Amis du Louvre

It’s not so bad that you need to spend 80 euros or more to jump a line one time. It’s not too busy until about 11 or 11:30. Mona Lisa isn’t a competitive sport though some people may think so. My experience is based on many visits a year, as a member.

It looks like a membership is €80 for one person, or €120 for two. Individual tickets are €22 each. The memberships are good for a year; if you'll be back within 12 months, it might be worth it, but for just one visit?

Mardee recently posted somewhere (on her blog?) that she took her grandkids to the Louvre, and had forgotten to reserve ahead. They got there at 9:00 or so, and although the line was intimidating, it was moving so quickly that they stayed. I can't pull it up now (we're having computer problems here,) but I seem to recall they were only in line about 15 minutes. And that's with no tickets!

Mardee, correct me if I'm wrong, please.

Jane, you are correct. I had totally forgotten to book the tickets to the Louvre ahead of time, so we decided to try for a ticket anyway (this was this past Monday, April 7). The museum opens at 9 am on Monday, so we got there probably around 8:40-8:45 am. There was a line that was specifically for people without reservations. We joined that line, which probably had around 40ish people in it then, and just waited. Shortly after 9am, the line started moving, and by 9:15 or 9:20am, we were inside the pyramid buying our tickets from the wall kiosks. Here is a link to that page on the blog if you want more details. https://mostlytraveled.wordpress.com/2025/04/11/day-twelve-a-visit-with-mona-and-an-evening-cruise/

Very easy and I was impressed with how quickly the line moved.

Edit: I did notice that the line was MUCH MUCH longer when we left around noon, so definitely get there as early as you can. Also, if you have a 9am ticket, you will get in even faster.

Go for it if you can more than afford it. Museums need money.

This is Les Amis du Louvre, a support group, not the Louvre itself though the Ami organization contributes to new purchases .

I'll just add that my experience with getting a 9A timed entry and arriving by 830 or so gets me in quickly. They do not open the doors for the timed entry until 9A on the dot. Not a minute before. Then after you go thru security you go down escalators if you are coming in the Pyramide entrance and then go straight up the escalators for the Denon Wing. Follow the signs to La Joconde and you will be able to get there before it gets crowded.

In addition I'll say that I like to go in the Pyramide entrance. It's so cool to me and I feel like I am entering a different world, hahaha. Just me! I've gone in the Caroussel entrance downstairs and it's just not the same visual impact as the Pyramide to me.

I AM going to get the Amis du Louvre membership when I come in the Fall but I will go 3 times at least and then it will still be good when I come back in April/May of 2026 as it lasts for a year.

I haven't entered at the Pyramid in years but used to really love taking the escalator up to exit through the pyramid. You could see at night the well lit old palace looming above you through the glass and it was stunning. Now alas, only staff can do that and you have to exit through the other boring exits.

We used to have professional memberships which were a super bargain - 35 a year I jsut bought the Amis because we will be there spring and fall to get the value from them and we haven't spent much time in the Louvre in recent years -- our chance to dig in there again.

I just returned from Paris and bought the friends of the Louvre card for me and my 15 yr old daughter. We went 5 times and it was great to be able to skip the lines. But for just one visit, I would not have thought it worth it.