How Do You Skip the Line at the Louvre?
The Louvre sells seven different tickets and guided routes, and the fastest ones get you past the entrance queue and straight to the Mona Lisa. Here is how the reserved-access, semi-private, and family options compare, plus what a timed entry actually buys you.
About This Experience
Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, in the 1st arrondissement
Palais Royal, Musée du Louvre station on lines 1 and 7, which enters through the Carrousel du Louvre
Wednesday to Monday, 9:00 to 18:00, Friday until 21:45, closed Tuesdays
22 euros online, with a timed entry reservation required even for Paris Museum Pass holders
The Carrousel and Porte des Lions entrances move faster than the glass pyramid
Guided tours run 2 to 3 hours, or a full day if you add the Seine cruise
Check Live Availability & Prices
Louvre time slots move fast, especially on the Mona Lisa and Masterpieces route. See current pricing and open dates below.
Which Louvre Ticket to Pick
The Louvre sells seven different guided routes and combo tickets, and the right one depends on budget, group size, and how much of the museum you want covered. The Masterpieces tour with reserved access is the best value at $73, rated 4.7 from more than 7,000 reviews, and it moves you straight past the entrance queue to the Mona Lisa and the other big names. The Mona Lisa & Masterpieces tour costs more at $112 but carries the same 4.7 rating from nearly 6,000 reviews, and some visitors prefer its pacing.
For a smaller group, the semi-private tour capped at six people has the highest rating of the set, 4.9, at $72, close to the reserved-access price but with far more personal attention from the guide. The priority access guided tour runs longer at around three hours but rates lower at 4.2, so weigh the extra time against the guide quality. Families should look at the private family tour built for kids, and anyone who wants to pair the museum with a boat ride on the river can add the Seine cruise combo.
If you are planning a longer trip through the city's collections, our full guide to the best museums in Paris lays out how the Louvre fits alongside the Orsay, the Orangerie, and the smaller house museums.
All Louvre Tours and Tickets
Every guided option and combo ticket for the Louvre, side by side.
from $112Our pick Louvre: Mona Lisa & Iconic Masterpieces Tour
- Reserved-access timed entry
- 2-hour expert-guided route
- Mona Lisa and headline masterpieces
from $73 Louvre Masterpieces Tour with Reserved Access
- Reserved timed entry
- Guided highlights route
- Painting and sculpture masterpieces
from $86 Louvre Skip-the-Line Mona Lisa Guided Tour
- Skip-the-line security entry
- Small guided group
- Greek, Roman and Renaissance highlights
from $72 Louvre Award-Winning Semi-Private Tour (max 6)
- Maximum 6 guests
- Award-winning local guides
- Reserved tickets included
from $102 Louvre Priority Access Guided Tour with Expert
- Reserved priority entrance
- Expert art-history guide
- Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory
from $113 Louvre Private Family Tour for Kids
- Private, family-friendly guide
- Reserved skip-the-line entry
- Kid-focused two-hour route
from $108 Louvre Guided Tour + Seine River Cruise
- Guided Louvre entry
- One-hour Seine cruise
- Riverside monuments from the water
Side by Side
| Tour | Duration | Price | Book | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mona Lisa & Masterpieces Tour | 2 hours | $112 | Check | 4.7★ | The most-booked guided route |
| Masterpieces w/ Reserved Access | ~2 hours | $73 | Check | 4.7★ | Best value guided highlights |
| Skip-the-Line Mona Lisa Tour | ~2.5 hours | $86 | Check | 4.7★ | Skipping the security queue |
| Semi-Private Tour (max 6) | 2.5 hours | $72 | Check | 4.9★ | Small groups and depth |
| Priority Access Guided Tour | ~3 hours | $102 | Check | 4.2★ | A longer expert overview |
| Private Family Tour for Kids | 2 hours | $113 | Check | 4.6★ | Families with children |
| Louvre Tour + Seine Cruise | 1 day | $108 | Check | 4.6★ | First-timers who want the river too |
What You'll See
Whatever route you book, a handful of works define the Louvre visit. The Denon wing gets the heaviest traffic because it holds the Mona Lisa, but the museum's depth goes well beyond one painting.
- The Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci), behind glass in the Denon wing
- The Venus de Milo, the armless Greek goddess
- The Winged Victory of Samothrace on the Daru staircase
- The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David
- Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix
- The Egyptian antiquities, from sphinxes to mummies
- The Napoleon III Apartments, kept as they were
- The medieval Louvre moat in the basement
How a Visit Flows
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Before you go
Reserve a timed entry slot
Book your window online in advance. A reservation is required even if you already hold a Paris Museum Pass.
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On arrival
Enter through the Carrousel
Skip the glass pyramid and go in through the Carrousel du Louvre or the Porte des Lions, both move faster.
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First stop
Denon wing
Head straight for the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace on the Daru staircase before the galleries fill up.
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Next
French and Italian painting
Work through the painting galleries, including the Coronation of Napoleon and Liberty Leading the People.
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After that
Venus de Milo and Greek antiquities
Cross to the Greek collections for the Venus de Milo and the wider antiquities galleries.
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Before you leave
Egyptian wing or Napoleon III Apartments
Close the visit with either the Egyptian antiquities or the preserved Napoleon III Apartments, depending on how much time you have left.
Know Before You Go
Not suitable for
- Visitors expecting a quick visit, the collection is vast and rewards several hours
- Strollers in the busiest galleries during peak season, a baby carrier works better
- Anyone hoping to see the whole museum in one visit, the Louvre is too large for that
What to bring
- A confirmed timed entry reservation, on your phone or printed
- Comfortable walking shoes, the galleries cover a lot of ground
- A photo ID matching the name on your ticket
- A refillable water bottle, there are fountains inside
Not allowed
- Large backpacks or suitcases, they must be checked or left behind
- Flash photography near the paintings
- Food and drink inside the galleries
Insider Tips
A few habits make the difference between a rushed visit and an easy one.
- Enter via the Carrousel or Porte des Lions instead of the pyramid, the queues run shorter
- Book the earliest timed slot you can get, the first hour is the quietest
- The nearest metro is Palais Royal, Musée du Louvre on lines 1 and 7
- Friday evenings the museum stays open until 21:45 with lighter crowds
- Even with the Paris Museum Pass you still need a timed reservation
- Go straight to the Denon wing for the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory before the crowds arrive
Where You're Headed
Louvre Tickets FAQ
How much does it cost to enter the Louvre?
A standard online ticket costs 22 euros, and a timed entry reservation is required even if you hold a Paris Museum Pass.
Do I need a ticket if I already have the Paris Museum Pass?
Yes. The Louvre still requires a separate timed entry reservation on top of the pass, so book a slot in advance.
Which entrance has the shortest line at the Louvre?
The Carrousel du Louvre and the Porte des Lions entrances typically move faster than the glass pyramid entrance.
What are the Louvre's opening hours?
The museum opens Wednesday through Monday from 9:00 to 18:00, and stays open until 21:45 on Fridays.
Is the Louvre open on Tuesdays?
No, the Louvre is closed every Tuesday.
What is the closest metro station to the Louvre?
Palais Royal, Musée du Louvre on lines 1 and 7 sits right at the Carrousel entrance.
What Visitors Say
We booked the reserved-access tour and walked almost straight to the Mona Lisa. Worth every euro for how much time it saved us.
The semi-private group was perfect, our guide answered every question and we never felt rushed.
Good tour overall, though three hours felt long with two kids in tow. Wish we had picked the family option instead.