Is Louvre Museum Worth Visiting

Published February 11, 2025

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The Louvre Museum, also known simply as “The Louvre”, is one of the most renowned and heavily visited museums globally.

It attracts nearly 9 million visitors annually and showcases more than 38,000 artworks.

So is the Louvre Museum worth visiting? Keep reading to find out!

What is The Louvre Museum?

The Louvre Museum is a museum that was initially constructed as a Philip II fortress during the 12th and early 13th centuries.

Then through the years, the structure underwent numerous expansions, ultimately creating the vast Louvre Palace which can be explored today.

This Louvre Palace was inaugurated in the year 1793 as a museum, showcasing 537 artworks.

Currently, the Louvre Museum houses over 380000 objects and 35000 art pieces, with roughly 38,000 exhibited at any given moment.

In 2022 even, the Louvre was ranked as the world's highest-visited museum, having attracted about 7.6 million visitors.

History of The Louvre Museum

The initial design of the Louvre Museum existed as a medieval castle, built in the 12th century.

Then, through the years, the castle transformed into more of a palace than a fortress, culminating when, in 1546, François I formally changed it to a royal abode.

This palace was continually renovated and developed over the years till the time Louis XIV chose to relocate this royal court to the new Palace of Versailles.

Louis XIV was called “The Sun King” so all his actions aimed to strengthen his authority and affirm that the king was chosen to govern by God.

Therefore, a key strategy in achieving those objectives was to construct the largest, grandest court and palace imaginable – which he built in Versailles.

Once the royal home relocated to Versailles, Louvre's museum became a repository for royal treasures and the vast art collection.

As the historic French Revolution led to the king's ousting, the new administration chose to capitalize on the artistic treasures, resulting in its official establishment in 1793 as a museum.

Due to its regal past, the Louvre stands as an exceptionally magnificent and lavish structure and it's equally as stunning as the artworks housed in the museum – you'll surely admire the architecture of the Louvre.

Apart from seeing the Mona Lisa, there are many other must-see attractions at the museum.

Is Louvre Museum Worth a Visit?

Yes, the museum is definitely worth visiting. It is renowned as the biggest and most frequented museum globally.

This museum located in Paris contains several of the most renowned artworks globally such as the MonaLisa.

Its structure is renowned, its collections are vast, and it contains the most celebrated works of art.

Whether you simply enjoy the concept of exploring a palace or you appreciate sculptures, paintings, furniture, and jewelry, the Louvre offers something for everyone.

It also contains a remarkably vast assortment of Greek Antiquities dating back to 6500 BC and more contemporary art and sculptures from the early 19th century.

Its structure has served, throughout different periods in history, as a royal home, a fortress, and a museum.

The Louvre even houses the Mona Lisa and a vast array of other creative masterpieces.

So, in my opinion, I believe that the Louvre is definitely worth a visit when you’re in Paris.

Best Time for Visiting the Museum

The Louvre Museum is open for visitation from 9 am to 6 pm on Sundays, Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

On Fridays, it operates from 9 am until 9:45 pm but remains shut on Tuesday.

The ideal times for visiting the Louvre are late afternoon or early morning, near the closing and opening times.

Also, since the museum has extended hours on Friday nights, you'll probably encounter the least number of visitors then.

However, note that if you remain in the Louvre museum up till 9:45 pm, locating a restaurant afterward will be difficult so prepare accordingly.

Also, try to reserve your ticket in advance because they tend to sell out fast, so the sooner you can reserve your ticket, the better.

You can participate in a tour of the museum led by an informed guide.

These guides will not only highlight some key features of the Louvre, but you will also gain insights into the museum's history and its exhibits.

Additionally, you can bypass the lengthy queues to access the museum - the queues at the major entrance can often exceed two hours, so this will certainly help you save time and stress.

How Long to Visit the Louvre Museum?

The amount of time you should spend inside the Louvre obviously relies on your passion for art and the amount of time available to you in Paris, France.

If you adore art so much, you might spend an entire day or even countless days at the Louvre Museum.

However, if you are someone who doesn’t passionately love artwork, I believe that two to three hours at the Louvre Museum is the ideal duration for you.

