Louvre Museum opening hours
The Louvre Museum opening hours are from 9:00 to 18:00 on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The museum extends its schedule until 21:00 on Wednesday and Fridays, while the doors remain closed to the public every Tuesday.
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Top attraction in Paris
Explore the Louvre’s galleries to witness the evolution of art and the architectural grandeur of a former royal palace.
What are the opening hours of the Louvre Museum?
The opening hours of the Louvre Museum follow a consistent pattern where the doors open at 09:00 throughout the week. While the museum maintains a standard 18:00 closing time on most active days, it offers late-night access until 21:00 every Wednesday and Friday to accommodate evening visitors. This schedule applies to every day except Tuesday, when the complex remains closed for weekly maintenance and staff operations.
The table below outlines the regular opening times and last admission details:
| Days | Hours | Last admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday | 9:00 - 18:00 | 17:00 |
| Wednesday, Friday | 9:00 - 21:00 | 20:00 |
| Tuesday | Closed | N/A |
Closing days
The Louvre closes to the public every Tuesday for maintenance, restoration, and cleaning operations. The institution also shuts on three holidays: January 1, May 1, and December 25. On other national holidays, the museum operates unless the date falls on a Tuesday.
Regarding free access, the museum waives admission fees on the first Friday of each month after 18:00, except during July and August. The Louvre also grants free access to all visitors on July 14, which marks French National Day and commemorates the storming of the Bastille.
Currently, galleries 500 to 525 are closed from February 9 to March 13. This temporary closure restricts access to these specific areas while the rest of the museum remains available to the public.
Best time to visit the Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum receives the lowest crowd density during September, October, and the winter months from November through March. Monday and Thursday mornings offer the best weekday conditions. Wednesday and Friday evenings, when the Louvre stays open until 21:00, deliver the least congested experience of the entire week. In fact, according to one Reddit user: “Going at night is the best.”
Here are some recommended times to optimize the experience on the Louvre Museum:
- The best times to visit the Louvre are on Monday and Thursday mornings from 9:00 to 12:00. Monday and Thursday afternoons from 2 PM until closing also offer good conditions. Furthermore, Wednesday and Friday evening visitors arriving after 18:00 encounter fewer than 30 people in the Mona Lisa room during off-peak months.
- Acceptable times include Wednesday and Friday mornings, Monday and Thursday from 12:00 to 14:00.
- Visitors should avoid weekends.
While tour groups arrive in concentrated waves between 09:00 and 14:00 on weekdays, an early morning entry before 10:00 remains the most effective strategy for accessing the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace with tranquility.
In terms of entry points, the Porte des Lions entrance in the Denon Wing offers significantly shorter queues than the main Pyramid entrance.
How long does it take to visit the Louvre Museum?
The Louvre Museum requires between 3 and 6 hours for a standard visit. Within this timeframe, visitors see the three iconic masterpieces (the “big three”), explore one full wing, and include a coffee break. While a two-hour window allows guests to view the Mona Lisa and primary highlights, exploring more than the greatest hits demands 3 to 6 hours minimum.
Because the museum spans 73,000 m² of exhibition space across three wings and over 400 rooms, wing selection remains essential for managing visit duration. Guests navigate a vast layout, so prioritizing specific sections ensures a more efficient experience. As one Reddit user suggests: “Just pick out areas that are more interesting to you if you don't go with a guide. Its so easy to get caught up in your surroundings so make a plan and you'll hit all the areas you want.”
The following table summarizes the recommended durations according to the type of visitor:
| Visitor type | Duration | What the visit covers |
|---|---|---|
| Quick visit | 1.5–2 hours | Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo (the “big three”) |
| Standard visit | 3–6 hours | Big three, one full wing, café break |
| In-Depth visit | 6–9 hours | All three wings, multiple floors, meal breaks |
| Photography-focused | 4–8 hours | Key sculptures, courtyards, Napoleon III Apartments |
| Families with children | 2–3 hours | Winged Victory, mummies, medieval foundations |