Book a time slot for the Louvre whatever ticket you hold, and check which price applies to you: since 14 January 2026, visitors from outside the EU/EEA pay €32 and EU/EEA citizens and residents €22, while under-18s go free. If you want the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory explained in about two hours, a guided highlights tour with entry included is the simplest choice. If you would rather wander, the official ticket plus the Louvre’s free 90-minute Masterpieces trail does the job. This guide covers prices, opening hours (closed on Tuesdays, open until 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays), which entrance to use, how to handle the Mona Lisa room and when the Paris Museum Pass pays off. Facts were checked on 3 November 2026.
Louvre tickets and tours: prices, time slots and tips
Louvre tickets and tours: which should you book?
Choose by how much help you want: the official timed ticket if you are happy to find your own way, a two-hour highlights tour for a first visit, or a private tour if you have children or specific interests. Every tour below includes Louvre entry for adults and offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before; the official ticket cannot be changed or refunded. Tour prices were checked on 3 November 2026; live prices in your currency are shown on each card.
Where available, you can reserve now and pay later. Payment dates and eligibility depend on the experience and the options shown at checkout.
Finding experiences…
Official timed ticket (no guide)
€32 (€22 for EU/EEA citizens and residents)Sold on the Louvre’s own ticketing site for a fixed date and time slot, which cannot be changed or refunded. Pick the EEA rate only if you are an EU/EEA citizen or hold a residence permit or visa of more than three months: the Louvre’s 2026 rate sheet lists a €15 fee for buying the wrong ticket. The ticket also covers the Musée national Eugène-Delacroix on the same or the next day it is open, and you can add the €6 audio guide when booking.
Highlights and Mona Lisa guided tour
From €59An English-speaking guide takes you to the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and other highlights, with adult entry included. It meets under the equestrian statue in front of the Pyramid; arrive 15 minutes early. You can choose a group of up to 20, a semi-private group or a private tour. Instant confirmation and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Semi-private tour, six guests at most
From €63Covers the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace with a professional guide, with reserved entry and adult entry included (temporary exhibitions are not). It meets at the Louis XIV statue in front of the Pyramid, runs with at least two guests and is not suitable for wheelchair users. Other options include a 12-guest group, a private upgrade, a Spanish-language tour and a family tour for children or teenagers. Instant confirmation and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Mona Lisa express tour, then explore alone
From €59An accredited guide takes you in with reserved entry and straight to the Mona Lisa, then a self-guided audio app (download it to your phone before you go) covers the rest of the collection. It meets at the Arc du Carrousel, not at the Pyramid. Instant confirmation and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Private Louvre tour
From €168A private local guide with timed entrance tickets included, meeting at the Louis XIV statue in front of the Pyramid. The options include a semi-private tour for up to six and a late ‘Louvre Museum at Night’ tour. The tour is wheelchair-accessible and suitable for pushchairs. Bookings made well ahead are confirmed instantly; close to the date, the operator confirms them by hand. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Private family tour for children
From €209A private, child-friendly tour in English or French for up to six people with at least one child, with pre-booked tickets and adult entry included (under-18s enter free). It meets at the Arc du Carrousel facing the Pyramid. The tour is wheelchair-accessible and suitable for pushchairs. Instant confirmation and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Is a Louvre guided tour worth it, and what does a ticket cost in 2026?
Louvre ticket only or a guided tour?
A ticket alone is enough if you are happy to navigate; a tour is worth it on a first visit if you want the stories behind the famous works and a guide to steer you through the busiest rooms. The museum covers about 73,000 m² and displays some 35,000 works, and the Louvre’s own advice to families is to keep the visit short.
If you go alone, follow the Louvre’s free Masterpieces trail, which takes about 90 minutes and runs from the Salle des Caryatides to the Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s Slaves, or rent the €6 audio guide, which covers more than 150 masterpieces in nine languages. Groups booked with an official guide use the Passage Richelieu entrance.
