How Do You Skip the Line at the Louvre?
The Louvre sells seven different tickets and guided routes, and the fastest ones get you past the entrance queue and straight to the Mona Lisa. Here is how the reserved-access, semi-private, and family options compare, plus what a timed entry actually buys you.
About This Experience
Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, in the 1st arrondissement
Palais Royal, Musée du Louvre station on lines 1 and 7, which enters through the Carrousel du Louvre
Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 9:00 to 18:00, Wednesday and Friday until 21:00, closed Tuesdays
22 euros for EEA residents and 32 euros for everyone else since 14 January 2026, with a timed entry reservation required even for Paris Museum Pass holders
The Carrousel and Porte des Lions entrances move faster than the glass pyramid
Guided tours run 2 to 3 hours, or a full day if you add the Seine cruise
Check Live Availability & Prices
Louvre time slots move fast, especially on the Mona Lisa and Masterpieces route. See current pricing and open dates below.
Which Louvre Ticket to Pick
The Louvre sells seven different guided routes and combo tickets, and the right one depends on budget, group size, and how much of the museum you want covered. The Masterpieces tour with reserved access is the best value at $73, rated 4.7 from more than 7,000 reviews, and it moves you straight past the entrance queue to the Mona Lisa and the other big names. The Mona Lisa & Masterpieces tour costs more at $112 but carries the same 4.7 rating from nearly 6,000 reviews, and some visitors prefer its pacing.
For a smaller group, the semi-private tour capped at six people has the highest rating of the set, 4.9, at $72, close to the reserved-access price but with far more personal attention from the guide. The priority access guided tour runs longer at around three hours but rates lower at 4.2, so weigh the extra time against the guide quality. Families should look at the private family tour built for kids, and anyone who wants to pair the museum with a boat ride on the river can add the Seine cruise combo.
If you are planning a longer trip through the city's collections, our full guide to the best museums in Paris lays out how the Louvre fits alongside the Orsay, the Orangerie, and the smaller house museums.
All Louvre Tours and Tickets
Every guided option and combo ticket for the Louvre, side by side.
from $112
Our pick Louvre: Mona Lisa & Iconic Masterpieces Tour
This two-hour guided walk with reserved access covers the works most visitors come to see, led by a guide who knows the shortcuts. You stand in front of…
- Reserved-access timed entry
- 2-hour expert-guided route
- Mona Lisa and headline masterpieces
from $73
Louvre Masterpieces Tour with Reserved Access
Reserved access and an expert guide take you through the Louvre's best-known paintings and sculpture in a single visit. It is the most-booked way to see the museum…
- Reserved timed entry
- Guided highlights route
- Painting and sculpture masterpieces
from $86
Louvre Skip-the-Line Mona Lisa Guided Tour
Skip the security queue and follow a guide to the Louvre's essential works, including the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. The route is built…
- Skip-the-line security entry
- Small guided group
- Greek, Roman and Renaissance highlights
from $72
Louvre Award-Winning Semi-Private Tour (max 6)
A capped group of six keeps the visit intimate while a local guide draws out the stories behind each work. It suits travellers who want depth and space…
- Maximum 6 guests
- Award-winning local guides
- Reserved tickets included
from $102
Louvre Priority Access Guided Tour with Expert
A guide leads you straight past the queue and through the Louvre's greatest rooms, from the Denon wing to the Mona Lisa. You get the highlights in one…
- Reserved priority entrance
- Expert art-history guide
- Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory
from $113
Louvre Private Family Tour for Kids
A private guide shapes the visit around children, turning the Louvre into a treasure hunt through pharaohs, knights and famous paintings. Reserved entry means no long wait with…
- Private, family-friendly guide
- Reserved skip-the-line entry
- Kid-focused two-hour route
from $108
Louvre Guided Tour + Seine River Cruise
Pair a guided Louvre visit with a sightseeing cruise past the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame on the same day. It works well for a first trip when you…
- Guided Louvre entry
- One-hour Seine cruise
- Riverside monuments from the water
Side by Side
| Tour | Duration | Price | Book | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mona Lisa & Masterpieces Tour | 2 hours | $112 | Check Availability | 4.7★ | The most-booked guided route |
| Masterpieces w/ Reserved Access | ~2 hours | $73 | Check Availability | 4.7★ | Best value guided highlights |
| Skip-the-Line Mona Lisa Tour | ~2.5 hours | $86 | Check Availability | 4.7★ | Skipping the security queue |
| Semi-Private Tour (max 6) | 2.5 hours | $72 | Check Availability | 4.9★ | Small groups and depth |
| Priority Access Guided Tour | ~3 hours | $102 | Check Availability | 4.2★ | A longer expert overview |
| Private Family Tour for Kids | 2 hours | $113 | Check Availability | 4.6★ | Families with children |
| Louvre Tour + Seine Cruise | 1 day | $108 | Check Availability | 4.6★ | First-timers who want the river too |
What You'll See
Whatever route you book, a handful of works define the Louvre visit. The Denon wing gets the heaviest traffic because it holds the Mona Lisa, but the museum's depth goes well beyond one painting.
