The Louvre at a glance
The Louvre stands in central Paris around the Cour Napoléon, where the glass pyramid marks the main entrance for individual visitors. The collection is organized in three wings: Denon, Sully and Richelieu. The reception hall under the pyramid connects them. A ticket covers the permanent collections and the temporary exhibitions, and it also lets you visit the Musée national Eugène-Delacroix on the same or the following day.
This guide is independent. It is not the website of the museum, of the body that runs it or of the French Ministry of Culture, and no tour operator stands behind it. The museum sells its own tickets. What you find here is the practical side: what a visit costs, when the doors are open, how the wings and entrances work, which works are worth the walk and when to go. All prices are those listed for 2026, and they can change.
Plan your visit in four steps
Settle these first, then choose what to see.
1. Pick a day that is open
The museum is closed on Tuesdays, on January 1, May 1 and December 25. Wednesday and Friday have an evening opening until 9 p.m.
Opening hours →2. Get a ticket with a time slot
The museum recommends a time slot. The adult price is €22 or €32 in 2026, and reservation is required on some dates.
Tickets and prices →3. Know where you are going
Wings, levels and entrances decide how long you walk. A short list of works helps you avoid wandering.
Map explained →4. Allow enough time
The museum's own masterpieces trail is set at 90 minutes, which gives you a sense of scale. Add time for security, the cloakroom and walking between wings.
Best time to visit →Our picks: Louvre tours and tickets
A Mona Lisa tour, a small-group highlights tour and a timed ticket with an audio tour.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Louvre highlights in a small group with timed ticket
A timed-slot Louvre ticket, a guide and skip-the-line entry in a small group.
Check availability →
Mona Lisa and masterpieces with reserved entry
Pre-reserved museum entry, an English-speaking expert guide and a headset.
Check availability →
Timed Louvre ticket with a city audio tour
A ticket for a reserved time slot with access to the green ticket queue, plus a self-guided audio tour of Paris landmarks, not of the museum interior. No live guide, no Louvre audio guide, and you bring your own phone and headphones.
Check availability →Louvre tours and tickets
Guided tours and ticket bundles from independent providers, with live prices and availability.
Everything in this guide
Pick the page that matches your question.
Louvre tickets
Prices for 2026, who pays €22 or €32, time slots and free entry rules.
Opening hours
Regular times, the Wednesday and Friday evenings and the closed days.
Guided tours compared
Museum tours, group and private visits and the audio guide.
The Mona Lisa
Where it hangs, what is next to it and what is planned for its future home.
15 works to see
A selection with wings, levels and room numbers, and a route through them.
The map explained
Wings, floors and the entrances at the pyramid, the Carrousel and the Lions Gate.
The Louvre Pyramid
Who designed it, how the entrance works and where to take photos.
Venus de Milo
The statue from Milos, its story and the room question.
Winged Victory
The ship's prow figure at the top of the Daru staircase.
The 2025 heist
What is documented, and what it changed for visitors.
Best time to visit
Days, hours, queues and how long to stay.
Tuileries Garden
A free walk from the Louvre toward Place de la Concorde.
Good to know before you book
Where older guides and blog posts are out of date.
The price changed on January 14, 2026
Adults pay €22 if they are EEA nationals or EEA residents and €32 if they are neither. Older posts that mention a single flat price are out of date.
Tickets →Reservation is required on some dates
From October 17 to November 1, 2026, all visitors except those on the museum's published exception list must reserve a slot. Outside such periods, a slot is recommended, not required.
Time slots →The Apollo Gallery is open again
It reopened on July 22, 2026, after the October 2025 break-in. The former display of precious objects was removed, so go for the architecture and the ceiling, not for jewels.
The 2025 heist →The Mona Lisa has not moved
A separate room for the painting is an announced project, not an open one. The museum still names the Salle des États, room 711 in the Denon wing, level 1.
Mona Lisa →Late opening is not full opening
On Wednesday and Friday evenings some painting rooms on level 2 are closed. Some other areas are closed for renovation, so check the room plan for your date.
Evening hours →Every exit is final
A ticket is not a day pass with re-entry. Leave only when you are done, and bring nothing larger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm.
Entrances →More independent guides to Paris
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one Paris landmark.
Notre-Dame
The cathedral after the restoration: visits, towers, history and the Île de la Cité.
The Seine
River cruises, the bridges, the riverbanks and swimming in the Seine.
Sacré-Cœur
The basilica on Montmartre: the dome climb, opening hours, Montmartre walks and the Moulin Rouge.
Louvre visit: frequently asked questions
How much is a ticket to the Louvre?
An adult single ticket costs €22 for EEA nationals or residents and €32 for visitors who are neither, as listed for 2026. Visitors under 18 enter free. See the tickets page for the groups and the rules on proof.
When is the Louvre open?
On Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays. The last entry is one hour before closing. See the opening hours page.
Can I see everything in one day?
No. The museum has three wings and many levels, and some areas are closed from time to time. Choose a few works and a route. The highlights page lists 15 works with their locations.
Where do I enter?
Most individual visitors use the pyramid. Other entrances are the Carrousel at 99 rue de Rivoli and the Porte des Lions, which is open to ticket holders only. The map page explains who uses which door.
How do I get there?
By Métro to Palais-Royal / Musée du Louvre on lines 1 and 7, or to Pyramides on line 14. A single Métro, train or RER ticket costs €2.55 in 2026, a bus ticket €2.05. Several bus lines stop nearby, among them 21, 27, 39, 67, 68, 69, 72, 74, 85 and 95.
Can I bring a large bag or suitcase?
Not if it is bigger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm, because such items are not allowed even in the reception area. Lockers are free, and you must collect your things the same day. Everyone passes a security check at the entrances.
Is this the official Louvre website?
No. This is an independent visitor guide with no link to the museum, its operating body or the Ministry of Culture. The museum sells its own tickets and publishes the final word on hours and rules.