7 Tips for Surviving the Louvre

The world’s most visited museum, the Louvre, is located in the capital of France, Paris and it is also the most exhausting thing you can experience when visiting the city of lights. It offers approximately 38.000 beautiful art and history pieces for viewers to enjoy. Careful planning is advised before starting a Louvre tour, so here’s a list of top tips for surviving the Louvre adventure.

Watch for the Working Hours

The museum is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day except Tuesdays, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The crowds from school excursions are significantly lower than usual due to social distancing and new precautionary measures.

Use a Different Entrance

Most of the people who visit the museum go to the main entrance at the glass pyramid. But there is a chance that there will be a waiting line for entering. We suggest you try entering through the underground shopping mall Carrousel du Louvre and avoid crowds whenever possible. 

Think About Listening to the Audio Guide

The first thing that goes through your mind when reading this must be audio guides are boring and that you can figure it all out by yourself. But using these is highly recommended because there are about 38.000 pieces of art and no signs in the museum are in English.

Pack Adequately

Dress in layers that you can take off easily if it gets too warm inside. Besides that, packing a drink and some sandwiches or snacks isn’t a bad idea because after some time you may feel a bit tired and hungry. You need to remember that this is going to be a very long museum adventure –  unless you are planning on running.

Consider Seeing the “Big Three” First

The “Big Three” are the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory, and the Mona Lisa. The best option is that you go see these 3 masterpieces right away when you arrive. Since these have the biggest crowds around them, it can be a good idea to go for the first while you are still charged up and full of energy. You can move on to the galleries with lesser crowds afterward.

Don’t Rush It

There are plenty of other things to do while in Paris, so don’t rush immediately to the museum. Consider what you want to do in Paris primarily and adapt accordingly. However, if you always dreamt of seeing the Mona Lisa in person and you are there for the Louver, go for it. 

Plan Ahead

You can make a plan of what you want to see first before arriving or when you get to the Louvre – it’s up to you. Still, you should take a few minutes to carefully plan what you want to see and in which order. This will save you from roaming around not knowing where to go next.