Visiting the Louvre Museum: 2026 hours, ticket prices, and the best times to avoid the crowds
The Louvre Museum is open every day except Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with late-night openings until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. Tickets cost €22 for residents of the European Economic Area and €32 for other visitors. Booking a time slot online is mandatory. Here is how to plan your visit from the 1st arrondissement, and most importantly, what time to arrive so you don't spend an hour in line.
What are the Louvre Museum's opening hours?
The Louvre is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, and is closed on Tuesdays year-round. Two weekly late-night sessions extend opening hours until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. Last admission is one hour before closing, and galleries begin clearing thirty minutes before closing time.
The Tuileries Garden remains open much later: until 9 p.m. in April, May, September, and October, and until 11 p.m. in July and August. It’s the perfect place to extend your visit outdoors once the museum closes.
How much does it cost to enter the Louvre in 2026?
As of January 14, 2026, the Louvre has two ticket prices: €22 for residents or nationals of the European Economic Area, and €32 for all other visitors. Proof of eligibility is required at the entrance. The ticket also grants access to the Musée national Eugène-Delacroix on the same day or the following opening day.
Free for visitors under 18, and under 26 for residents of European Economic Area countries
When is the Louvre free?
Admission is free for everyone on the first Friday of every month, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., excluding July and August, as well as on July 14th. Tickets for these free late-night sessions are released a few days in advance and go quickly: it is best to subscribe to the museum's newsletter to be notified when bookings open.
What time should you go to the Louvre to avoid the crowds?
The two best times to visit are at opening time at 9 a.m. and during the Friday late-night session starting at 6 p.m. The 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. slot is the busiest time of the day, and Monday is the most crowded day of the week, as it absorbs the overflow from the Tuesday closure.
Three tips to improve your visit:
- Enter through a door other than the Pyramid. The Carrousel du Louvre and the Porte des Lions are often much faster.
- Start in the wing opposite the Mona Lisa. The crowds are concentrated around one single painting; the Near Eastern antiquities and French paintings are almost peaceful by comparison.
- Plan two short visits rather than one long one. The museum covers 73,000 m². Two two-hour visits are better than a five-hour marathon.
How do you get to the Louvre Museum?
The closest stations are Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre (lines 1 and 7), which provides direct access to the Carrousel, and Louvre-Rivoli (line 1). From Châtelet-Les Halles, it is about a ten-minute walk via Rue de Rivoli.
Where to stay near the Louvre?
Staying in the 1st arrondissement means you can walk to the museum in under ten minutes, which makes all the difference when you're aiming for the 9 a.m. opening.Hôtel Crayon is located at 25 rue du Bouloi, an 8-minute walk from the Pyramid, on a quiet street between the Palais-Royal and Les Halles.
Its 26 unique rooms were individually furnished with vintage pieces that were hand-picked and repainted. An artistic retreat within walking distance of the world's largest museum.
