Paris Louvre with Children

Here are some tips before going to the Louvre with children. They are sure to help you!

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

7 min read

Paris Louvre with Children

Louvre Museum, Paris, France | ©Shvets Anna

The Louvre in Paris is one of thelargest art museumsin the world, so large that it would be impossible to see the 380,000 pieces that the museum exhibits in a single day. However, going with children is a totally different adventure, because when the first signs of boredom appear, everything can change.

That is why knowing some tips and advice can be useful for you to keep your visit with children as interesting as ever. By the way, if you check the prices of the Louvre museum, the first good news is that, although adults have to buy tickets to access the Louvre, children get in for free!

With children, a guided tour is better

Children's Guided Tour| ©CaPPy BeNToN
Children's Guided Tour| ©CaPPy BeNToN

While booking a guided tour of the Louvre is an advantage for anyone wishing to visit the museum, if you go with children it is even more interesting. This is because you can choose a specific guided tour for children, in which the guide himself will make it possible for them to participate in the visit, better understand what it symbolizes and what each work means, while making it easier for you to be less aware of the children and more aware of the works or the exhibition in general.

Remember that there are guides who are experts in entertaining children on the visit since they have been guiding groups of different ages for many years. In addition, the guides know which works are most appealing to children and how to focus the explanations so that they are attentive and enjoy the visit. Not to mention that with a Louvre guide, the visit will be shorter but more intense, just what children expect to hear! Another less expensive option is to have an audio guide for children.

Book a guided tour of the Louvre

Eat before arriving at the Louvre with kids

Girl Eating| ©cottonbro
Girl Eating| ©cottonbro

The Louvre requires a good amount of time walking either by booking a guided tour or doing it on your own. It is important to arrive with children who are well rested and well fed. Remember that it is forbidden to eat or bring food into the museum.

For lunch near the Louvre there are several breakfast places that offer a delicious breakfast. Also, inside the Louvre there is a shopping mall in case you need a snack. If you have less time, you can still take food with you from any café or bar that is open.

Book a guided tour of the Louvre

Make a bathroom stop before entering the Louvre

Children at the Museum| ©Eric Huybrechts
Children at the Museum| ©Eric Huybrechts

It is very important to stop at a restroom before continuing, especially after an important meal and/or drink. Remember that the Louvre is a huge museum and the exhibits sometimes last longer than expected. In addition, children, because of their age and metabolism, need to go more often than any other healthy adult.

It is true that the Louvre museum also has restrooms for the public; however, the fact that it is so large makes it very likely to get lost, especially when there are many visitors inside.

In addition, it is sure to be overwhelming for you if you book a guided tour of the Louvre, losing part of it while you are distracted waiting or looking for where the toilets are.

Book a guided tour of the Louvre

Baby strollers are welcome at the Louvre

People with Cars at the Museum| ©Martyn Davis
People with Cars at the Museum| ©Martyn Davis

Babies and the Louvre are not incompatible. Although it may sound exhausting to walk up and down with a stroller, you should know that the building is perfectly equipped and baby stroller friendly. While it is true that the building dates back to the 12th century, constant improvements have made the Louvre one of the best equipped museums in Paris in terms of reduced mobility.

Not only that, strollers are welcome throughout the museum, and you will rarely feel uncomfortable. There are elevators in the Louvre reserved precisely for families with babies.

What's more, when you arrive at the Pyramid, you will notice that there are separate lines for different types of tickets, and if you have a "reduced mobility" ticket, you can queue in a different line. Don't worry, if you go with time it is rare that you will have to wait longer than the rest. In addition, the elevators are glass and with a futuristic touch, sure to leave the kids speechless.

Buy your tickets for the Louvre

Give the kids a map of the Louvre

Two people looking at the map| ©Martyn Davis
Two people looking at the map| ©Martyn Davis

The best way to make children feel comfortable is by ::link|text=booking a guided tour|element=pa-565::::, as we said, and, above all, by including them in it in a direct way and letting them participate. One of the best ways is to give them a map, so they will begin to see the search for works as a kind of "treasure hunt".

