Regular Louvre opening hours
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. On Wednesday and Friday it stays open until 9 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays. All times are Paris local time.
The last entry is one hour before closing. The rooms start to empty 30 minutes before closing, so a ticket for the last hour is a short visit at best. If you want to see a specific work, arrive earlier and go there first. This guide is independent. The museum publishes the binding times on its own site, and they can change.
Opening hours by day
Regular times, Paris time.
| Day | Opens | Closes | Last entry | Rooms begin to empty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9 a.m. | 6 p.m. | 5 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | – | – | – | – |
| Wednesday | 9 a.m. | 9 p.m. | 8 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 9 a.m. | 6 p.m. | 5 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. |
| Friday | 9 a.m. | 9 p.m. | 8 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | 9 a.m. | 6 p.m. | 5 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | 9 a.m. | 6 p.m. | 5 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. |
Check the ticket details for your date: reservation is required from October 17 to November 1, 2026, and a time slot is recommended at other times. See the ticket page for prices and the exception list.
Louvre tours at different times of day
Guided visits and tickets with a time slot from independent providers, with live prices and availability.
Late nights on Wednesday and Friday
More hours, but not every room.
The evening opening adds time, not full access. On Wednesday and Friday, level 2 opens only at 10:30 a.m. During the evening opening, the later periods of French painting in the Sully wing and of northern European painting in the Richelieu wing, both on level 2, are listed as closed. The museum's room plan for October 7 to November 1, 2026 shows the current picture, and you should check it again for your date.
Most works on the highlights page are on levels −1, 0 and 1, away from the level 2 rooms that close in the evening. Still, check the room plan for your date before you build a route around a single work. The first Friday of the month is a free evening after 6 p.m., except in July and August.
Louvre closed: days and rooms
Closed days, holidays and areas that can shut.
Every Tuesday
The museum does not open on Tuesdays. Other weekdays are open, so move your visit to Monday or Wednesday.
Three holidays
It is closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25. On other public holidays it is open, unless the day falls on a Tuesday.
Short-notice closures
The museum can close at short notice, for example during industrial action or a blockade. Look at the museum's own notice on the morning you go.
Rooms closed for work
In the room plan for October 7 to November 1, 2026, Islamic art (Denon, levels −2 and −1), Roman antiquities (Denon, level 0), the Campana Gallery (Sully, level 1) and the Mesopotamia area (Richelieu, level 0) are listed as closed. The Apollo Gallery and the Napoléon III apartments are open.
Wings and levels →That plan covers a few weeks only. Individual rooms also close at short notice for technical or weather reasons. The collections behind these closures have not been removed. Treat a work's usual location as a good guess, not a promise.
Hours at the other doors
The pyramid is the main entrance, but not the only one.
The Porte des Lions on the Quai François-Mitterrand is open to ticket holders only. Its regular times are a closing at 6 p.m., a last entry at 5 p.m. and a closure on Tuesdays. The cloakroom can be reached only until 3 p.m. there, and one museum page also links the 3 p.m. time to the door itself. Do not count on this entrance late in the afternoon.
The Carrousel entrance at 99 rue de Rivoli serves groups, members and visitors with a ticket. The Passage Richelieu is for certain groups, museum tours, members and others with an entitlement. It is not a shortcut for individual visitors. The map page shows who uses which entrance.
Louvre opening hours: frequently asked questions
What time does the Louvre open?
At 9 a.m. on every day it is open. It closes at 6 p.m. on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and at 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
What day is the Louvre closed?
On Tuesdays, and on January 1, May 1 and December 25. Other public holidays are open unless they fall on a Tuesday.
When is the last entry?
One hour before closing: 5 p.m. on the 6 p.m. days and 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday. The rooms begin to empty 30 minutes before closing.
Is everything open during the late night?
No. Level 2 opens at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Friday, and later French painting in Sully and northern European painting in Richelieu on level 2 are closed in the evening. Some areas are also shut for renovation.
Can I enter after the last entry time?
No. The last entry is one hour before closing, and the rooms start to empty 30 minutes before closing. At the Porte des Lions the regular last entry is 5 p.m.
Does the Louvre close for public holidays?
Only on January 1, May 1 and December 25. Other public holidays are open, except when they fall on a Tuesday.
Is the best time to go early or late?
That depends on your plans, the day and the reservation rules. Read the best time to visit page for how the hours fit together.