Is the Louvre Worth Visiting? [My Tips & Recommendations]
Planning a trip to Paris and trying to decide if the Louvre is worth visiting? You’re in the right place – read on for my recommendations
The Musée du Louvre, generally just referred to as “The Louvre,” is the most famous and most visited museum in the entire world. It receives almost 9 million visitors every year and has over 38,000 pieces of art on display!
But with immense popularity always comes the question: Is the Louvre worth visiting, or is it overrated?
I think a lot of your experience in the Louvre depends on your expectations going into it, and your game plan for how you will handle your visit.
I’m going to go into a lot of detail about the Louvre and things to know before you go in this post, but here’s the TL;DR: I’ve visited the Louvre at least a dozen times over the years. I’m not an art aficionado and I can say without reservation – the Louvre is absolutely worth it.
So, let’s dive into my top tips for visiting the Louvre, gleaned from my many visits over my 10 different visits to France.
Quick Links
👉Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour
👉Paris Museum Pass
👉Single Ticket Entry
Overview of Why the Louvre Is (and Isn’t) Worth Visiting
The Louvre is, of course, most famous for the Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece. The Mona Lisa is certainly a nice work of art, but most people are really surprised by how small the painting is and are off-put by the thick crowds around her.
So, is the Mona Lisa overrated? Yes, absolutely, ha! It’s definitely not worth visiting the Louvre just for the Mona Lisa.
So, let’s get that out of the way. Sure, stop in if you want, push through the crowds, and say hi to the unnamed lady in the most famous painting in the world. Snap that selfie so you can tell your friends how small it was in real life. But she’s just a side attraction; we’re not even going to consider Mona anymore.
These are some other, non-Mona Lisa reasons that the Louvre is worth visiting:
👉The Louvre is filled with truly incredible artwork
👉The Louvre used to be a palace and the architecture is stunning
👉There are important pieces from many different civilizations around the world
👉The Louvre is absolutely iconic and it’s exciting to experience it for yourself
On the other hand, these are some cons to visiting the Louvre:
The Louvre can be crowded: Some of the Louvre can be very crowded, there’s no getting around that. However, the Louvre is also extremely large and there are plenty of halls to visit that see fewer visitors.
You need at least a few hours in the Louvre: This is not a spot to just pop in and out of – you need a minimum 2 hours to really make the Louvre worth visiting at all, which does take a chunk of time out of your day if you have limited time in Paris.
If you only have one day in Paris, it might not be worth spending your time here, and instead of at more of Paris’s other attractions.
Quick Look at the Louvre’s Fascinating History
I think it makes a visit to the Louvre more meaningful if you understand a little bit about the Louvre’s interesting backstory. The original structure was a medieval fortress, constructed in the late 12th century.
Over the years, it became more palace and less fortress, until 1546 when François I officially converted it into a royal residence.
The palace continued to be developed and renovated throughout the years, until Louis XIV decided to move the royal court out to the Palace of Versailles. It’s certainly an audacious move – Louis the 14th was known as “The Sun King,” and everything he did was intended to consolidate power and establish the king as being ordained by God to rule.
One major tactic to accomplish those goals was to create the biggest, most opulent palace and court that anyone could imagine – which is what he established in Versailles.
After the royal residence moved to Versailles, the Louvre was used to store royal artifacts and the immense art collection. With the French Revolution sweeping the king out of power, the new government decided to take advantage of all the artwork, and it officially became a museum in 1793.
Thanks to its royal history, the Louvre Palace is an incredibly grand and opulent building, and for me, it is just as impressive as the works of art inside the museum – I love the Louvre architecture!
Most Famous Art in the Louvre Known For
While it’s great to stop by Mona Lisa, just to say you’ve seen it, there is so much more to the Louvre.
So, if the Mona Lisa isn’t all that great, then what are the other most important works of art in the Louvre?
