Louvre Museum: a practical visitor guide
Quick answer
The Louvre opens 9am–6pm on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and until 9pm on Wednesday and Friday. It is closed on Tuesdays. Admission is €22 for EEA visitors and €32 for everyone else. Two hours covers the highlights; allow half a day for a relaxed visit.
Hours and prices checked on · Official website
More Louvre Museum guides
- Louvre in 2 hoursA 2-hour route through the Louvre: Winged Victory, Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the Great Sphinx of Tanis, with timings, order and tips to beat the crowds.
- Hours, tickets & free entryLouvre opening hours, ticket prices, when it is free, who gets in free and the best time to visit and avoid crowds. Checked in 2026.
- Must-see masterpiecesThe 12 most important works in the Louvre and where to find them: Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, Raft of the Medusa, Sphinx of Tanis and more.
- Louvre with kidsHow to visit the Louvre with kids: a 75-minute route, treasure-hunt ideas, free entry for under 18s, cloakroom and the quietest times to go.
Point your camera at any artwork
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AnyArt recognizes paintings, sculptures and monuments and tells you their story in seconds, like a personal audio guide. Free for iPhone, iPad and Android.
Why the Louvre is a must
The Louvre is one of the world's largest museums: a former royal palace that now displays over 30,000 works, from ancient Mesopotamia and pharaonic Egypt to 19th-century Romantic painting. It is home to the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo. You cannot see it all in one day: pick a route and save the rest for next time.
How to plan your visit
- Book a time slot on the official site (louvre.fr), even if your ticket is free: the museum itself recommends it.
- Buy only on louvre.fr or ticketing.louvre.fr; avoid marked-up resellers.
- The museum has three wings: Denon (Mona Lisa, Italian painting, Winged Victory), Sully (Egypt, antiquities and the medieval Louvre) and Richelieu (Mesopotamia, French sculpture, the Napoleon III apartments).
- The main entrances are the Pyramid and the Carrousel du Louvre; check the official site for which are operating on your day, as this can change.
- Pick up the free floor plan: works change rooms for loans and restorations.
- The AnyArt app recognises any artwork with your camera and tells its story, an alternative to renting the audio guide.
Combine it with the rest of Paris
The Louvre sits next to the Tuileries Garden, and the Musée d'Orsay (Impressionism) is about a 15-minute walk along the Seine. With a single day, do the Louvre in the morning and Orsay in the afternoon, or use the Wednesday and Friday late openings for a calmer visit.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need at the Louvre?
Two hours covers the masterpieces (Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo). For a relaxed visit of the main collections, plan 4 to 6 hours, or split it over two days.
How much is a Louvre ticket in 2026?
From 14 January 2026 it costs €22 for visitors from the European Economic Area and €32 for everyone else. Always confirm on the official website before you go.
When is the Louvre free?
On the first Friday of each month from 18:00 (except July and August) and on 14 July. Under 18s and EEA citizens or residents under 26 get in free any day with ID.
Do I need to book Louvre tickets in advance?
The museum recommends that all visitors book a time slot, including those with free entry. Do it on the official website.
What is the most famous work in the Louvre?
Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, in the Salle des États (room 711) of the Denon wing, followed by the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo.