Louvre
Rue de Rivoli, Paris, FRA
Primarily associated with the steady gaze of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa, Paris' Louvre museum is home to a 35,000-strong collection of paintings and sculptures. This museum, considered one of the greatest in the world, was established during the French Revolution to preserve and showcase the nation’s finest artworks. Today, the contemporary glass Louvre Pyramid heralds the museum's entrance, which millions of tourists flock to every year to feast their eyes on masterpieces that span from antiquity to the 20th century.
Book skip-the-line tickets for quicker access to the museum or explore the Louvre with an art expert guide for a more in-depth visit—art lovers and novices alike will benefit from such insight. Private Louvre tours are a good option for those with specific interests, such as family-friendly Louvre tours tailored to entertain children. Alternatively, choose a Paris tour that combines the Louvre with stops at the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, and Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Louvre is spread across three main exhibition spaces: the Sully, Denon, and Richelieu Wings. Highlights from the ancient world include the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Seated Scribe, and Venus de Milo. If you like Renaissance art, don't miss famous works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Titian. French masterpieces from the 19th century include Gericault's The Raft of the Medusa and Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People.
The Louvre always has big crowds—book skip-the-line entry to save time.
Photography of certain major works inside the Louvre is prohibited.
A 2-, 4-, or 6-day Paris museum pass includes skip-the-line access at the Louvre and Orsay Museum (Musee d'Orsay), as well as entry to other top attractions.
Audio guides are available and are included in some Louvre tours and tickets.
The Louvre is accessible for visitors with physical and learning disabilities, as well as visual and hearing impairments; disabled visitors enter for free.
Give yourself plenty of time to visit the Louvre–this is not something you can see in only 30 minutes, and some people opt to spend multiple days exploring the museum.
The Louvre is located between the Rue de Rivoli and the Seine River in central Paris’s 1st Arrondissement. Catch Metro line 1 or 7 to the Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre station. Alternatively, opt for an organized tour that includes round-trip transportation to and from the museum.
On Friday evenings, the Louvre stays open well into the night, making it a great time to enjoy the museum with fewer crowds. You'll also see the glass pyramid majestically illuminated. From October through March. You can gain access to the Louvre's permanent collection for free on the first Sunday of every month.
Most visitors flock to the Mona Lisa, but the Louvre is so much more than da Vinci's moody muse. Make time for Ingres' Grande Odalisque, an 18th-century nude; the cheeky 16th-century Gabrielle d’Estrées and One of Her Sisters; and a Goya classic—The Countess del Carpio. You can even explore the ruins of the fortress upon which the Louvre is built.
You can either buy a regular ticket for the Louvre, or book a 1.5-hour guided tour in English or French. If you’ve got your own guide, you’ll need to select that option. All tickets are timed-entry. You can also reserve an audioguide online at the same time that you book your tickets.
The Louvre is free for everyone on the 14 July (Bastille Day), except when the holiday falls on a Tuesday, when the museum is closed. It’s also free all year for visitors under 18 and for anyone 25 and under who lives in the European Economic Area.
Yes, you can see some of the Louvre in two hours, but you’ll likely want longer in the museum as there’s a lot to see—35,000 works of art to be precise. If you’re short on time, a tour can help you navigate straight to the highlights.
Yes, guided tours of the Louvre are available. You can book tours in English and French on the museum’s website, or book a private or group tour from an outside tour operator. Tours direct you straight to the highlights—ideal if you’re short on time—and help deepen your knowledge of art history.
Yes, the Mona Lisa is included in the standard ticket price for the Louvre. The portrait is displayed behind protective glass in the Salle des États, the largest room in the museum. There are almost always crowds around the Mona Lisa, so you might have to wait a bit to get a good glimpse.
Yes, Louvre tickets can sometimes sell out, so it’s a good idea to book your tickets in advance—especially if you want to secure a specific time slot, as all tickets are timed. A limited number of tickets are available at the museum during off-peak times, but the lines can be very long.
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