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All you need to know about visiting the Louvre Museum

The Louvre houses more than 35,000 works across 72,000 m² of gallery space, spread over three wings, three floors, and dozens of departments. With over 9 million visitors a year, it's one of the most visited museums on earth, and without a plan, it's easy to spend an hour queuing, another getting lost, and leave without seeing what you came for. This guide covers tickets, entrances, the best routes for your available time, and everything you need to know before you arrive.

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Navigating the Louvre Museum

The Louvre is divided into three wings — Denon, Sully, and Richelieu — arranged in a U-shape around the central Cour Napoléon. Each wing spans multiple floors and covers distinct collections, so knowing which wing holds what saves significant time.

Explore the Louvre with a guided route

With three wings and multiple floors, navigating the Louvre efficiently takes planning. A guided tour helps you move logically between key highlights while understanding how collections connect across eras. It’s especially useful if you’re short on time or want to avoid backtracking through large galleries.

Guide explaining Assyrian relief to tourists at Louvre Museum, France.

Where are the masterpieces?

Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
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Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci)

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503–1519
Perhaps the most famous painting in the world, known for its enigmatic expression and sfumato technique.
Location: Denon Wing, Level 1 — Salle des États (Room 711), follow signs to the Denon galleries.

Venus de Milo

Era: Hellenistic sculpture, c. 130–100 BCE
Famous classical figure of feminine beauty; missing arms add to its mystery.

Location: Sully Wing, Ground Floor, Room 345 (Galerie des Antiques).

Winged Victory of Samothrace

Era: Hellenistic Greek sculpture (c. 200 BC)
Iconic ancient sculpture of Nike at the top of the Daru Staircase; striking sense of movement and presence.

Location: Denon Wing, Level 1, Daru Staircase area (Room 703)

Liberty Leading the People

Artist: Eugène Delacroix; Romanticism, 1830
Symbol of the French Revolution of 1830, embodying the spirit of freedom.

Location: Denon Wing, Room 700 (Red Rooms)

The Coronation of Napoleon

Artist: Jacques-Louis David; Neoclassicism, early 19th century
Grand ceremonial canvas depicting Napoleon’s self-coronation; huge scale and detail.

Location: Denon Wing, Room 702.

The Wedding Feast at Cana

Artist: Paolo Veronese; Venetian Renaissance
One of the largest paintings in the Louvre, opposite the Mona Lisa in the same room.

Location: Denon Wing, Level 1, Salle des États (Room 711).

The Raft of the Medusa

Artist: Théodore Géricault
Emotional, large-scale depiction of survival and human endurance.

Location: Denon Wing, Room 700 with 19th-century French art.

Code of Hammurabi

Era: Babylonian stele, c. 1750 BCE
One of the oldest deciphered legal codes, inscribed on basalt stone.

Location: Richelieu Wing, Room 227.

Smart strategy tips

  • Avoid the 10am–2pm peak. Mona Lisa crowds and Pyramid lines build quickly. Book a 9am slot (Wed or Fri) or enter after 3pm for noticeably lighter traffic.
  • Tackle Denon early — or deliberately late. Visit the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory at opening or after 4pm to avoid mid-morning bottlenecks.
  • Reverse the typical route. Enter via Carrousel or Richelieu, start in Richelieu/Sully, and reach Denon after 11:30am when the first rush disperses.
  • Skip strategically if short on time. After Denon highlights, bypass most of Sully and use the Richelieu escalator link; you’ll cover roughly 80% of key works while saving 30–45 minutes.
  • Escape pressure zones. If Salle des États feels packed, pivot to Richelieu’s Napoleon III Apartments or Near Eastern Antiquities for quieter galleries.
  • Don’t walk the entire Grande Galerie. Use room numbers to jump directly to Rooms 700–711 and avoid corridor fatigue.

