Louvre
The Basics
Book skip-the-line tickets to save time at the perennially popular Louvre or attend with an art expert guide for a more in-depth visit—art lovers and novices alike will benefit from such insight. Private tours are a good option for those with specific interests, while audio guides are also available. Alternatively, combine the Louvre with stops at the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Highlights of the antiquity section include the Seated Scribe and Venus de Milo. From the Renaissance, don't miss famous works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Titian. French 19th-century masterpieces include Gericault's The Raft of the Medusa and the work of David and Delacroix.
Recent reviews from experiences in Paris
Things to Know Before You Go
The Louvre always has big crowds—book skip-the-line entry to save time.
Photography of certain major works inside the Louvre is prohibited.
A 2-, 4-, or 6-day Paris museum pass includes skip-the-line access at the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay, as well as entry to other top attractions.
Family-friendly Louvre tours tailored to entertain children are available.
The Louvre is accessible for visitors with physical and learning disabilities, as well as visual and hearing impairments; disabled visitors enter for free.
How to Get to There
Located next to the Seine River in central Paris, the Louvre is easy to find. Catch Metro line 1 or 7 to the Palais Royal/Musee du Louvre station. Alternatively, opt for an organized tour that includes round-trip transportation to and from the museum.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
On Friday evenings, the Louvre stays open until 9:45pm, making it a great time to enjoy the museum with fewer crowds. You'll also see the pyramid majestically illuminated. From October through March, access to the Louvre's permanent collection is free for all visitors on the first Sunday of every month.
Underrated Artworks at the Louvre
Most visitors flock to the Mona Lisa, but the Louvre is so much more than da Vinci's moody muse. Make time for Ingres' Grande Odalisque, an 18th-century nude; the cheeky 16th-century Gabrielle d’Estrées and One of Her Sisters; and a Goya classic—The Countess del Carpio. You can even explore the ruins of the fortress upon which the Louvre is built.
- Things to do in Île-de-France
- Things to do in Marne-la-Vallée
- Things to do in Blois
- Things to do in Deauville City
- Things to do in Lille
- Things to do in Dijon
- Things to do in Brussels
- Things to do in Bruges
- Things to do in Zaventem
- Things to do in Luxembourg City
- Things to do in Horley
- Things to do in Nantes
- Things to do in London
- Things to do in Normandy
- Things to do in Nord-Pas de Calais
- 1st Arrondissement
- River Seine
- Pont des Arts
- Palais Royal
- Paris Mint Museum (Musée de la Monnaie de Paris)
- Pont Neuf
- Galerie Vivienne
- Orsay Museum (Musée d'Orsay)
- Les Halles
- Place Dauphine
- Musée National Eugène Delacroix (Musee Delacroix)
- Saint Germain des Prés
- Museum of the Legion of Honor (Musée de la Légion d'Honneur)
- Café de Flore
- 2nd Arrondissement