Independent Louvre guide · 2026
Visiting the Louvre in 2026: tickets, hours & how to plan it right
€22 (≈$25) or €32 (≈$36) depending on where you're from. Every ticket is tied to a timed entry slot, and the wrong choice can cost you half a day in lines. This guide covers which ticket to buy, when to arrive, and how the entrances actually work. Prices and hours checked against louvre.fr.
The Pyramid and Denon Wing facade. Photo: Pedro Szekely, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ready to book? Start with the best-reviewed guided option
Booking direct on louvre.fr is the cheapest way in. If you'd rather go with a guided tour, or want your ticket bundled with one, this is the highest-rated guided option we've found:
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What to sort out before you go
The Louvre isn't complicated once you see the system, but the system is rarely explained in one place. Here's the whole picture:
Two-tier admission
€22 (≈$25) if you're an EEA resident or citizen, €32 (≈$36) if you're visiting from outside the EEA, in effect since January 14, 2026.
Timed entry, always
Every ticket is tied to a date and entry slot, booking ahead is officially recommended and practically essential in peak season.
Closed Tuesdays
Shut every Tuesday, plus January 1, May 1, and December 25. Open 9:00 AM–6:00 PM otherwise, with evening openings until 9:00 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The pass isn't a reservation
The Paris Museum Pass covers your admission, but you still have to reserve a free timed slot for the Louvre. Most people learn this the hard way.
Start with what you need
Louvre Tickets 2026
Which ticket to buy, what it costs (€22 (≈$25) for EEA visitors, €32 (≈$36) for everyone else), how timed entry works, and your backup plan when your date sells out.
Read the guide →
Louvre Guided Tours
When a tour beats DIY: what's actually included, what “skip-the-line” really means, and how to pick a tour worth paying for.
Read the guide →
Paris Museum Pass & the Louvre
How the pass works at the Louvre, including the free timed reservation pass holders must still make, plus honest break-even math.
Read the guide →
Booking direct is cheapest: the official ticketing portal is linked from louvre.fr.
Planning guides
All guides →First-timer's guide to visiting the Louvre
Entrances, timing, and a realistic plan for your first Louvre visit, without the museum fatigue.
Updated October 19, 2026
Where to stay near the Louvre: neighborhoods, not hotels
The 1st is closest, but anywhere near metro lines 1 or 7 puts the Louvre 15 minutes away.
Updated September 25, 2026
Getting to the Louvre: metro, entrances & arrival tips
Lines 1 and 7 drop you at the museum; the Carrousel entrance usually beats the Pyramid line.
Updated September 25, 2026
Best time to visit the Louvre: crowds, seasons & quietest hours
Evening openings and 9 AM arrivals beat the crowds; February and October beat the seasons.
Updated September 25, 2026
2026 ticket reference: prices, hours & rules
The year-specific companion to the tickets pillar: 2026 dual pricing, opening hours, timed slots, and free-entry rules.
Updated September 22, 2026
Paris Marathon 2027: lottery, route & spectator tips for the 50th edition
The 50th Paris Marathon runs April 4, 2027. Lottery results, registration, the route, and how to watch.
Updated October 2, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Louvre ticket cost in 2026?
€22 for EEA residents and citizens, €32 for visitors from outside the EEA (dual pricing in effect since January 14, 2026). Under-18s enter free, as do EEA residents under 26 with valid ID. Always confirm current prices on louvre.fr before booking.
Do I need to book Louvre tickets in advance?
In practice, yes. Timed-entry booking is officially recommended — including for free-admission visitors — and peak-day slots sell out well ahead. On-site sales only happen when attendance is low, so booking ahead through the official portal is the safe move.
When is the Louvre open?
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on most days, with evening openings until 9:00 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays. It's closed every Tuesday, plus January 1, May 1, and December 25.
What does “skip-the-line” actually mean at the Louvre?
Almost nothing extra: timed entry IS the line-skip. A pre-booked slot bypasses the general ticket queue, but it does not skip the security screening, which applies to everyone. Tour products advertising “skip-the-line entry” are describing timed entry bundled with a guide.
Does the Paris Museum Pass cover the Louvre?
It covers your admission (a €32 value for non-EEA visitors), but the pass is not a reservation — you must still book a free timed slot for the Louvre before visiting. See our Paris Museum Pass guide for the break-even math.
Is LouvreInsider affiliated with the Louvre?
No. LouvreInsider is an independent travel guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Musée du Louvre. Prices, hours, and entry rules are checked against louvre.fr and the official ticketing portal. When something can't be confirmed, this guide says so instead of guessing.