Louvre Rules: Bags, Photos, Food & What’s Allowed
The Louvre allows bags up to 55 × 35 × 20 cm (about the size of a cabin carry-on), no food or drinks except sealed water bottles, and photography without flash or selfie sticks. Large luggage, tripods, long umbrellas, and selfie sticks are banned. There’s no formal dress code, but knees and shoulders should be respectfully covered.
The Louvre has a specific set of rules that every visitor must follow — some obvious (no touching the art), some easy to trip over (that tripod in your backpack will get you turned around at security). Understanding them before you arrive saves you from scrambling outside the Pyramid or paying for an unnecessary cloakroom run.
This guide covers everything allowed and not allowed at the Louvre, organised by category so you can quickly check your bag before you leave the hotel.
Bag Size Limit & What Can You Bring
The maximum bag size allowed inside the Louvre is 55 × 35 × 20 cm (21.5 × 14 × 8 inches) — roughly the size of a standard cabin carry-on suitcase. Anything larger must be checked into the free cloakroom or left at your hotel. Bags are inspected at security and must remain open during the check.
What counts as “allowed” size
- Small backpacks (everyday commuter size)
- Tote bags
- Shoulder bags and cross-body bags
- Small purses
- Cabin-size wheeled cases (within the 55 × 35 × 20 limit)
- Small camera bags
What will be refused
- Large suitcases
- Hiking or travel backpacks over 55 cm tall
- Bulky travel cases
- Any bag the security team judges unreasonable
Cloakroom service
A free cloakroom is available at the Pyramid and Carrousel entrances for bags that meet the size limit. The Passage Richelieu and Porte des Lions entrances do not have cloakrooms. If you arrive with oversized luggage, you’ll be turned away — there’s no paid luggage storage at the Louvre itself. Plan to drop bags at your hotel, your airport, or a paid luggage storage service in the 1st arrondissement (several exist within 5 minutes’ walk of the museum).
Prohibited Items (Will Be Refused at Security)
All four entrances have the same security screening as an airport. The following items are explicitly banned inside the galleries:
- Selfie sticks — refused everywhere in the museum, no exceptions
- Tripods and monopods — not allowed in galleries (permitted only with special photography permits)
- Long umbrellas — must be checked into the cloakroom; small foldable umbrellas are fine
- Knives of any kind
- Sharp objects (scissors over a certain size, multitools)
- Full-size backpacks (see bag size limit above)
- Glass bottles
- Alcohol beyond a sealed bottle/can
- Food and drinks other than sealed water
- Weapons of any kind (including ceremonial)
- Large cameras with extended lenses may require a professional pass
Photography Rules
Photography without flash is allowed throughout the Louvre’s permanent collection for personal use. Selfie sticks, tripods, and additional lighting are prohibited. Some temporary exhibitions prohibit photography entirely — check signage at the entrance of each exhibition.
What’s allowed
- Smartphone photos — freely permitted
- Point-and-shoot cameras — freely permitted
- DSLR/mirrorless cameras — permitted for personal use (no commercial photography without a permit)
- Video recording for personal use
What’s not allowed
- Flash photography — banned everywhere (it damages artwork over time)
- Selfie sticks — banned
- Tripods — banned in galleries
- Additional lighting of any kind
- Photography of temporary exhibitions that specifically prohibit it (signs will be posted at the entrance)
- Commercial photography without prior authorisation from the museum
Freehand sketching
Freehand sketching is allowed with lead pencils on paper or light cardboard up to 50 × 40 cm — a nice nod to the Louvre’s heritage as a training ground for art students. You can sit on benches or the floor (where permitted) to sketch, as long as you don’t block other visitors or obstruct the art.
Food and Drink Rules
The Louvre has a strict no-food policy in the galleries. This is protective of the art more than the visitor — crumbs attract pests, spilled drinks damage floors, and even the smell of food disrupts the museum experience.
What’s allowed
- Sealed water bottles — OK to carry, but keep them in your bag between uses
- Baby formula and food for infants — permitted with a baby
What’s not allowed
- Snacks of any kind in the galleries (no sandwiches, no energy bars, no gum, no sweets)
- Hot drinks
- Open drink bottles
- Chewing gum
Where you can eat
The Louvre has several on-site cafés and restaurants where you can take a proper break. Most popular:
- Café Marly — under the Richelieu Wing colonnade, overlooking the Pyramid
- Café Richelieu-Angelina — first floor Richelieu Wing, famous for hot chocolate
- Café Mollien — casual café in Denon Wing
- Food court at Carrousel du Louvre — quick bites in the underground mall
Some Louvre tickets don’t permit re-entry, so you can’t easily leave for lunch and come back. See our full guide on Where to Eat at the Louvre for a proper breakdown.
Dress Code
The Louvre has no formal dress code. You can wear whatever’s comfortable for several hours of walking. That said, some practical guidance:
- Comfortable shoes — you’ll walk 3–6 km on marble and stone floors
- Layers — the galleries are climate-controlled, but temperature varies between wings
- Respectful attire — out of respect for the religious artworks, knees and shoulders should generally be covered. This isn’t enforced like at the Vatican, but it’s appreciated.
