Louvre tickets

Check in RS latest Paris info. 5 years ago we (5 of us) used the underground entrance and did not have to wait long to purchase tickets.

Thank you, will do. Should have done that, but quite new at forum.

Difficult to sort through thousands of posts on Louvre to find a helpful answer to 6 pm ticket purchase line size.

I visited around 6 pm when I was there last May with the Paris Museum Pass and did not notice a big line to purchase tickets once past the security check--you should be fine. I used the Carrousel entrance.

I think you are better off purchasing a ticket ahead of time. There are several lines at the entrance: those with passes, those with pre-purchased tickets and those who need to buy a ticket. The first two go through security and are in. The third has to wait for each group in line to purchase their tickets, then go through security. Unless there is no line at all, you are going to wait longer than you'd like.

This is not true. The ticket purchase occurs in a room full of machines off to the side of the Pyramid court far from the security line at the entrance. There is no waiting for ticket purchase followed by entrance and there never was. Before the changes in the Pyramid court, the booths and machines were scattered about but not at all adjacent to the security entrance The Pyramid lines are for security only; once in you proceed to the ticket room and buy from a machine. There are separate lines for people with timed tickets and passes and those without. The bag/coat storage is also self service although they have a couple of clerks at the front to make sure people don't put their backpacks or coats in the special lockers for motorcycle helmets. They are the first lockers you see and everyone heads for them.

We have never had much of a wait for either tickets or security when using the Carrousel entrance but it is no longer a secret and the lines are longer than they once were. The other entrances are rarely open and so one is more likely to encounter unavoidable lines than in the past.

Yes - I noticed when we went back last month after going in 2010 that where before there was a machine or two in the 'mall' itself, this time there was a room with a dozen or more machines around the outside and then some people at registers/computers. We waited less than five min to get tickets from the machine and not long at all thru security. This was a Sat in April.

Compare that to the looooong line up we could see outside at the Pyramid entrance - prob a good 45 min wait - it really does pay to go inside!

We used the mall entrance and purchased our museum tickets from a store in the mall with zero line.

Thank you, that does sound like the best idea. There are four of us going, and one doesn't trust not having a ticket ahead of time and now wants to try and get tickets at the FNAC in Gare du Norde. I do not believe that there will be much wait in line at 6 pm on a Friday.

Urbanhiker,

If you plan to visit other museums (Orsay, Orangerie & Rodin, to name a few) as well as other popular monuments and churches, plus the Versailles Palace, you may consider getting the Paris Museum Pass
Even if you decide not to get this museum pass, I truly enjoy their interactive website which is full of helpful information!

Enjoy your time in Paris!

Wow, thanks, we can hardly wait to visit Paris!
We have looked at the things we want to do, and we have 4 days, but the Pass did not work for us. One in our group of 4 keeps saying that maybe we should have gotten the Pass to make the Louvre ticket easier.

Priscilla, if we had two more days, then that Pass would be perfect. And, I am going to see Rodin, but will have to see if anyone else will go too. Thanks again

Urbanhiker -- not long ago we stopped by FNAC to get tickets for the Orsay where we never go without tickets -- the line was so long there that we gave up and just went ahead to the Orsay and bought our tickets from the newsstand out front with zero line. With FNAC it might make sense if you were buying several tickets, but there is often a line at FNACs with ticket offices and then there you are needing to go to the sit itself. You have to save a lot of time to make an extra trip and an extra line worthwhile.

Good to know Janet (who) travels, thank you. At Gare du Norde, we will have a bit of time before we catch the Eurostar to London, but, if there is a line, now we will know why and how we should think about our options. This is an adventure!

Thanks for info about the FNAC. Until yesterday, we did not know about it at all. Really good insight you have offered us on what it might be like. In a few weeks, we will see, and, not be confused!

We were there yesterday. Brad is mistaken. And the PMP does not allow you to skip the line for x-ray of day bags which is the only line of consequence here (excluding the Mona Lisa photo mob scene).

First, timed tickets are not necessary - might not be available.
Second, long lines are for security. The only ones skipping those lines, or getting in entrances with no lines are members (that is, Priority Access - does not include ticket holders or holders of Paris Museum Pass) or those with particular guided tours. Porte des Lions used to be a great secret entrance but signs say it's only for pre-booked guided tours, etc. Boo.
Third, when we tried to access the escalator down adjacent to Café Marly, we were told "Pyramid". Having just spent two hours in the gardens, I sought the Apple Store and security entrance in Carrousel to get out f the sun. Line was just at the entrance to the Apple Store and was 15 minutes. Exit through Pyramid for a thrill.
Fourth, ticket hall is tucked in under pyramid. It was empty at 2:00 pm even though museum was packed.
Finally, most visitors are leaving by 5:00 pm even on late nights. I would be shocked if there was any line worth noting.

The crowds in the latter half of June are significantly smaller than those at the beginning of July. Having been here through the recent long weekend (Thursday to Sunday), I noticed a drop on Monday.

I would just turn up as early as you can on Friday and wing it. Your travel companion is unnecessarily adding complications.

Those travelling with two adults and three or more kids might consider the Family Card. I bought it 5 years ago as we were in Paris for 3 weeks and planned on several bites of the Louvre. The adults get photo cards. The kids got a guidebook in French and art supples. We breezed past the long line for bag check. Got discounts on workshops. Have to go through security before you can buy the card. *Edit: you don't have to be in the same family. *

Slightly off topic:
Orsay has several lines. Sometimes the one for ticket holders (Porte C) is longer than the one for those without (Porte A). Get in the shortest line if you have the PMP. Don't try Porte C without a ticket or pass if it's busy. On Sunday, it was not busy and we just walked in Porte C. I was holding my daughter's Workshop reservation and no one even looked. No one cares if you have a ticket at this point, it's just to manage crowds. All lines head through metal detectors/bag check and meet in vestibule with ticket desks and information. Even at ticket desks, Desk 6 sells PMP only. No line for that.

We have looked at the things we want to do, and we have 4 days, but
the Pass did not work for us.

Hmmm. Really? Not to push the pass but with just the Louvre and the Rodin (35 euro if purchased separately) you'd be over halfway to getting the good of a 4-day pass. If you're doing the Louvre on arrival night, you'd still have 3 more days in which to use it. Add just, say, Sainte-Chapelle (a must, IMHO), the d'Orsay and Arc de Triomphe and you've more than broken even on it.

Just curious why it doesn't work for you?

Thank you, Sandra and Kathy!

We are going to not reserve a time for the Louvre, I can now say. I have to look at the rest of your really fresh info Sandra.
Kathy, we will take another look at our Pass thinking.
Thank you both for your help.

Make sure you're looking at the Paris MUSEUM Pass and not the overpriced PARIS Pass, OK? Sure, you have to be interested in enough of the attractions it covers to break even but we didn't have any problem doing that with our 6-day pass. You can just buy them in Paris (although I wouldn't do that at the Louvre), no need to purchase beforehand.

http://en.parismuseumpass.com

4-day Paris Museum Pass: €62

4-day Paris Pass: €179.10- €199.00 (ouch!!!)