Best Things to Do:
- 1. Common Issues When Booking Tickets
- 2. Mandatory Ticket Booking: What You Need to Know
- 3. Skip-the-Line Ticket for the Louvre Museum
- 4. Priority Entrance Ticket with Audio Guide
- 5. Priority Ticket and Guided Tour of 2 - 3 Hours
- 6. Combined Ticket: Seine River Cruise & Louvre Museum
- 7. Combined Ticket: Cruise, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum
- 8. Tips for Visiting the Louvre
- 9. How to Book Free Entry to the Louvre: Under 26 and Pass Holders
In the past, securing tickets in advance for the Louvre Museum was a convenience; today, due to security measures and limited visitor capacity to manage the high number of guests, booking tickets online is practically mandatory. There are several websites where you can easily book tickets for the Louvre in English, but the options and combinations available are numerous, so it's wise to evaluate which is best suited to your needs. Let's explore the best solutions!
Common Issues When Booking Tickets
Many visitors report some difficulties during the ticket booking process for the Louvre. Here are the main issues:
Language of the official website: the portal is available in French, English, and Spanish, but not in Italian, which can create uncertainties in choosing tickets and time slots.
Lines at ticket offices and capacity limits: booking a ticket for the Louvre is mandatory, both online and on-site, but often slots fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons.
Many offers are available online at different prices: many websites propose tickets with additional options like guided tours or skip-the-line access, but to find the best option, you need to do several searches.
Mandatory Ticket Booking: What You Need to Know
To ensure a smooth and secure access to the Louvre Museum, online booking has now become mandatory. It is strongly recommended to avoid long waits or difficulties at on-site ticket offices, both automatic and traditional. Additionally, buying tickets on-site does not guarantee availability for the desired date or time slot, risking compromising your visit.
On many sites, you can book Louvre tickets online for a small surcharge - on the official site, standard tickets cost €22 - in exchange for extra services, such as an English interface, assistance in English, skip-the-line tickets, or combined options with other attractions in Paris like the Seine River Cruise or guided tours in English. Let's see together which are the most interesting proposals and main advantages, but first, a helpful tip:
Using the comparator VIVI.CITY, you can compare offers from the main booking portals and find the most advantageous option to visit the Louvre, saving time thanks to numerous search filters and probably some money too.
Skip-the-Line Ticket for the Louvre Museum
By booking this type of ticket (often identified as scheduled entry, e-ticket, priority access), you can visit the Louvre without going through the ticket office; you simply need to show the voucher received at the time of purchase at the designated point on the voucher itself (often the Louvre Museum).
- Access to permanent collections and temporary exhibitions;
- Unlimited time inside the museum;
- Free entry to the Musée Eugène Delacroix.
Priority Entrance Ticket with Audio Guide
This is the ideal solution if you want to be guided during your visit to the Louvre from the moment you arrive. You will hear many useful introductory pieces of information and learn the quickest way to access the museum. As you continue your visit, it will be easy and intuitive to discover the must-see works at the Louvre, and the interactive audio guide will allow you to have a truly engaging experience! Alternatively, you can choose a guided audio tour focusing on the Mona Lisa. Booking these tickets still requires selecting a time slot.
- Interactive audio guide;
- Reception service, if available.
Priority Ticket and Guided Tour of 2 - 3 Hours
Do you want to deepen your knowledge of the most prestigious works housed at the Louvre, or do you have little time and couldn't plan a thorough visit in advance? A qualified guide will show you all the best that the Louvre has to offer!
- Guided tour with a certified tour guide;
- Headphones.
Combined Ticket: Seine River Cruise & Louvre Museum
Book your combined ticket for an unforgettable one-hour cruise on the Seine and to enter the Louvre Museum! You can do the cruise at any time during your stay in Paris while the entry to the Louvre is reserved for a specific time and date - just select them at the time of booking. Once inside the museum, you can stay as long as you want!
- Seine River cruise;
- Entrance to the Louvre Museum.
Combined Ticket: Cruise, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum
During certain periods, generally leading up to peak season, tour operators offer packages that combine various activities: Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge, Palace of Versailles. Solutions that combine visits to the most iconic attractions in Paris with the convenience of a single ticket!
It's wise to check availability!
- Access to the second floor and the top of the Eiffel Tower;
- Access to the permanent and temporary collection of the Louvre Museum;
- One-hour cruise along the Seine;
- Show at the Moulin Rouge;
- Visit to the Palace of Versailles.
Tips for Visiting the Louvre
Once the tickets are booked, organizing your visit to the Louvre is essential to enjoy the experience without stress.
Alternative entrances: if you booked the standard skip-the-line ticket to avoid the chaos of tourists congregating in front of the iconic Pyramid, choose the entrance at the Carrousel du Louvre on Rue de Rivoli, which is often less crowded. You will also have priority access there.
Hours and planning: the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and on major holidays. The best times to visit are early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Plan your itinerary at the Louvre and download the museum map or pick it up at the entrance; the latter will help you navigate the vast complex and easily reach the main works, such as the Mona Lisa or the Venus de Milo.
If you want to make the most of your experience, learn more with our 10 useful tips for visiting the Louvre Museum.
How to Book Free Entry to the Louvre: Under 26 and Pass Holders
If you are under 26 years old or fall into other categories eligible for a free ticket to the Louvre Museum (for example, under 18 or holders of the Paris Museum Pass), here is how to book:
- Access the Louvre website: it is the only channel that allows you to obtain free tickets.
- Select "Ticket for an individual visit": choose the desired day and time.
- Choose the type of ticket: during booking, select the appropriate category based on your age or condition: Under 26 (for EU citizens); Under 18 (for visitors of any nationality); Paris Museum Pass (if you have it).
Once your booking is complete, you will receive a digital ticket that you must show at the entrance, along with an identity document or the pass that certifies your eligibility for free entry.
Visiting the Louvre Museum is a unique experience, but planning is essential to avoid any issues. We hope we have helped clarify how to overcome the most common difficulties, where to book tickets, and how to choose the option that best suits your needs. Enjoy your visit!