The Louvre "Battle plan"

I think the Code of Hammurabi is an important thing to see. I just cant tell you how to get to it. When we were there, our favorite thing to see was the tiled Persian floor which was on the lowest level and we were the only ones there to look at it, on an otherwise crowded day.

Oh right! I definitely have to see the code of hammarabi

While everyone is shouldering, selfie(ing) and battling to get a glimpse of Mona; turn around to look at the marvel of The Wedding at Cana. I remember our then teenage son with no interest in art, couldn't figure out why nobody was really paying attention to the majestic painting on the opposite side of the room from Mona, while fighting over Mona!

I admire your drive, but honestly doing much more than the Denon wing would require superhuman levels of museum stamina. There’s just SO MUCH in that one wing. Physical demands aside, eventually what you’re looking at loses all meaning.

Your focus on getting in is correct. Avoid any days RS classifies as busy if you can. This is still a place where thousands will show up and wait in line for a ticket, while those with an ounce of planning/research will stroll by. For that reason, over three visits I’ve never felt overwhelmed by the crowds, even at the Mona Lisa. (And don’t forget to turn around in that room!)

Seeing a lot in a day seems very important to you. Have you thought about taking a guided tour, so you'll have an expert help you with optimizing the plan and also you don't get lost? We have done two tours (were with different people who had never been), and plan a third for our December trip (different itinerary). It's usually around $200 for 2-3 hours. The guides can show you the biggies, then advise you on how to attack the rest of your list.

I could never spend more than a few hours at a time in a museum. My brain can only absorb so much and it's exhausting, especially when it's crowded. The tours have been so worth it for us to optimize our time.
I have a couple of guide recommendations - if you're interested, please PM me.

awrzesinski - While I do understand what youre saying about rushing, I do tend to have some pretty superhuman museum stamina. As long as theres a place to have a smoke and something to eat/drink, I can go all day. I spent 6 hours in the vatican. Did 5 museums in Munich and Berlin and still had time to oogle things that caught my attention.

That being said, the main interests I have do seem to all be in that one wing, and most of it on level 0. There are a few other things around the museum ill try and see ( like the above mentioned code of hammurabi) but all the major things I want to see are that wing. And dont worry I wont forget to turn around. I know that single room has a LOT of extremely important and gorgeous paintings like the one you mentioned and the ascent to calvary. I just know how hard it is to get some relatively peaceful time with the Mona lisa, and if I even get 2 minutes with a few other people, i will be very happy. The rest of the day will be casually roaming and exploring the museum and hopefully getting lost in there! With the Vatican and maybe the hermitage, this is hands down the best museum in the world and i want to make sure I give it the justice it deserves. I plan on going on a wednesday when its opened for 12 hours. And while it will be a long day, I know its the right choice.

I also assume backpacks are not allowed in there correct? Knowing that will save me a lot of time.

It's easier once you are there. The map of the Louvre layout is not the best and when you get there you will find there are different levels and half levels that are all, say, listed as Level 1.

You may have found the official map.

https://api-www.louvre.fr/sites/default/files/2023-07/BAT-EN%20LOUVRE_PlanG%20-%20MAI%202023.pdf

Either the Pyramid or Carrousel entrance will lead you to the main area right under the Pyramid and from there you will take escalators up to the Denon wing. There is another entrance called Porte des Lions but it is often not open so don't even mess with this. The Richelieu entrance is for groups. Once you enter the Denon wing there is signage for La Joconde with her picture so you just follow that to the room where she is located. There are plenty of guards around so you can ask if you need help. DO try to get there at the opening time and yes, head straight there.

Here is a suggestion:

From Mona Lisa, head toward through Gallery 712 which is behind the Mona Lisa, then across the end of the square thru 715. This leads you to a stairwell in which there is a small cafe. IF you are going to spend the whole day there I do suggest you have some built in breaks. Maybe an espresso and croissant, lol. From here head thru the French paintings corridor. That takes you to a stairwell that does down to the Winged Victory of Samothrace (which you will have passed once when you came up the stairs and turned toward Mona Lisa. Standing in front of the Winged Victory, go to the left this time and the Gallery of Apollo is more or less behind this sculpture. You will loop back around (sometimes they have it set up so there is one-way traffic thru Gallery of Apollo so you exit, go back to the right and back in front of Winged Victory). Up, past Gallery of Apollo and then you are in the Sully Wing. You've got Greek and Egyptian antiquities on this floor. If you want to head straight to Venus di Milo, however, take a left into room 663, then take the stairs down a level. Come back in the same direction and that puts you right in front of Venus. With your back to her, walk thru this gallery, then take the half flight of stairs which is on the left which puts you in front of the Sphinx. From here, take a quick turn around the Medieval walls/foundation of the palace, return to the Sphinx and go up the opposite stairs.

This puts you into more Egyptian antiquities and if you follow the square you go around to Code of Hammurabi which is located in Room 227. Of course Rm 227 doesn't show on the Louvre map (?!?) but head for the vicinity of 226-230 and it's in one of the galleries along the outside wall.

