Busier day worse for The Louvre or Versailles?

I have been to the Louvre twice many years apart and I did not really enjoy it that much either time. There are many other museums, shows, interesting neighborhoods, etc.

For Versailles, they have huge garden grounds that could accommodate many thousands. The mirror room is always going to have crowds. I think the issue with it is a 45 minute train ride each way and 28eu ticket if I recall.

I guess we all want to punch our ticket for famous attractions but I have gone to Paris many times and appreciate so many places more than the tourist attractions.

I'm not sure you can find a day where it will be significantly less busy on a given weekday for either place. Our last time at Versailles, if we'd wanted to fall down, we would not have been able to. It was so ridiculously crowded; we got out quickly and meandered in the gardens where it doesn't feel so crowded.

I love the Louvre and visit it every time I visit Paris. I went to Versailles once which was more than enough for me!

Versailles (inside the palace) is super unpleasant when crowded….whereas the Louvre will be crowded at the entrance and key objects (esp those on the audio guide tour) but bearable if you select outlying galleries or less major objects. It is overwhelmingly large, so it’s good to do some research and have a plan about what you really want to see. Look up info about the secondary entrances (Richelieu, Port des Lions) which can get you out of the crush at the pyramid.

The Louvre will be sold out all of those days, so just pick the one with the earliest entry time still available. Crowds accumulate as the day progresses. This is also the prime school trip period, so expect school groups from all over Europe in addition to the usual mix of tourists and locals.

these days, with the high season, every day is busy. The worst are week ends for both, and Monday for the Louvre, and Tuesday for Versailles, but just go when you can, For Versailles book to visit the palace early so you can be out of the palace by 10h30-10h45 to enjoy the fountains on (not on Tuesday where most fountains are off), as fountains are turned on from 10h30 to 12h in the main perspective

Thank you all for the information!

The Lourve has an entry limit. And they generally hit that every day. That said if you get off the top 10 hits tour (walk away from Rick’s top hits) there are places in the museum where you will be all alone with wonderful art.

Both are busy and with good reason.

I’ve been to both at different times of year and at different times of day and they were busy. This most recent time (last month) Versailles was unpleasant inside the palace but wonderful in the gardens. Louvre was busy (we read a crowd beater tip and tried to go at 7PM on a Friday), but it was as busy as ever, especially around the Mona Lisa.

You can try to avoid crowds, but they’ll be hard to avoid since these are two sights on many people’s list. As others have said, My tip is to come with a plan, find areas with less crowds (even if not among the must see) because even the less crowded areas are marvelous, and relax and remember you’re in Paris. When you can’t handle all the traffic any longer, head to a cafe or boulangerie for a snack.