I purchased Da Vinci tickets for 3:30 in the afternoon. That didn't seem ideal since we want to see other parts of the museum, but it was the only option. So then I bought a Paris museum pass, and I selected Louvre tickets for 9:00 AM the same day. I THOUGHT this would get us into the Davinci exhibit at 9 AM, but now I see that the ticket is only good for entrance to the museum. So my question is, can we get into the Da Vinci exhibit earlier than 3:30? The reason I'm asking is because I booked Eiffel Tower tickets for 4:00 PM the same day :( Thanks for any advice!
Posted by
Davis CA
759 posts
The short answer is no. Rebook the Eiffel Tower. The DaVinci ticket will get you into the DaVinci exhibit at 3:30 then into the rest of the Museum. Use your normal 9am Louvre ticket to see the Museum before seeing the DaVinci exhibit at 3:30. This is a once in a lifetime exhibit, don’t miss it.
The DaVinci exhibit only has room for a small number of visitors. An off the top guess I would put it at 100-50 to 1. 100- 50 general visitors into the Louvre for every 1 admission into the DaVinci exhibit. You must have a specific ticket, at specific time, to get into the DaVinci exhibit. You are lucky and have one- for 3:30 and 3:30 only.
Your only option for an earlier entry is to keep checking for available DaVinci tickets at an earlier time.
Posted by
Folsom
2734 posts
No, actually the DaVinci ticket also gets you into the Louvre, not vice versa. So, your choices are buy new DaVinci tickets at another time or new Eiffel Tower tickets. I believe all the tickets you now have are non-refundable. The Eiffel Tower requires you to arrive early for security they are very strict about the time. Show up late you don’t go.
Posted by
San Jose
1194 posts
You can’t even get from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower in 30 minutes unless you do it by car!
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10629 posts
You've been given correct info. Why not visit the Louvre galleries on a different day from the da Vinci. The Louvre galleries are overwhelming on their own. OTOH, I found the da Vinci underwhelming compared to the build-up and once-in-a-lifetime talk. Many of the paintings I've seen before, the notebooks and sheets of paper are interesting, particularly certain subjects for us, but not life-changing. The most interesting part was the radiographic studies of what's under the oil paintings. It was very crowded on a Wednesday night. As a Louvre member, I'll see the exhibit again this week, but I doubt my opinion will change.
Personally, I'd go at 9, leave and have lunch, rest, and go back at 3 for your 3:30 entry. They might let you in a few minutes early, depending on the line.
You need Eiffel Tower tickets for another time. Or better yet, go up the Montparnasse Tower before it closes for asbestos abatement; it has the best view, including of the ET and you can choose a clear day. Life continues even without going up the ET; I didn't go up it until after I'd been living or visiting in Paris for 40 years.
Posted by
Chicago
8556 posts
Our experience with a popular exhibit (the Vermeer) was that it took us 90 minutes in line to get into the exhibit once we were inside the museum. We entered the line half an hour before our ticketed time and got to the ticket check 45 minutes later and into the exhibit itself 45 minutes after that. I don't know if the Leonardo exhibit is better managed but I'd be surprised especially with an entry late in the day.
The Vermeer was a once in a life time -- I think I have actually seen most of the things in the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit here and there and so am sad but not heartbroken that I will miss it as we won't be back in Paris before April.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks to all for your help! I'm going to book the Eiffel Tower for a different date.