The Louvre Museum is one of the biggest museums in the world, attracting over 7 million visitors yearly.
To ensure a comfortable entry experience, the Louvre has four separate entrances to grant admission to its visitors, depending on their ticket!
Visitors exploring the Museum for the first time must know all about the main entrances and their timings to select the best one.
Read further to discover the criteria you must meet to be allowed to enter from each Louvre Entrance, the location of the entrances, and what to expect!
The Entrances at a Glance
| Entrance | Visitors who can enter |
|---|---|
| I.M.Pei Pyramid Entrance | For visitors with tickets, membership cards, and Paris Pass. Reserved queue and a tube lift for visitors with disabilities. |
| Carrousel Entrance | All visitors |
| Passage Richelieu Entrance | For visitors entering in groups & those having membership cards. |
| Porte des Lions Entrance | For visitors with tickets |
Which is the Best Louvre Museum Entrance?
You must choose your best entrance depending on the type of experience you want to have and the part of the Museum you wish to explore first.
The best way for visitors with tickets to enter the Louvre Art Museum is via the Carrousel Entrance since it is the least crowded.
If you’re entering with a big group of family and friends, the Richelieu Entrance is an excellent option since it is reserved only for big groups and those with membership cards.
It is also great for visitors planning to explore Richelieu Wing first.
Visitors with disabilities or those having a wheelchair or baby stroller with them should use the tube at the I.M.Pei Pyramid Entrance for a comfortable experience.
The Ports des Lions entry is an excellent choice for visitors who plan to enter the Denon Wing directly.
The I.M.Pei Pyramid Entrance: Main Entrance
It is the main entrance to the Louvre and the easiest to find, as it is at the base of the glass pyramidal structure of the building.
People stand in four queues to enter the Museum from this entrance, each divided by color or a signboard.
Visitors without tickets must stand in the orange queue at this entrance, while those having tickets can stand in the green queue.
Those with a Paris Museum Pass can also stand in the green queue.
The other line is for visitors with Amis du Louvre, Carte Louvre Education et Formation, ICOM, and Ministre de la Pass Education membership cards.
The final line at this entrance is only for visitors with disabilities and staff of the Louvre.
You can also find a tube lift at this entrance, which is only reserved for disabled visitors or those having a wheelchair or pram with them.
Check out our article on How to get to the Louvre Museum to discover the best public transportation stops that drop you close to the main entrance!
Address: Pyramid du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France. Get Directions.
Entrance Timings: 9 am to 6 pm. 9 am to 8 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Closed on Tuesdays.
Wait Time: 10 minutes.
Please note: There might not be any orange line for those without tickets at this entrance in 2024. All Louvre tickets must be purchased online in advance.
The Carrousel Entrance: Entering through the Mall.
The Carrousel Entrance is famously known as the Mall Entrance since it leads directly to the Carrousel du Louvre Shopping Mall.
The mall is underground and is usually less crowded than the other three entrances.
All visitors with tickets, membership cards, or passes can enter the Louvre through this underground entrance.
However, you should enquire at the entrance before queueing up as they only allow big groups to enter from here on some days.
The only way to get to the entrance is to take the two escalators descending from the Palais Royal Musee bus stop.
Check out our article on the best time to visit the Louvre Museum so you can estimate the levels of crowding at the gates accordingly!
Address: 99 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France. Get Directions.
Entrance Timings: 9 am to 6 pm. 9 am to 8 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Closed on Tuesdays.
Wait time: 30 minutes.
Passage Richelieu Entrance: Closes Early
The entrance near the Richelieu Wing is reserved only for visitors traveling with a big group and those with membership cards.
The entrance is at Rue de Rivoli, next to the Seine River, and offers a stunning view of the Sculpture Garden.
We recommend this entrance for groups, instead of the Carrousel entrance, since it offers a more efficient way to enter the Museum with less crowds.
Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France.
Entrance Timings: 9 am to 5.30 pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
Wait Time: 15 minutes.
Porte des Lions Entrance: Close to Tuileries Garden
The Porte des Lions Entrance at Quai Francois Mitterrand is only for visitors with tickets.
It is closest to the Tuileries Garden and a perfect spot for a quiet entry experience next to the Denon Wing.
You will be denied entry if you have a big bag since there are no cloakrooms for storage at this entrance.
The entrance is closed every Friday.
Address: Quai Francois Mitterrand, 75001 Paris, France. Get Directions.
Entrance timings: 9 am to 6 pm. 9 am to 8 pm on Wednesdays. Closed on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Wait Time: 30 minutes.
Are you looking for an affordable meal around the Louvre? Check out an article on Restaurants near the Louvre Museum article to know more!
Contents
FAQs on Louvre Entrance
1. Which entrance is best for the Louvre?
The Carrousel de Louvre entrance that leads through the underground shopping mall is the best for the Louvre.
2. Where is the entrance to the Louvre?
The main I.M.Pei Pyramid Louvre Museum entrance is at Pyramid du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France. Four queues lead inside the museum from here.
3. What is the glass entrance to the Louvre?
The I.M.Pei Pyramid is the glass entrance to the Louvre.
4. Which entrance should I pick if I am entering with a wheelchair?
The I.M.Pei Entrance has a tube lift and queue reserved for visitors with disabilities and using a wheelchair. There is staff here to help you use the lift as well.
5. Which entrance is great for visitors in a group?
The Passage Richelieu Louvre Paris Entrance is excellent for visitors entering with big groups since it is only for them and those with membership cards.
6. Which entrance is perfect for visitors arriving from the Tuileries Gardens?
The Porte des Lions entrance is the closest to the Tuileries Gardens.
7. Do all entrances follow the same timings as the Musuem’s opening hours?
All entrances, except the Passage Richelieu Entrance, follow the same timings. This entrance closes at 5.30 pm daily. The Porte des Lions entrance is closed on Tuesdays and Fridays, unlike the other three entrances, which are only closed on Tuesdays.