Louvre Tours and Tickets

You can either buy a regular ticket for the Louvre, or book a 1.5-hour guided tour in English or French. If you’ve got your own guide, you’ll need to select that option. All tickets are timed-entry. You can also reserve an audioguide online at the same time that you book your tickets.

The Louvre is free for everyone on the 14 July (Bastille Day), except when the holiday falls on a Tuesday, when the museum is closed. It’s also free all year for visitors under 18 and for anyone 25 and under who lives in the European Economic Area.

Yes, you can see some of the Louvre in two hours, but you’ll likely want longer in the museum as there’s a lot to see—35,000 works of art to be precise. If you’re short on time, a tour can help you navigate straight to the highlights.

Yes, guided tours of the Louvre are available. You can book tours in English and French on the museum’s website, or book a private or group tour from an outside tour operator. Tours direct you straight to the highlights—ideal if you’re short on time—and help deepen your knowledge of art history.

Yes, the Mona Lisa is included with a standard admission ticket for the Louvre. The portrait is displayed behind protective glass in the Salle des États, the largest room in the museum. There are almost always crowds around the small portrait, so you might have to wait a bit to get a good glimpse.

Yes, Louvre tickets can sometimes sell out, so it’s a good idea to book your tickets in advance—especially if you want to secure a specific time slot, as all tickets are timed. A limited number of tickets are available at the museum during off-peak times, but the lines can be very long.