Denon Wing, Room 711
Notice her elusive expression and Leonardo’s soft shading, which creates remarkably lifelike transitions between light and shadow.
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How to visit the Louvre Museum
- Ways to explore: Choose pre-reserved self-paced entry, hosted Mona Lisa access, or guided tours with small-group, semi-private, and private options.
- Guided options: Small-group tours take ~2–2.5 hours; semi-private options have 6–10 guests and offer 2- or 3-hour tours.
- Mona Lisa focus: Hosted entry adds a brief highlights tour and guidance to the Mona Lisa, after which you can explore independently.
- Queues & access: Pre-reserved tickets bypass ticket-purchase queues, but mandatory security screening still applies to all ticket types.
- When to book: Reserve your timed slot ahead during busy periods. If entry availability runs out, check guided tours that include admission.
- Combo options: Pair the Louvre with a Seine cruise, Versailles, Grévin Museum, Big Bus, Paris city pass, or Angelina Rivoli.
- Best upgrade: Choose small-group for expert-led highlights; go semi-private for a 6–10-person group and more interaction with your guide.
Compare your Louvre Museum ticket options
| Ticket type | Access | Security | Includes | Guide | Why pick this | Price from | Recommended experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-reserved entry | Hosted + timed | Mandatory | Entry + audio guide | Host + audio | Explore at your own pace | €52 | Buy now |
Mona Lisa entry | Hosted + timed | Mandatory | Entry + highlights intro | Host | Easy access to Mona Lisa | €76 | Buy now |
Guided tour | Guided + timed | Mandatory | Entry + highlights tour | Live guide | See highlights with an expert | €62 | Buy now |
Semi-private tour | Guided + timed | Mandatory | Entry + 2/3-hr tour | Live guide | More attention, 6–10 guests | €99 | Buy now |
Combo tickets | Timed + add-on | Mandatory | Louvre + Paris experience | Varies | See more with one booking | €63 | Buy now |
What to expect at the Louvre Museum
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Step inside the Louvre
Enter a former royal palace housing everything from ancient sculpture to European masterpieces. After security, orient yourself beneath the Pyramid before choosing your route through the Denon, Sully, and Richelieu wings.
Follow the masterpiece route
Start with the Winged Victory of Samothrace on the Daru staircase, continue through the Denon Wing, then cross to the Sully Wing for the Venus de Milo. The palace interiors make the route part of the experience.
Come face-to-face with Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is the Louvre's biggest crowd magnet. Allow ~20–45 minutes for this part depending on crowds, then move beyond the Denon highlights corridor for a calmer museum experience.
Discover the Louvre beneath
Head to the Medieval Louvre on Sully Level -1 to see remains of the earlier fortress beneath the palace. Allow ~20–30 minutes for this lesser-known layer of the museum's history.
Finish at your own pace
Move into quieter galleries or pause at an onsite café before leaving. Plan ~3–5 hours overall, or ~2–3 hours for highlights. Guided options add structure if you'd rather follow a planned route.
Go beyond standard entry
Permanent collections and temporary exhibitions come with standard entry. For more structure, choose hosted Mona Lisa access or a guided tour; combos add experiences such as a Seine cruise or Versailles.
Things to know before booking your Louvre Museum tickets
Booking & availability
Louvre entry is timed, and popular slots can sell out. Book your preferred time in advance; Louvre Museum Pre-Reserved Entry secures a timed slot with hosted entry.
Entry & queues
Pre-reserved tickets avoid ticket-purchase queues, not security. Pyramid security can reach 30–60 minutes at peak times.
What’s included
Standard admission covers the permanent and temporary collections. With Louvre Museum Pre-Reserved Entry, you can also add an audio guide for self-paced context.
Ways to explore
Choose self-paced entry, hosted Mona Lisa access , or a guided tour . Louvre Museum Hosted Entry with Mona Lisa Tour adds help reaching key masterpieces before independent exploration.
Hosted Mona Lisa access
A host helps you navigate to key masterpieces, particularly the Mona Lisa, before you explore independently. Security and crowds around the painting still apply.
Combos & upgrades
For a second Paris experience, pair timed Louvre entry with a Seine River cruise , Versailles , or a Big Bus Paris tour .
Policies
Bring supporting ID if using free or reduced admission or renting the official audio guide. Large luggage isn't permitted; smaller items can use the museum's free lockers.
Explore the Louvre Museum
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The Louvre Palace
Long before becoming a museum, the Louvre evolved from a medieval fortress into a royal palace. Walk around its monumental façades and courtyards before heading inside, where centuries of palace architecture remain part of the museum experience alongside the artworks.