- The Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci), behind glass in the Denon wing
- The Venus de Milo, the armless Greek goddess
- The Winged Victory of Samothrace on the Daru staircase
- The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David
- Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix
- The Egyptian antiquities, from sphinxes to mummies
- The Napoleon III Apartments, kept as they were
- The medieval Louvre moat in the basement
How a Visit Flows
-
Before you go
Reserve a timed entry slot
Book your window online in advance. A reservation is required even if you already hold a Paris Museum Pass.
-
On arrival
Enter through the Carrousel
Skip the glass pyramid and go in through the Carrousel du Louvre or the Porte des Lions, both move faster.
-
First stop
Denon wing
Head straight for the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace on the Daru staircase before the galleries fill up.
-
Next
French and Italian painting
Work through the painting galleries, including the Coronation of Napoleon and Liberty Leading the People.
-
After that
Venus de Milo and Greek antiquities
Cross to the Greek collections for the Venus de Milo and the wider antiquities galleries.
-
Before you leave
Egyptian wing or Napoleon III Apartments
Close the visit with either the Egyptian antiquities or the preserved Napoleon III Apartments, depending on how much time you have left.
The Best Time to Visit the Louvre
Nine million people a year pass through one museum, so timing matters more here than the ticket you hold. Two windows are genuinely quiet: the first hour after opening, before the tour groups reach the Denon wing, and the last two hours of the two late nights. The table below is the museum's own 2026 schedule, and last entry is always an hour before closing, with the rooms cleared thirty minutes before.
| Day | Hours | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00 – 18:00 | Busy, because the Orsay, Rodin and Picasso all close |
| Tuesday | Closed | The one day the Louvre does not open |
| Wednesday | 9:00 – 21:00 | Late night, and the evening is much calmer than the morning |
| Thursday | 9:00 – 18:00 | The quietest of the ordinary days |
| Friday | 9:00 – 21:00 | Late night, free for all after 18:00 on the first Friday of the month |
| Saturday and Sunday | 9:00 – 18:00 | The fullest days, book the 9:00 slot or skip them |
Season matters as much as the hour. January, February and early December are the emptiest months; July and August fill every gallery, and the first Friday free evening does not run in those two months. If you want the Mona Lisa without a scrum, take a 9:00 slot on a Thursday in winter and walk straight to the Denon wing.
- Best overall: the first slot of the day, Wednesday to Friday, outside the school holidays
- Best evening: after 19:00 on a Wednesday or Friday, when the day crowd has gone
- Free for everyone: the first Friday of the month after 18:00, except in July and August, and on 14 July
- Worst: Monday and the weekend in high summer, when every other big museum is shut or full
- With a Paris Museum Pass you still book a free timed slot, and the early ones go first
Know Before You Go
Not suitable for
- Visitors expecting a quick visit, the collection is vast and rewards several hours
- Strollers in the busiest galleries during peak season, a baby carrier works better
- Anyone hoping to see the whole museum in one visit, the Louvre is too large for that
What to bring
- A confirmed timed entry reservation, on your phone or printed
- Comfortable walking shoes, the galleries cover a lot of ground
- A photo ID matching the name on your ticket
- A refillable water bottle, there are fountains inside
Not allowed
- Large backpacks or suitcases, they must be checked or left behind
- Flash photography near the paintings
- Food and drink inside the galleries
Insider Tips
A few habits make the difference between a rushed visit and an easy one.
- Enter via the Carrousel or Porte des Lions instead of the pyramid, the queues run shorter
- Book the earliest timed slot you can get, the first hour is the quietest
- The nearest metro is Palais Royal, Musée du Louvre on lines 1 and 7
- Wednesday and Friday evenings the museum stays open until 21:00, and the last two hours are the calmest of the week
- Even with the Paris Museum Pass you still need a timed reservation
- Go straight to the Denon wing for the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory before the crowds arrive
Where You're Headed
Louvre Tickets FAQ
How much does it cost to enter the Louvre?
Since 14 January 2026 the Louvre charges 22 euros to residents and citizens of the European Economic Area and 32 euros to everyone else. A timed entry reservation is required either way, including for Paris Museum Pass holders.
Do I need a ticket if I already have the Paris Museum Pass?
Yes. The Louvre still requires a separate timed entry reservation on top of the pass, so book a slot in advance.
Which entrance has the shortest line at the Louvre?
The Carrousel du Louvre and the Porte des Lions entrances typically move faster than the glass pyramid entrance.
When is the best time to visit the Louvre?
Take the 9:00 slot on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, or come after 19:00 on the two late nights, Wednesday and Friday, when the museum stays open until 21:00. Mondays and summer weekends are the busiest, and January and February the quietest months of the year.
What are the Louvre's opening hours?
The Louvre opens at 9:00 every day except Tuesday, closing at 18:00 on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and at 21:00 on Wednesday and Friday. Last entry is an hour before closing.
Is the Louvre open on Tuesdays?
No, the Louvre is closed every Tuesday.
What is the closest metro station to the Louvre?
Palais Royal, Musée du Louvre on lines 1 and 7 sits right at the Carrousel entrance.
What Visitors Say
We booked the reserved-access tour and walked almost straight to the Mona Lisa. Worth every euro for how much time it saved us.
The semi-private group was perfect, our guide answered every question and we never felt rushed.
Good tour overall, though three hours felt long with two kids in tow. Wish we had picked the family option instead.