Official tickets are valid only for the date and time chosen and cannot be changed or refunded, whereas every tour listed above can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before.
Louvre prices in 2026: EU/EEA and non-EEA visitors
- Since 14 January 2026, visitors who are neither citizens nor residents of the European Economic Area pay €32; EU/EEA citizens and residents pay €22. The price covers the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.
- The EEA rate covers the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Visitors from the UK, Switzerland, the US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere pay €32 unless they hold a residence permit or a visa of more than three months for an EEA country.
- Free admission needs proof at the entrance: photo ID showing your date of birth for under-18s; photo ID for EEA citizens aged 18–25; photo ID plus a long-stay residence document (a visa of more than three months or a residence permit) for EEA residents aged 18–25. The Louvre does not accept photocopies.
- The Louvre’s 2026 rate sheet lists a €15 fee, on top of the ticket price, for buying the wrong ticket.
- The ticket also gives entry to the Musée national Eugène-Delacroix, on the same day or the next day it is open.
- There are no reduced-price admission tickets: either you pay the full price or you qualify for free entry.
Free entry to the Louvre: first Friday evenings, not first Sundays
The Louvre is free for everyone on the first Friday of the month after 6pm, except in July and August, and all day on 14 July; there is no longer a free first Sunday. Booking a free time slot is still advised.
The next free first Friday evenings fall on 4 December 2026, 5 February 2027, 5 March 2027, 2 April 2027, 7 May 2027 and 4 June 2027. The first Friday of January 2027 is 1 January, when the museum is closed.
Paris Museum Pass and the Louvre: when it pays off
For visitors from outside the EEA, the Paris Museum Pass pays off once you visit four of the big sites in its time window. It costs €85 for 48 hours, €105 for 96 hours and €125 for 144 hours, counted from your first visit, with one entry per site and no temporary exhibitions.
Using the pass’s own list of ticket prices: the Louvre (€32), the Musée d’Orsay (€16), the Sainte-Chapelle (€22) and the Notre-Dame towers (€16) add up to €86 within 48 hours. Add the Palace of Versailles (€25) and the 96-hour pass (€105) comes out ahead too. With the €22 EEA rate at the Louvre you need more visits to break even, and under-18s, and EU/EEA citizens and residents aged 18–25, go free at the Louvre and most national museums anyway.
The pass does not replace the time slot: at the Louvre, only a reserved slot guarantees entry with the pass, and the reservation is free. Book it on the Louvre’s ticketing site as soon as you know your date.
Where the Louvre is and how to get there
The Louvre stretches along the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement, between the Tuileries Garden and Rue de Rivoli. The glass Pyramid in the Cour Napoléon is the main entrance. Distances below are as the crow flies; walking routes are a little longer.
Getting to the Louvre by metro, bus and boat
The nearest metro station is Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre on lines 1 and 7; Pyramides on line 14 is a little further. Buses 21, 27, 39, 67, 68, 69, 72, 74, 85 and 95 stop nearby, and the Batobus river shuttle stops at Louvre on Quai François-Mitterrand.
The Louvre says it takes about 10 minutes to get from the metro to the Pyramid entrance; allow another 15 minutes for the lockers and toilets before your slot. Taxis drop off at the Carrousel roundabout, and the nearest pick-up point is Place André-Malraux. Drivers can use the underground car park at 1 avenue du Général-Lemonnier, which leads into the museum through the Galerie du Carrousel.
Which Louvre entrance to use
Use the Pyramid if you have a ticket or a Paris Museum Pass and join the green queue; the orange queue is for visitors without tickets, and the blue one for disabled visitors.
- Pyramid (Cour Napoléon): the main entrance for individual visitors. Its lift is reserved for disabled visitors, wheelchair users and people with pushchairs.
- Carrousel (99 rue de Rivoli): for visitors with a ticket, members and groups.
