Quick answer: The official Louvre timed ticket costs €22 for EEA visitors and €32 for non-EEA visitors (the two-tier pricing introduced in 2026), and it is free for everyone under 18 and for EEA residents under 26. If you are comfortable with the museum’s excellent app and signage, the official ticket is the best value — book a slot, go on a Wednesday or Friday evening, and you will have a good visit. Book a guided highlights tour (about $60–120) if you have two hours, want the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory explained and found without map-wrangling, or if official slots are sold out. A private tour ($250–500 per group) makes sense for families, art lovers or anyone who wants their own route.
Related: teamLab Planets Tickets: Standard Entry or Timed Priority Entry?
Louvre Ticket Types Compared
| Option | Price | Includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official timed ticket (EEA) | €22 | All permanent collections + temporary exhibitions, timed slot | Independent visitors from Europe |
| Official timed ticket (non-EEA) | €32 | Same | Independent visitors from elsewhere |
| Free entry | €0 (slot recommended) | Under 18; EEA under 26; first Friday evening (not Jul/Aug); 14 July; disabled + companion | Eligible visitors with ID |
| Third-party timed ticket | ~€35–45 | Reserved slot via reseller | When official slots are gone |
| Guided highlights tour (2–3h) | ~$60–120 | Ticket, guide, headsets, priority entrance | First visit, limited time, sold-out dates |
| Private tour | ~$250–500 per group | Ticket, private guide, custom route | Families, groups of 4+, art enthusiasts |
| Evening / after-hours tour | ~$80–150 | Wed/Fri late opening with guide; occasional closed-door events | Crowd-averse visitors |
Official prices and rules from louvre.fr (checked September 2026). The museum is closed on Tuesdays, open 9:00–18:00 other days and until 21:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays; last entry one hour before closing. Time-slot booking is recommended even for free-admission visitors and is effectively required to avoid long waits in season.
Top-Rated Louvre Tours & Tickets
The Official Ticket
Book on the Louvre’s ticketing site, pick a 30-minute entry slot and go to the Pyramid entrance (or the Carrousel entrance underground, usually with a shorter security line). Non-EEA visitors pay €32 from 2026 — still less than most guided tours — and everyone under 18 is free, which makes the official route dramatically cheaper for families. Official tickets are non-refundable. Popular slots (10:00–13:00, weekends) sell out one to two weeks ahead in summer; evening slots on Wednesday and Friday are the quietest and often available late.
Guided Highlights Tours
The Louvre is 73,000 m² and the three famous works are in three different wings; a guided highlights tour solves the navigation problem and gives you context for the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory, the Code of Hammurabi and the French crown jewels in about two hours, after which you can stay on your own (most tickets remain valid until closing). Priority group entrance shortens the security wait. Choose small-group tours (max 8–15) with hundreds of recent reviews; the tours above are the top-rated. Look for “ticket included” and note the tour’s meeting point is usually near the Pyramid or the Carrousel, not inside.
Private Tours
Per group pricing means a private guide at $350 for a family of five is $70 each — similar to a small-group tour and far better for children (choose the Egyptian rooms, skip what bores them). Art-focused visitors get a route built around their interests. Private tours are usually 2–3 hours and can start at opening for the emptiest galleries.
Official vs Tour: The Maths
| Party | Official tickets | Small-group tour | Private tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 non-EEA adults | €64 | ~$120–240 | ~$250–500 |
| 2 adults + 2 children (non-EEA) | €64 (children free) | ~$200–400 | ~$300–500 |
| 2 EEA adults under 26 | €0 | ~$120–240 | ~$250–500 |
| Tour | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access | $75 | ★ 4.5 (13,449 reviews) |
| Louvre Museum Premium Guided Tour 6 GUESTS MAX Entry Included | $73 | ★ 5.0 (7,138 reviews) |
| Louvre Museum Guided Tour with Orsay Museum Ticket Option | $57 | ★ 3.8 (4,638 reviews) |
| Louvre Museum Essential Guided Tour Semi Private 6 GUESTS MAX | $73 | ★ 5.0 (4,234 reviews) |
| Paris in A Day Louvre Eiffel Tower Notre Dame and Seine Cruise | $115 | ★ 4.8 (2,551 reviews) |
| Louvre Highlights & Mona Lisa Guided Tour with Reserved Access | $58 | ★ 4.7 (1,853 reviews) |
Which Should You Choose?
Official ticket: repeat visitors, anyone under 18 or EEA under 26, budget travellers, and anyone happy with the app and a plan. Guided tour: first visit, 2–3 hours available, want the highlights explained, or official slots gone. Private: families of four or more, art enthusiasts, mobility needs. Evening: anyone who dislikes crowds — Wednesday and Friday evenings are the Louvre at its best.
Practical Tips
Enter via the Carrousel du Louvre (99 rue de Rivoli) for shorter security lines. Bring ID for free-entry categories. The Mona Lisa room is busiest 11:00–15:00; go first or last. Large bags and suitcases are refused. Combine with the Musée d’Orsay across the river on another day rather than the same one. For the wider ticket picture see best sites for attraction tickets and timed-entry tickets explained; for everything else in Paris, start with our hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Louvre ticket in 2026?
€22 for EEA visitors and €32 for non-EEA visitors on the official site. Under-18s and EEA residents under 26 enter free. Guided tours start around $60–120.
Do I need to book Louvre tickets in advance?
Yes in practice. Time slots are recommended for everyone, including free-entry visitors, and popular slots sell out one to two weeks ahead in summer.
Is a Louvre guided tour worth it?
For a first visit with limited time, yes: it solves navigation, explains the highlights and uses a priority entrance. Repeat visitors and families with free-entry children may prefer the official ticket.
When is the Louvre free?
For under-18s and EEA under-26s always; for everyone on the first Friday evening of the month (except July and August) and on 14 July.
What day is the Louvre closed?
Tuesdays. It is open late (until 21:00) on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Can I stay in the Louvre after a guided tour?
Usually yes — the ticket remains valid until closing, so you can continue on your own after the tour ends.
Kratos Review is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on 28 September 2026 and can change.
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