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...

TravelCurious Tip

Try visiting late in the evening or during lunch hours. The queues can get very long!

Lost and found

The fame of the Mona Lisa only really began in the late 1860s. Critics, reexamining the past, acclaimed Da Vinci’s work to be a masterpiece of the Renaissance and its fame naturally grew. Then, in 1911, it was stolen from its place in the Louvre and became a sensation overnight. The Louvre remained closed all week whilst the investigation continued to no avail: the painting remained lost for the next two years.

During this time, it became legendary. Huge numbers of fakes sprung up in the US and Europe. Eventually its Italian thief, Peruggia, was caught whilst trying to sell it to a gallerist in Florence. He was a patriot who believed it should be on display in its creator’s homeland, not France.


Smile

In 2012, John Lichfield, writing in the Independent, described it as ‘the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world.’ It depicts a simple scene; the subject, Lisa Gherardini, sits with her hands crossed in her lap. The fascination stems from the complex expression caught on her face, which invites the audience into silent conversation with the subject. It’s difficult to leave her gaze, or decide whether or not a hint of a smile adorns her lips.

Another point of surprise is its size. The Mona Lisa only 77 by 53 centimetres, which makes it difficult to get a good view in a crowded room.

Nearby Attractions

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

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.
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