The Louvre Museum

The Louvre is the biggest museum in the world. Inside you’ll find the jewels of every civilisation since prehistory.

TravelCurious Tip

Avoid seeing Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, or the Winged Victory during peak times as they can get very busy. Try during lunch hours or later in the evening!

Modern meets Royal

You enter through a transparent pyramid of glass and descend into a catalogue of riches from the past three thousand years.

The palace, originally a fortress under Philip II, became a museum in 1793 in the aftermath of the French revolution; an egalitarian statement to the French people. The building has been of importance under every ruler since its founding in the late twelfth century - Napoleon even renamed it the Musée Napoleon and hung the Mona Lisa in his bedroom.


It’s a big place

The Louvre comprises three wings — the Richelieu, the Sully, and the Denon — arranged in a horseshoe, with the Pyramid, designed by the venerable Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei, situated in the middle.

To see everything, you’d have to spend one hundred days in the museum, moving from exhibit to exhibit every thirty seconds... so we hope you’ll agree a tour guide might be useful to see only the best artworks and artefacts.

The Louvre’s raison d’être is largely to present French and Italian art from the Middle Ages up to about 1850, as well as artefacts from other civilisations that contextualise the beginnings of Western art. Islamic art, Egyptian antiquities, Etruscan and Greek artefacts - it’s all here.


Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Paris
The Mona Lisa
There’s little that can be said about the world's most famous painting that hasn’t been said before. But don’t miss it...
The Venus de Milo
This Ancient Greek statue depicting Aphrodite of Milos is possibly the world's most acclaimed marble masterpiece.
The Victory of Samothrace
The Winged Victory of Samothrace is a must-see in the Louvre: a paradigm of Greek beauty, the archetype of Hellenistic sculpture.
'The Coronation of Napoleon'
A painting completed in 1807 by Jacques-Louis David, the official painter of Napoleon, depicting the coronation of Napoleon I at Notre-Dame de Paris.
'Liberty leading the people'
Is a painting by Eugène Delacroix commemorating the July Revolution of 1830, which toppled King Charles X of France.
Egypitan Wing at the Louvre
Counted as one of the world’s largest such collections, it includes more than 50,000 pieces that give a detailed overview of Egyptian life and customs from the earliest days of Ancient Egypt.

Related Tours

Explore Paris in a Vintage Car: Private Half-Day Driving Tour
Experience the highlights of Paris, the City of Lights and romance on this fabulous half-day private driving tour in a vintage 2CV with your expert driver guide. 

On your private tour, you will: 

  • Drive around the monuments and neighbourhoods of Paris in a vintage car;
  • Cruise along the famous Champs Elysées Avenue towards the Arc de Triomphe;
  • Drive around Place de la Concorde, Les Invalides, Place Vendôme, Opera Garnier, the Musée d’Orsay, and the magnificent, still-standing, Cathedral de Notre Dame;
  • Stop off for panoramic views of the city at various points with views across the domes and monuments of Paris;
  • Take photos of the mighty Eiffel Tower at the best viewing platforms, and learn all about the most famous landmark of the city;
  • Stop outside the Louvre for some fabulous snaps of the Pyramid and the stunning French Renaissance palace, former home to the kings and queens of France;
  • Head up the hill to Montmartre, for wonderful panoramic views across the city;
  • Enjoy the final stop in Montmartre and see the beautiful Sacre Coeur basilica;
  • Wander through the bohemian, picturesque cobbled streets and artists' squares made famous by the Impressionists.
  • End your tour at a place of choice where your driver will drop you off.

Paris – the city of lights! What better way to tour this most romantic of cities than on a driving tour in a vintage 2CV! 

On this half tour of Parisian highlights, you’ll be picked up and dropped off at locations of your choice, then begin with a drive up the Champs Elysees. Paris’s famous shopping avenue, named for the Elysian Fields, culminates with the iconic Arc de Triomphe, a monument to those who fought and died during the Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and World Wars. 

