Louvre tickets cost €32 for most US adults, €22 for EEA visitors, and are free for under-18s.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Louvre ticket prices now depend on where the visitor lives or holds citizenship, so most US travelers should budget €32, or about $37–38, for a standard adult ticket. The lower €22 rate is for visitors who are residents or citizens of the European Economic Area.
A standard Louvre ticket covers the permanent collections, the museum’s temporary exhibitions, and same-day or next-day admission to the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix. Free entry is real, but it is tied to age, EEA status, disability status, certain professional cards, and a few free-entry dates.
If you already know your date, compare ticket options here before the popular morning and afternoon slots disappear:
Louvre Ticket Prices: What Each Option Costs
Louvre ticket prices run from free to €32 for standard museum admission, with small add-ons for audio guides and guided activities. US adults usually fall under the non-EEA visitor rate, which is the higher adult price.
The most common mistake is seeing the €22 number online and assuming it applies to every adult. The Louvre separates EEA visitors from non-EEA visitors, and the non-EEA rate applies to most travelers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many other countries outside Europe.
| Ticket Type | What It Includes | Rough Price |
|---|---|---|
| Non-EEA adult ticket | Louvre permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, and Delacroix access | €32, about $37–38 |
| EEA adult visitor rate | Same museum access for EEA residents or citizens | €22, about $25–26 |
| Under-18 admission | Free Louvre admission with proof of age | Free |
| EEA visitors aged 18–25 | Free admission with valid photo ID or qualifying residence proof | Free |
| First Friday evening | Free admission after 6 p.m., except in July and August | Free |
| July 14 admission | Free admission for all visitors on France’s national holiday | Free |
| Guided tour or workshop add-on | Activity fee; general admission is still needed unless the visitor has free admission | €12, about $14 |
| Reduced guided activity add-on | Lower activity price for eligible reduced-rate visitors | €9, about $10 |
| Audio guide | Self-paced museum audio commentary added to a visit | €6, about $7 |
Currency conversions move with the exchange rate, so treat the dollar amounts as planning numbers rather than exact card charges. Your bank may also add a foreign transaction fee if your card has one.
What Does A Louvre Ticket Include?
A Louvre ticket includes the main museum collections and temporary exhibitions, plus access to the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix on the day of your Louvre visit or the next day the Delacroix museum is open. A single ticket does not mean you can leave the Louvre and re-enter later.
The Louvre is too large to treat like a one-hour stop. A focused visit usually means choosing two or three wings, such as Denon for the Mona Lisa and major Italian paintings, Sully for the medieval Louvre and Egyptian antiquities, or Richelieu for French sculpture and decorative arts.
A standard ticket does not erase security screening. Timed entry helps control the ticket line, but bags still go through checks, and the Pyramid entrance can slow down at busy hours.
The Louvre itself warns visitors about ticket fraud on the Louvre’s official tickets and prices page, especially mirror sites and street sellers claiming special queue access.
Practical timing: The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Louvre rooms start clearing 30 minutes before closing, and last entry is 1 hour before closing.
Free Entry, Discounts, And Timing Rules
Free Louvre admission is generous, but it is not the same as “walk in whenever you want.” Free-entry visitors should still reserve a time slot when the museum asks for one, and proof of eligibility is checked at the entrance.
The most useful free-entry rules for travelers are simple:
- Visitors under 18 enter free with proof of age.
- EEA citizens aged 18–25 enter free with valid photo ID.
- EEA residents aged 18–25 may enter free with qualifying residence proof.
- Disabled visitors and one accompanying person enter free with supporting proof.
- All visitors get free admission on the first Friday of the month after 6 p.m., except in July and August.
- All visitors get free admission on July 14.
For July 1 through August 31, 2026, the Louvre requires reservations for most visitors, including many people who enter free. Some cardholders and professional visitors are exempt, but a normal traveler should reserve ahead rather than hoping the rule will not apply.
Children can save a family real money at the Louvre. Two US adults with two under-18 children would pay €64 for standard admission, while four full non-EEA adult tickets would be €128.
Buying Tickets Without Paying The Wrong Seller
Louvre ticket buyers should use the official ticketing service or a clearly identified tour marketplace when they want a guided visit. The risky option is buying from street sellers or mirror sites that copy the Louvre name and charge extra for vague promises.
A regular timed ticket is enough for most visitors who want to see the museum independently. A guided tour makes sense if you want a tighter route through the largest museum in Paris, especially on a first visit when the building layout can eat into viewing time.
Before paying more than the standard ticket price, check what the higher price actually covers:
- Admission only: This is the normal museum ticket, with no guide.
- Guided visit: This should include a real guide or museum activity, not just timed entry.
- Audio guide: This is the €6 add-on for self-paced commentary.
- Combo ticket: This may pair the Louvre with another Paris sight, but the total only makes sense if you want both.
If you prefer a guided museum visit or a Paris sightseeing plan that includes the Louvre, compare available guided options before choosing a time:
Where To Stay Near The Louvre
Staying near the Louvre costs more than sleeping farther out, but it can save time if the museum is one of your main Paris plans. The most convenient bases are the 1st arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Opéra area, and the Right Bank near Rue de Rivoli.
The 1st arrondissement puts you closest to the museum doors, the Tuileries Garden, and the Seine. Saint-Germain-des-Prés adds cafés, galleries, and easy walking access across the river. Opéra often works well for shoppers and travelers who want strong Metro links.
If Louvre tickets are the anchor of your Paris day, compare hotels by walking distance and Metro access rather than only by nightly rate:
Which Louvre Ticket Should You Buy?
Most US adults should buy the €32 timed Louvre ticket unless they want a guided visit. Families should check every free-entry rule first, because children under 18 and eligible EEA young adults can reduce the total sharply.
Choose the simplest option that matches your visit style:
- Solo adult from the US: Buy the €32 non-EEA adult ticket and pick a timed slot.
- Family with kids under 18: Pay only for the adults, then reserve free-entry slots for the children if required.
- Art-focused first visit: Consider a guided visit or audio guide so the size of the museum does not waste your time.
- Budget traveler: Aim for the first Friday evening after 6 p.m. outside July and August, or July 14, and reserve early if slots are required.
- Short Paris stay: Choose a morning or evening slot, then build the rest of the day around the Tuileries Garden, the Seine, and nearby neighborhoods.
The cleanest answer is this: most non-EEA adults pay €32, eligible EEA visitors pay €22, and many young visitors pay nothing with the right ID. Once you know which price applies to you, the real decision is whether you want admission only or a guided visit.
For a standard visit, compare current Louvre ticket availability before locking in the rest of your Paris day:
References & Sources
- Musée du Louvre.“Hours & Admission — Tickets And Prices.”Lists the current Louvre ticket prices, free-entry categories, opening hours, and visitor reservation rules.