If you have only time for one museum when in Paris, then make it to the Louvre. Lying on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement, the Louvre is one of Paris's landmarks. It was home to the French monarchy until Louis XIV moved the royal household to the Palace of Versailles. A century later, the palace opened to the public as a museum. Today, it houses nearly 35,000 works of art in its galleries, sweeping you from the Egyptians to the Greeks and on to the Romans, Renaissance and beyond. As you browse this grandiose former royal palace, be sure to admire the world's most famous painting: Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Read on to discover everything you need to know about Louvre ticket options and some tips on planning an enjoyable visit.

Where to buy your Louvre Ticket?

The Louvre is always busy. In fact, in 2018 a record-breaking 10.2 million people passed through its doors, making the Louvre one of the most visited attraction in the world! That's great for the museum, but not so great for culture vultures as queues at the ticket office can keep them waiting for two hours or more at peak periods. Definitely not our idea of fun, especially when it's hot outside. In high-season, like summer school holidays and Christmas, the museum becomes full to capacity, sometimes so full that the ticket office runs out of tickets for that day.
However, there is a way to avoid long queues or possible disappointment. Buying your Louvre ticket online in advance guarantees entry for a day and time that suits you. And, of course, with no waiting in a queue, you have more time to explore the museum.

The Louvre Museum Ticket Options

Louvre Museum Ticket - the standard entry ticket can be bought at the ticket office. It gives you same-day entry to Louvre’s permanent and temporary collections and free admission to the Musée Eugène-Delacroix within 48 hours. Is the cheapest ticket option available as it does not include the 3 euro booking fee which you need to pay when buying your ticket online. However, as already mentioned, lines at the ticket office are usually very long and tickets can sell out. So, you need to decide if saving a few euros is worth the time spent in line and the risk of possibly not being let in.

Louvre Skip the Line Ticket - costing just a little bit more than the standard ticket, the skip the line ticket is definitely worth it. You can forget the stress and boredom of standing in a queue and think how smug you'll feel as you're fast-tracked through a dedicated skip the line entrance in the pyramid. You'll have more time to see the museum's top treasures as you get all the benefits of a standard ticket entrance with full access to both permanent and temporary exhibitions (subject to availability).

Louvre Skip the Line Ticket with Audioguide - are you someone who just likes to see where their feet take them in a museum? Or are you someone who wants to know everything? If so, then for just a small additional cost you can add an audio guide to your skip the line ticket.
Wander the museum at your own pace (a route map with suggested itineraries is included), while experts talk about featured artists and point out highlights. This information helps you understand the history and significance of some of the world's greatest masterpieces. These informative audio guides are available in ten languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean.

The Paris Museum Pass - is a great option, especially if you are planning on seeing most (if not all) top museums in Paris. The pass gives you free access to over 60 museums and monuments in and around Paris, including the Louvre Museum. To visit the Louvre with the Paris Museum Pass you will need to book your date and the time for your entrance online. Luckily, reserving your entry is easy. All you need to do is go to the official website of the Louvre, click on the "Paris Museum Pass holders” area where you can reserve the date and time slot for your visit.
The Paris Museum Pass is not the only Paris city pass with which you can visit the Louvre. Other passes include the Passlib and the Paris Pass.

Visiting the Louvre for Free

On the first Saturday of the month and on Bastille day (the 14th of July) everyone you can visit the Louvre for free from 6 pm to 9:45 pm.
While, visitors under the age of 26 can visit the Louvre for free every Friday from 6 pm to 9:45 pm.
In addition, the following visitors can always visit the Louvre for free:

• Children under the age of 18
• 18-25 year old residents of the EU
• Visitors with disabilities and someone to accompany them
• Holders of a valid “Pass Education” Card
• Artists affiliated to the Maison des Artistes or the Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques (AIAP)
• Holders of a valid ICOM or ICOMOS card
• Job seekers and people on income support
• Holders of membership cards (permanent collections only)

Good to Know Before your Visit

• Be punctual! Your Louvre Museum ticket gives you access 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after your selected time slot. Miss this and your ticket is invalid.
• You will have to go through security checks, including bag searches or scans. Please note that, with the skip the line ticket you can pass the lines at the ticket lines but not the security check lines.
• Once inside, you can take as much time as you like to browse the collections, but if you leave there is no re-entry on the same ticket. Don't worry, there are toilets and cafes inside.
• Bring your ID. You may be asked to show a valid photo ID (such as a passport) on entry. Without it, you may be refused access.
• Wheelchairs, walking sticks and foldable chairs can be borrowed (free of charge). All areas of the Louvre are accessible to those with limited mobility.
• Umbrellas and bags measuring more than 55 x 35 x 20 cm have to be left in the cloakroom (free of charge).
• Some galleries may close at short notice for maintenance. Check the official website for further details.
• Get the most out of your visit by planning an itinerary in advance. Pick up a map or download a map from the Louvre Museum website.
• Wear comfortable shoes, to fully enjoy your visit, don't forget to.