Access: Exterior areas are free; museum interiors require Louvre entry.
Louvre Pyramid
Designed by I. M. Pei, the glass Pyramid creates a striking contrast with the historic palace surrounding Cour Napoléon. It serves as the Louvre’s principal entrance, leading visitors below ground to the reception area from where the museum’s three wings can be accessed.
Access: Cour Napoléon is free; museum entry requires a ticket.
Tuileries Garden
Continue west from the Louvre into the Tuileries Garden, an expansive formal garden beside the museum. Its tree-lined paths, fountains, sculptures and seating make it a practical place to slow down after a ~3–5-hour museum visit before continuing through central Paris.
Access: Free; no Louvre ticket required.
Cour Carrée
Walk into the Louvre’s historic square courtyard to see how the palace developed long before the Pyramid arrived. Surrounded on all four sides by ornate façades, it offers a closer look at the architecture and scale of the former royal residence without entering the galleries.
Access: Free; no Louvre ticket required.
Understand the Louvre Museum layout
The Louvre is divided into three main wings: Denon, Richelieu, and Sully, each spread across multiple levels and home to different collections and highlights. Knowing what each wing holds makes it easier to plan your route, prioritize the artworks you want to see, and avoid unnecessary backtracking.
Explore the Louvre’s floors, wings, and must-see artworks through an in-depth guide ➡️
Must-see artworks at the Louvre Museum
From Renaissance paintings to ancient sculpture, these are the Louvre masterpieces worth prioritizing, especially if you only have a few hours.
Explore the Louvre Museum by level
The Louvre’s three wings extend across multiple levels, each bringing together different collections and masterpieces. Use this breakdown to quickly find the highlights you want to see and plan your route between floors.
Plan your visit to Louvre Museum
Visitor tips
- Plan a highlights route before entering. Pick 3–5 must-sees and use the [Louvre inside guide] to avoid wasting time crossing between wings.
- See one headline masterpiece early, then move into quieter galleries. Crowds concentrate around the Mona Lisa more than across the museum overall.
- Try the Carrousel entrance when the Pyramid is busy. It is often reported as less congested, though wait times vary.
- Use Wednesday or Friday evenings for more time inside; the Louvre stays open until 9pm.
- Check gallery closures before your visit. Some rooms close temporarily, so confirm access to priority artworks before planning your route.
- Don’t build your entire visit around the Mona Lisa. Palace interiors and lower-density galleries offer plenty to explore beyond the busiest room.
Frequently asked questions about the Louvre Museum tickets
Pre-booking secures a timed slot and avoids the on-site ticket-purchase queue. Popular dates can sell out, making advance booking particularly useful during busy periods.
Standard tickets include timed entry to the Louvre’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. Inclusions such as audio guides, hosted access, or live guides depend on your ticket.
Choose pre-reserved entry for independent exploration, hosted Mona Lisa access for easier routing, or a guided tour for expert-led highlights and context.
Yes, but “skip-the-line” primarily means bypassing the ticket-purchase queue. Mandatory security screening and crowds around major artworks such as the Mona Lisa remain.
The Louvre Museum is open from 9am–6pm (last entry at 5pm) on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays. On Wednesdays & Fridays, the museum stays open until 9pm for a special night tour experience. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Most guided tours last about 2-3 hours, but you can easily spend an entire day exploring the vast collections.
Yes, the Louvre is equipped with facilities to accommodate visitors with disabilities, including loaner walking sticks and wheelchairs, reserved parking spots, and accessible restrooms. For visitors with hearing and visual impairments, user-friendly facilities are available.
Hosted entry helps with arrival and reaching key highlights before independent exploration. Guided tours add expert commentary and a structured route through major works.
Guided tours reduce route planning and cover major highlights in ~2–3 hours. Small-group and semi-private options also provide more opportunities to interact with your guide.
Current guided-tour options include English, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese. Language availability varies by tour, so check your selected experience before booking.
Yes. Hosted Mona Lisa entry includes reserved Louvre access and guidance toward key masterpieces, particularly the Mona Lisa, before you continue exploring independently.
Cancellation terms vary by experience. Check the cancellation policy displayed on your selected ticket before booking, particularly for guided tours and multi-attraction combinations.
No. Timed entry removes ticket-purchase uncertainty, but security remains mandatory. Entry waits depend on the entrance, time of day, and crowd levels.
Plan 2–3 hours for the main highlights or 3–5 hours for broader exploration. Guided components generally take around 1.5–3 hours.
