At a glance. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, open late on Wednesdays and Fridays, and far too big to see in one go. Pick a handful of works, book a time slot, and arrive with a plan. If you want a guide, a guided visit with entry included is the easiest way to do it.
Why visit the Louvre?
The Louvre began as a medieval palace. Work started at the end of the twelfth century under Philip II, and the museum opened to the public on 10 August 1793. Today it holds around 500,000 objects, of which about 38,000 are on show, and around nine million people came in 2025.
It can feel overwhelming. Go in with one idea, such as masterpieces, ancient Egypt or French painting, and the museum becomes a lot more fun. Even if you see only a few rooms, you walk through the halls of a former royal palace, and that is part of the pleasure.
What are the highlights?
- The Mona Lisa. Leonardo’s portrait is the reason most people come. A new room for the painting is planned, so check the state of the galleries before you go.
- The Venus de Milo and the Caryatids. Two ancient sculptures in the collection.
- The Winged Victory of Samothrace. It was found in the Aegean in 1863 and has stood at the top of the Daru staircase since 1883.
- Egypt. The Seated Scribe and a mummy are among the stars of the Egyptian rooms.
- Liberty Leading the People. Delacroix’s painting is one of the great French images.
- The Galerie d’Apollon. This gallery displays jewels.
- The medieval foundations. Down in the moat you can see the foundations of the original medieval palace.
- The Etruscan collections. A good detour if you want something beyond the famous names.
When is the Louvre open?
The Louvre is open on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Wednesday and Friday from 9 am to 9 pm. It is closed on Tuesday, and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. The last entry is one hour before closing, and the rooms start to empty 30 minutes before. It is open on the other public holidays, unless they fall on a Tuesday.
If you can, come on a Wednesday or Friday evening. The late hours give you more time to visit.
Entry is free for visitors under 18, and for young people under 26 who live in the European Economic Area and show an ID. It is also free for everyone on the first Friday evening of the month after 6 pm, except in July and August, and on 14 July.
How do you get there?
Take metro line 1 or 7 to Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre. The station has a direct underground connection to the Carrousel du Louvre, which leads to the main entrance. Metro line 1 also stops at Louvre-Rivoli. For more about getting around, see our guide to getting around Paris.
What should you know before you go?
- Book a time slot. It is recommended, and at some busy times of the year the museum asks every visitor to hold one, so reserve before you leave.
- Travel light. All visitors go through a security check. Large bags are not allowed, and nothing bigger than 55 x 35 x 20 cm can go into the rooms. The cloakroom lockers are free, but you must empty them the same day.
- Photos are allowed. You can take personal photos and videos in the permanent collection, but not with flash, a selfie stick or lights. Some works in temporary exhibitions cannot be photographed.
- Leave food at home. Large quantities of food and drink are not allowed, and neither are animals, except guide dogs.
Which Louvre tour should you choose?
Our Louvre options are guided visits with entry included, plus one tour outside the walls. They differ in length, group size and time of day.
- Masterpieces in one hour. A reserved entry with a one-hour guided tour of the highlights, with a guide in English. It is a good pick if you are short on time.
- A guided visit at the end of the day. Dedicated entry with a guided tour at the last entry of the day.
- Small group, two hours. Dedicated entry with a small-group tour in English and French, for a slower pace and more questions.
- Evening tour. A guided evening visit of three hours.
- Private tour. A private guided visit of two and a half hours, built around your group.
- Outside the Louvre. A virtual reality tour around the museum. It lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and does not include entry.
Short on time? Take the one-hour masterpieces tour. Want more space to look? Choose the small group. To fit the Louvre in with the rest of your trip, see our three-day Paris itinerary.
