How to Get to the Paris Louvre

Paris would not be Paris without its magnificent Louvre Museum, 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. But knowing how to get there is just as important as the visit itself, so in this post you'll learn about the different ways to get to the museum (rue de Rivoli, 75001, Paris).

There are two main things to know about the Louvre: First, the means of transport that will allow you to get to the museum. And secondly, the different doors or entrances that the museum has when it comes to receiving visitors. That said, let's get started!

Taking the metro to the museum is one of the most recommended options as it connects every part of the city in an enviable way. To get to the museum, just go to any metro station and get on line 1 or 7, both of which arrive at the Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre station.

Pyramides station, where line 14 stops, is also a good option, although you will have to take a short 500-metre walk to get to the entrance of the museum, a walk that you could take advantage of by seeing the Eiffel Tower from afar and watching the batbuses and cruise ships that sail along the Seine.

Paris Passholders have the privilege of direct access to the museum from Palais Royal station.

If you are at the Paris airport or another point outside the city, the smartest way to get to Paris is to use the RER (Paris suburban train system). In this case you will need to take line C and stop at the Musée d'Orsay station which is about 800 metres from the Pyramid of the museum.

This transport will also be useful if you are coming from the Palace of Versailles. This kind of "train" connects the ends of the city with the centre. For more information about this means of transport, visit this official website.

One of the advantages of travelling 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 close to the museum are : 21, 24, 27, 39, 68, 69, 48, 72, 81 and 95.

It is also not a bad idea to take the Paris tourist bus, as no matter which stop you get on, it will drop you off directly at the entrance to the museum. On top of that, you'll be able to see some of the city's most emblematic sites along the way.

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

It has to be said that it is not the cheapest means of transport you will find, as those who take this means of transport do so more to enjoy the journey along the River Seine than to get to their destination. In any case, it could be useful for getting to the museum if you disembark at the "Louvre" stop on the François-Mitterrand quay.

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

This means of transport offers unlimited use for a temporary period of 24 or 48 hours, and you can embark and disembark at any of its 9 stations.

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 bicycle rental service velib will be able to help you, as I doubt very much that you will go to Paris with a bicycle. Average rental prices are as follows:

• 5€ is equivalent to 24 hours of service
• 20€ for a 3-day service

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

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 an underground entrance that connects the museum with the shopping centre and its large selection of shops 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 shops with a variety of products. You can even plan to have 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 to the Carrousel du Louvre is located at 99 rue de Rivoli. You can access the Carrousel du Louvre from the Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre metro station on lines 1 and 7, or walk straight down Rue de Rivoli.

The Pyramid - 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 haven't bought your 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 pre-purchased ticket, 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 colours:

• Yellow line: for visitors with special passes, such as annual visitor cards or tourist cards.
• Orange line: For visitors without a ticket (you might 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 focus your visit to the Louvre around Da Vinci's mysterious lady, this entrance is the one for you.

The fact that it is a little-known entrance is mainly due to its appearance and location. It has 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 photo of the pyramid, but to enter as soon as possible, I recommend this door.

The Porte des Lions Louvre entrance is at the southern end of the museum, which 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 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 the case, note that the entrance is located on the Passage Richelieu, the avenue north of the pyramid that links the courtyard of the palace to Rue de Rivoli.

If you want to take a group tour of the Louvre, you can book 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 not to enter the Louvre through the Pyramid entrancein the first place !
If you want to take pictures of the Pyramid, leave the museum through this entrance, but don't enter through the Pyramid entrance - there are almost always people at the entrance and the queues are extremely long!

Before entering the museum I recommend you know the location of the work(s) you are interested in. The museum is immense and it's all too easy to get lost among so many distractions, rooms, paintings, sculptures... Not to mention if you go to the museum during rush hour or in the 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 through which entrance to enter.

It's also smart to have a guided tour of the Louvre, so the time and quality of the visit is 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 spend a lot of time on your feet and walking through its vast halls, so it's wise to arrive rested and energised.