrance, and a Paris Museum Pass gives holders a dedicated faster line.