Visit the Louvre Museum: tips and great deals
Located just 800 meters from Hotel Etats-Unis Opera, the Louvre is the place not to be missed during your visit to Paris.
This temple of culture is visited by 9 million people each year, making it the most visited museum in the world. With 60,000 m² (645,835 ft²) of galleries and 35,000 works of art, this museum is the cultural hub where it is best to come after preparing for your visit first. Here are some pointers that will aid in your approach to the museum.
The hotel’s advice and tips
What is the best price and where do I buy the tickets?
Admission is free on every first Sunday of the month, from October to March, but this is obviously not the peak time for attendance.
Admission is free for visitors under 18 years of age, and for residents in the European Economic Area between the ages of 18 and 25. Be sure to take proof of identity with you.
The admission price is € 15. Websites that offer you higher rates under the “Coupe file” packaging will provide you with a ticket that gives you exactly the same rights as a ticket bought online from the Museum’s website.
Unless you like standing in line at the museum ticket booths, you have two options for buying your tickets:
– Buy your ticket online: https://www.ticketlouvre.fr//louvre/b2c/index.cfm/home
– Ask at the Hotel’s reception desk
What is the best time to avoid the crowds?
Do not dream about wandering alone through the galleries. The museum is always very busy. However, you can avoid, if possible:
- Between 11 am and 4 pm
- School holidays.
- Rainy days
- Free periods
It would be better to come:
- Starting at 9:00 am, especially on weekends
- Days with fine weather
After 4:30 pm and, even better, in the evenings (until 10 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays)
Which entrance is best to save time?
Do not enter through the pyramid because there are often lines and it is the meeting point for groups. It would be better to use the access from the Carrousel shopping center at 99 rue de Rivoli; it is faster and has a smoother flow.
What is there to see?
Again, go against the current and give up the classic circuit: Mona Lisa – Venus de Milo – Victory of Samothrace: the rooms containing these works are packed.
The museum’s collections are divided into 8 departments:
- Oriental Antiquity
- Egyptian Antiquity
- Greek and Roman Antiquity
- Islamic Art
- Sculptures
- Art Objects
- Paintings
- Graphic Art
By allowing only 30 seconds per work, you would have to spend 8 hours per day for 36 consecutive days to see all the works on display. Therefore, you must set up priorities for your visit.
Consult the program of temporary collections, events, and shows: http://www.louvre.fr/en/homepage
About the history of the Louvre
Before the implementation of the “Grand Louvre” project, initiated by President François Mitterrand, we could see a parking lot in front of the galleries, and the picnicking that was allowed in the courtyard produced excess rubbish and litter that was not taken care of properly.
The construction of the controversial glass pyramid allowed the occurrence of entries to double. The relocation of the Ministry of Finance, occupying a major wing of the palace, will double the amount of possible exhibition space and the number of visitors will triple in 30 years.
To find out more about the Louvre Museum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre
The Louvre was first a fortress, built from 1190 to 1202 by King Philippe Auguste. The foundations of the castle are still visible in the museum’s free access areas. An interesting model is on display.
The museum project was prepared under the reign of Louis XIV and it was during the French Revolution of 1789 that part of the Louvre became a national museum.
THE LOUVRE MUSEUM
99, rue de Rivoli – 75001 Paris
Website: https://www.louvre.fr/en/homepage
Open:
- Saturday through Monday, from 9 am to 6 pm. Evening hours on Wednesdays and Fridays until 10 pm
- Closed on Tuesdays. Closed on January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th