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At a glance

The Louvre is a vast former royal palace turned art museum, with collections spanning nearly 10,000 years across its Sully, Richelieu, and Denon wings (official Louvre overview). It suits first-time visitors who want major masterpieces as well as travelers prepared to choose a focused route rather than “see everything.” The key trade-off is breadth versus depth: following the famous-works circuit gives you the Mona Lisa—Room 711 in the Denon wing—but leaves less time for quieter galleries (Mona Lisa route). Book a timed slot: 2026 admission is €32 for non-EEA visitors and €22 for EEA visitors, with reservations required for all visitors from 1 July to 31 August 2026 (2026 hours and prices).

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Tickets and prices

  • Standard admission: €22 for residents and/or citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA); €32 for visitors who are neither EEA residents nor citizens. The Louvre says these rates apply from 14 January 2026. A standard ticket covers the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, plus same-day or next-day admission to the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix. Official prices and inclusions
  • Free admission: Under-18s of any nationality; EEA citizens aged under 26; and EEA residents aged under 26 with a qualifying residence permit. Other categories include disabled visitors and one accompanying person, ICOM members, journalists, eligible art teachers, and qualifying job seekers or income-support recipients, all with the required current proof. The museum is also free to everyone on the first Friday of each month after 6 p.m. except July and August, and on 14 July. Free-admission conditions
  • Booking: Time-stamped booking is advised for everyone, including free visitors; select the relevant “free admission” option and bring proof of eligibility. Reservations are mandatory for all visitors from 1 July to 31 August 2026, except listed cardholders. Booking rules · Summer reservation notice
  • Safest purchase path: Buy directly through the Louvre’s official ticketing service. The museum warns against mirror sites, “skip-the-line” offers, street sellers, and unofficial tours; third-party tours are separate products, not official Louvre admission inventory.

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Opening hours and best time to visit

The Louvre is open daily except Tuesday: Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 9am–6pm; Wednesday and Friday, 9am–9pm. Official opening hours Last admission is one hour before closing—5pm on standard days and 8pm on late-opening days—and visitors are asked to leave the exhibition rooms 30 minutes before closing. Official opening hours The museum is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; it normally opens on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Holiday rules The Louvre has also posted exceptional 4pm closures, with last admission at 2pm, from 24–28 June and 10–13 July 2026; check the current official alert for updates. Individual galleries may close temporarily for maintenance, weather or technical reasons, so consult the available-galleries schedule. For lower crowds, the Louvre recommends arriving at 9am or visiting after 6pm on Wednesday or Friday, with Thursdays and periods outside French school holidays often quieter. Louvre visitor advice Editorially, target Thursday at opening or a late Wednesday/Friday slot, but treat this as a tendency, not a guarantee.

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Getting there, entrances, and security

For most visitors, the most practical metro stop is Palais-Royal / Musée du Louvre on lines 1 and 7. From the station, follow signs for the Louvre and continue to the glass Pyramid, the museum’s main entrance. Pyramides on line 14 is another official option, particularly if that line fits your route better. The Pyramid is the normal choice for individual visitors: separate queues serve ticket holders, visitors without tickets, and priority access. The Carrousel entrance, at 99 rue de Rivoli, accepts visitors with tickets, groups, and membership cards. Richelieu is restricted to groups, certain booked small groups, museum activities, Auditorium events, and eligible members. Porte des Lions is for ticket holders only; it closes at 6 p.m., is closed on Tuesdays, and has a 5 p.m. last entry. Check the official entrance page before setting out, as access conditions can change. All visitors pass security checks. Suitcases and large bags are prohibited; items over 55 × 35 × 20 cm are not admitted. Smaller items may go in free lockers, but must be collected the same day. For wheelchair users, visitors with prams, and disabled visitors, the Pyramid’s central lift and priority access make it the clearest arrival choice; the Carrousel route also has lifts. See the Louvre accessibility guidance and physical-access page.

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What to see and a realistic route

For a first visit, focus on the Louvre’s central cluster of icons rather than trying to cover every wing. The museum’s own masterpieces trail is designed to take 90 minutes, while its visitor FAQ recommends the Denon wing when you have only an hour or two. In practice, allow about two to three hours for a first visit, including orientation, walking and time with the busiest works. Start after security by following signs to the Sully wing, Level 0, the starting point specified by the Louvre’s official trail directions. See the ancient Greek galleries first: the Venus de Milo is currently listed in Room 345, Sully, Level 0 (collection record). Then move upstairs toward the Denon wing and pause at the Winged Victory of Samothrace on the Daru staircase, Room 703, Level 1 (official directions). Continue through the Italian Renaissance galleries to Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, Room 711, Salle des États, Denon, Level 1 (official location). Expect crowd-control measures or limited viewing time if busy. Finish with the Grande Galerie and The Raft of the Medusa, Room 700, before choosing one nearby gallery for a slower look. Check the available-galleries schedule beforehand: rooms and individual works can be closed, moved or unavailable.