Some guests will likely grasp the essence of this historic museum in some hours and then be prepared to explore other attractions in Paris.

What to Expect at the Louvre Museum

The Louvre is part of the museums where it’s essential to arrange your ticket and determine in advance when you will go.

There are no restrictions on the duration of your visit, except for the operating hours, therefore if you select a morning slot, you can remain throughout the day.

At its complex center stands a glass pyramid, recognized as the most famous Louvre museum entrance.

Beneath the Pyramid lies the Entrance Hall, which contains all the entrance booths and guest services.

The Louvre has three distinct wings: Richelieu, Denon, and Sully.

Each of the wings features its own distinct entrance from the Louvre Entrance Hall.

Although you can transition from one to another while in the Louvre’s corridors, depending on your intended destination, you may have to exit one wing first and pass-through this Entrance Hall in order to access the next.

There are lines to access each wing in the Louvre since you must have your tickets scanned before entering the Sully, Richelieu, and Denon wings.

Also, every Louvre wing consists of 4 levels (Level 2, 1, -1, and 0), and each level is packed with numerous rooms containing invaluable sculptures, paintings, and artifacts.

Exploring the Mona Lisa

Unless you arrive very late or extremely early, you will probably encounter a long queue to view the Mona Lisa artwork.

It's a very remarkable and iconic artwork, and one could say it's also popular due to the fact that it was stolen a century ago.

After the stealing incident, immediately the Mona Lisa was found, the painting work and its story captivated people and it essentially became a sensation.

It has an amazing tale and you should definitely check it out while you're there, though you shouldn't go to the Louvre just to view the Mona Lisa.

Also, anticipate large crowds when you want to view the MonaLisa.

Should You Use a Guided Tour at the Museum?

There are several reasons to think about a Louvre Museum guided tour.

To begin with, the Louvre is vast and may feel daunting to explore.

To ensure you don't miss many of the top attractions without frequently checking a map, an informed guide will definitely be quite beneficial.

Furthermore, the guide will assist you in gaining a deeper understanding of the museum's history and the artifacts you will observe during your visit.

This additional context can enhance the experience of visiting the museum.

Even, the majority of guided tours usually include skipping-the-line privileges.

Using the Museum's Maps

If you’re exploring the Louvre on your own (without guided tours), you absolutely require a map – do not even consider entering the depths of the Louvre Museum without it.

In the museum's Entrance Hall, you can collect the paper map, or you may obtain the map with your phone.

The map identifies several of the very notable artworks in every area.

Also, the Louvre offers several distinct "Visitor Trails" that you can explore throughout the building.

These paths provide precise directions on the place to go to and the things to observe, typically emphasizing 10-15 pieces of art.

Tips to Visit the Louvre

• Always make use of the concealed doorway.
• Be aware that Louvre personnel will begin to clear rooms and direct visitors to the museum's exit half an hour prior to closing.
• Put on cozy footwear.
• Visit galleries that are less frequented.
• Arrive in the middle of the week and in the wintertime.
• Create a strategy prior to your visit.
• Have a meal before you leave.
• Utilize the complimentary lockers.
• Try to book the initial 9 am entry slot for the Louvre - that is the perfect moment to go to the museum as you'll have one hour or more before the throngs begin to grow significantly.
• The eateries close to the museum are costly so if possible, steer clear of them and venture deeper into the metropolis for superior dining options.
• You'll need to queue for a long time to view the Mona Lisa.
• You may have limited time to explore a few sections and the Louvre's highlights, but you will definitely have sufficient time to recognize the museum's vastness and admire several stunning masterworks.

Final Thoughts

In the Louvre Museum, there is far more than merely the Mona Lisa.

In addition to the many amazing artworks and sculptures, its corridors and structure are stunning.

However, the museum needs several hours for a visit, and without proper planning, it's easy to meander aimlessly or become trapped in crowds.

In my opinion, the Louvre is definitely worth seeing when in Paris. It is a key monument in the capital and one of the most recognizable.

Whether you appreciate paintings, sculptures, or cultural treasures, the collection at the Louvre will certainly feature displays that will captivate you and spark your interest.