Best Louvre tours: options for all visitors

For many visitors to Paris a visit to the Louvre Museum is a must do. The Museum itself is enormous to the point of being overwhelming for many visitors, so choosing to take a guided tour can be a good investment of both your time and money. But with so many options, how do you decide on the best Louvre tours? In this post I’m covering the best Louvre tours for all visitors, regardless of your interests and budget. Traveling with children? I’ve got the best Louvre tours for families too.

And remember, your tour will likely end inside the Museum, so you can stay on and explore on your own for as long as like.

France Travel Planning travel tip

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my full disclosure

Tips for your Louvre visit – regardless of how you visit

When booking entry tickets independently, be careful of 3rd party websites that look like an official website. While these websites may be genuine ticket sellers, they are not the official Louvre website and you will likely pay more for your booking. The official Louvre website is here >>

Do not try and tackle everything. The Louvre is enormous, with gallery after gallery of treasures, so only the most ardent art lover would attempt to see it all – over multiple days.

Pick the “right day” to visit, if possible. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, but is open for extended hours on Wednesdays and Fridays. Of note, Versailles is closed on Mondays, along with a large number of Paris museums, including, but not limited to, the Musée d’Orsay, the Rodin, Cluny and Carnavalet museums. This makes the Louvre very busy on a Monday. While most days will book out most entry times in peak season, choosing a day other than Monday or the weekend will give you a better chance of avoiding the worst of the crowds.

Do it Yourself Louvre Guided Tour

Real budget travelers will book a timed entry ticket to enter the Louvre and then use the Rick Steves free audioguide app. Alternatively, you can add in a paid audioguide with your admission ticket (currently 6€).

Louvre’s Own Guided Tour

You can also book a guided tour via the Louvre website. Louvre guided tours currently cost 12€ per adult (plus entry ticket cost) and are extremely popular, so if you are interested, you should book around 2 months in advance.

Remember to only use the official Louvre website if you want to book your own Louvre visit. This is the website you need >>

France Travel Planning travel tip

Louvre Museum Skip the Line Guided Tour

This was the least expensive guided tour I could find outside the Louvre’s own tours. It goes between 1 and 2 hours, so obviously if you book this tour you are trading time for cost. Having said that, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a tour, this is a highly rated option. A smaller group offering is also available at an additional cost. You can find out about this tour here >>

Best Louvre tours for travelers in a hurry

Not all Louvre tours are the same duration. Whether you are in a hurry, on a budget or just aren’t that into art but still want to hit the big ticket Louvre highlights, a shorter tour might be a good choice for you.

Louvre Priority Entry & Small Group Private Tour

This four star rated tour takes a one hour blitz around the Louvre’s most famous treasures such as the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Once your tour is over you are free to continue explore using the company’s tour app. This budget friendly option is a good choice for families, and for those who want to be oriented to the Louvre’s biggest stars, but are then happy to wander solo. You can book your one hour Louvre tour here >>

Skip the Line Louvre Highlights Tour

This two hour tour from Take Walks is rated 5 stars by guests, and it’s easy to see why. Visiting the Mona Lisa, plus the French painting galleries, and Roman and Greek treasures, you won’t miss any of the highlights. Take Walks use dynamic pricing, so it’s worth booking early for this tour for the best prices. This tour is also available as a 6 person max semi private option. You can book this tour here >>

Best Louvre small group tours

Louvre Tour Semi Private Museum Experience

LivTours are excellent small group tours because you will normally only be in a group of 6 guests or less. Their Mona Lisa first viewing tour also comes in a group of six guests as standard, but this is their normal Louvre Museum tour offering. This tour is longer than the early morning tour, and is my pick of available small group tours. You can book your Louvre semi private experience here >>

Best Louvre tour for the artist or art lover

Skip the line Louvre Tour With Artist

I was genuinely thrilled come across this tour. While not a budget offering, it is the highest rated tour I could find (5/5) and is a tour with a qualified artist-guide. Limited to just 6 guests, it is a special option for those looking for a small group offering. If I was booking a Louvre tour, this would be my pick. You can find out why I would choose to book this tour here >>

Best Louvre tours to escape the crowds

Despite compulsory timed entry tickets to control visitor numbers, the Louvre remains crowded. One way to beat the crowds is to book a late or early tour. But remember, if you book a late tour you may not have the extra time to continue viewing the galleries at your leisure, and you will need to meet your guide outside, making early entry not an option.

