Book skip-the-line tickets to save time at the perennially popular Louvre or attend with an art expert guide for a more in-depth visit—art lovers and novices alike will benefit from such insight. Private tours are a good option for those with specific interests, while audio guides are also available. Alternatively, combine the Louvre with stops at the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Highlights of the antiquity section include the Seated Scribe and Venus de Milo. From the Renaissance, don't miss famous works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Titian. French 19th-century masterpieces include Gericault's The Raft of the Medusa and the work of David and Delacroix.
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 Musee d'Orsay, as well as entry to other top attractions.
Family-friendly Louvre tours tailored to entertain children are available.
The Louvre is accessible for visitors with physical and learning disabilities, as well as visual and hearing impairments; disabled visitors enter for free.
Located next to the Seine River in central Paris, the Louvre is easy to find. Catch Metro line 1 or 7 to the Palais Royal/Musee 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 until 9:45pm, making it a great time to enjoy the museum with fewer crowds. You'll also see the pyramid majestically illuminated. From October through March, access to the Louvre's permanent collection is free for all visitors 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.
