The world's most visited museum, eight centuries of palace and a collection too big for one life. The trick is to pick two wings and let the rest go.
The Louvre began as a fortress, grew into the palace of the kings and opened as a public museum during the Revolution. Today it holds around 35,000 works on show across three wings.
The building is in three wings round the Cour Napoléon and its glass pyramid: Denon (Italian painting, the Mona Lisa, French grand canvases), Sully (the medieval moat, Egypt, the Venus de Milo) and Richelieu (Northern painting, Mesopotamia, Napoleon III's apartments).
No one sees it all. Choose two wings, see them properly and leave the rest for another visit. The crowds bunch in Denon around the Mona Lisa; Richelieu is often half empty even in August.
Since January 2026 tickets cost €22 for EU residents and €32 for other visitors, bought online for a timed slot. Under-18s go free, but still need a slot.
A route that takes in the famous works early, then lets you slow down.
The underground Carrousel entrance off rue de Rivoli, or the Porte des Lions by the river, usually moves faster than the pyramid.
Go straight to the Salle des États while it is calm, then walk the Grande Galerie of Italian painting.
The Victory of Samothrace stands at the head of the stairs, best seen from below.
Walk the foundations of Philippe Auguste's fortress, then up to the Venus de Milo.
Chandeliers, red velvet and gilt, usually with room to breathe.
Book on the official site for a timed slot; same-day tickets at the door are not guaranteed. Bring ID if claiming the EU-resident or under-18 rate.
Métro Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre (lines 1 and 7) connects directly to the Carrousel entrance.
Cafés inside are crowded at noon; eat early or step out to the Palais-Royal gardens.
Paris practical notes →Photographs from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels under their licences.
