What is it?
The Louvre is the largest and most visited museum in the world: before Covid, in 2019, the Louvre welcomed over 10 million visitors. A veritable city within a city, this incredible maze of galleries, passages, staircases, and escalators, which once housed the royal family, is famous for its vast art collection.
Why is it famous?
Under the glass pyramid, which was designed by leoh Ming Pei and commissioned by President François Mitterrand in 1983, you’ll find 35,000 works on display – a huge amount, but still only a fraction of the 490,000 pieces that make up the museum’s total collection – spread across eight departments and three wings. You could spend weeks on end admiring the Louvre’s pieces, and still not get to each one; besides the Mona Lisa, arguably the most famous artwork in the world, there is a vast array of diverse treasures to discover, with galleries dedicated to Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, and Roman artefacts. European decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the 19th century are also on display, with the extravagant Napoleon III apartments, which remain almost perfectly intact after 150 years, really standing out.
Alternative tours
To make the most of these magnificent exhibits, the institution offers unique tours, both with a tour guide and self-guided, and you can also look up some unofficial tours, like this feminist one. For a more glamorous take, follow in Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s footprints, with a self-guided tour which revisits the key works seen in the ‘Apeshit’ music video, filmed at the Louvre in 2018.
Where can I buy tickets?
It's best to purchase tickets in advance to save you from unnecessary queuing. This also allows you to access the collections directly via the Carrousel shopping galleries or the Richelieu Passage, on Rue de Rivoli.
Is two hours long enough for a visit?
It would take months to see all of the Louvre’s 35,000 pieces on display, but you can still get a lot out of a shorter visit. If you only have an hour or two to spend, the museum website suggests heading to the Denon wing (home to big hitters like the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and The Raft of the Medusa).
Can I visit the Louvre for free?
Admission is free for all visitors on the first Friday of the month after 6pm (except in July and August) and on July 14 (unless it falls on a Tuesday, when the museum is closed).
Admission is also free for all visitors under the age of 18; for those aged 18-25 who are residents of the European Economic Area; holders of a valid ‘Pass Education’ card; teachers of art, art history, and the applied arts (proof of subject taught is required); artists affiliated with the Maison des Artistes (in France) of the IAA (International Association of Art); holders of a valid ICOM or ICOMOS card; job seekers and people on income support, on presentation of proof of entitlement (dated within the last year of indicating a period of validity); and disabled visitors and the person accompanying them. If you are entitled to free admission, it is still advisable to book a time slot in advance: just go to the online ticketing service, choose a timeslot and select the ‘free admission’ option.
What’s nearby?
The Louvre is located right in the heart of Paris. If you're keen to see as much art as possible, head for the Museum of Decorative Arts or the Bourse de Commerce, which is home to the prestigious Pinault collection of contemporary art. To enjoy postcard-worthy views, we recommend Place Colette, where you'll find the most beautiful metro station in Paris, with a kiosk designed by Jean-Michel Othoniel.
Time Out tip
If you're feeling peckish, skip the touristy spots near the museum, such as the very expensive Café Marly, and head instead for Rue Saint-Anne and the Japanese quarter, where you'll find the best ramen, udon and sobas in Paris.
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Translated by Olivia Simpson