The Louvre Museum is the most visited museum in the world and one of the main cultural attractions in Paris. It is famous for the Mona Lisa, but also for its immense collections of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, all housed in the former royal residence, the Palais du Louvre. Here is everything you need for a successful visit in 2026: opening hours, prices, the quietest times to go, the collections and the current exhibitions.
- Opening hours and days
- Prices, free entry and tickets
- Busy times and the best time to go
- Collections
- Exhibitions 2026-2027
Book a timed slot online before you go: it is the only reliable way to avoid the ticket queue (you still go through security).
Louvre opening hours
- Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 9 am to 6 pm
- Wednesday and Friday: 9 am to 9 pm (late opening)
- Tuesday: closed
- Also closed: 25 December, 1 January and 1 May
Ticket offices stop selling about 30 minutes before closing, and rooms start to empty before the official closing time. Hours can change for events or heat waves, so check louvre.fr the day before. Planning a trip at Christmas? See Paris in December.
Louvre prices and tickets in 2026
Since 14 January 2026 the Louvre applies dual pricing based on residency, for the first time in its history.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| EEA residents or citizens (EU countries plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) | €22 |
| Non-EEA visitors (US, UK, Canada, China…) | €32 |
| Under 18 (any nationality) | Free |
| EEA residents under 26 | Free (with ID) |
Free entry for everyone: the first Friday evening
The museum is free for all visitors on the first Friday of the month after 6 pm, except in July and August. Book a free slot on the official ticket site; it is the most crowded evening of the month, so arrive early in the evening slot. The old free first Sunday of the month no longer exists.
Good to know
- The standard ticket covers the permanent collection in all three wings: Denon, Sully and Richelieu. Some temporary exhibitions may carry a supplement: check when you book.
- Proof of EEA residency may be requested at the entrance.
- Booking online gives you a timed-entry slot. In peak season (April to October) the walk-up queue can exceed 60 to 90 minutes.
- Third-party platforms sell the same official inventory with a small service fee, with perks such as free cancellation and mobile tickets.
- Official booking: ticket.louvre.fr.
A guided-visit ticket includes fast-track access, access to the collections and a guide.
Best guided tours of the Louvre
We went through the Louvre catalogues on GetYourGuide and Viator, weighing rating, review volume, group size and price. Ratings and prices change often: check them when you book. Our eight picks, from best value to premium:
- Premium tour, maximum 6 guests (Viator): about $74 (€64), 2 h 30, rated 5.0 from nearly 7,000 reviews. The six-person cap is the secret: the guide talks without a microphone and questions get answered. If you only book one, book this one.
- Mona Lisa and Louvre masterpieces with reserved access (GetYourGuide): about $74 (€64), 3 h, rated 4.7 from over 7,500 reviews. The only three-hour format: you can stop, double back and enter a wing the shorter tours skip.
- Masterpieces guided tour with reserved access (Viator): about $75 (€65), 2 h 30, rated 4.5 from over 13,000 reviews. The best-selling tour: larger groups, frequent departures, almost always available at short notice.
- Closing time at the Louvre: the Mona Lisa at her quietest (Viator): about $83 (€72), 2 to 4 h, rated 4.7 from over 500 reviews. You reach the Mona Lisa in the last minutes before closing, once the coach groups have left. Our favourite; places are limited.
- Mona Lisa and iconic masterpieces (GetYourGuide): about $113 (€98), 2 h, rated 4.7 from over 6,200 reviews. The dependable highlights tour, pricier than the options above.
- Skip-the-line small group, family format (GetYourGuide): about $99 (€86), rated 4.4 from 935 reviews. The only genuinely family-oriented option, with a tighter route and a pace for small legs.
- Reserved entry with host or guided tour (GetYourGuide): about $87 (€75). The flexible budget option: skip the queue with a host, or add a full guided tour. Lightly reviewed so far.
- Semi-private highlights tour with the Mona Lisa (Viator): about $213 (€185), 2 h 30, rated 4.9 from 146 reviews. A guide for you rather than for a group: worth saving for an occasion.
Book at least a week ahead in high season and two to three weeks for the small-group tours, which sell out fast. Every format lets you stay in the museum once the guide has gone, which is often where the real visit begins.
Busy times and the best time to go
- Busiest: early afternoon (around 2 to 3 pm), weekends, and Saturday and Sunday mornings from about 11 am. Expect the Mona Lisa room to be packed all day.
- Quietest: Monday and Thursday between 9 and 10:30 am, and the Wednesday and Friday evenings, when day-trippers and tour groups have left (open until 9 pm).
- First Friday of the month (free evening): very popular, so do not expect a quiet visit.
- People entitled to free entry (children, EEA residents under 26) can enter with you using their own free timed slot.
>> Buy your fast-track ticket for the Louvre Museum
Collections and masterpieces
Founded in 1793 during the Revolution, the Louvre is the largest museum in the world, with more than 72,000 m² of exhibition space across three wings: Denon, Sully and Richelieu.
Paintings
- Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci), Denon wing, 1st floor, room 711.
- The Wedding Feast at Cana (Veronese), the giant canvas facing the Mona Lisa.
- Liberty Leading the People (Delacroix) and The Raft of the Medusa (Géricault), Denon wing.
- The Lacemaker (Vermeer) and the Northern European paintings (Rembrandt, Van Eyck, Rubens), Richelieu wing, level 2.
- Poussin, Watteau, Corot and Fragonard on level 2 of the Richelieu and Sully wings; Goya and El Greco in the Denon wing.
Do you love paintings? Take a look at our Orsay Museum guide.
Sculpture and antiquities
- Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace (top of the Daru staircase), in the Denon and Sully wings.
- Michelangelo’s Slaves and Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss.
- French sculpture (Goujon, Pigalle, Houdon) on levels -1 and 0 of the Richelieu wing.
- Egyptian antiquities in the Sully wing (4000 to 30 BC): the Seated Scribe, sarcophagi, mummies and the Great Sphinx of Tanis.
- Eastern antiquities on level 0 of the Sully and Richelieu wings, including the Code of Hammurabi.
- Islamic art on levels -2 and -1 of the Denon wing; decorative arts with the Napoleon III apartments and the Apollo Gallery.
Visiting several museums? Find out about the Paris Museum Pass.
Exhibitions at the Louvre in 2026-2027
- Zurbarán (1598-1664), 7 October 2026 to 25 January 2027: the Spanish Golden Age master.
- Primordial Water, 20 May 2026 to 15 March 2027: an exhibition on the role of water in ancient Mesopotamia.
Dates are those announced by the museum; check louvre.fr for the full programme. Combine your visit with other exhibitions of the season in our guide to Paris in December.
FAQ
How much is a Louvre ticket in 2026?
€22 for EEA residents and €32 for everyone else. Under 18s, and EEA residents under 26, go in free.
When is the Louvre free?
For everyone on the first Friday of the month after 6 pm, except July and August.
Which day is the Louvre closed?
On Tuesdays, plus 25 December, 1 January and 1 May.
What is the best time to visit the Louvre?
Early on Monday or Thursday (9 to 10:30 am), or on a Wednesday or Friday evening, when the museum is open until 9 pm.
You may also be interested in: the top museums in Paris. Leave a comment after your visit: we always appreciate your advice and opinions!
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