Louvre Museum

Louvre Museum
Compare skip-the-line tickets and guided tours of the Louvre, curated for travelers who want to see the Mona Lisa without losing half a day to queues.
Typical visit
2–3 hrs for highlights, 4+ hrs to see a full wing
Best time to go
Weekday mornings before 10am, or Wed/Fri evenings
Closed
Tuesdays (all year)
Late openings
Wednesday & Friday until 9:45pm
Collection on display
~35,000 works across 3 wings, 4 floors
Must-see
Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace
Least crowded entrance
Carrousel du Louvre, 99 Rue de Rivoli
Nearest metro
Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre (Lines 1 & 7)
Sort by:
5 results
Filters
Booking
Experience
Minimum age
Guidance

Admission

As of January 2026 the Louvre uses dual pricing: €22 for EEA residents and €32 for everyone else, with entry free for visitors under 18 and EU residents under 26. Below are tours and ticket options vetted by TripWays — most bundle timed entry with skip-the-line access, so you're not stuck refreshing the official booking page for a slot.

The Louvre began as a defensive fortress built by Philip II Augustus in the late 12th century, was rebuilt into a royal palace over the following 400 years, and opened as a public museum in 1793 during the French Revolution — making it one of the oldest museums in continuous operation anywhere in the world. Today it is the most-visited museum on Earth, and by gallery space, the largest.

The collection spans roughly 35,000 works on display at any time, drawn from a total holding of nearly 500,000 objects, arranged across three wings — Denon, Sully, and Richelieu — and four floors radiating from I.M. Pei's glass Pyramid, added in 1989. Denon holds the headline names: the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the museum's largest run of Italian and French paintings. Sully, the oldest section of the building, covers Egyptian antiquities and the Venus de Milo, and includes the excavated remains of the medieval fortress in its basement. Richelieu houses French sculpture, Near Eastern antiquities such as the Code of Hammurabi, and the restored apartments of Napoleon III.

The museum sits on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement, bordered by the Tuileries Garden, making it easy to combine with a walk toward Place de la Concorde or the Musée de l'Orangerie.

Plan your visit

  • Enter through Carrousel du Louvre (99 Rue de Rivoli, accessible from the Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre metro) instead of the Pyramid — it opens earlier and almost never has a line.
  • Head straight for the Denon wing at opening to see the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory of Samothrace before tour groups arrive; the room gets shoulder-to-shoulder by mid-morning.
  • If your schedule allows, go on a Wednesday or Friday evening — the museum stays open until 9:45pm and the crowds thin out noticeably after 6pm.
  • Wear real walking shoes. The building has over 400 rooms and first-time visitors typically cover several kilometers even on a focused visit.
  • Photography without flash is allowed in most galleries, but tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks are not.
  • The permanent collection ticket does not cover temporary exhibitions, which usually require a separate ticket.
  • Free entry applies to anyone under 18, EU residents under 26 (with ID), and everyone on the first Friday evening of the month after 6pm — except in July and August.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to visit the Louvre in 2026?

Standard admission is €22 for EEA residents and €32 for non-EEA visitors, booked directly through the museum. Guided tours through TripWays typically start around $49 and include timed entry, so you skip the separate ticket purchase.

Do TripWays Louvre tours include the entrance ticket?

Most do, but not all — check the inclusions listed on each tour before booking. Tours marked with skip-the-line access always include entry.

What's the best day and time to visit the Louvre?

Weekday mornings right at opening, or a Wednesday or Friday evening after 6pm when the museum stays open until 9:45pm and crowds are noticeably lighter.

How long should I plan for a Louvre visit?

Budget 2–3 hours to see the highlights (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace). A single wing explored properly takes a half day; the full collection can't realistically be covered in one visit.

Is the Louvre closed on any day of the week?

Yes, the museum is closed every Tuesday, all year round.

Where exactly is the Mona Lisa?

In the Denon wing, first floor, Room 711 (Salle des États) — it's the most-visited single point in the museum, so expect a wait even during off-peak hours.

Is entry ever free?

Yes — for everyone under 18, for EU residents under 26 with valid ID, and for all visitors on the first Friday evening of the month after 6pm, except in July and August.