Musée du Louvre
Price guide: Mid-range
Rue de Rivoli, Paris, 75001
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expert-rated things to do in Paris- Recommended for:
- Culture vultures, Families with teenagers, First-time travellers, Mature travellers, Seasoned travellers, Education
Best for Culture - Expert review of Musée du Louvre
The world's greatest art museum and a palace to boot.
The Louvre is both a phenomenal art museum and was for centuries the royal palace and this double aspect comes across everywhere: as you climb up its massive staircases, wander through galleries with sculpted, painted ceilings or discover the foundations of the medieval fortress hidden in the basement. There's masses to see here: Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (very popular with kids), the grand galleries of Italian Renaissance paintings (Fra Angelico, Mantegna, Raphael and of course the Mona Lisa in her own room facing Veronese's magnificent Wedding at Cana), French neo-classicism and Romantics (stirring works by David, Delacroix and Géricault) to name just a few, without forgetting Antique sculptures or Renaissance works of art, yet for all its awesome size, the Louvre is also surprisingly user friendly, and ever since the creation of IM Pei's glass pyramid as the main entrance has also been one of the more forward-looking of Paris's art institutions.
Price advice:
Adults 9.50 euros valid all day (6 euros after 6pm on Wed and Fri); 14 euros with exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon. All under 18s and European Union nationals under 26 get in free (bring ID); free for everyone the first Sun of the month – so not necessarily the best time to come, as it can be very crowded.
Expert tips:
Don't let the sheer size put you off, getting slightly lost is all part of the experience – and a way to make discoveries – and the pyramid exit is always well sign-posted.
There are often long queues to get into the pyramid, if you've bought tickets in advance (try Fnac, department stores and Virgin megastore), you can enter from the Carrousel shopping centre, the Porte aux Lions or the Passage Richelieu.
Tickets are valid all day - make a break to have a sandwich or snack in the Tuileries.
Be sure to pick up a gallery plan at the information desk under the pyramid.
More information on Musée du Louvre:
- Price guide:
- Type:
- Art gallery, Castle / palace, Museum
- Address:
- Rue de Rivoli, Paris, 75001
- Telephone:
- 01 40 20 50 50
- Website:
- http://www.louvre.fr
- Months open:
- All year round
- Opening times:
- Wed-Mon 9am-6pm; some parts open until 9.45pm on Wed and Fri.
- Indoor/outdoor?:
- Indoor
- Free tags / Keywords:
- Art, History
Community comments (2)
Depending on what you want to see either plan your visit with military attention to detail or just get lost inside and enjoy what you discover along the way
I agree, don't waste your time trying to get in the pyramid, it's ALWAYS easier to get in round the back. And beware the maps, they can be tricky to read and things sometimes aren't where they should be! It all adds to the experience though :)