All You Need to Know About Louvre Opening Hours
Considered as one of the most iconic art galleries in the world, the Louvre Museum was originally built as a fortress between the 12th-13th centuries. Sitting on the right bank of the Seine River, the Louvre is the most-visited art museum in the world. It houses artworks of great artists up to the Revolution of 1848. Its rich collection includes masterpieces by Italian Renaissance artists and works of Flemish and Dutch painters of the Baroque era. One of the museum's major highlights is the famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
What Are The Louvre Hours?
The Louvre is open from 9 AM to 6 PM, Wednesday to Monday.
Last Entry: 1 hour before closing. The rooms are cleared 30 minutes before closing
Closed: The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December and any other public holidays that falls on a Tuesday.
Duration of Visit: The Louvre is massive, with 35,000 works of art spread across more than 70 rooms in each of the three wings. It's impossible to see the entire collection in one day or even in a week. If you simply wish to see the masterpieces, head to the Denon Wing. It is here that you will find many of the best-known works of art such as the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. You will be able to explore the wing in an hour or two.
January - March: 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM
April - May: 7 AM to 9 PM
June- August: 7 AM to 11 PM
September: 7 AM to 9 PM
October to December: 7: 30 AM to 7: 30 PM
Visitors will be asked to vacate the premises 30 minutes before closing
Visit Tuileries Garden
Visit the apartment-turned-museum dedicated to the painter Eugène Delacroix. The museum collection featured over a thousand works of art, ranging from paintings and drawings to writings, by Delacroix. The collection also includes objects that belonged to him, as well as artworks created by artists who admired him. You can gain admission to the museum along with the Louvre Museum's skip-the-line tickets. The opening hours of the Musee Eugene-Delacroix are:
Open Wednesday to Monday: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
On the first Thursday of the month, night openings are held until 9 PM.
Know MoreWhat's The Best time to Visit Louvre Museum?
The Louvre was visited by 9.6 million people in 2019 and is one of the most-visited museums in the world. It is essential to know the right hours or days to visit the museum to avoid the chaos and experience the splendor of works like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo in peace.
Spring (April to May)
Paris is absolutely breathtaking during spring with blooming flowers taking over the streets. Being the shoulder season, Paris is comparatively cheaper and quieter during these months. With lesser tourists in the city, you will find that it is relatively easy to beat the crowds at the Louvre Museum.
The best time to visit would be on Wednesdays and Fridays. While their late-night openings on these two days have been temporarily suspended, it is safe to say that the later hours of the day are when the museum is less crowded. Enjoy having the space to explore each room at your own pace.
Summer (June to August)
Summertime in the city of lights can be an absolute pleasure thanks to the almost perfect weather. However, during this time of the year, locals will be out of the city for vacations, while hundreds and thousands of visitors come into the city. It would be safe to imagine that many of these tourists would head to the Louvre during their stay.
If you are also visiting Paris during these months, visit Louvre during the early morning hours, i.e, as soon as the Louvre opens, or by late afternoon (3 PM), when there is a lull in the crowds.
Fall (September to October)
Visiting Paris during the fall is a visual treat with every shade of red, yellow, orange, and brown lining the streets of the city. The days are warm and the nights bring with it a light chill making it a great time to explore the city and soak in all its beauty. Much of the tourists who came in during the summer would have left leaving the streets and attractions emptier.
With nightfall occurring earlier in the day it would be best to visit the Lourve during the second half. You will be able to witness the Louvre pyramid shining bright against the heritage buildings that surround it.
Winter (November to March)
Winters in Paris are cold, but not freezing. As it is off-season the city will, for the most part, be free of tourists. This would also be the cheapest time to visit Paris.
Since Louvre is entirely indoors you don't have to worry about braving the cold on the day of your visit. With relatively few tourists in the city, you can safely assume that the Louvre has comparatively fewer visitors. If you plan to spend some time in the gardens visit during the earlier hours when the weather is warmer, else you can view the Lourve lit up against the snowy background of Paris by visiting during the day.
VERDICT: If you decide to visit during the peak season (June - August) the best time to visit Louvre would be during the early morning or late afternoon hours on a weekday. During the shoulder season (April to May and September to early October), visit during late evening hours. During winter, you simply don't have to worry about the crowds. However, please note that Mondays are the busiest days at the Louvre Museum.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Louvre Hours
A. The Louvre is open Wednesday to Monday from 9 AM - 6 PM.
A. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. It is open on all other public holidays, provided it does not falls on a Tuesday.
A. The amount of time you need at Louvre depends on what you wish to gain out of your visit. If you wish to see each and every work of art on display, it would take you months to view Louvre in its entirety. If you have a whole day to spare, start at the Denon wing where you can view most of the masterpieces such as Mona Lisa, and then head to the Sully and Richelieu wings.
A. The Tuileries gardens opening hours varies from month to month. During the months of January, February, March, October, November, and December, the gardens are open from 7: 30 AM to 7: 30 PM. During the months of April, May, and September, the Tuileries Garden is open from 7 AM to 9 PM, and from June to August, the gardens are open from 7 AM to 11 PM.
A. Musée National Eugène-Delacroix is open from 9.30 AM to 5:30 PM on Wednesdays to Mondays.
A. Visit the Louvre a weekday during the months between January and April. Visit during the early hours of a Monday or Thursday to avoid crowds.
