The Louvre is not only the world`s greatest art museum, but also the largest and most visited, with 675,000 square feet of works from almost every civilization known to man. The three most popular pieces housed here are the `Mona Lisa`, the `Venus de Milo`, and the `Winged Victory of Samothrace`. This museum is one of the most visited museums in the world with a staggering 7.5 million visitors each year.

Practical Information:
Musée du Louvre
Paris 1
Tel.: 00 33 (0)1 40 20 53 17
Website https://www.louvre.fr/en
Open Wednesday to Monday 9am-6pm
Wednesday and Friday: 9am-9.45pm
Rooms begin closing 30 minutes before museum closing time
Closed Tuesdays, May 1, November 1, December 25
Admission Adult €15; free for under 18s; free on 1st Sunday of the month October to March. (2019)

The absolute best time to visit the Louvre is on Wednesday and Friday evenings when the museum is open until 9:45pm, and there are significantly fewer visitors. Remember that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.

If you visit The Louvre Museum with the intention of purchasing tickets on site, then prepare yourself to wait in a line that snakes in front of the Louvre Pyramid for hundreds of meters and has a waiting period of anywhere between 1-2 hours long. Museum Pass holders or advance ticket holders will not wait in line as they have access to a special line. You may have a wait at the security gates, and after a brief security check, you will be able to enter the museum with ease.

Another option is to enter the ticket office through the Louvre mall (access on rue de Rivoli) underneath the museum. This can save you one of the two lines you might wait in. Sometimes, however, there is a line here as well to get in.

We highly suggest that you purchase your ticket in advance online to save on wait times in long lines. But remember that you have to commit to a date as the ticket is only valid on that particular day. You can also order you audioguide at the same time. We highly recommend getting the audio guide, which comes in various languages, particularly if you`re not familiar with much of the collection.

The Louvre has one of the largest art collections in the world and it would take weeks to see it all. The three most popular pieces housed here are the `Mona Lisa`, the `Venus de Milo` and the `Winged Victory of Samothrace`. Beyond these must-sees, your best bet is to focus on whatever interests you the most - and don`t fret about getting lost because you're bound to discover something magical. To make the most of your visit, it`s a good idea to read up on the different sections (buy a good guide book) so you can have a better idea of what you would be interested in seeing. However, try not to see everything; you will appreciate the works more by focusing on a few sections. And don`t forget to pick up one of the excellent color coded maps at the information desk. There are also high tech Nintendo 3DS multimedia guides at the entrance to each wing; for €5 you get four self-guided tours and details about 250 works of art, plus a function to help you find your bearings.

Yes, Guided Tours are an extremely efficient way of exploring the Louvre Museum. Similar to other guided experiences in the city, a Louvre Museum tour will allow you to skip the ticket line and head straight to the entrance gate. You also get the added benefit of being in the company of a knowledgeable guide who will show help you explore the highlights of the Louvre. Guided tours also have a dedicated entrance at the Porte des Lions which are open only to groups. This entrance makes it an even better and faster way to access the Louvre Museum.

While eating inside the museum is not advisable, bags are not searched for food, so you could bring along a snack, sandwich or bottle of water and have a break in the main foyer. There are numerous cafes throughout the museum and in the Carrousel du Louvre, the shopping center attached to the museum. For a more leisurely lunch or break, try Café Richelieu or Café Marly, which is on the North Side of the Cour Napoleon (part of the Richelieu wing), great for people watching; or hold onto your ticket (you can reenter all day) and stroll out to one of the open air cafés in the Jardin de Tuileries.

Photography is allowed (without flash) only in the galleries housing the permanent collection. Photography and filming are not permitted in the temporary exhibition galleries. The same restrictions apply to the photographing or filming of technical installations and equipment.

The Louvre is wheelchair accessible and you can request a temporary wheelchair loan from the information desk. There are elevators throughout the museum and you will get priority entrance as well.