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Visitor rules, accessibility, and facilities

Travel light. Free lockers are available beneath the Pyramid, but bags or other items larger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm are not admitted. Locker contents must be collected the same day, and the Louvre accepts no responsibility for valuables. See the official visitor FAQ and visitor regulations. Photography and filming are permitted in the permanent-collection galleries for private use, but flashes, lighting equipment, and selfie sticks are prohibited; temporary exhibitions may ban photography of particular works. Food and drink may not be consumed where artworks are displayed. Food must remain in closed bags; only still water is permitted away from artworks. Consult the visitor regulations. Disabled visitors and one accompanying person receive free admission with supporting documents and priority access at reception and ticket checkpoints. The Assistance area beneath the Pyramid can help plan routes and lends wheelchairs, folding stools, canes, rolling chairs, sensory bags, pushchairs, and front baby carriers free of charge against ID; contact the accessibility team before visiting for specific arrangements. Most toilets have changing tables, and the family Studio provides a bottle warmer, microwave, and nursing chair; see family facilities. Exiting is final, with no re-entry.

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Crowd strategy and practical tips

The biggest time sink is trying to improvise a “see everything” route. The Louvre offers a 90-minute Masterpieces trail and a one-hour Richelieu trail, and advises visitors to check room openings before setting out; if a work is unavailable, skip to the next stop rather than abandoning the route (official visitor trails). Editorial judgment: choose three to five priorities in one wing, then keep one nearby fallback gallery instead of repeatedly crossing the palace. Treat the Pyramid as the default, not the only option. Visitors with tickets can also use the Carrousel or Porte des Lions entrances, although every visitor must pass security; bags larger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm are not admitted (entrances and directions · museum rules). Arrive with a small bag and your ticket ready to avoid adding avoidable time at screening. The Mona Lisa room is another predictable bottleneck: the Louvre’s own route refers to queuing there and recommends using the wait to view Veronese’s Wedding Feast at Cana opposite (Mona Lisa route). Editorial judgment: make it your first stop only if it is a priority; otherwise start elsewhere and return if time permits. If plans unravel, do not rely on changing a booking: tickets are non-changeable, and exit is final (FAQ · admission information). Switch to the preselected fallback route instead.

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Is it worth visiting?

Prioritize the Louvre if you want canonical masterpieces, royal-palace architecture, and broad coverage of art history—and can give it a focused plan. The museum’s own Masterpieces trail takes 90 minutes, a sensible minimum; with only one or two hours, the Louvre recommends the Denon wing, while a full day suits the quieter Sully and Richelieu wings (Louvre FAQ). Do not expect comprehensive coverage: the palace has over 400 rooms and 35,000 artworks, and the museum says seeing everything in one day is impossible. The main trade-off is cost versus intensity: admission is €22 for EEA visitors and €32 for non-EEA visitors (official admission details), while busy Mona Lisa viewing may be limited. If your interest is chiefly Impressionism or later nineteenth-century art, the more focused Musée d’Orsay collection may be a better use of limited time.

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Frequently asked questions

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Which entrance should I use with an online ticket?

The Pyramid is the main entrance and has a queue for visitors with timed reservations. Ticket holders may also use the Carrousel or Porte des Lions entrances; groups and membership-card holders should use Passage Richelieu. Check the Louvre’s entrance guidance before setting out, especially if you are visiting a temporary exhibition.

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Can I bring a suitcase or large backpack?

No. Items larger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm are not allowed inside, including the welcome area and galleries. Free lockers are available for smaller belongings, but everything must be collected the same day and valuables are left at your own risk. The Louvre’s luggage guidance recommends avoiding bulky bags altogether.

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How much time should I allow for a visit?

The museum says seeing everything in one day is impossible. With only one or two hours, concentrate on the Denon wing, where several headline masterpieces are located. For a full-day visit, consider dividing your time between the Sully and Richelieu wings, which are generally quieter. Use the Louvre’s official visit-planning advice to choose a realistic route.

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Is the Louvre accessible for visitors with disabilities?

The museum offers free admission for disabled visitors and one accompanying person, with supporting documents, and priority access at reception areas and entrances. Wheelchairs, folding stools and other equipment can be borrowed free of charge with identification. The official accessibility guide also lists accessible metro lines and assistance services.