Official & suggested trails

Trail typeDurationRouteWhat you get

Official Masterpieces Trail (official)

1-2 hrs

Sully (Level 0): Salle des Caryatides → Venus de Milo → Denon (Level 1): Winged Victory → Grande Galerie (Leonardo) → Mona Lisa → Romantic paintings.

The Louvre’s greatest hits in the museum’s recommended order — minimal backtracking, logical flow, and ~80% of must-sees covered efficiently.

Richelieu “Secret Treasures” Trail (official)

1.5 hrs

Richelieu (Level -1): Cour Puget & Marly sculptures → Level 0: Near Eastern antiquities (Hammurabi, Khorsabad bulls) → Level 1: Napoleon III Apartments

A quieter, architecture-rich route mixing Mesopotamian icons with royal interiors — fewer crowds, more space, and a completely different Louvre experience.

Full Wing Circuit (suggested)

4+ hrs

Sully antiquities (Venus de Milo, Egyptian galleries) → Denon Italian Renaissance (Winged Victory, Grande Galerie, Mona Lisa) → Richelieu decorative arts (Cour Marly, Napoleon III Apartments).

A chronological sweep from ancient empires to 19th-century grandeur, covering all three wings in one continuous loop without retracing steps.

Louvre Map

Louvre Museum Level 0 map showing attractions like Venus de Milo and The Dying Slave.
Level 1 map of the Louvre Museum highlighting key attractions and wings.
Louvre Museum Level 2 map highlighting Richelieu and Sully wings with key attractions and facilities.

Find the detailed map of the Louvre Museum here.

Best ways to experience Louvre

Ticket TypeWhat's included Best forPrice range

Timed Access Ticket

Reserved entry; optional audio guide or Seine cruise upgrade

Exploring at your own pace with guaranteed entry and no fixed route

€47

Masterpieces Guided Tour

2 hr guided tour; small group optional upgrade

Seeing the Louvre’s most famous works efficiently with structured commentary

€59

Hosted Mona Lisa Entry

Timed entry + escorted access to Mona Lisa; free exploration after

Reaching the Mona Lisa quickly without navigating complex galleries alone

€57

Semi-Private Guided Tour

Timed entry + 2–3 hr expert tour in a semi-private group; 6–10 guests

A more interactive experience with time for questions and deeper explanations

€85

Louvre + Seine Cruise Combo

Timed entry + 1-hr Seine cruise

Combining a museum visit with a relaxed Paris sightseeing experience

€47

Louvre + Orsay Guided Combo

Guided Louvre tour + guided Orsay tour in a semi-private group; reserved entries

Understanding how Western art evolved across two major museums in one day

€166

Practical tips for your visit: What to know before & on the day

Before you book

  • Book timed-entry tickets 4–8 weeks ahead for peak season. June–August morning slots can disappear up to 60–90 days in advance, including for free-entry groups (under-18s, EU 18–25, disabled visitors). Free entry still requires a reserved time slot.
  • Choose early weekday slots strategically. 9am entries on Wednesdays and Fridays (late-opening days) tend to feel calmer than weekend mornings, with lighter security lines and easier access to the Denon Wing before tour groups cluster.
  • Pack within size limits. Bags must be under 55 × 35 × 20 cm. Larger luggage is refused at all entrances, including Carrousel. Lockers are limited and not designed for suitcases.
  • Paris Museum Pass doesn't mean walk-in access. Even with the pass, you must reserve a free timed-entry slot online. Turning up without one during busy months often means waiting or being turned away.

