How the Louvre is laid out
The museum is organized around three wings: Denon, Sully and Richelieu. The central reception hall under the glass pyramid connects them. You enter there, collect a map and then choose a wing. Most first-time visitors only need Denon and Sully, because the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory and the Venus de Milo are there.
Free museum maps are available at the information points. The official plan is a French-language PDF in the 2026 files of the museum. This guide uses the same wings and levels, so the terms match what you see on signs.
Wings and floors at a glance
What the three wings contain.
| Wing | Examples of what you find | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Denon | Italian and French painting, the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory, Michelangelo's Slaves, the Galerie d'Apollon | -2 to 1 |
| Sully | Egyptian antiquities, the Venus de Milo, the medieval Louvre | -1 to 1, plus level 2 |
| Richelieu | The Napoleon III apartments, Mesopotamian antiquities | 0 and 1, plus level 2 |
The numbering does not shift between languages. Level 0 is the ground floor, level 1 the first floor and level -1 the basement. The plan also has a level 2, and the reception and service area sits on level -2. If a sign says "level 1", you go up one floor from the ground floor.
Louvre tours and guided visits
Guided routes through the wings, with live prices and availability.
Louvre entrance: which door to use
Four access points are listed by the museum.
The pyramid
This is the main entrance for individual visitors. There are separate queues depending on whether you have a reservation or a special entry status. Security screening applies to all visitors.
The Louvre pyramid →The Carrousel entrance
It is reached at 99 rue de Rivoli. The museum lists it for groups, members and visitors with a ticket. It leads into the underground Carrousel du Louvre.
Passage Richelieu
This door is for certain groups, museum tours, members and eligible visitors. It is not a general shortcut for every individual visitor.
Porte des Lions
It is on the Quai François-Mitterrand and works only with an admission ticket. The regular closing time is 6 p.m., the last entry is at 5 p.m., and it is closed on Tuesdays. The museum mentions 3 p.m. in two places, once for cloakroom access and once as a closing time for the door. Arrive earlier to be safe.
A ticket is not a day pass with re-entry. Each exit is final, so plan your breaks inside the museum.
Where the major works are
Wing, level and room according to the museum.
| Work | Wing | Level | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mona Lisa | Denon | 1 | 711 (Salle des États) |
| Winged Victory of Samothrace | Denon | 1 | 703 (Daru staircase) |
| Raft of the Medusa, Liberty Leading the People | Denon | 1 | 700 |
| Galerie d'Apollon | Denon | 1 | 705 |
| Michelangelo's Slaves, Cupid and Psyche | Denon | 0 | 403 |
| Venus de Milo | Sully | 0 | 345 or 346 |
| Great Sphinx of Tanis | Sully | -1 | 338 |
| Seated Scribe | Sully | 1 | 635 |
| Code of Hammurabi | Richelieu | 0 | 227 |
The museum's own pages give two room numbers for the Venus de Milo, 345 and 346. Both are on level 0 in the Sully wing, so you will find her either way. A work's usual location does not promise that the room is open on your day.
Closed areas in the room plan
The museum's room plan for 7 October to 1 November 2026.
The museum lists these areas as closed for renovation or as closed in that period: Islamic art in Denon (levels -2 and -1), the Roman antiquities in Denon (level 0), the Campana gallery in Sully (level 1) and the Mesopotamian area in Richelieu (level 0). The Galerie d'Apollon and the Napoleon III apartments are listed as open.
Rooms close and reopen for technical or weather-related reasons, and no collection is gone for good. Check the current list of galleries before you set out, and treat this section as a snapshot.
This matters for planning. The Code of Hammurabi stands in the Mesopotamian area, so do not build your route around it before you know the area is open.
Getting to the Louvre
Public transport and the car.
Métro
Palais-Royal / Musée du Louvre is served by lines 1 and 7. Pyramides on line 14 is also named by the museum as an access point.
Bus
The museum names lines 21, 27, 39, 67, 68, 69, 72, 74, 85 and 95. These are access lines, so check which stop and direction you need.
Fares 2026
A Métro, train and RER ticket costs €2.55 regular and €1.30 reduced. A bus or tram ticket costs €2.05 regular and €1.05 reduced. Transfers within the Métro-train-RER network are allowed for up to 2 hours.
By car
The Louvre car park is at 1 avenue du Général-Lemonnier, open 24 hours, with a maximum height of 1.9 m. A restricted traffic zone covers central Paris and bans through traffic. Traffic with a destination in the zone, for instance a car park visit, is allowed.
Bags and rules at the doors
What changes your route.
Bag size
Items larger than 55 x 35 x 20 cm are not allowed, even in the reception area. Do not plan on leaving a large suitcase.
Lockers
Lockers are free, and you must collect your things on the same day.
Inside the rooms
Eating, drinking, smoking, running, loud behavior and touching the artworks are not allowed.
Plan the rest of your visit
From the map to the individual rooms.
Louvre map: frequently asked questions
Which Louvre wing should I start with?
Most visitors start in Denon or Sully, since the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory and the Venus de Milo are there. Richelieu holds the Napoleon III apartments and the Code of Hammurabi. Pick the wing that matches the works you want most.
What do the level numbers mean?
Level 0 is the ground floor, level 1 the first floor and level -1 the basement. The plan also shows level 2 and a reception and service area on level -2.
Where is the Louvre entrance?
Individual visitors normally enter through the glass pyramid. The Carrousel entrance at 99 rue de Rivoli, the Passage Richelieu and the Porte des Lions have their own conditions, as the entrance section above shows.
Can I get a printed map?
Yes. The museum provides free maps at its information points. It also advises you to check the room plan for closed galleries before your visit.
Are all rooms open at the same time?
No. Some areas close for renovation, and closures change. Evening openings do not mean that every room stays open. Check the current list of galleries for your day.