Verified practical guide · Updated 3 October 2026
Beneath the glass Pyramid, the Louvre reveals its true scale: not a building with one famous painting, but a city of palaces, staircases and collections. A successful visit begins before the first artwork—with the right ticket, time slot and entrance.
The answer-first guide
| Question | Practical answer |
| Opening hours | 9am–6pm Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; 9am–9pm Wednesday and Friday; closed Tuesday. |
| Last entry | One hour before closing; rooms clear 30 minutes before. |
| EEA visitor rate | €22 for EEA citizens or residents. |
| Non-EEA rate | €32 for non-citizens and non-residents of the EEA since 14 January 2026. |
| Booking | Timed booking recommended, including for free-admission visitors. |
| Nearest metro | Palais-Royal / Musée du Louvre (Lines 1 and 7); Pyramides (Line 14). |
Official tickets: ticket.louvre.fr. Avoid mirror sites, street sellers and unofficial “skip-the-line” claims.
Which Louvre entrance should you use?
The Pyramid is the main entrance for individuals, with separate queues for ticket holders, visitors without tickets and priority access. The underground Carrousel entrance at 99 Rue de Rivoli serves ticket holders, members and groups and is useful in bad weather.
Passage Richelieu is reserved for specific visitors and activities; it is not a universal shortcut. Porte des Lions requires a ticket, closes on Tuesdays and normally admits its last visitors at 5pm. Check the official entrance map on the morning of your visit.
- Arrive around 30 minutes before your slot.
- Travel light; security screening is mandatory.
- Never buy from an unauthorised seller.
- Re-entry is not permitted, so plan food and breaks before leaving.
The best day and time to visit
For calmer galleries, book the first morning slot and begin away from the Mona Lisa, or use the longer Wednesday and Friday evenings. Midday and weekends are usually busier. No hour eliminates queues, but advance booking and a focused route make a major difference.
The museum closes on Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Individual rooms may close on a rotating schedule, so check the official website the day before.
Who enters free?
Admission is free for under-18s of any nationality, EEA citizens or residents under 26, disabled visitors with one companion, and several professional or social categories with proof. Everyone may enter free on the first Friday of the month after 6pm, except July and August, and on 14 July.
Free admission still benefits from a reserved time slot, and valid evidence must be shown.
A two-hour route that works
Do not attempt to see everything. Choose three anchors and let the route between them become part of the visit:
- The Winged Victory of Samothrace above the Daru Staircase.
- The Mona Lisa, followed by the monumental Italian paintings many visitors overlook.
- The Venus de Milo, or a complete change of world in the Egyptian collections.
Use gallery numbers and collect the map available in nine languages. Rotating room closures may alter your path.
A balanced half-day route
Allow three to four hours with a break and select only two wings. Denon carries the global icons; Sully reveals the medieval palace and Egyptian antiquities; Richelieu offers the Napoleon III apartments and French sculpture.
Your Louvre ticket includes permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, plus admission to the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix on the same day or the next day it is open.
Families, seniors and accessibility
Children enter free but need a free ticket. The Pyramid tube lift is reserved for disabled visitors, wheelchair users and visitors with prams. Seniors will usually enjoy one carefully chosen wing more than an exhausting race across all three.
OUISTARS service: Paris airport welcome, chauffeured transfers, support for families and seniors, and an organised drop-off near the museum. Plan your Paris transfer. This service module is separate from our editorial choices.
The Louvre in 800 years — official video
This film from the Louvre’s official channel follows the building from medieval fortress to royal palace and global museum.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a ticket at the door?
Sometimes, when attendance is low and capacity remains. Advance booking is the reliable choice.
How long do I need?
Two hours for a focused route; three to four hours for a balanced first visit.
Is the Paris Museum Pass accepted?
Yes, but reserving a time slot remains important when the system offers one.
Can I take photographs?
Personal photography without flash is generally allowed unless a gallery sign says otherwise.
Editorial sources
- Musée du Louvre: hours, prices and free admission
- Musée du Louvre: map, entrances and directions
- Official rates applicable since 14 January 2026
Fact-checked 3 October 2026. Hours, prices, room access and entrance status can change; check the official site before visiting.
