The Louvre Museum in Paris operates with varying hours throughout the week.
On Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, it is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last entry allowed at 5 p.m.
On Wednesdays and Fridays, the museum extends its hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the last entry at 7 p.m.
Additionally, on the first Friday of each month, the Louvre offers free entry after 6 p.m. and remains open until 8 p.m. (You must have a ticket to enter before 6 p.m.)
However, this special offer is not available in July and August. It is important to note that all rooms within the museum must be cleared of visitors 30 minutes before closing time on all days.
The Paris Louvre Museum remains closed on Tuesdays.
Check out the table below to see all the opening hours timings at a glance!
| Day of the Week | Timings | Last Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Tuesday | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday | 9 am to 8 pm | 7 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Friday | 9 am to 8 pm | 7 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
Since the opening hours of the Museum change without notice in advance, we recommended checking the official website before planning a visit.
Louvre Museum Temporary & Permanent Closures in 2024
The Art Museum is closed on New Year, 1st January, and Christmas, 25th December in 2024.
It will also remain closed on 1st May 2024.
The Museum is open on all other public holidays except Tuesday, which is its weekly day of closure.
All rooms in the Louvre Museum are not open to the public for exploration on all days of the week to manage the crowd level of the Museum.
The New Eastern and Egyptian Art display, Roman Antiquities display, and Napoleon III Apartments are temporarily closed in June 2024 as they are under renovation.
Some rooms in the European Decorative Arts Gallery and Northern European Paintings Gallery are also closed for renovation.
The European Sculptures Room is usually closed on Fridays, except for rooms 400 to 403.
We recommend checking the Schedule of open rooms on the official Louvre website to avoid walking towards the closed rooms.
This allows you to tweak your itinerary and save more time!
Best Time to Explore the Louvre Art Museum
Most visitors think the best time to visit the Louvre is as soon as it opens at 9 am, leading to lots of crowding at this time.
To avoid the crowd of tourists in the morning, we recommend exploring the museum after 3 pm, when most people have finished their tours.
The best option is to explore the Museum after 6 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays since it is open till 8 pm.
Don’t try to explore the space on the first Friday of the month, when entry is free after 6 pm, since the museum will be the most crowded during these hours.
We also recommend avoiding the Louvre on Mondays. Musei d’Orsay is closed on this day, and most of the crowds enter the Louvre instead.
Visitors who want to admire the Mona Lisa up close should schedule their trip to get to the painting just before closing time.
You will find the least crowd at Da Vinci’s masterpiece at this time, allowing art lovers to enjoy a calm look at the masterpiece!
How Long does it take to explore the Louvre Museum?
Since the Louvre Museum spans over 400 rooms, with over 35,000 art pieces on display, it can take two days to explore it in detail!
However, during a one-day visit, most visitors spend 3 to 4 hours exploring the museum’s artworks.
If you don’t have much time to explore the Louvre, you can cut short your visit by only seeing the famous Denon Wing of the Museum, where the Mona Lisa is on display.
You can also see the famous Winged Victory statue, the popular Raft of Medusa Painting, and much more.
Visitors planning to spend a day at the Louvre Museum can easily explore the Richleiu and Sully Wings for a quieter experience.
Tuileries Garden Opening Hours
The Tuileries Garden is an 11-minute walk from the Louvre Museum, and you will exit right onto the Garden as you exit the Museum.
The Gardens offer a stunning view of the Louvre Pyramid for photos and are a paradise for Nature Lovers to explore.
It is open to exploring from 7 am to 11 pm daily during the peak season, June to August.
The Garden can be explored from 7 am to 9 pm in April, May, and September.
You can explore the garden from October to March from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm.
Visitors can enjoy exploring the garden at their own pace since no entry fee or reservation is needed.
You must leave the gardens 30 minutes before the space closes in all months.
Check out the table below for a better understanding of the Tuileries Garden timings:
| Month | Tuileries Garden Timings | Visitors must leave the Garden at |
|---|---|---|
| June to August | 7 am to 11 pm | 10.30 pm |
| April, May, & September | 7 am to 9 pm | 8.30 pm |
| October to March | 7.30 am to 7.30 pm | 7 pm |
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FAQs on Louvre Opening Hours
1. Is the Louvre free after 6 pm?
The Louvre Art Museum is free after 6 pm on the first Friday of every month.
2. What are the best hours to go to the Louvre?
The Louvre is the least crowded early at 9 am and after 3 pm.
3. Is 2 hours enough for the Louvre?
You can only cover the Denon wing in two hours and see some of the best art pieces like the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and more.
4. Is the Louvre open all days of the week?
The Louvre is open from Wednesday to Monday every week. The Museum is closed on 1st May, 25th December, and 1st January in 2024.
5. What are the Louvre Museum Opening Hours throughout the week?
The Louvre Museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Museum is open for longer from 9 am to 8 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Visitors’ admission time ends 1 hour before the Museum closes on all days.
6. How long is the wait at the Louvre?
The lines at the Louvre can take about 2 to 3 hours to move during the peak season since it attracts almost 60,000 visitors. We recommend getting a skip-the-line entry ticket to save time.
7. What is the best day of the week to visit the Louvre?
The Louvre is least crowded on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, making them the perfect days to explore.
8. What are the timings of the Tuileries Garden?
The Tuileries Garden is open from 7 am to 11 pm from June to August, 7 am to 9 pm in April, May, and September, and from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm from October to March.