The Louvre isn’t just any museum. The Louvre in Paris is the largest museum on the planet and boasts an incredible collection of artwork from every corner of the globe, including 25% of all Da Vinci paintings. So, who should take a guided tour of the Louvre? Everyone! But don’t be fooled, there’s so much more to experiencing the Louvre than just admiring the art. Here are the best Louvre tours to take and why.
Pro Tip: Planning what to do on your trip to Paris? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our guide to Paris for more planning resources, our top Paris tours for a memorable trip, and how to spend a weekend in Paris.
Top 4 Louvre Museum Tours
A museum of this caliber deserves in-depth exploration. You may not have the time to see the best of the Louvre on your own. You may also not have the knowledge of a passionate tour guide to get the most from your Louvre visit—no offense meant! These people are highly trained experts, so most of us don’t have the same amount of knowledge they do about The Louvre.
This is why we’ve created several top Louvre tours that include skip-the-line tickets, provide different durations, and offer various experiences from fewer crowds to customizable group sizes. Check them out and see which tour is right for you.
With skip-the-line tickets, you can breeze past the queues in our popular Louvre Museum tour, discover the mystery behind Mona Lisa’s smile, and experience one of the world’s greatest art collections accompanied by a passionate and knowledgeable guide. You won’t get overwhelmed with all the art since you’ll see the best pieces with your guide!
You’ll be led through a 3-hour tour of the Louvre and get a detailed look at the Mona Lisa with a guide well-versed in her history. You’ll also see the Louvre’s beautiful sculptures, such as the famous Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
A former royal palace, a visit to the Louvre would be incomplete without seeing the crown jewels of France. In this tour, you’ll get up close and personal to these precious royal jewels on display in the Louvre’s Galerie d’Apollon. They are a glittering spectacle you won’t want to miss.
Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Louvre Guide for more resources.
Semi-Private Louvre Tour with Mona Lisa
Prefer to tour a museum with a smaller group at a lower price than a private tour? This is the tour for you. With a maximum of six people on your tour, you’ll have a chance to interact more with your guide.
As the world’s largest museum, the Louvre can be overwhelming to visit, which is why going with a guide is an absolute must. They’ll take you on a journey from Greek and Roman statues to the Renaissance period and beyond. The most important works by Raphael, da Vinci, and more are what you’ll see and understand as you listen to the stories behind them.
Highlights:
3-hour tour
Skip-the-line entry to the Louvre Museum
Guided tour of the Louvre’s famous artworks and exhibits
Fun, English-speaking guide with art history expertise
Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Louvre Guide for more resources.
Louvre at Closing Time Tour with Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo
This one is special. Seeing the Louvre in the late afternoon before closing time with fewer crowds makes for one of the most unique experiences you can have in Paris. In this 2-hour tour, you’ll skip the line and head into the Louvre before closing time for a more peaceful experience in one of the world’s greatest museums.
Your art-loving guide will bring you through the fascinating history behind the Mona Lisa and the famed Louvre sculptures. There’s a lot to see in France’s national museum, and you’re going to want to see it all. If that sounds good to you, then the Louvre at Closing Time tour is for you.
In Paris with a generous budget? Want to see the museum on your terms? Our private tour of the Louvre is a great way to geek out at the museum with an interesting and cool guide. Your knowledgeable and English-speaking guide will focus on what interests you and spend more time where you have the most questions.
In this 3-hour private tour, you skip the line for an intimate tour of the Louvre with just your group and your guide. The private tour is perfect for anyone interested in a highly-personalized experience, for anyone with limited mobility, or for anyone wanting an in-depth understanding of the world’s most impressive museum and the history of these great works of art.
Highlights:
3-hour tour
Skip-the-line tickets for the Louvre Museum
Private tour of the Louvre’s world-famous art
Engaging English-speaking guide with art history expertise
A resounding yes! The Louvre is the largest single-complex museum in the world and houses one of the most impressive collections in the world. Originally built as a fortress in the 12th century, the museum is filled with famous works of art to see today.
All that said, because it’s so monumental, a solo trip to the museum can be overwhelming. This is where guides come in. There are plenty of great guided Louvre tours to help you fully appreciate the history and importance of the treasures within.
You can join a Louvre tour with no more than 15 people, which really elevates the experience. Take it from a former tour guide: a smaller group makes it easier for the tour guide, which in turn makes it better for you. Don’t trust us. Trust the reviews.
Privileged Access Eiffel Night Tour with Seine River Cruise
Sometimes the most amazing moments happen by chance. Other times, they are orchestrated by professionals. In this case, you’ll have an evening to remember as you cruise the Seine for an hour, sipping champagne and taking in the sites like Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and more. Afterwards, follow your guide past the long lines and take the elevator to the Eiffel Tower’s second floor for an unforgettable view.
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Skip the Line Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour from Paris
Versailles isn’t that difficult to get to by train, but why deal with the stress on your own? Our guide will meet you in central Paris, purchase your train tickets, and ensure you get off at the right stop in Versailles. With skip-the-line tickets, you’ll bypass the crowds and get right into this incredible palace as your guide explains the most incredible (and controversial) history of France’s favorite palace.
Not ready to book a tour? Check out our helpful Paris Guide for more resources.
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Sean is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He studied finance and statistics, but that is his "Dr. Jekyll" side! His "Mr. Hyde" is in love with travel, art, history, and culture. Sean has read libraries of historical text and believes that all internet content should come from books. A practice he follows!
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