The Louvre Museum, hands down the most popular tourist attraction in Paris, welcomes over 10.2 million visitors each year—and that number keeps growing. Before becoming the world's second-largest museum, the Louvre was a royal palace for French kings. It wasn't until King Louis XVI moved his court to Versailles that the National Assembly transformed the Louvre into a museum in 1793, starting with a collection of 537 paintings. Planning a visit to this iconic masterpiece of art and architecture? Be ready to face long queues. However, if you'd rather skip the line at the Louvre Museum, here are some tried-and-tested tips to help you breeze right in.
Wait times - What to expect at Louvre?
Waiting in line at the Louvre is almost inevitable, and it can be much longer if you haven't planned ahead. On average, ticket lines can take at least two hours, even on moderately busy days, you’re looking at a wait of around 40 minutes. Fortunately, there are several ways to avoid this hassle. One option is to purchase your tickets in advance online. However, the most recommended option is to get Skip the Line Louvre tickets. With these, you and your companions can bypass the queues entirely and enjoy priority access to the museum.
7 ways to skip the lines at Louvre
1. Buy skip the line Louvre Museum tickets in advance online
The easiest and most effective way to avoid the 2-hour wait—or even the minimum 40-minute ticket line—at the Louvre is by purchasing Skip the Line Louvre tickets in advance. These convenient entry tickets are available online and allow you to bypass the ticket queues and head straight to the security gates. After a brief security check, you'll be able to enter the museum and start exploring its incredible art collections. Keep in mind that Louvre tickets are time-stamped, meaning they are only valid for the specific date and time you've selected.
2. Choose the right Louvre Museum entrance
Choosing the right entrance at the Louvre is crucial, especially if you’re an online ticket holder. There are four entrances to the museum: the Pyramid entrance, Carrousel du Louvre, Richelieu Passage, and Porte des Lions. The Pyramid is the main entry point for online ticket holders, while the other entrances are typically reserved for guided tours, school groups, and members. Historically, the Pyramid entrance has been notorious for its long lines, but with better management and timed ticket entry, wait times for online ticket holders have significantly improved. The Pyramid entrance has four color-coded queues, with the yellow line dedicated solely to those who purchased tickets online.
3. Visit the Louvre on a Wednesday
You’d be surprised how much time you can save by simply choosing the right day and time to visit the Louvre! Weekends are, unsurprisingly, the busiest, so visiting on a weekday is ideal—particularly on Wednesdays or Fridays. On these days, the Louvre stays open until 9pm, allowing you to avoid the crowds and explore the museum at your own pace. For even fewer crowds, consider visiting around 3pm on regular weekdays, or around 5pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
4. Go on a guided tour of the Louvre Museum
Another great way to skip the lines and enjoy a more immersive experience at the Louvre is by opting for a guided tour. With this option, you can head straight to the entrance and begin your journey through the museum with a knowledgeable guide by your side. Your guide will not only enrich your visit by answering all your questions about the world’s second-largest museum, but they’ll also ensure you don’t miss any key highlights. Best of all, guided tours offer hassle-free access through the exclusive Porte des Lions entrance, reserved specifically for tour groups.
Here's how you can pick the right Louvre guided tour.
5. Get the Paris Museum Pass and get skip the line access to the Louvre + 60 other attractions in Paris
Think of the Turbopass Paris City Card as your “golden ticket” to a tourist’s paradise. This pass grants you easy access to more than two Parisian museums in a day, while also helping you save money. Even better, it offers skip-the-line access to over 60 monuments and museums, including the Louvre, at an incredibly affordable price. With the Paris Museum Pass, you can bypass the long lines and head straight into the Louvre, making your visit even more enjoyable.
6. VIP access to the Louvre
This exclusive access gives you more time to admire the masterpieces inside, including da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and countless other world-renowned works. In addition to skipping the line, you'll also have the option of an English-speaking guide. The best part? You can choose between joining a small group of 6 to 10 people or exploring the museum on your own!
Recommended skip the line Louvre tickets
Louvre Skip The Line Tickets vs Guided Tours - What to choose?
Purchasing Skip the Line Louvre tickets online lets you select a specific date and time slot, ensuring you can enter the museum quickly—usually within 30 minutes or less. Visitors with these tickets can access the Louvre through a special green line at the Glass Pyramid. However, since the tickets are time-stamped, they are only valid for that exact time slot, and missing it means you’ll have to wait in the regular line.
