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Louvre crowds during evening hours

Posted by (Seattle, WA) on

I'm planning a trip to Paris for next year for my 30th birthday. It will be my 4th trip to Paris so I am planning on seeing the lesser known sites and just enjoying the Parisian lifestyle. I'll be there for a week. Can't wait! There's still a lot I want to see in Paris.

However, I do want to go to the Louvre one more time. I would love to go during either the Wednesday or Friday evening hours. Every time I've been to the Louvre (3 times so far), including this past June 2014, it has been insanely crowded (no surprise there). Also each time I have been showing someone else around Paris and so had to go search out the biggies and didn't have time to wander and see other stuff on my own. This time I would love to go when it's less crowded and just get to wander and enjoy without rushing around. I don't expect a completely quiet place, I just don't want to be packed in like a sardine.

Question is this...My actual birthday is in June. What are the evening hours like in June, considering that it is still in the high season? do you still get a reprieve from the crowds?

My other choice is to go in September which wouldn't be on my actual birthday but would be more in the offseason in general.

Thanks!

Posted by
24 posts

What a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday. Here is hoping it will be a trip of a lifetime.
September is also very much considered to be the high season in Paris so I suggest you go at a time that best fits your 'at home' schedule.
I recently spent 3 months in Paris (May through July) and became a member of the Louvre so I went many times. Wednesday evenings were less crowded than Fridays but I found the quietest time to be weekdays, first thing in the morning. It didn't start to get really crowded until about 11 a.m. The Denon wing (my least favorite) was always the most crowded so I would visit there either at the very beginning or end of the day.

Posted by
703 posts

We visited the Louvre the end of May this year on a Friday evening and it wasn't insanely crowded. Busy enough but not as bad as the year before when we went during the daytime hours. Planning on going back again next May and will visit during the evening hours. Have fun and Happy Birthday!!!

Posted by
9436 posts

I've gone many times in June, July and August, in the evening, and it wasn't crowded at all. Extremely not crowded actually, felt like I practically had the place to myself. Paris is a great place to spend your birthday... enjoy!

Posted by
9110 posts

I've been in the evening twice(May). Both times the wing which has the Mona Lisa was a three-ring circus, very crowded and a bit rowdy with lots of teenage school groups. The other wings were deserted and very pleasant to visit.

Posted by
3398 posts

I've had similar experiences. Been many times during the summer during evening hours and, although the most popular works were almost as crowded as during the day, the rest of the place is beautifully quiet. The light seems different in the evening and it's beautiful seeing the lights of Paris out of the windows from some of the rooms.

Posted by
9436 posts

Anita, I forgot about that... the light when looking out the windows in the evening... something special about it. I took lots of photos through the windows, I thought it was a fun and unique perspective of statues, the other side of the Louvre, pyramid and fountains, etc.

Many times when we were there in the evening, June-Aug (as mentioned above) the room with the Mona Lisa was absolutely empty. Never saw a lot of people anywhere. I'm sure that's not the norm though.

Posted by
359 posts

Thanks everyone. This was very encouraging. I agree about the other wings besides the Denon wing being less crowded anyway. All comments much appreciated!

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