- Porte des Lions (Quai François-Mitterrand, by the Seine): ticket holders only. It closes at 6pm every day, is closed on Tuesdays, takes its last entry at 5pm, and its lockers can be used only until 3pm.
- Passage Richelieu (Rue de Rivoli): for groups, guided groups of up to six with an official guide, and members. It closes after 5:30pm, or 7:30pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
- These conditions were listed on 3 November 2026; the Louvre’s entrance map shows whether each entrance is open on the day.
Louvre security, bags and lockers
- Every visitor goes through a security check at the entrance.
- Suitcases and large bags are not allowed, and nothing larger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm can enter the welcome area or the galleries.
- Free self-service lockers are available under the Pyramid and at the Porte des Lions; you must collect everything the same day. Umbrellas that do not fit in a bag go in the cloakroom stands.
- Wheelchairs, pushchairs, baby carriers, walking sticks and folding stools can be borrowed free of charge under the Pyramid in exchange for ID, and free Wi-Fi (Louvre_Wifi_Gratuit) covers the Pyramid and the galleries.
- Any exit is final, so do not plan to leave for lunch and come back on the same ticket.
Near the Louvre: what to see before or after
1Tuileries Garden
about 0.7 km as the crow flies (garden entrance next door)The free garden starts right outside the Louvre, past the Arc du Carrousel. From November to March it is open from 7:30am to 7:30pm, with free public toilets near the Place de la Concorde and Rue de Rivoli entrances. The Louvre suggests it for a picnic.
2Musée de l’Orangerie
about 1 km as the crow fliesAt the far end of the Tuileries, the Orangerie is home to Monet’s Water Lilies. It is open from 9am to 6pm and, like the Louvre, closed on Tuesdays; a full-price ticket costs €12.50.
3Palais-Royal garden
about 0.45 km as the crow fliesJust north of the Louvre, across Rue de Rivoli from the Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre metro station, this arcaded garden is a quiet place to sit after the crowds.
4Pont des Arts
about 0.35 km as the crow fliesThe footbridge in front of the Louvre’s Cour Carrée crosses the Seine to the Institut de France, with views along the river to the Île de la Cité.
5Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame
about 0.9 km as the crow flies to the Sainte-Chapelle; Notre-Dame about 1.4 kmWalk along the river to the Île de la Cité. The Sainte-Chapelle is open from 9am to 5pm from October to March and charges €22 for visitors from outside the EEA and €16 for EEA citizens and residents; Notre-Dame is a few minutes further.
6Musée d’Orsay
about 0.7 km as the crow flies, across the SeineThe Impressionists’ museum faces the Tuileries from the Left Bank. It makes an easy pairing with the Louvre across the river, though two large collections in one day is a lot; many visitors give each its own morning.
A 2–3 hour Louvre highlights route
The quickest way to see the Louvre’s most famous works is the museum’s own Masterpieces trail: about 90 minutes from the Sully wing to the Denon wing, then extend it to three hours with the Egyptian antiquities and the Napoléon III Apartments.
- Salle des Caryatides (room 348, Sully wing, level 0): the Renaissance ballroom where Henri de Navarre married Marguerite de Valois in 1572.
- Venus de Milo (room 346, Sully wing, level 0), given to the Louvre in 1821.
- Winged Victory of Samothrace (room 703, Denon wing, level 1), at the top of the Daru staircase.
- Galerie d’Apollon (room 705), reopened on 22 July 2026 to show its painted and sculpted décor, then the Salon Carré and the Grande Galerie with Leonardo’s paintings.
- Mona Lisa and Veronese’s Wedding Feast at Cana in the Salle des États (room 711, Denon wing, level 1).
- The Raft of the Medusa and Liberty Leading the People (room 700), then Michelangelo’s Slaves and Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss (room 403, Denon wing, level 0).
- With an extra hour: the Egyptian antiquities (Sully wing, levels 0 and 1) and the gilded Napoléon III Apartments (Richelieu wing, level 1).