On the day of your visit

  • Avoid the Pyramid bottleneck. On typical days, security lines can stretch 40 minutes to 2+ hours between 10am–2pm. If open, the Porte des Lions entrance (Denon Wing side) is often significantly faster and places you close to the Mona Lisa route. It only works with pre-purchased tickets.
  • See the Mona Lisa early. Enter near opening and head straight to Room 711 before crowd density peaks. Reviews consistently suggest early morning access is the calmest window.
  • Plan for scale. The Louvre spans 72,000 m² with about 35,000 works. Even fast visitors cover only a fraction in 3 hours. Pick 5–10 must-sees in advance to avoid decision fatigue.
  • Use guidance to stay focused. A guided tour helps you move efficiently through key wings with context. If self-paced, rent the audio guide and bring your own headphones. Denon galleries can get loud.
  • End in calmer wings. After Denon fills up, shift to the Richelieu apartments or Sully wing. Late afternoon feels noticeably quieter and more atmospheric.

Louvre Museum timings & best time to visit

DayTimingsLast entryClosed on

Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun

9am - 6pm

5pm

Tuesday

Wed & Fri

9am - 9:45pm

8:45pm

Tuesday

Public Holiday

Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25

Closed

All other public holidays open unless Tuesday

Best time to visit the Louvre Museum

For the most comfortable experience, aim for early weekday mornings or**** Wednesday/Friday after 5pm for calm late galleries and extended access.

Where is the Louvre Museum located?

Getting to Louvre Museum

Louvre Museum Entrances

Entrance nameLocationWho it’s forCrowds & wait times

Pyramid Entrance

Cour Napoléon (glass pyramid)

General visitors, first-timers, ticketed & non-ticketed (green priority for pre-booked/Pass)

Longest lines: 45–90min peak (10am–2pm); priority queue ~20mins​

Carrousel du Louvre

99 Rue de Rivoli (underground mall)

All visitors: groups, members, ticket holders

Shorter waits (~20–30min); ideal bad weather or Metro Line 1/7 exit

Porte des Lions

Quai François Mitterrand (Seine/Tuileries side)

Ticket holders only (closes 6pm)

Shorter waits (~20–30min); ideal bad weather or Metro Line 1/7 exit

Richelieu Passage

Rue de Rivoli (north side)

Groups, guided tours (max 6), members (Amis du Louvre/ICOM), events

Quickest: <15min; direct to Denon/Mona Lisa (no equipment rental)

Shortest: 5–10min dedicated lane; closes 5:30pm weekdays

​👉 See all entrances →

Facilities and accessibility at the Louvre Museum

Visiting with family

  • Baby changing stations and family restrooms available on all floors, with dedicated baby space in Richelieu Wing ground floor (bottle warmer, microwave, nursing chair).
  • Free stroller rentals and baby carriers at Pyramid visitor assistance area; strollers permitted throughout with elevators/ramps in all wings.
  • Café Richelieu Angelina offers kids' menus (hot chocolate, sandwiches); activity packs and Louvre Kids app with tales for ages 7–11 at info desks.​
  • Follow 2-hour Denon Wing loop (Winged Victory → Mona Lisa) for young kids – hits icons with minimal walking before fatigue sets in.

Current Exhibitions & Events

Rules and restrictions

Neutral, factual visitor-facing policies to know before you arrive or enter the Louvre.

  • Entry requires a valid, dated ticket and all visitors must pass through security screening at the entrance.
  • Large bags, backpacks larger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm and suitcases are not permitted; free lockers are available for allowable items.
  • Photography and video in the permanent collection galleries are allowed for personal use, but flash, lighting, tripod equipment, and selfie sticks are prohibited.
  • Eating, drinking, smoking, running, touching artworks, and loud behavior are prohibited in exhibition rooms.
  • Animals are not allowed inside, except certified assistance animals.
  • All exits are final; re-entry is not permitted with the same ticket once you leave.

Dress code

There is no formal dress code enforced by the Louvre, but visitors are expected to wear respectful, comfortable clothing appropriate for a cultural institution.

Eat, shop & stay near the Louvre Museum

Frequently asked questions about visiting the Louvre Museum

Yes — reservation for a specific time slot is strongly recommended for all visitors, including those with free entry or museum passes, to guarantee access. Booking on the official site avoids long queues and entry denial.

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