The Louvre Museum Paris
An advance briefing for visitors to the Louvre Museum Paris
 |
The Louvre Museum - Official Web Site
The Louvre has been a medieval fortress, a palace for the kings of France, and just latterly (for the last two hundred years) a museum. Not just any museum but the biggest museum in the world with the most visitors, housed in a royal palace which would be a major draw without the exhibits.
The exhibits are vast, with collections ranging from Egyptian Art, through sculpture and the famous Mona Lisa painting - perhaps the most famous painting in the world. The official web site, (link at top of page) contains a thorough guide as well as current temporary exhibitions.
The Louvre Opening Times / Admission Prices
For opening hours and current admission prices best consult the official web site (link at top of page) to confirm for when you are visiting. In overview the museum is open daily, except Tuesdays and certain public holidays, from 9am to 6pm. Evening openings until 10 p.m on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Admission to the permanent collection is free for all on the first Sunday of every month and on July 14 (national holiday), but as you would expect it can be uncomfortably crowded.
If visiting the Louvre is a main reason to visit Paris then do check out getting a Paris Museum Pass. Assuming you will want to visit other art galleries and museums like the Orsay Museum or make multiple visits to the Louvre it will save money and you can skip the ticket queues of the main venues and for vast places like The Louvre you can come back and take in the exhibits in manageable bite size chunks.
Be prepared for very long queues for tickets to the Louvre Museum
 |
 |
|---|
| Places Of Interest |
| Sightseeing Passes |
| Museums & Art Galeries |
| Cathedrals & Churches |
| Louvre Museum |
| Eiffel Tower |
| Versailles |
| Landmarks & Curiosities |
| Shopping & Markets |
| Moulin Rouge |
| Cemeteries |
| Getting Around Paris |
| Public Transport |
| Hop-on/off Buses & Boats |
| Formal Tours of Paris |
| Day Tours From Paris |
| Versailles |
| Disneyland |
| Champagne / Loire |
| London |
 |
 |
Tours Of The Louvre
Mult-Media Guides
As you would expect, a multi-media product is available for a charge similar in concept to the very common audio guides you find at most museums.
Listen to the museum's curators and specialists commenting on several hundred artworks in brief interviews that are translated into 6 languages (English, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean). The guide can be personalized by choosing from a selection of profiles—adult, child, visually, physically or hearing-impaired
Self Guided Tour of Louvre
There are a number of self guided tours you can download from the official web site of the Louvre (link at top of page). These are called thematic tours.
Each trail is based on a selection of works that typify a period, an artistic movement, or a theme. You can print them out from the web site.
Guided Tours of Louvre
For individuals there is an introductory tour in English to the Louvre. The tour provides an introduction to a selection of masterpieces in the collection and lasts about 90 minutes. There is only 2 tours a day in English at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., though check in advance on the web site. These tours are not free.
There may well be other tours available at the time of your visit, especially if there is a special exhibition on.
2.5 Hour Guided Tours of Louvre With Skip The Line Admission
This tour is not a tour put on by the Louvre itself, but by a private commercial enterprise.
Make a booking and jump the queue to make the most of your limited time inside the world's largest museum. After your guided tour, you can stay on if you want to and continue exploring the Louvre Museum at your leisure.
 |
| Tour Of The Louvre With Skip The Line Entrance |
Your guided tour focuses on three world-famous works: the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace and Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
There are morning, afternoon or evening tours.
The tour includes an Engish speaking professional guide and skip the line tickets into the Louvre itself.
 |
| Louvre Rivoli Metro Station |
Getting To The Louvre
The Louvre is very central, lying besides the River Seine. You can walk to Notre Dame, Latin Quarter and Orsay Museum in just a few minutes.
There are several entrances to the complex, the most famous being the glass pyramid that has quickly become one of the most photographed buildings In Paris.
The Metro stations Louvre Rivoli and Palais Royal are right next to the Louvre on Line 1 of the Paris Metro. Louvre Rivoli is particularly striking as the platforms are adorned with works of art, (see image right).
The Paris Hop on, Hop Off Buses stop right by the Pyramid.
The Paris Batobus river bus also a Louvre landing stage right by the Louvre.
Paris Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Buses and Boats |
||
 |
 |
 |
Save on Sightseeing in Paris with the Paris ComboPass®Benefits of the Paris ComboPass® include:
|
 |