Hello. Me and my 2 daughters, 17 & 18 are visiting the Louvre for the first time. It sounds like an overwhelming place to navigate so we are pondering on whether we should get a tour with a guide or guide ourselves.
Do you recommend a particular tour operator?
Many Thanks :)
Hi Coco -
I think the trick with the Louvre is to understand that you can't do it all in one visit or even two or three; it's just too big! The website has very good overviews on the different sections so if you spend some time browsing them, you can get a good handle of which will most appeal; discard the rest. We didn't use a guide as having an idea of the layout plus the type of art that we wanted so see helped steer us in the right directions.
Guidebooks are available in the book shop ( we purchased one) and you can download or rent audio guides as well:
http://www.louvre.fr/en/audio-guide
I don't know what sort of time you have but with the Paris Museum Pass, we did one longer day visit and two shorter ones during evenings when the museum was open late. It helped to break up some of the expanse, and gave us something fun to do for an hour or two during evenings when many other attractions were closed.
Do both. Time your visit for a guided tour offered by museum staff, which will give you a taste of significant works, and flesh it out with the audio guide. Even so there will plenty left unsaid so concentrating on specific interests will make the experience more rewarding. Your daughters, presumably Internet whizz kids, can help with advance research. You're right that the place is vast so seeking out treasures that you understand will make you feel good about the exertion. http://www.louvre.fr/en I am unreasonably biased against commercial tours so will look forward to comments along that line.
I usually avoid the guided tours because I like to go at my own pace. You are indeed correct that the Louvre is overwhelming - and not just for first-time visitors. The official website has lots of information. Look for "thematic trails" which are themed self-guided tours of the museum. I chose "From Palace to Museum" and it turned out to be a great decision. It took me through most of the galleries, past most (all?) of the "top" bits (Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, etc.). Though it didn't identify them, they were hard to miss. I also found the audio guide to be very good. You'll need to leave photo ID (driver's license) as a deposit. There are several places to rent them, remember which one so you can get your ID back.
I highly recommend an introductory guided tour given by one of the Louvre official guides. There aren't a lot of these tours in English--perhaps one or two a day-- you'll be lucky if you can snag one. It's a good introduction. They'll give you radio headphones to wear so you can always hear the guide no matter how many people in the room. As stated before, you can go on your own afterwards.
There is some tour info on line on the Louvre website, but you have to really search for it. I couldn't find the link just now. Even the website is huge, but highly interesting, with focus lessons, themmatic trails, as stated above, etc.
For a Louvre guided tour, you buy your ticket in a separate area once you are under the pyramid. Go where it says Accueil des Groupes. The ticket counter is in there and that is where your tour group meets up for the visit. Oh, and there's a toilet back there.
I spent 6 months in classes for adults at the Louvre, and there are still rooms I haven't seen.
To make it easier, here's the link for guided tours: http://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-guidees
And here's the link for Visitor Trails: http://www.louvre.fr/en/parcours?nrppage=30
We have loved the Louvre with a private guide. The audio guides are fine but then no one wants to talk about what they are seeing - everyone is engrossed in the audio guide - you might as well be there alone. The audio guides also are a little too lengthy for me. With a private guide - one who is well versed in European art & history - the art comes to life and you really get a sense about what was going on and influencing the art & artist. You can ask questions and converse with the guide & travel companions. A private guide can also create a custom tour to see the genre/periods/artists of your choice or guide you through a "highlights" tour. We have hired the same guide several times - usually for an entire day and will include a museum, a neighborhood walk & lunch - a perfect day!
Hi Christi. What is the name and contact info of the guide or company you used?
