Paris Louvre Guided Tours

The Louvre in Paris is the third largest museum in the world (and ranks first among the most important museums in Paris) with an area of 60,000 m². The Louvre went from being a French royal palace to a museum with an extensive collection of approximately 380,000 works.

Visiting the museum with a guide will give you a more complete overview of art from the Middle Ages to 1848. The Louvre is a large museum, and every year there are more changes and a greater variety of works on display. Therefore, a professional guide will help you make the most of your time and ensure you don't get lost among so much art and beauty.

The best option

Louvre Museum Guided Tour

Your ticket to the Louvre Museum with a guided tour in a small group and no queues

Enjoy an unforgettable experience visiting the Louvre and its masterpieces in the company of an expert guide with lots to tell.

Duration: 2 hours

From CAD 155 at Hellotickets

A visit to the Louvre Museum is a must on your trip to Paris, but if you also have the opportunity to learn about the history and context of each of the works in its collection on a guided tour, I assure you that you will enjoy it even more.

Recommended if... You don't want to waste time in the long queues that form at the entrance to one of the most visited museums in the world, and you want to be sure of getting a guided tour with an expert in the field.

Unfortunately, there are no free guided tours of the Louvre. The audio guide is the cheapest option available and costs around €5. The duration of the guided tour depends on the type and usually lasts between 1.5 and 3 hours.

If you are travelling to Paris as a student, or there are students in your group, they can enjoy free admission simply by showing their student card.

In addition, everyone (regardless of age, nationality, etc.) can visit the Louvre for free on certain days of the month. These days are Bastille Day (14 July each year) and the first Sunday of the month from October to March. As you might expect, the Louvre is flooded with visitors on these days.

Short answer: Yes, if you have a good guide, your visit will be much better. The Louvre is a huge museum with over 100,000 works of art; some of the most famous works of art in the Louvre are also among the most famous in the world. Everything from sculptures by Michelangelo, Bernini and Canova to paintings by Da Vinci and Delacroix.

You're talking about an attraction that was literally built and decorated by the world's greatest artists. You'll find sculptures that were built by the ancient Romans, sculptures by Michelangelo himself, paintings by Raphael, and 25% of all of Da Vinci's remaining paintings!

For all these reasons, having the expertise of someone with years of knowledge can take you back in time, helping you understand the artist's philosophy, the conditions in which the works were created, and how something seemingly simple can be imbued with emotions, feelings, and skill. Without a doubt, a good guide can change the way you appreciate a work of art.

Good guides can make a seemingly meaningless detail interesting. When you combine a great guide with an incredible museum like the Louvre, you can have one of the most memorable experiences of your life.

There are generally several types of guided tours available at the Louvre Museum. These differ in terms of duration, characteristics, and the type of experience offered. Logically, the longer the tour, the more art you will be able to see in greater detail, as well as having the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any doubts. In any case, simply visiting the museum with a professional guide is enough to better appreciate the works; the type of guided tour will depend a little on your tastes.
Just remember to familiarise yourself with the Louvre Museum's opening hours and always arrive on time.

• Private tours: These are tailor-made tours designed specifically to suit your interests. A private tour allows you to focus on particular collections or pieces (for example, you may be fascinated by Greek art and only interested in that type of sculpture).
• Group tours: The standard tour is often the best option if you don't want to spend a lot and are only interested in seeing the highlights and general aspects, and having someone who can answer your questions.
• Express tours: This is a super-fast tour that gives you an overview of the museum's highlights.
• Audio-guided tours: Audio-guided tours are the perfect option if you want to discover everything on your own and have all the information at your fingertips. You may find it a bit boring, but it is still a very economical option.
• Tours for children and families: These are tailor-made tours designed to keep the little ones entertained and engaged.
• Early morning and evening tours: A great option to avoid the crowds and rushing around.
• Themed guided tours: Another type of guided tour focuses on a specific theme. Recommended for history lovers and fans of particular artists.

If you are planning a tour for children, I recommend opting for a private tour designed for families. The cost for a family of up to four people is only slightly more than the per-person cost of a small group tour, and you also get the advantage of an experienced guide who will keep the children engaged and entertained with the art.

These tours usually last 2.5 hours and are led by an art historian specially trained for the whole family. Similar to a crash course, this tour will take you to discover the most spectacular collections that are likely to spark children's interest.

Some of the world's most famous masterpieces are on display here, including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

Many of the museum's paintings were owned by the various kings who lived in the Louvre when it was a royal residence. Other pieces were acquired through France's treaties with the Vatican and the Republic of Venice. However, the collection was further enriched by Napoleon I's spoils of war.

The guided tour will focus mainly on three rooms: the Denon Wing, the Richelieu Wing and the Sully Wing, as they contain the museum's most representative and internationally renowned works. Among the works that the guide will show you are: Mona Lisa, Les Noces de Cana, Victoire de Samothrace, Le Sacre de l'Empereur Napoléon Ier,La Liberté Guidant le Peuple, Vénus,Louis XIV,La Dentellière.

For each work, the guide will try to place you in time and space and spend a few minutes explaining both the historical and artistic background of each work, before finishing by talking about the emotional and mental state of each particular artist. You will also be able to ask the guide any questions you may have, both about the work itself and its author.

Tours usually last 1.5, 2, or 3 hours. Keep in mind that viewing a work without taking the time to understand its background is a meaningless visit(similar to watching a football match summary instead of watching the entire game with all the excitement).

• In 1.5 hours, you can usually see the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory, the Venus de Milo and other famous masterpieces that make up the top 10 most valuable works in the Louvre.
• In two hours at the Louvre, you can see masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, as well as other works of art such as sphinxes and Egyptian mummies. And don't forget the Crown Jewels in the Apollo Gallery.
• In 3 hours, things get even more interesting because you'll also be able to see additional paintings and sculptures, as well as the luxurious apartments of Napoleon III.

As the most visited museum in the world, the crowds at the Louvre can be overwhelming. The best times to visit the Louvre are on Wednesday and Friday evenings, when the museum is open until 9:45 pm. Also, if you can avoid going during peak season, all the better.

If a night visit does not fit into your itinerary, I would recommend going a little later, once the large tour groups have left.

After purchasing tickets, most people head straight to see the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory. However, another recommended approach would be to start your tour in the Richelieu wing, which houses the oldest works of art, including the Code of Hammurabi.

Before leaving the Richelieu wing, it would be wise to go up one floor to see Napoleon III's opulent state apartments. Originally built by Napoleon I's nephew, this was a large reception area for heads of state.

Be sure to see the cycle of paintings by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens, commissioned by Marie de Medici, wife of Henri IV, in the early 17th century. The theme of these 21 paintings refers to the "somewhat hectic" but ultimately triumphant life of Marie de Medici and represents an impressive feat of female art in an era dominated by the male gender.

At this point, you will be able to visit the museum's three great works (probably with greater peace of mind) and then finish off with Egyptian art.

This is undoubtedly one of the best strategies for enjoying your guided tour without being interrupted by crowds and without being left with the urge to see more.

At this point, I would recommend picking up a souvenir from one of the Louvre shops or even eating at a restaurant near the museum (you're bound to be hungry).