Paris: Guide to the Louvre Museum

A must when visiting Paris is to visit The Louvre Museum. The Louvre Museum is simply the largest museum in the world and quite frankly it felt like it. Originally built as a fortress to protect from Viking attacks and late became home to the French monarchs, the Louvre currently home to the likes of the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.  While also housing a incredible amount of antiquity to modern art pieces.  On our recent trip to Paris, we were able to visit the museum on a low crowd day.  Here’s a guide on how to explore the humongous Louvre museum:

ADVANCE TICKETS

I know you have been told several times to do this and I am here to tell you again. Don’t waste your time in a ticket line when you can pre purchase tickets online. It’s that simple. Cut your time in line by half by buying that ticket in advance. This way you will be able to go through security and straight in to the museum. 

FOUR ENTRANCES

Did you know that there is more that one entrance into the Louvre museum? Yes, it’s true. The entrance under the pyramid is not the only way to enter the museum. There are actual four entrances but with some limitations, please check the website the day of your visit to see which entrances are open. 

Pyramid – Main entrance for individual visitors, divided into 4 queues:

• Visitors without tickets (orange queue)
• Visitors with a ticket or Paris Museum Pass (green priority queue)
• Visitors with membership cards (Amis du Louvre, Carte Louvre Education et Formation, Ministère de la Pass Education, ICOM, etc.)
• Priority access (disabled visitors and staff members)

Carrousel – 99, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

• The Carrousel entrance can be used by all visitors:
• Disabled visitors
• Groups
• Visitors with membership cards
• Visitors with a ticket

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Porte des Lions – Quai François Mitterrand, 75001 Paris
There are no lockers at the Porte des Lions entrance. If the ticket office is closed, this entrance is reserved for visitors who already have a ticket.

Richeleiu -Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

Reserved for groups and visitors with a membership card.
The Passage Richelieu entrance closes every day after 5:30 p.m.

HOW LONG TO STAY?

If you are thinking that you are going to be able to just zoom through the museum I am here to tell you that you are still going to need a day. The great thing thought is that once you are pass the security, the design of the Louvre museum and it’s underground entrance is made to accommodate everything. There will be cafes to shops.  There is no need to exit the premise until you are completely done. Take your time, take food breaks and take everything in.  There’s even an Angelina’s inside the museum. 

BEST TIME TO GO

The best time to visit the Louvre Museum is mornings and evenings. This will be the least crowded hours of the day – try going early in the morning or around 3 PM.

MAP

Download the map. There are 3 wings and 4 floors, you can easily get lost. Here’s a tip beside every art piece there is a color coded number. The colors and number coincide with the map and you can locate yourself on the map this way.

These tips allowed us to enjoy our visit to the Louvre museum. I was able to see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, Winged Victory of Samothrace and so much more. I will definitely visit the museum any time I am in Paris. 

For ticket information and hours visit: Louvre