Louvre Museum Guide, France

The Louvre is one of the world’s most iconic museums: home to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. Whether it’s your first visit or you’re planning a return trip, this guide gives you ticket options, top highlights, suggested routes, opening hours, crowd-avoidance tips, and practical advice to make the most of your time at the Louvre in Paris.

@lifeofapassion

Visiting the world’s largest museum and not knowing what you have to see? Here are my must-sees when in the Louvre in Paris! #louvre #louvremuseum #france #frankrijk #reizen #travel #monalisa

♬ Chevaliers De Sangreal – From The Da Vinci Code Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Hans Zimmer

About the Louvre Museum (History & facts)

The Louvre Museum was first a medieval fortress to protect Paris from potential invasions. Over time, the Louvre evolved into a royal residence. Francis I turned the residence into a palace that would become a space with the best of art and architecture from each era. The collection grew enormously during Napoleon’s reign, with the acquisition of treasures from Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

Warning: First of all, the Louvre doesn’t work with level per level. You have 3 buildings: Richelieu, Denon & Sully. You have to choose 1 and visit everything you want to see in that specific building. Then go to the next building, etc. You can’t visit artworks on level 2 of Richelieu AND level 2 of Sully in one. No can do! With your Louvre ticket, you can see every building in the Louvre. Don’t buy 3 tickets.

Top Masterpieces to see at the Louvre

Sully Building

1) Louis XIV by Hyacinthe Rigaud

Room 916, level 2

The painting of the “Sun King” (1701) was a gift for Philip V of Spain, but due to its beauty, Louis XIV kept it. The painting shows the absolute power of the King with his impressive robes and royal symbols.

Fun Fact: A smaller size of this painting can be found in Versailles.

2) Venus de Milo

Room 346, Level 0

The Venus de Milo is one of the most famous sculptures of ancient Greece. The statue is Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. She was found on the island of Milos.

Denon Building

3) Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa 

Room 711, Level 1

If you want to see the Mona Lisa, expect a waiting line. You’ll have to wait 15 minutes if you want a photo right in front of the Mona Lisa. Otherwise, you can just take a photo from the side.

Sad Fact: The Mona Lisa was once stolen and missing for 2 years! It was a guard from the Louvre who stole it.

Fun Fact: The eyes of Mona Lisa are always following you if you move in the room. That’s what makes the painting special.

4) Winged Victory of Samothrace

Room 703, Level 0

The Winged Victory of Samothrace, aka Nike of Samothrace, is a marble sculpture of the goddess of victory (Nike).

5) French Crown Jewels

Room 705, Level 1

Love, love, love, love! The crown jewels are so beautiful! The Crown of Louis XV has 2 rows of pearls and 8 gems (emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and topazes) with sparkling diamonds. The arches of the crown are decorated with diamond lily flowers, the emblem of French monarchs.

Fun Fact: Each king had a custom crown embellished with precious jewels.

The Regent Diamond is a 140-carat diamond and is celebrated for being the most brilliant diamond for its perfection. The Tiara of Duchesse of Angouleme is also stunning with all the diamonds and emeralds.

The crown of the Empress Eugenie is also a masterpiece. It has 2.480 diamonds and 56 emeralds! Wow! (the one in the background on your right).

6) The Raft of the Medusa

Room 700, Level 1

A French boat wrecked due to poor navigation just off the coast of Mauritius. 151 sailors survived the wreckage, but only 15 sailors survived on the raft of Medusa due to cannibalism.

7) Liberty Leading the People

Room 700, Level 1

This painting is very famous as we see Lady Liberté waving the Tri-colored French flag (red = liberty, white = equality, and blue = fraternity). Lady Liberté, Marianne, represents the triumph of the republic over the monarchy.

Fun Fact: This painting was once on the 100 Franc bill (the currency of France before joining the EU).

8) The Coronation of Napoleon

Room 700, Level 1

The painting of the Coronation of Napoleon is very famous. The painting is 9×6 meters and was commissioned by Napoleon himself. Another copy can be seen in Versailles.

9) Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss

Room 410, Level 0

Antonio Canova was an Italian master of marble carving. He carved the love story between Psyche and Cupid out of one piece of marble.

Richelieu Building

10) Chevaux de Marly

Richelieu, level -1

These marble statues were commissioned by King Louis XIV. The sculptures are horses restrained by grooms and symbolize the struggle between man and nature.

Fun Fact: This room is quite cool, so this is the best place to have a break in the Louvre.

11) A Magnificent Royal Palace Fit for the King of France

level 1 room 544

Napoleon III also stayed at the Louvre, and you can visit his apartments, the Grand Salon, and the Dining Room. I found these rooms super beautiful! If you can’t go to Versailles, make sure to go to the Louvre and check out these rooms!

Another must-see is the Galerie d’Apollon. This hall was the model for the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles.

Fun Fact: The Hall of Mirrors is more impressive.

12) Pyramid

The Louvre had problems welcoming all visitors and asked I.M. Pei to create a brand new main entrance. He made the Large glass pyramid (surrounded by 3 smaller ones). There was a lot of controversy about the pyramids, but they are now world-renowned.

Fun Fact: Don’t forget to check out the reversed pyramid on your way out!

How to plan your visit

Suggested visit durations (2-6hrs)

The average visit takes around 2hrs-2hrs30 but if you want to take your time and see everything, you will be there for 4-6 hours. We did it in 2.30 hrs, and we had a plan for what masterpieces we wanted to see upfront.

Audio guides & guided tours

We booked the entrance (including skipping the line), but without an audio guide or guided tour. If you want one of these, please order the right ticket in advance. Tickets are non-refundable.

Tickets, hours & booking tips

If you buy a ticket without a “skipping the waiting line”. Then go early, as the waiting line is very long. We chose a ticket with a fixed entry timestamp so that we could skip the regular waiting line.

The Louvre Museum is open almost every day of the year. The last admission is one hour before closing time, and the rooms are vacated 30 minutes before closing time.

The opening hours are:

• Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Wednesday and Friday: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
• Closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1, and December 25, but is open on all other holidays

Best times to go & crowd-avoidance tips

The best time to go is at the museum’s opening time. Early entries allow you to enjoy less crowded spaces, especially in highly congested areas such as the Mona Lisa Room. 3 PM is also a good time to enter, as many visitors are taking a lunch break or have already left the museum.

Mondays and Thursdays tend to be less crowded. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, and weekends usually receive a much higher number of visitors.

Accessibility & Practical Info

• You can’t miss the entrance of the museum: it’s the giant Crystal Pyramid. It’s also adapted for people with reduced mobility.
• Don’t dress too warmly, it gets really hot in the museum!
• Bring a small bottle of water with you (only beverage allowed)
• Watch out for pickpockets!

If you have more questions about the museum, check them at their website.

You may also like