- Pick up a free map (in nine languages) at the information desks under the Pyramid, or download it from louvre.fr before you go.
The Mona Lisa room at the Louvre: how to approach it
Treat the Mona Lisa as one stop rather than the purpose of your visit: you queue in the Salle des États for a short view of a painting kept behind a temperature- and humidity-controlled glass case. It hangs in the Louvre’s largest room, in the Denon wing on level 1.
While you queue, turn round: Veronese’s Wedding Feast at Cana, almost 70 m², is the largest painting in the Louvre. The Wednesday and Friday late openings until 9pm give you more hours to fit the visit around the busiest times. On 3 November 2026, the Louvre’s open-rooms list showed two painting departments (France 1600–1850 and Northern Europe 1600–1850) closed during late openings, so check the list before an evening visit.
What has changed at the Louvre for winter 2026–27
- Prices: the separate €32 non-EEA rate has applied since 14 January 2026. On 3 November 2026 the Louvre had not published any rates for 2027.
- Galerie d’Apollon: closed after the theft of 19 October 2025, it reopened on 22 July 2026. The precious objects it held have been removed, so you now see the gallery itself, the model for the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, with Delacroix’s ceiling painting.
- The ‘Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance’ plan: on 18 May 2026, the Louvre named STUDIOS Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects as winners of the ‘Grande Colonnade’ competition. Their design adds two new underground entrances beside the moat at the eastern Colonnade and a dedicated space for the Mona Lisa. When the project was announced in January 2025, the new entrance was due to open by 2031; until then, the Pyramid, Carrousel and Porte des Lions remain the entrances.
- Rooms: some galleries close for renovation or for technical or weather-related reasons; on 3 November 2026 the open-rooms list showed the Islamic Art and Roman Antiquities galleries closed for renovation. Check the list before you go.
Louvre mistakes to avoid (and what most guides get wrong)
- Going on a Tuesday. The Louvre is closed every Tuesday, and so is the Orangerie next door.
- Waiting for a free first Sunday. The Louvre’s free entry is now the first Friday evening of the month after 6pm (not in July or August).
- Assuming a Paris Museum Pass or free entry means you can just turn up. The Louvre recommends a time slot for everyone, and the pass organisation says only a reserved slot guarantees entry.
- Joining the wrong queue. With a ticket or a pass, use the green queue at the Pyramid; ticket holders can also use the Carrousel and the Porte des Lions.
- Buying the €22 rate without being an EU/EEA citizen or resident. You need proof, and the rate sheet lists a €15 fee for buying the wrong ticket.
- Arriving late in the day. Last entry is one hour before closing and the rooms are cleared 30 minutes before closing.
- Bringing luggage. Nothing over 55 × 35 × 20 cm is allowed, and the Porte des Lions lockers close at 3pm.
- Buying from street sellers or look-alike websites. The Louvre warns that such tickets can be refused at the door.
- Relying on older guides. Some still describe the crown jewels in the Galerie d’Apollon or a free first Sunday.
The Louvre with children
- Under-18s of any nationality enter free with ID; book them a free time slot with yours.
- The Studio, on the ground floor of the Richelieu wing, runs free 20-minute drop-in activities (in French) and has a baby space with a bottle warmer, a microwave and a nursing chair.
- Pushchairs and baby carriers can be borrowed free of charge under the Pyramid, and most toilets have baby-changing tables.
- Eating and drinking are not allowed in the galleries; eat under the Pyramid or picnic in the Tuileries Garden.
- Keep the visit short and choose a few works in advance; the private family tour above is designed around children.
Louvre: frequently asked questions
How much is a Louvre ticket in 2026?
Since 14 January 2026, a Louvre ticket costs €32 for visitors from outside the EU/EEA and €22 for EU/EEA citizens and residents. Under-18s of any nationality, and EU/EEA citizens and residents aged 18–25, go free with proof of age and, where needed, residence.
Do I need to book a time slot at the Louvre?