This is, of course, a subjective and impossible task, but generally, these are some of the other iconic works considered very important in the Louvre:
As well as these other works of art:
- Code of Hammurabi
- Venus de Milo
- The Raft of Medusa
- Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss
- Napoleon III Apartments
- Winged Bulls of Khorsabad
Practical Information for How to Visit the Louvre
How the Louvre is Set Up
In the middle of the Louvre complex is the glass pyramid, which is the most well-known entrance to the Louvre. Underneath the Pyramid is the Louvre Entrance Hall, where all the guest facilities and the entrance booths are.
There are three different wings of the Louvre: Richelieu, Sully, and Denon. Each of these wings has its own, separate entrance off the Entrance Hall.
While you can move from one wing to the next when you are in the halls of the Louvre, depending on where you want to visit, you may need to come out of one wing, and go through the Entrance Hall to enter the next.
Be aware that there are usually queues to enter each wing of the Louvre (as you need to get your ticket scanned to enter the Sully, Denon, and Richelieu wings)
Additionally, each wing of the Louvre has 4 floors (Floor -1, 0, 1, and 2), and each floor is filled with dozens of rooms, filled with priceless paintings, sculptures, and antiquities.
(For My US Readers: In France, the ground floor is 0, and what would be the 2nd floor in the USA is the 1st floor, etc. Floor -1 is the basement)
My Favorite Spots in the Louvre
Now, everyone has their own preferences, but my favorite spots in the Louvre are:
- Denon Wing: 1st floor for the Winged Victory, the Mona Lisa, Napoleon’s Coronation and other paintings in the 700, 701, and 702 rooms, and the Apollo Gallery. On the 0 floor – Greek and Roman sculptures and the Venus de Milo.
- Richelieu Wing: 0 floor: Cour Marly and Cour Puget, which are sculpture galleries, and the Code of Hammurabi in the Antiquities section on 0 floor. 2nd floor for French and Northern European paintings
- Sully: 0 floor for Egyptian antiquities (mummies, etc), and 2nd floor for French and Northern European paintings
How Long Do You Need For the Louvre?
How long should you stay at the Louvre? Well, that of course depends on how much you love art and how much time you have in Paris. If you love, love art, you could spend all day – many days – in the Louvre.
However, for the average visitor, who (like me) generally enjoys art but doesn’t LOVE art, I think that 2-3 hours in the Louvre is the right amount of time.
You will only have time to see a few areas and some of the highlights of the Louvre, but you’ll certainly have enough time to appreciate the enormity of the museum and admire some beautiful masterpieces.
Should I Do a Guided Tour of the Louvre or Explore by Myself?
I’ve done guided tours and self-guided tours of the Louvre, and I think both are good options. It just depends on what you want to see and your personal preferences. Here are some things to know and consider about each option:
Guided Tours: A guided tour, like this Louvre Masterpieces Tour, is an excellent way to experience the Louvre, as you’ll go straight to some of the most notable and interesting paintings and artwork, and hear the backstory about the piece and the artist.
You don’t have to worry about navigating yourself through the Louvre or finding the top spots yourself, and you’ll come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the works of art you’ll see.
Additionally, most tours allow you to skip any lines at the entrances to enter the Louvre.
Self-Guided: Self-guided tours allow you to have more flexibility with your schedule and to explore at your own pace. If you don’t want to go with a tour but still want some information and backstory about the artwork, you can pick up an audioguide for €6 in the Entrance Hall.
Ticket Options for the Louvre
Guided Tour: If a guided tour sounds like the right option for you, I recommend this Louvre Masterpieces Tour. You’ll visit highlights of the Louvre, including Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, the Apollo Gallery, Napoleon’s Coronation, and many other paintings and sculpture galleries, learning fascinating stories about their history.
You can choose from a smaller group tour (24 people) or a very small group tour (12 people).
Single Ticket: If you are buying your own ticket, you can either purchase a timed-entry ticket, or you can use the Paris Museum Pass. You can buy your single ticket ahead of time online (highly recommended), but if the day isn’t sold out, you can also buy them in the Louvre Entrance Hall (not recommended – it can sell out).