Drive to Opera Garnier (site of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ for more snaps, and then the stunning Place Vendôme, home of the Paris Ritz, featuring a monument to commemorate the victory at Austerlitz in 1805. You’ll drive around Place de la Concorde (the largest square in the city), with its obelisk marking the location of the guillotine, under which King Louis XVI was executed. 

Drive along the river Seine and see the beautiful Musée d’Orsay, a former train station turned art gallery, and of course, stop by the Louvre. The former royal palace of the French royals, with its modern glass pyramid and largest, is the grandest museum in Paris. 

Explore the wonders of the Latin Quarter, where Hemingway lived, and be famed for its university and the Paris Pantheon. Stand in awe at the gothic masterpiece that is Notre Dame Cathedral – still standing despite the raging fire of 2019. See also the Conciergerie – a former palace, turned jail of the Revolution and today it is still the Paris judiciary. 

Take in the outside beauty of Sainte Chappelle (featuring the most impressive stained glass windows in the world). Then, visit the quintessentially French Trocadero where you will have the opportunity to snap some beautiful photos and catch some great views of the world-famous Eiffel Tower.

To conclude this epic tour of the great city of Paris you will head up the hill to Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur Basilica that looks over the city. Here, you’ll be able to stroll along the cobbled streets of this most colourful and bohemian of neighbourhoods, where you will learn more about the fascinating life and works of Renoir, Picasso, Gauguin, and Van Gogh, all of whom lived and worked here. The perfect way to experience the city if you have limited time, and also a great way to find out what to focus on for the rest of your trip. 

Tours can be adapted to suit your needs and interests – just get in contact with us!
The Best of the Louvre Museum: Private Guided Tour
The artistry and architecture of Paris are phenomenal, and there is no place better to gain a sense of its sheer magnitude of it than the Louvre Museum. Throughout this private guided tour, your guide will talk to you about the history and culture of individual artists and their artwork. 

On your private tour of the best of the Louvre Museum, you will:

  • Explore the most visited museum in the world;
  • See the unmissable attractions, including the Mona Lisa, The Coronation of Napoleon, and Venus de Milo;
  • Learn about art history from your expert guide, along with the museum’s role for art historians;
  • Wander through a labyrinth of 300 rooms and uncover masterpieces missed by many, including Liberty Leading the People and Canova’s Apollo and Daphne.
Originally one of France’s most lavish royal palaces, and home to some of the most ostentatious Kings of France, the Louvre has fast become the world's most impressive and influential museum of art in the world and is an absolute must for anyone with an interest in art. 

Your private licensed guide will take you through one of the most expansive and beautiful art collections in the world, where you will see some of the museum’s greatest works that span from 450 BCE to the 19th century, along with several of its lesser-known treasures. 

Whilst visiting this fabulous museum you will have the pleasure of viewing the most celebrated of all the Louvre treasures: 'Three Grand Ladies'- the Venus de Milo, Nike of Samothrace, and Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. Your guide will discuss the fascinating stories that surround these influential and important works of art. 

After your guided tour, feel free to further explore the vast museum on your own and its beautiful work at your own pace. 

Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
All Inclusive Paris: Full-Day Walking tour with the Eiffel Tower
Uncover the history and art of the quintessentially Parisian neighbourhoods on this tour, your all-inclusive tour includes tickets to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and a river cruise. 

On your full-day private tour, you will: 

  • Meet your private guide outside the Louvre Museum to begin your tour;
  • See the unmissable attractions of the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa, The Coronation of Napoleon, and Venus de Milo;
  • Wander through Le Marais – the quintessentially Pre-Revolutionary Parisian neighbourhood – where you will enjoy lunch at your leisure (paid for locally by guests)
  • See the highlights of the city centre, including Île de la Cité, the Palais de Justice, and Notre Dame Cathedral;
  • Hop aboard a relaxing river cruise to enjoy the city from the ease of the Seine;
  • Learn about the Eiffel Tower with your guide, then take the lift to the 2nd floor and visit the tower at your own pace (tickets included)
 
Originally one of France’s most lavish royal palaces, and home to some of the most ostentatious Kings of France, the Louvre has fast become the world's most impressive and influential museum of art in the world and is an absolute must for anyone with an interest in art. Your private licensed guide will take you through one of the most expansive and beautiful art collections in the world, where you will see some of the museum’s greatest works that span from 450 BCE to the 19th century, along with several of its lesser-known treasures. 