The Louvre recommends a time slot for every visitor, including those who go free and Paris Museum Pass holders, and booking is the only way to be sure of entry on busy days. Official tickets are valid only for the date and time chosen and cannot be changed or refunded.
Is the Louvre free on the first Sunday of the month?
No. The Louvre is free for everyone on the first Friday of the month after 6pm (except in July and August) and on 14 July. The next dates are 4 December 2026, then 5 February, 5 March, 2 April, 7 May and 4 June 2027; 1 January 2027 is a Friday but the museum is closed.
What days is the Louvre closed?
The Louvre is closed every Tuesday and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. It is open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. In winter 2026–27, 25 December 2026 and 1 January 2027 both fall on a Friday.
Is the Louvre open in the evening?
Yes, until 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays; on other open days it closes at 6pm. Last entry is one hour before closing, and some painting rooms may be closed during the late openings.
Which Louvre entrance should I use?
With a ticket or a Paris Museum Pass, use the green queue at the Pyramid; ticket holders can also enter at the Carrousel (99 rue de Rivoli) or the Porte des Lions by the Seine, which closes at 6pm and on Tuesdays. Groups with an official guide use the Passage Richelieu.
Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it for the Louvre?
For visitors from outside the EEA it usually is if you visit at least four big sites: the Louvre (€32), Orsay (€16), the Sainte-Chapelle (€22) and the Notre-Dame towers (€16) come to €86, against €85 for the 48-hour pass. You still need to book a free Louvre time slot.
How long do you need at the Louvre?
The Louvre’s own Masterpieces trail takes about 90 minutes; allow two to three hours to add the Egyptian antiquities and the Napoléon III Apartments. Most guided highlights tours last two to two and a half hours.
Can I bring a backpack or a suitcase to the Louvre?
Small bags only: suitcases and large bags are not allowed, and nothing over 55 × 35 × 20 cm can enter the museum. Free lockers are available under the Pyramid and at the Porte des Lions, and you must collect your things the same day.
Is the Galerie d’Apollon open after the 2025 jewel theft?
Yes. Closed after the theft of 19 October 2025, the Galerie d’Apollon reopened on 22 July 2026. Its precious objects have been removed, so visitors now see the gallery’s painted and sculpted décor, including Delacroix’s ceiling.
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Spotted something out of date? Tell usSources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources on November 3, 2026. Prices and times can change, so confirm them when you book.
- Louvre: hours and admission (louvre.fr)
- Louvre: horaires et tarifs (French version, free-admission proofs) (louvre.fr)
- Louvre: rates as of 14 January 2026 (PDF) (api-www.louvre.fr)
- Louvre: frequently asked questions (louvre.fr)
- Louvre: map, entrances and directions (louvre.fr)
- Louvre: visitor rules (louvre.fr)
- Louvre: visitor amenities (louvre.fr)
- Louvre: open rooms (louvre.fr)
- Louvre: visit as a family (louvre.fr)
- Louvre: The Louvre’s Masterpieces visitor trail (louvre.fr)
- Louvre: The Louvre’s Masterpieces trail (PDF) (api-www.louvre.fr)
- Louvre: ‘Grande Colonnade’ international architecture competition (louvre.fr)
- Louvre press room: winner of the architecture competition (18 May 2026) (presse.louvre.fr)
- Louvre press room: reopening of the Galerie d’Apollon (presse.louvre.fr)
- NPR: the Louvre will be renovated and the Mona Lisa will get her own room (January 2025) (npr.org)
- Paris Museum Pass: the pass (parismuseumpass.fr)
- Paris Museum Pass: booking time slots (parismuseumpass.fr)
- City of Paris: which museums are free (paris.fr)
- Musée de l’Orangerie: your visit (musee-orangerie.fr)
- Sainte-Chapelle: practical information (sainte-chapelle.fr)
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From prices are indicative. Choose your date and confirm availability, cancellation terms and the final total on the booking page. * Ratings and reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor.
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