Best Time to Visit the Louvre: Plan Smartly & Avoid Crowds

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What brings you to Vacatis?
Let us help you find exactly what you need!
What brings you to Vacatis?
Let us help you find exactly what you need!
What brings you to Vacatis?
Let us help you find exactly what you need!

The Louvre Museum is one of the most crowded attractions in Paris, attracting over 30,000 visitors every day! It is least crowded from 9 am to 10 am, as soon as it opens and after 3 pm till closing hours. 

Visitors looking for a comfortable experience at the Museum must know the best time to visit during the week and the best month to explore. In this article, we’ll help you find the best day, month, and season to schedule your visit to the Louvre for the best and most comfortable experience! 

Best Time of Day to Visit the Louvre

Best Time of Day to Visit the Louvre
Nytimes.com

The most important thing to consider when visiting the Louvre is if all the other visitors are also planning their trip at the same time as you. The Museum is the least crowded from 9 am to 10 am and after 3 pm on weekdays. Most tourists plan to explore the Museum from 9 am until 3 pm, after which they leave the exhibition rooms for lunch.

There are fewer crowds in the Museum after 3 pm on weekdays since all tourists arriving in the morning have completed exploring the space. On weekends, the best time to visit is from 9 am to 10 am and between 5 pm and 6 pm. The crowd increases from 3 pm to 5 pm, as most Parisians and tourists wake late. 

Visitors planning to explore on Wednesdays and Fridays can take advantage of the extended hours and explore the Museum for longer! Be prepared for increased crowding from 2 pm to 6 pm on Fridays. Check out our Louvre Museum Opening Hours article to learn more about the extended hours and museum timings so you can plan accordingly. Read the table below to see the different levels of crowding at different times of the day!

DayLeast Crowded Timings
Monday9 am to 10 am, 3 pm to 5 pm.
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday9 am to 10 am, 6 pm to 8 pm.
Thursday9 am to 10 am, 3 pm to 5 pm
Friday9 am to 10 am, 6 pm to 8 pm.
Saturday9 am to 10 am, 5 pm to 6 pm.
Sunday9 am to 10 am, 5 pm to 6 pm

Pro Tip: grab the Louvre Fast Track ticket with hosted access to the Mona Lisa to save time and secure hassle-free access to see one of the Louvre’s most popular collections!

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Crowding During the Week: Which is the Calmest Day at the Louvre?

The Louvre Museum is the least crowded on Mondays and Thursdays, making these the perfect days to plan a visit! It is open to explore from Wednesdays to Mondays and is closed on all Tuesdays. Visitors can explore the space from 9 am to 6 pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. On Wednesdays and Fridays, the opening hours extend up to 9 pm. 

The Louvre is the most crowded on weekends and Fridays since this is the day when all schools are closed in Paris. You might also find medium crowding levels on Wednesdays since the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. Check out the table below to see the crowd levels at the Louvre Museum during the week.

Day of the WeekCrowd Level
MondayLow
TuesdayClosed
WednesdayMedium
ThursdayLow
FridayHigh
SaturdayHigh
SundayHigh

However, it is possible to explore the Louvre during the peak season and still find a huge crowd on Mondays and Thursdays. Check out the next section to discover the peak tourism season in Paris. 

Monthly Crowds & Weather Conditions: Best Time to Year to Visit the Louvre

Monthly Crowds & Weather Conditions
France24.com

Paris receives the fewest tourists from November to February since it is winter and snow covers all attractions. The Louvre is the least crowded during these months, as tourists avoid Paris because of the chance of harsh weather conditions. We recommend bringing along a thick coat to explore in winter. 

However, the Louvre might be more crowded in February since couples journey worldwide to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the City of Love! Paris is most crowded from June to August, the months for summer holidays, when tourists flock to the Louvre. You will find a medium crowd level in March, April, May, September, and October. Check out the table below to see the crowding level in the year at a glance!

MonthCrowding Level
JanuaryLow
FebruaryLow
MarchMedium
AprilMedium
MayMedium
JuneHigh
JulyMaximum
AugustMaximum
SeptemberMedium
OctoberLow
NovemberLow
DecemberMedium

However, even in the months with fewer crowding levels, you might find an increase in the local crowd when schools and colleges are closed for vacation. Discover more visiting tips in our Louvre Museum Visiting Tips article to plan the best experience for your month of visit! Check out the next section to discover the dates for school holidays in France!

Featured image :Bloomberg.com

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