Paris Museum Pass: The Paris Museum Pass is a great option if you are going to be visiting several of the monuments and museums around Paris – it doesn’t include *just* traditional museums.
A few of the top sites that it includes are the Arc de Triomphe, the Conciergerie, the Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre, Versailles, Les Invalides, the Pompidou, the l’Orangerie, the Pantheon, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Rodin Museum, as well as many other lesser known museums.
I’ve bought the PMP on several occasions and found it to be a good deal, but it really just depends on what you want to see and do. If you do purchase this pass, note that you will still need to reserve your time slot on the Louvre website. (You will also need to reserve a time slot for Versailles).
Free and Reduced Rate Groups: Anyone under the age of 18 gets free admission to the Louvre, and young adults from the EU under 26 years of age are also free. You must bring photo ID with you to get free entrance.
Additionally, the Louvre is free to all visitors on the first Friday of the month after 6 p.m. (except in July and August) and the first Sunday of the month. However, I’d actually avoid coming on this day because the crowds on free museum days are insane.
Maps of the Louvre
If you’re touring through the Louvre by yourself (without a guided tour), you definitely need a map – don’t even think of venturing into the Louvre’s depths without one!
You can pick up a paper map in the Entrance Hall, or you can download the map on your phone here. The map labels some of the most prominent works of art in each section.
The Louvre also has a few different “Visitor Trails” you can follow through the museum. These trails give exact instructions on where to go and what to see, and usually highlight between 10-15 works of art.
I think these 3 are the better of the 5 trails currently offered: Beyonce and Jay-Z’s Louvre Highlights, The Louvre’s Masterpieces, and Secret Treasures of the Richelieu Wing. You can explore the trails here.
Opening Hours for the Louvre
The Louvre is open from 9am-6pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
It is open from 9am-9:45 pm on Friday
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.
How to Avoid Crowds
While there’s no way to truly avoid crowds in the Louvre, here are a few tips:
- Get the first 9am time slot for entrance into the Louvre. You’ll have a short amount of time before the crowds really swell.
- Visit later in the afternoon, or later on Friday night. Note that Louvre staff will start clearing rooms and making people walk to the exit 30 minutes before closing time.
- Come mid-week and during the winter.
- Go to lesser-visited galleries.
Where is the Louvre and How to Enter
The Louvre Museum is located in the very center of Paris, right along the Seine, in the first arrondissement. It’s right next to the Jardin de Tuileries, near Place Vendome, and a short walk from Notre Dame.
There are three ways to enter the Louvre:
Through the Glass Pyramid: This is certainly the most iconic way to enter, and it’s where most people come into the Louvre. This is also, far and away, the busiest entrance point.
Through the Caroussel du Louvre: The Caroussel du Louvre is an underground shopping area beneath the Entrance Hall. If you are taking Metro Line 1 or 7, you can get off at Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre stop and enter the Caroussel directly from the metro station. Alternatively, you can enter the Caroussel from the street at 99, Rue de Rivoli.
Though not as popular as the Pyramide entrance, the Caroussel has become a much more popular entrance and also has queues to enter the Louvre.
Through the Porte de Lions: This is a much lesser-used entrance along the side of the Louvre, and you must already have a ticket to enter. You cannot enter if you have a large bag or helmet, and this entrance is not open on Friday.
I used this entrance for the first time on my most recent trip to the Louvre and the line was non-existent, and you can enter directly into the far end of the Denon wing, where many of the most famous and beautiful paintings are.
Is a Visit to the Louvre Worth It – The Wrap Up
To be short, yes. There is so much more than just the Mona Lisa; and beyond the other incredible works and sculptures, the hallways and building are beautiful.
However, the Louvre does require several hours to visit, and if you don’t plan ahead it can be easy to aimlessly wander or get stuck in crowds. But if you follow the tips I laid out, you can have an incredible time and experience some great beauty that humanity is capable of.
