Louvre Museum

Housed in a former royal palace on the banks of the Seine, the Louvre is the world's largest art museum and one of the most visited cultural sites on the planet. Its collection spans prehistory to the 19th century, displayed across three wings: Denon, Sully, and Richelieu. The glass pyramid designed by architect I. M. Pei serves as the museum's iconic main entrance.

The Louvre began as a fortress in the late 12th century before evolving into a royal palace over subsequent centuries. It opened as a public museum in 1793 during the French Revolution, initially displaying works seized from the royal collection and the church. Since then it has grown into a vast institution holding art and artifacts from across the world and throughout history, and it holds the distinction of being one of the oldest museums still in operation today.

• Collection size: more than 35,000 artworks on permanent display
• Main wings: Denon, Sully, and Richelieu
• Main entrance: the glass pyramid in the Cour Napoléon, designed by I. M. Pei
• Standard adult ticket: €22 for EU/EEA residents, €32 for non-EU visitors as of January 2026
• Free entry for visitors under 18 and for EU/EEA residents aged 18–25
• Closed on Tuesdays year-round

• The Mona Lisa, displayed in Room 711 of the Denon Wing
• The Winged Victory of Samothrace, on the Denon Wing staircase
• The Venus de Milo, located in the Sully Wing
• The Wedding at Cana, the largest painting in the museum, facing the Mona Lisa
• The Code of Hammurabi and Mesopotamian collection in the Richelieu Wing
• Napoleon III's apartments and Northern European paintings, including works by Vermeer and Rembrandt, in Richelieu
• The Egyptian Antiquities galleries in the Sully Wing

The Louvre is open daily except Tuesdays, with extended evening hours on select days.

• Regular hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Late night: open until 9:45 PM on Fridays
• Closed on Tuesdays, plus January 1, May 1, and December 25
• Standard adult ticket: €22 for EU/EEA residents, €32 for non-EU visitors
• Temporary exhibitions require a separate ticket, usually an additional €4–6
• Timed-slot online booking is strongly recommended, and has at times been made mandatory during peak periods

• The first morning slot at 9:00 AM offers the calmest start to the day
• Friday evenings after 6 PM are quieter, with dramatic gallery lighting and lighter crowds
• Thursday is generally considered the calmest day of the week to visit
• Busiest hours fall between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, especially in peak season from April to October
• Free entry evenings on the first Friday of the month are popular, so arrive before 7 PM if attending

The Louvre is located at Rue de Rivoli in central Paris. The nearest metro station is Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre. Visitors in a hurry can also enter through the Carrousel du Louvre at 99 Rue de Rivoli or the Passage Richelieu, which can be faster than the main pyramid entrance on busy days.

• Tuileries Garden: a landscaped garden adjoining the museum, ideal for a stroll afterward
• Musée d'Orsay: a short distance away, known for its Impressionist collection
• Palais-Royal: a historic courtyard and garden just north of the museum
• Pont des Arts: a pedestrian bridge over the Seine with views back toward the Louvre

• Book a timed-entry ticket online in advance to avoid queues that can exceed an hour in peak season
• Download the official Louvre app before arriving, since the building's layout can be confusing
• Bag size is limited to 55 x 35 x 20 cm, and there is no storage for large luggage or suitcases
• Photography without flash is allowed in most galleries, but tripods and selfie sticks are prohibited
• Focus on a few key wings rather than trying to see the entire museum in one visit