Louvre Museum

The Louvre began as a medieval fortress, became the main royal palace and opened as a museum in 1793. It holds antiquities from Egypt, Greece and Rome, European painting and sculpture, and decorative arts across several wings. The glass Pyramid is the main entrance, but the security check sets the pace more than the door you pick. Choose a few rooms in advance, because the galleries are long and it is easy to lose an hour between wings.

What to look for

• The Mona Lisa in the Salle des États, behind a crowd
• The Winged Victory of Samothrace at the top of the Daru staircase
• The Venus de Milo
• The medieval foundations of the old fortress in the Sully wing

Opening hours

Closed on Tuesdays. Open until 21:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays. Entry to the museum is free after 18:00 on the first Friday of each month, except in July and August. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.

Source: Musée du Louvre, checked October 4, 2026

Tickets and booking

Adult ticket €32. The standard ticket is €32 for visitors from outside the EEA and €22 for EEA residents and nationals. Under 18s and EEA residents under 26 enter free with ID. Everyone enters free after 18:00 on the first Friday of the month, except in July and August, and free visitors should still book a time slot.

Book a timed ticket on the official site before you go. The museum strongly recommends it for every visitor, including those with free entry.

Getting there

Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre on Métro 1 and 7 opens onto the Carrousel, and the Pyramid is a few minutes on foot.

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Tip

Go at opening time, or on a Wednesday or Friday evening when the museum stays open late.