Closing time at the Louvre

This tour by the excellent Take Walks is not only a small group tour (max 20 people), but is timed to make the most of smaller late afternoon crowds. Your tour starts in the mid afternoon, and finishes with the Mona Lisa, carefully timed to beat peak crowd activity. At three hours duration it is no wonder it is a favourite with the France Travel Planning Facebook group. You can find out more about this tour and make your booking here >>

Are you planning a trip to France? My France Travel Planning Facebook group is a vibrant and friendly group where you can ask questions, learn from others and get great advice. You can join here >>

Mona Lisa First Viewing

This LivTours semi private tour gets you into the Louvre early, and among the first to view the Mona Lisa – all before it gets too crowded. In addition, you’ll visit the highlights, and with a 90min tour, you’ll have plenty of time afterwards to explore at your leisure. With a maximum of just six guests, this highly rated tour is as close to a private tour as you can get – without the cost of a private tour. This tour is also available as a fully private tour. You can find out more about this tour and make your booking here >>

Louvre Museum closing time tour with Mona Lisa

This tour enters the museum around two and three quarter hours before closing and lasts 2hrs, so you may be lucky enough to have a small amount of time to wander (quickly) at the end of the tour. It is a highly rated tour (4.5/5). You can find out more about it here >>

Best private Louvre tours

Private Louvre Tour: VIP Access to the Louvre’s Greatest Treasures

On this private tour for up to 6 people, your expert Walks guide escorts you beyond the crowds to encounter the Louvre’s most celebrated masterpieces in the comfort that only comes with a private tour. Stand before the Mona Lisa and uncover the intrigue behind her enigmatic smile, then take in the timeless beauty of the Venus de Milo and the grandeur of the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Discover hidden treasures and the former palace’s royal secrets, brought to life through stories of scandal, ambition, and artistic brilliance. Skip-the-line entry and a more personalised experience being a given, this is an elegant and exclusive way to experience the Louvre at its finest. You can find out more about this private Louvre tour here >>

Louvre Private Tour by LivTours

This 2.5hour private tour takes you to the most iconic paintings and sculptures in the Louvre collection. Including the most influential works from Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism you will also learn about the history of the building and how it became France’s greatest museum. While not specifically designed for families, this tour is highly rated by families on the LivTours website. You can find out more and book this LivTours private Louvre tour here >>

Mona Lisa First Viewing – Private Louvre Tour

This is the private tour version of the LivTour semi private Mona Lisa first viewing above. This 90min tour heads straight to the Mona Lisa before all the big tour groups do, before hitting a number of the big name pieces. And your tour finishes inside the Museum, leaving you the rest of the day to explore for as long as you like. This tour is also highly rated for families – if it’s within your budget I would see at as an excellent option for those with younger children who may not be looking for a lengthy stay in a crowded museum. You can book this private tour here >>

Best Louvre tours for families

The best tours for families can be difficult to find. While I have chosen Louvre Museum tours throughout the post that are generally suitable for children, the tours in this section are specifically designed with children in mind.

Louvre Private Family Tour

This tour is available as both a private or semi private (the latter still with a maximum of only 6 people). It runs for 2hours, hitting all the big ticket items. It is highly rated and reviewers all comment on the knowledge and engagement of the guides as well as the guides’ abilities to engage with children. You can find out more about this tour here >>

Louvre Guided Treasure Hunt for Families & Kids

A treasure hunt is a great way to engage kids in more adult oriented activities. This one is highly rated, and includes an activity book to keep your young ones occupied. A true private tour, this tour is priced by family group, not individual visitor. You can book your treasure hunt here >>

Private Family Louvre Experience

This fully private LivTours family tour includes an activity book and prizes suitable for children aged 5-10 years. You will, of course, see all the major works, which your expert guide will bring to life. You can book this tour or find out more here >>

Plan your trip to Paris

If you want to arrange your own Louvre self guided tour, the Rick Steves France and Paris guidebooks both include a detailed section on the Louvre Museum with a suggested self guided tour:

Last update on 2026-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Share or save for later