In addition, a map will also help you to better optimize your tour by making it last less, but more intense. Keep in mind that it is practically impossible to visit all the works in one visit. For this reason, I recommend downloading the complete map, and if you have it printed, all the better. Keep in mind that the museum has 5 floors and the exhibition hall is divided into 8 sections. It is difficult not to get lost without a guide and a map.

Buy your tickets for the Louvre

Buy a book to serve as a guide in the Louvre

Child Reading| ©ANTONI SHKRABA
Child Reading| ©ANTONI SHKRABA

Knowing a bit of history about the works you want to see is extremely important to capture children's attention and stimulate their interest. If there is one thing that all children agree on, it is that they love to hear stories; therefore, getting informed beforehand will be crucial to keep that uncertainty alive, at least for the duration of the visit.

In the stores near the Louvre there are several places to buy books that will explain every part of the museum regardless of your favorite language.

I suppose that if you buy tickets to see the Louvre, it is because you are attracted to the museum and know what you want to see; however, if this is not your case, you have nothing to worry about. A quick perusal a day before visiting the museum will suffice.

Buy your tickets for the Louvre

Take a shorter tour of the Louvre

The Victory of Samothrace| ©Rodney
The Victory of Samothrace| ©Rodney

When you go with children, even if you know the museum opening hours and you go with time, it is always important to optimize the tour as much as possible and, if possible, make it shorter. It is very common that when we buy tickets to the Louvre, we want to get the most out of the visit and try to see as much as time allows. However, if you go with children, it is very important to take them into account.

So, as a tip, in case you do not book a guided tour, try to see the most essential of the museum.

  • In the Sully Wing you can take the kids to see the Mona Lisa.
  • In the Statuary Gallery you can focus your visit on the beautiful statue of Venus de Milo.
  • In the Denon Wing you can take them to the Winged Victory of Samothrace sculpture.

Buy your tickets for the Louvre

Get ready for the paparazzi of Mona Lisa at the Louvre

The Mona Lisa| ©Matthias Mueller
The Mona Lisa| ©Matthias Mueller

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is practically synonymous with the Louvre. This early 16th century Italian Renaissance painting has been on display at the Louvre since 1797. Visitors line up to see the Mona Lisa, protected by bulletproof glass and guarded by guards.

So if you go with children, try to avoid stopping too long in the Mona Lisa room during peak hours, as it's easy for children to get lost in all the admiration and hustle and bustle. I also do not recommend visiting the Louvre with children on your trip to Paris in summer because of the high number of tourists you can find. By the way I advise you to visit this post for more generic tips on your trip to Paris.

In addition, there are always journalists and paparazzi photographing the expressions of admiration felt by tourists and visitors to this iconic painting estimated at nearly 2 billion euros.

Book a guided tour of the Louvre

Inform children about the museum's policy

Children at the Louvre| ©Joe Shlabotnik
Children at the Louvre| ©Joe Shlabotnik

In a museum like the Louvre , there are several rules that regulate the smooth running of the site, there are multiple policies that if not respected one can be expelled directly. And , unfortunately, these policies apply to anyone , including children.

Therefore, before entering the museum it is advisable to remind children what prohibitions there are inside the museum, since, by nature, they tend to get carried away easily, and even more so if they are inside a place designed to attract attention. Among the prohibitions are:

  • Touching the works
  • Drinking
  • Eating
  • Running
  • Talking out loud

Book a guided tour of the Louvre

Give the kids a camera

Girls taking pictures| ©Ivan Samkov
Girls taking pictures| ©Ivan Samkov

Along the same lines, in case you have booked a visit to the Louvre museum, we must let the children participate in a direct way, and one of the best ways is to give them a camera and let them document their visit to the museum.

Give them a camera and let them take pictures of the works that interest them the most, this simple fact will make them much more attentive and less bored.

Of course, try to make it clear that you can not use the flash in the Louvre museum nor take pictures with a selfie stick, as both actions can damage the works and / or interfere with the operation of the museum.

Buy tickets for the Louvre