The Louvre Museum is one of the most crowded attractions in Paris, attracting over 30,000 visitors every day!
It is least crowded from 9 am to 10 am, as soon as it opens and after 3 pm till closing hours.
Visitors looking for a comfortable experience at the Museum must know the best time to visit during the week and the best month to explore.
In this article, we’ll help you find the best day, month, and season to schedule your visit to the Louvre for the best and most comfortable experience!
Best Time of Day to Visit the Louvre
The most important thing to consider when visiting the Louvre is if all the other visitors are also planning their trip at the same time as you.
The Museum is the least crowded from 9 am to 10 am and after 3 pm on weekdays.
Most tourists plan to explore the Museum from 9 am and explore the space till 3 pm, after which they leave the exhibition rooms for lunch.
You can find fewer crowds in the Museum after 3 pm on weekdays since all tourists arriving in the morning have completed exploring the space.
On weekends, the best time to visit is from 9 am to 10 am, and between 5 pm and 6 pm.
The crowd increases from 3 pm to 5 pm, as most Parisians and tourists wake late.
Visitors planning to explore on Wednesdays and Fridays can take advantage of the extended hours and explore the Museum for longer!
Be prepared for increased crowding from 2 pm to 6 pm on Fridays.
Check out our Louvre Museum Opening Hours article to learn more about the extended hours and museum timings so you can plan accordingly.
Read the table below to see the different levels of crowding at different times of the day!
| Day | Least Crowded Timings |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9 am to 10 am, 3 pm to 5 pm. |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 9 am to 10 am, 6 pm to 8 pm. |
| Thursday | 9 am to 10 am, 3 pm to 5 pm |
| Friday | 9 am to 10 am, 6 pm to 8 pm. |
| Saturday | 9 am to 10 am, 5 pm to 6 pm. |
| Sunday | 9 am to 10 am, 5 pm to 6 pm |
Crowding During the Week: Which is the Calmest Day at the Louvre?
The Louvre Museum is the least crowded on Mondays and Thursdays, making these the perfect days to plan a visit!
It is open to explore from Wednesdays to Mondays and is closed on all Tuesdays.
Visitors can explore the space from 9 am to 6 pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
On Wednesdays and Fridays, the opening hours extend up to 8 pm.
The Louvre is the most crowded on weekends and Fridays since this is the day when all schools are closed in Paris.
You might also find medium crowding levels on Wednesdays since the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.
Check out the table below to see the crowd levels during the week at the Louvre Museum.
| Day of the Week | Crowd Level |
|---|---|
| Monday | Low |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Medium |
| Thursday | Low |
| Friday | High |
| Saturday | High |
| Sunday | High |
However, it is possible to explore the Louvre during the peak season and still find a huge crowd on Mondays and Thursdays.
Check out the next section to discover the peak tourism season in Paris.
Monthly Crowds & Weather Conditions: Best Time to Year to Visit the Louvre
Paris receives the least number of tourists from November to February since it is winter season and snowfall covers all attractions.
You will find the least crowd at the Louvre during these months, as tourists avoid Paris because of the chance of harsh weather conditions.
We recommend bringing along a thick coat to explore in winter.
However, the Louvre might be more crowded in February since couples journey from all over the world to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the City of Love!
Paris is most crowded from June to August, the months for summer holidays, when tourists flock to the Louvre.
You will find a medium crowd level in March, April, May, September, and October.
Check out the table below to see the crowding level in the year at a glance!
| Month | Crowding Level |
|---|---|
| January | Low |
| February | Low |
| March | Medium |
| April | Medium |
| May | Medium |
| June | High |
| July | Maximum |
| August | Maximum |
| September | Medium |
| October | Low |
| November | Low |
| December | Medium |
However, even in the months with fewer crowding levels, you might find an increase in the local crowd when schools and colleges are closed for vacation.
Discover more visiting tips in our Louvre Museum Visiting Tips article to plan the best experience for your month of visit!
Check out the next section to discover the dates for school holidays in France!
Crowding during School Holidays
During the months when European and French school holidays begin, the crowd at the Louvre automatically increases.
The European schools will be closed from 23rd July to 4th September 2024 for summer vacations.
Kids in France will get summer holidays from 6th July to 1st September 2024.
Schools in France are also closed from 19th October to 4th November 2024 for All Saints’ Day and from 21st December 2024 to 5th January 2025 for Christmas break.
Kids will have Winter break in the first, second, and third weeks of February and Spring break from 12th April to the beginning of May 2025.
The vacations for summer 2025 will begin on 5th June.
You will also find more crowd at the Museum during Thanksgiving and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Check out our How to get to the Louvre Musuem article so you can avoid all crowds by using public transportation during the peak holiday season!
Contents
FAQs on the Best Time to Visit the Louvre
1. What time is the best time to go to the Louvre?
The Louvre is least crowded from 9 am to 10 am and after 3 pm on weekdays. On weekends, the crowds only reduce after 4 pm.
2. What is the best day of the week to visit the Louvre?
The Louvre is the least crowded on Mondays and Thursdays.
3. What is the peak time at the Louvre?
The Louvre receives the most crowd from 10 am to 2 pm on weekdays. On weekends, the Museum is the busiest at 3 pm.
4. Should I get to the Louvre early?
You should reach the Louvre an hour before your booked time slot to ensure you can get through the long queues, especially on Fridays and on the weekends.
5. What is the cheapest day to visit the Louvre?
The Musuem is free to explore after 6 pm on the first Friday of every month.
6. In which month is the Louvre least crowded?
The Louvre is the least crowded from November to February since it is the winter season.
7. Is it better to visit the Louvre at night?
Louvre is good all through the day. If you plan to visit Louvre Museum at night, be there on Wednesdays from 6 pm to 8 pm to enjoy the least crowd. It might be slightly crowded on Fridays since it is a school holiday.