- No swimwear or costumes
Rules About Conduct Inside the Galleries
- No touching the artworks. Paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects are off limits except in the Touch Gallery (where replicas are specifically provided for tactile exploration).
- No sitting on the floor, stairs, or sculpture pedestals. Use benches or the designated seating areas.
- No running. A walking pace only.
- Voices low. The Louvre is busy; keep conversations at a moderate volume, especially in popular rooms like the Salle des États.
- Phones on silent. You can use your phone, but not at volume — no speaker-phone conversations.
- Pet policy: Only certified service animals accompanying visitors with disabilities are permitted. See our Louvre Accessibility guide for details.
Rules for Families and Children
The Louvre welcomes families and children, but children must be actively supervised at all times. A running or unattended child near a €100-million painting is a concern for everyone. A few specific rules:
- Strollers (prams) are allowed throughout the museum
- Loaner strollers are available free under the Pyramid if yours is too large for the lifts
- Baby carriers are allowed only if worn on the front — back-worn carriers must be removed
- Changing facilities exist in several accessible toilets
- The Studio (Atelier des Enfants) offers hands-on workshops for ages 6–12
For more detailed guidance, see Visiting the Louvre with Kids.
Ticket Rules & Re-Entry
Most Louvre tickets do not allow re-entry — once you leave the galleries, your ticket is considered used. If you plan to take a lunch break off-site, use a multi-day pass like the Paris Museum Pass instead. Tickets cannot be changed, cancelled, or transferred to another name.
- Time slot: Every ticket is for a 30-minute entry window. Arriving earlier means waiting; arriving much later means your slot may not be honoured.
- Name on ticket: Not required for standard tickets. Required for free-admission tickets and some guided tours.
- ID check: For free-admission tickets (under-18, EEA under 26, disability, etc.), you must bring original supporting documents. Photocopies are not accepted.
- No refunds on used or unused tickets in most cases — see Louvre Ticket Refunds, Changes & Cancellations.
- No reselling — tickets purchased from illicit street vendors will be rejected.
Security Screening: What to Expect
Every entrance has a security check similar to an airport:
- Bag goes through X-ray
- You walk through a metal detector
- Security may hand-inspect bulky items
- Random additional checks are possible
Typical security wait times:
- Pyramid: 30–60+ minutes at peak, 10–20 minutes at off-peak
- Carrousel: 5–20 minutes at peak, under 10 minutes off-peak
- Passage Richelieu: 5–10 minutes
- Porte des Lions: under 10 minutes when open
For strategies to minimise wait times, see Best Louvre Entrance: Avoid the Pyramid Queue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the bag size limit at the Louvre?
The maximum bag size allowed inside the Louvre is 55 × 35 × 20 cm (21.5 × 14 × 8 inches), which is approximately the size of a standard cabin carry-on suitcase. Larger bags must be checked into the free cloakroom at the Pyramid or Carrousel entrances, or left off-site.
Can I take photos inside the Louvre?
Yes, you can take photos throughout the Louvre’s permanent collection for personal use — no flash, no selfie sticks, no tripods. Some temporary exhibitions prohibit photography, so check signage at the entrance to any special exhibit you enter.
Are selfie sticks allowed at the Louvre?
No. Selfie sticks are banned everywhere in the Louvre. You’ll be stopped at security if one is in your bag. The rule applies to all museum areas including gift shops, cafés, and the Hall Napoléon.
Can I bring food into the Louvre?
No. Food is not permitted anywhere in the galleries or corridors. Only sealed water bottles are allowed. The museum has several on-site cafés and restaurants if you need to eat — see Where to Eat at the Louvre.
Can I bring a water bottle into the Louvre?
Yes, sealed water bottles are allowed inside the museum. Keep them in your bag between sips and don’t drink in the galleries near artworks.
Is there a cloakroom at the Louvre?
Yes, free cloakrooms are available at the Pyramid and Carrousel entrances for bags within the 55 × 35 × 20 cm size limit. The Passage Richelieu and Porte des Lions entrances do not have cloakrooms, so check which entrance you’re using before you pack.
Can I leave a large suitcase at the Louvre?
No. The Louvre does not accept luggage larger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm. If you’re arriving in Paris with a larger bag, leave it at your hotel, the airport, or a paid luggage storage service — several operate within 5 minutes’ walk of the museum.
Can I re-enter the Louvre with my ticket?
Most standard Louvre tickets do not allow re-entry. Once you leave the galleries, your ticket is considered used. If you want to take a lunch break off-site, consider a Paris Museum Pass or eat at one of the museum’s internal cafés.
Is there a dress code at the Louvre?
No formal dress code. Comfortable clothing and walking shoes are recommended. Out of respect for religious artworks, knees and shoulders should generally be covered, though this isn’t enforced.
Can I bring my dog to the Louvre?
No. Only certified service animals accompanying visitors with disabilities are permitted inside the Louvre. Pet dogs, emotional support animals, and other pets are not allowed. See Louvre Accessibility for the full policy.
