Paris · Louvre & central Paris · Art museum

Louvre Museum: Tickets, Highlights and Visiting Tips

Choose a few collections, reserve admission for your preferred date and leave time to look beyond the Mona Lisa. Here is how to make a visit to this enormous museum manageable.

By the AllTrips Editorial Team ·

Illuminated glass pyramid and Louvre palace at dusk
The Louvre Pyramid and palace in the Cour Napoléon after sunset.

Louvre Museum at a glance

Area: central Paris, beside the Tuileries Garden. Allow: 3–5 hours for a selective visit. Entry: ticketed museum admission; free-entry eligibility exists, but the Louvre recommends a time-slot booking even for eligible visitors. Nearby: Tuileries, Palais Royal and Musée de l'Orangerie.

The former royal palace now houses collections across multiple wings and levels. Trying to cover everything in one visit is less useful than choosing two or three themes and checking which rooms are open on your day.

What should you see inside?

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is in the Salle des États, but the museum extends far beyond that one painting. Highlights include the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo, Egyptian antiquities, European painting and decorative arts. Check the Louvre's current room information if a particular work is essential to your visit; displays and room access can change.

Choose a manageable focus: for example, one sculpture collection and one painting collection. Read the labels, take breaks and use the museum's official map rather than assuming the shortest route between famous works will be obvious inside the palace.

Tickets and admission

The galleries require admission. The Louvre recommends booking a time slot, including for people eligible for free admission. Check official prices, eligibility and remaining availability directly with the museum. The Tiqets link below opens Louvre listings on a third-party platform; individual products may be museum entry, a guided visit or a combined offer. Check the exact inclusions, entry time, meeting instructions and total price before buying.

Museum ticket office

Book with the Louvre

Check current rates, free-entry eligibility, available dates and the museum's own booking rules.

Official Louvre tickets

Alternative booking · affiliate link

Louvre options on Tiqets

Compare listed museum tickets and tours; confirm exactly what the selected offer includes before paying.

Check Louvre tickets on Tiqets

The Tiqets button is an affiliate link: AllTrips may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The museum's official ticket office is available beside it.

Planning your visit

At the September 2026 review, the Louvre listed Tuesday closed, 9:00–18:00 on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and 9:00–21:00 on Wednesday and Friday. It listed last entry one hour before closing and asked visitors to leave galleries 30 minutes before closing. Check the official schedule for holiday changes and your particular date.

The Pyramid is the museum's main entrance. The Louvre notes that other entrances may be available at peak times, so follow the instructions attached to your ticket rather than assuming any entrance will accept it. Security screening and gallery crowding can take time; leave a buffer before other reservations. The Louvre publishes accessibility, visitor amenities and a map on its visit page.

The Louvre in photos

Stone façade of the Louvre palace in daylight with the French flag flying above
A wing of the Louvre palace seen from the courtyard in daylight.
Visitors looking at paintings in a red-walled Louvre gallery
Visitors in one of the Louvre's painting galleries. Crowd levels vary by room and time.

What is nearby?

The Tuileries Garden is free to enter and makes a natural pause outside the museum. Farther west, the Musée de l'Orangerie is a separate ticketed museum; the Place de la Concorde is free. See their locations on the Paris attractions map.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a ticket for the Louvre Museum?

Yes, for the museum galleries. The Louvre recommends booking a time slot, including for visitors eligible for free admission. The outdoor courtyard and nearby Tuileries Garden are different from entering the museum.

Where should I buy Louvre tickets?

Check the Louvre's official ticket office first for availability and current admission conditions. Tiqets is a third-party alternative: read the specific product's entry conditions and inclusions before paying.

How long should I allow for the Louvre?

Allow at least 3–5 hours for a selective visit. The museum is too large to see comprehensively in a single session, so pick a few collections or works you particularly want to see.

Is the Louvre open on Tuesdays?

No. At the September 2026 review, the official schedule listed Tuesday as its regular closure day. Check the Louvre's own calendar for holiday exceptions and changes.

Is the Mona Lisa the only reason to go?

No. The Louvre also holds ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern objects, Greek and Roman sculpture, European paintings, and decorative arts. Gallery access and displayed works can change.

Official sources

Reviewed September 2026. Opening hours, free-admission rules and gallery access can change; confirm them with the museum before travel.