A far better option is to choose a Louvre Skip The Line Guided Tour with a small, private group. Not only do you bypass the lines and enter through the exclusive Porte des Lions, but you also benefit from having a knowledgeable guide who can walk you through the museum’s incredible art. In short, a skip-the-line guided tour not only saves you time but also enhances your experience with insightful commentary.
Louvre Museum Skip The Line experience Deconstructed
A skip-the-line tour at the Louvre feels like the ultimate hassle-free vacation experience. You’ll navigate one of the world’s largest and most popular museums with ease. If you opt for a private tour, you’ll meet your guide at the entrance, bypass the long queues, and save time with skip-the-line tickets.
Once inside, your guide will lead you on a personalized journey, showcasing masterpieces while sharing fascinating stories about the museum’s rich history. You’ll hear the tales behind famous artworks, marvel at iconic pieces like the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and explore the opulent Grand Salon. After your guided tour concludes, you’re free to continue exploring the Louvre at your own pace.
Skip the line ticket Louvre reviews
We liked everything. The exposition of paintings, people, ancient Greek statues is like getting into the history of our civilization.
- Marina, Headout, March 2023
Highly recommend booking a skip the line pass. For it being my first time in the city, it made the experience that much less stressful. When I saw how long the ticket line was I was really grateful I purchased in advance. I was thru security and in the museum within minutes of my arrival. I booked for 10:30 which was busy but also gave me plenty of time without the crowds to enjoy the indoor sculpture garden.
- Oryan, Headout, January 2023
Read more Louvre Skip The Line ticket reviews.
Insider Tips
- Best to buy skip-the-line Louvre tickets online, well in advance.
- Pick the correct desired date and time-slot while booking these fast track tickets online.
- There is no need to print your tickets, you can show them at the entrance through your smartphone.
- These priority entrance e-tickets are only valid for a same-day visit.
- Skip-the-line Louvre tickets are priced more than the regular ticket, so keep extra cash handy.
Skip The Line @ Louvre: Essential Information
How to get to Louvre Museum
- By Bus: To go from Paris to the Louvre Pyramid using bus services you will have to catch the direct bus operated by Bus RATP from the Rivoli-Chatelet station and arrive at Louvre. Services depart every five minutes, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 5 min.
- By Metro: There is a line 1 subway direct train from Paris to Louvre Pyramid that departs from Hôtel de Ville and arrives at Palais-Royal. Services depart every five minutes, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 7 minutes and costs €2.
- By Car: The fastest and easiest way to get from Paris to Louvre Pyramid is to take a cab. It takes about 3 minutes to reach and costs around €15.
Louvre Museum Entrances explained
The I.M. Pei Pyramid Entrance is the main entrance to the Louvre. It has two lines, one with the skip-the-line ticket holders and the other with the ones waiting to buy tickets.
The Carrousel du Louvre is easiest to access from outside, and is also called the mall entrance to the Louvre. Only groups are usually allowed entry in lines here. Make sure to enquire before queuing up.
The Porte de Richelieu is your fast access entrance if you have an annual membership at the museum or are visiting in groups. Book tickets in advance if using this entrance.
The Portes de Lions entrance is located in the internal part of the Louvre and is usually not open for entry. Once in the premises of the Louvre make sure to enquire.
Louvre Opening Hours
The revised opening and closing hours of the Louvre are 9 am to 6 pm on Saturday/Sunday/Monday/Wednesday/Thursday. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. You can visit the Louvre at Night until 9:45 pm on Fridays.
It remains closed on the following holidays: January 1, May 1, December 25.
Best Time to Visit Louvre Museum
The best time in the year to visit the Louvre museum and avoid the biggest crowds is between the low seasons of November and March. Avoid Christmas and days around New Year's. Least busy days at the Louvre are Wednesday and Friday during low season and Monday and Thursdays during high season. The Louvre is also open till 9:45 during night openings, this also proves to be the best to visit to avoid crowds.
Rules and Regulations
- Large bags are prohibited inside the Louvre museum. There are lockers available for keeping your essentials but make sure nothing exceeds 55 x 35 x 20 cm in dimensions.
- Photography is allowed inside Louvre but use of selfie sticks, flash or lighting is strictly prohibited.
- Louvre sees plenty of visitors, so in case you exit you won't be allowed re-entry.
- Independent guides can bring groups of up to 25 people and use headsets and a mic.
Skip The Line Louvre: FAQs
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