From the museum, your guide will take you to a neighbourhood which truly evokes the ‘je ne sais quoi’ of Parisian nostalgia, where you will see the magnificent Hotel De Ville – the city’s seat of government for over 600 years. Enjoy lunch at your own pace in Le Marais, with recommendations from your guide on the best place to indulge in the local cuisine of your choosing. 
Step onto a riverboat to enjoy the magic of the city from the Seine – the geography around which the entire city has been built for thousands of years. 

Learn more about the city’s modernization efforts in the 19th century, which brought gas lanterns, parks, sewage systems, schools, and hospitals to the city. Your tour concludes at the city’s most iconic site: the Eiffel Tower, where you will enjoy lift tickets to the second story. Your guide will be sure to give you dinner recommendations before leaving you to marvel at the spectacular panoramic views of the city.

Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
Louvre Museum: Family-Friendly Private Guided Tour
 Explore one of the greatest museums in the world on this family-friendly private tour of the Louvre Museum. This thoughtfully designed tour will engage your children and teens, with a specially matched expert guide. 

On your private family-friendly tour of the Louvre, you will:

  • Learn about the building itself which is vast, and contains over 35,000 pieces of art in 60,600 square metres and 14,5 km of galleries;
  • Head below ground to see the medieval origins of this vast royal palace that is now a museum - see if you can spot a gargoyle that looks remarkably like Yoda from Star Wars; 
  • Explore some pieces of the fascinating Egyptian collection and learn about the Mummies and the ancient Pharaohs;
  • Find out why the famous marble statues: the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace have no arms;
  • See the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa, and hear about how she was stolen and why her eyes follow you;
  • Learn all about Emperor Napoleon in front of the painting of his Coronation; 
  • Hear all about the 1830s Revolution and the painting of Lady Liberty Leading the People; 
  • Learn about some of the famous artists like Gericault and the horrible true story of the Raft of the Medusa;
  • See lots of amazing statues of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses and wild animals; 
  • Gaze at priceless royal jewellery; 
  • Hear about Good Henry turning one of the long galleries into an indoor hunting ground;
  • End inside the museum to continue exploring, or let your guide escort you out! 

The Louvre is a vast, palatial complex turned museum with a treasure trove of over 35,000 pieces of art. It is really spectacular to look at for kids and adults alike. This tour is geared toward children and teens, and in 2.5 hours covers all the major highlights of the Louvre in a fun, engaging, and interesting way.

You'll walk into the medieval basement of the building to see some incredible gargoyles, and then the Ancient Egyptian Mummies!  

Your guide will tell you all about the life of Napoleon in front of the massive painting of his coronation - and explain how the painting has lots of little purposeful mistakes in it - a large bit of propaganda! Was Napoleon really so short? What was true and what was not? 

You'll also see some amazing statues from the ancient world and hear lots of dramatic stories of Greek and Roman myths, heroes, gods, and goddesses like Hercules and Diana. You might want to know why some statues - like the Venus de Milo - don't have any arms!

No trip to the Louvre is complete without a visit to the Mona Lisa. Your guide will tell you all about the dramatic theft that shook the art world, and how she recovered. You'll also learn how she seems to follow you with her eyes as you walk past her!

As you walk down lots of galleries packed with treasures and jewels and paintings and statues, you'll also learn all about some of the famous people who lived here, like Catherine de Medici and King Henry IV who built a large wing of the palace and used to gallop his horses down it! 

This tour was designed for you and your family – a tour of one of the world’s most famous museums made accessible for young people in 2.5 hours. 


Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
Louvre Museum: Explore the Egyptian Collection Private Tour
The Louvre Museum is not only the home to classics like The Mona Lisa, but it also houses one of the most impressive and extensive Egyptian Antiquities Collection considered to be the largest in the world. This private tour is your chance to explore the best artworks and masterpieces of the museum, along with the fascinating Egyptian Collection. 

On this private tour, you will:

  • Explore the Egyptian wing, including the  Egyptian mummy, the Sarcophagus of Rameses III, and several other impressive antiquities;
  • Jump into the unmissable attractions, including the Mona Lisa, The Wedding Feast at Cana, The Coronation of Napoleon, and Venus de Milo;
  • Wander through a labyrinth of 300 rooms and uncover masterpieces missed by many, including Liberty Leading the People and Canova’s Apollo and Daphne;
  • End your tour inside the Louvre Museum, in which you are welcome to continue exploring at your own pace.
This tour is an all-inclusive, immersive experience at the Louvre, with the opportunity to explore nearly 10,000 pieces of the Egyptian art collection curated by the museum over the course of two centuries. While exploring the collection, you’ll dive into French history, told through the lens of art and archaeology. 

From there, your private licensed guide will take you through the unmissable highlights, where you will see some of the museum’s greatest works that span from 450 BCE to the 19th century, along with several of its lesser-known treasures. 

Whilst visiting this fabulous museum you will have the pleasure of viewing the most celebrated of all the Louvre treasures: 'Three Grand Ladies'- the Venus de Milo, Nike of Samothrace, and Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. Your guide will discuss the fascinating stories that surround these influential and important works of art. 

After your guided tour, feel free to further explore the vast museum and its beautiful work at your own pace. 

Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
The Best of Paris in a Day: Private Full-Day Highlights Tour
Experience the best of Paris in a day on this full-day tour of its most iconic neighbourhoods and monuments, including a fully guided tour of the magnificent Louvre Museum. 

On your private tour, you will: 

  • Explore the quaint Bohemian artists' district of Montmartre;
  • Wander around the lovely and historic neighbourhood of Le Marais;
  • Explore the fascinating and beautiful Latin Quarter;
  • Walk around Notre Dame de Paris and the Palais du Justice on the île de la Cité;
  • Visit the Louvre Museum with admission tickets included and see the major highlights of the museum;
  • End your tour inside the Louvre to explore on your own if you so wish, or your guide can escort you to the exit. 
Enjoy a full-day privately guided tour of the cultural highlights of Paris – from Montmartre to Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter to the Louvre. 

Beginning at the top of the hill in Montmartre, you will explore this quaint and cobbled neighbourhood made famous by the Impressionist artists and of course the Moulin Rouge. Soak up the Bohemian atmosphere of Place du Tertre, filled with working artists and lined with bars. 

Walk past Renoir’s studio and Van Gogh’s apartment, and see the iconic Bateaux Lavoir where Picasso stayed and the Moulin de la Galette – the star of Renoir’s iconic masterpiece.

Ride the Funicular to the mighty Basilica Sacre Coeur – learn about its controversy and enjoy some gorgeous views across the skyline of Paris.

Head to Le Marais, famous for its Jewish history and the delicious falafels to be found on the iconic Rue des Rosiers. Step into the mesmerizing Place des Voges where Victor Hugo lived. 

Cross the river to explore the fascinating Latin Quarter – home to Sorbonne University, whose students spoke and read Latin in the Middle Ages. Learn about the writers who lived here like Hemingway, and the luminaries buried in the Pantheon. 

After lunch head, onto the Ile de la Cite to see Notre Dame de Paris – still standing after the fire that ravaged it in 2019, and walk around the Palais de Justice and Conciergerie as you hear all about the French Revolution and the fate of King Louis and Queen Marie Antoinette. 

Finally, enjoy wandering over the river towards the Louvre. Enjoy a fully guided tour of the museum with its 300 rooms – including the must-see masterpieces of the Mona Lisa, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo and the Coronation of Napoleon.
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