How to Get to the Paris Louvre

Paris would not be Paris without its magnificent Louvre Museum, it is an impressive museum and one of the largest of its kind in the world. The Louvre's collection of paintings spans from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century. Of course, knowing how to get there is just as important as the visit; therefore, in this post you will learn the different ways to get to the museum (rue de Rivoli, 75001, Paris).

As far as the Louvre is concerned, there are two main things to know: First, the means of transportation that will allow you to get to the museum. And second, the different doors or entrances that the museum has when it comes to receiving visitors. That said, let's get started!

Going by metro to get to the museum is one of the most recommended options because it connects every point of the city in an enviable way. So you can get to the museum just go to any metro station and get on line 1 or 7, as both arrive at the station named Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre.

The Pyramides station where line 14 stops is also a good option, but you will have to take a short walk of 500 meters to reach the entrance of the museum, a walk that you could take advantage of watching the Eiffel Tower from afar and contemplating the batobuses and cruises that sail along the Seine.

Those who have the "Paris Pass" card will have the privilege of accessing the museum directly from the Palais Royal station.

If you are at the Paris airport or other distant point of the city the smartest thing to do would be to use the RER (Paris suburban train system). In this case you will have to take the C line and stop at the Musée d'Orsay station which is about 800 meters from the Pyramid of the museum.

This transport will also be useful if you come from visiting the Palace of Versailles. This kind of "train" connects the ends of the city with the center. However, for more information about this means of transport visit this official website.

One of the advantages of traveling by bus to the Louvre Museum is that there are several lines that will take you directly to the entrance of the pyramid, so you can get there in the shortest possible time. The lines that pass near the museum are : 21, 24, 27, 39, 68, 69, 48, 72, 81 and 95.

Getting on the Paris tourist bus is also not a bad idea because no matter where you get on the bus, it will drop you off directly at the entrance of the museum. On top of that, you will be able to see some of the most emblematic places of the city during the tour.

The important stations are the Place du Carrousel which is only 100 meters from the entrance of the Pyramid, and the Palais Royal Musée du Louvre just 200 meters from the Pyramid. So pay attention to the names of the stops.

It must be said that it is not the most economical means of transport that you can find, since those who get on this means of transport do it more for the intention of enjoying the journey along the Seine River than to reach the destination. In any case, it could be useful to get closer to the museum if you disembark at the "Louvre" stop of the François-Mitterrand pier.

The Louvre Batobus stop is located halfway between the Pont Royal and the Pont du Carrousel. Being more direct, you will only have to walk about 300 meters to reach the Pyramid.

The offer of this means of transport will allow you to use it unlimited during a time span of 24 or 48 hours; and being able to embark and disembark at any of the 9 stations it has.

While it is true that not everyone likes to use this means of transport, it should not be forgotten that cycling is also an option (and a very economical one at that).

For this, the public bike rental service velib will be able to give you a hand, as I doubt very much that you will go to Paris with a bike. The average rental prices are as follows:

• 5€ is equivalent to 24 hours of service.
• 20€ is equivalent to 3 days of service

A museum that receives more than 8 million people annually cannot have only one entrance. This huge and famous museum has several access doors, each with different conditions, characteristics and location. Therefore, it is not only important to know the opening hours of the Louvre Museum, but also which door is the best to enter.

Carrousel du Louvre- The Fastest Entrance

Carrousel du Louvre is perhaps the best entrance to the Louvre, as it has the shortest waiting times.

The Carrousel is a subway entrance that connects the museum with the shopping mall and its large selection of stores near the Louvre and restaurants in the vicinity of the Louvre.

It's a great place to shop or have lunch where you'll find a wide selection of affordable dishes and stores with a variety of products. You can even plan a breakfast or lunch inside the mall before entering the museum. Not to mention that the mall itself was an extension of the museum or the former palace, so if you look at the ceilings and the areas near the Carrousel entrance, you'll see a lot of artistic flair.

The entrance of the Carrousel du Louvre is located at 99 rue de Rivoli. You can access the Carrousel du Louvre from the metro station Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre opting for lines 1 and 7, or walking directly on Rue de Rivoli.

La Pyramide - The busiest entrance

The Pyramid is the main entrance to the Louvre and, as such, is also usually the busiest entry point to the museum. If you have not bought your entrance tickets in advance and you are in high season, you may find yourself waiting for a long time (up to 3 hours).

Even with a ticket purchased in advance you may have to wait longer than you would like. So, if you are determined to see the pyramid, I recommend a quick stroll through the palace courtyard, take a photo in front of the striking glass entrance before heading to another less crowded entry point.

At the Crystal Pyramid, there are four different lines with different colors:

• Yellow line: for visitors with special passes, such as annual visitor cards or tourist cards.
• Orange line: For visitors without tickets (you may want to know the entrance fees to the museum).
• Green line: For visitors with tickets with a specific time slot.
• Blue Line: For visitors with disabilities, pregnant women or visitors with mobility problems.

Porte des Lions - Hidden Entrance

Apart from the Carrousel du Louvre, the entrance to the Louvre from the Porte des Lions is probably one of the best options to avoid long waiting times to access the museum.

The Porte des Lions entrance is also the closest entrance to the Mona Lisa, so if you plan to center your visit to the Louvre around Da Vinci's mysterious lady, this entrance is yours.

The fact that it is a little known entrance is mainly due to its appearance and location. Nothing to do with the precious crystals that make up the pyramid of the main entrance. Therefore, if your intention is not to take a picture of the pyramid, but to enter as soon as possible, I recommend this door.

The entrance of the Porte des Lions Louvre is located at the southern end of the museum, the same that runs parallel to the Seine, and leads directly to the sculpture section.

Porte de Richelieu - Group Option

Entrance to the Louvre at Porte de Richelieu is reserved for tour groups or for Louvre visitors with membership passes.

If neither of these categories apply to you, then you will need to choose a different entrance to access the museum. If this is your case, note that the entrance is located on the Richelieu Passage, the avenue north of the pyramid that connects the courtyard of the palace with Rue de Rivoli.

If you want to take a group tour of the Louvre, you can reserve spaces on the Louvre's official website. You will have the option of taking a tour of the Louvre with an official Louvre tour guide or you can hire your own and reserve a time slot to visit the museum.

The best way to visit the Louvre Museum is, first of all, do not enter the Louvre through the Pyramid entrance!
If you want to take pictures of the Pyramid, leave the museum through this entrance, but don't enter through it - there are almost always people at the entrance and the lines are extremely long!

Before entering the museum I recommend you know the location of the work or works you are interested in. The museum is huge and it is too easy to get lost among so many distractions, rooms, paintings, sculptures ... And let alone if you go to the museum at rush hour or in summer in Paris. For this, it would be best to have a map of the Louvre, so you know where each work is located and which entrance to access.

It is also smart to have a guided tour of the Louvre, so the time and quality of the visit are controlled, in part, by the guide who accompanies you. Not to mention that with a guided tour ticket, you have a better chance of not waiting so long in line.

Don't walk. It may sound a bit exaggerated, but it has its meaning. The Louvre is huge and you'll be spending a lot of time standing and walking among its enormous halls, so it's wise to arrive rested and energetic.