From here, you are in the Richelieu wing which (yea!!) has escalators. I suggest you take these to the top level. See the Vermeers and Rembrandts if they are of interest, then work your way down thru the Napoleon III apartments. IF you want to see a few Impressionist paintings there is, surprisingly to some, a gallery with some works by Monet, Degas, Renoir in Room 903, Level 2 in the Sully Wing.

Here is a link to how to search the collections if you want to search for a specific piece or artist.

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/

This is one of my favorite museums. I have been determined thru the years to "conquer" it, lol. It still gets the best of me! My favorite single piece is the Vase d'Alienor, a rock crystal vase given by Alienor d'Aquitaine to her first husband who became King Louis VII in 1137 on the occasion of their wedding. Next favorites are the Vermeers.

Here also is a list of galleries and their closure days.

https://www.louvre.fr/en/visit/list-of-available-galleries

You lost me at "having a smoke"

pencilstealer,
I may be wrong, but I don't believe there is any place where you could step out for a smoke.
Also, my favorite painting there is Jacques-Louis David's huge painting of Napoleon crowning himself emperor. Popular, but not nearly as crowded as the Mona Lisa.
I made my first visit to the Louvre in 1974, when I had the stamina to spend several hours there in one day, and when we walked right up to the Mona Lisa and there were no crowds. But more than that painting, along with the David painting,I remember a statue by Falconet called "Menacing Cupid". It is the Richelieu wing, room 222. Fifty years and two revisits later, I am still enchanted by it. If you can, check out the sculptures there. It may not be everyone's taste, but it felt as if there really was a quirky, charming spirit that came through Falconet's work.
Of course, you must make a timed reservation to visit. Do so as early as possible to secure an early entry. And familiarize yourself with the layout and locations of what you want to see to save backtracking. The Louvre is huge. Be sure and plan to stop in one of the cafes to rest your feet and eyes and mind, and refresh your body with some food.
Amusez-vous Bien!

Hello Pencilstealer,
If this is your plan, and you've got the stamina, more power to you!

I may be an odd one, but the Mona Lisa never really grabbed me, even though I've seen it a few times.

Here's an anecdote: In one of my art books, I feel in love with a painting of an old woman, which is at the Louvre. I had drawn it, and had to see it in person! So, you can look online for a particular painting and it tells you exactly where to find it. So, we did....I dragged my DH up to the gallery where she was, and I felt so satisfied! Anyway, my point is, if there are specific works, that you must see during your "campaign", perhaps making a trail that you can follow, which would be efficient and save backtracking, well why not?

Previous to this trip, we did take a tour with a guide, and found it helpful and an efficient use of time, and energy.

Correct, no backpacks. I've never seen a place to smoke. You can't step outside and re-enter the building on the same ticket.

Pam - that is hands down the best directions I have ever received in my entire life lol It reads like the old zelda walk throughs. Thank you so much!

les - well if someone else smoking is your breaking point for giving advice thats a you problem. Not mine so....

Judy - To be honest since every single european museum ive been to has had some sort of patio/terrace etc to have a smoke on specifically the cafes (like the top of the capitoline museum, or the big pine cone courtyard at the vatican) so its a surprise to see that there isnt one here. A small sacrifice though.

Ive also seen that sculpture before and didnt know it was at the louvre! They only sell tickets 60? or maybe 80 days in advance and I will be keeping a very close eye on them. I know which day I will be going so once theyre available ill be getting one as early as I can get it. And yes, that will be the official site not a second/third hand site.

Jadam - I really dont like tours. They slow me down a lot unless, like the one I had at the vatican I can get in before its open and see all the major things before people get in. But there doesnt seem to be that option. Thats fine though. Im trying to make a list, but in general any and all greek and roman sculpture (specifically the winged victory and the venus di milo and of cnidos but fortunately theyre all within the same general area) the mona lisa, and the code of hamurabi. The problem is all of these specific things are spread out and Ill have no choice but to look around in between them. However, after seeing how bad the vatican was (raphael rooms, sistine, laocoon) I want to get to the Mona Lisa ASAP. While Im not a huge fan, I do understand the cultural/historical significance of it, so getting some relative quiet time with her would be nice. Then I dont have to spend the last hour of the day after trudging around the museum fighting for a 5 second view of her.

I'm glad my directions were helpful!

I'll add that I've been to the Vatican Museums several times and in no way is the Louvre as crowded. There is a zigzag line for the Mona Lisa but it's just in that gallery and even that is not as bad as the Sistine Chapel or the room where the School of Athens is. If you are there early you should not have much of a line at all.

BTW. when you first come up to the Winged Victory following the signs for the Mona Lisa you'll take a right up some stairs and go down a gallery that has Botticelli frescoes on the left. People mostly walk by them on the way to see Mona Lisa but they are so beautiful!

Hi,

You don't indicate what time of year you are going, so I'll throw in my two cents. I've been lucky to get to Paris 9 times over the last 30 years and I've been to the Louvre about 5 times. The last time I went to the Louvre was a weekday in November, 2023. Like you, I had a prepaid ticket for a 9AM entry. We went straight to the Mona Lisa so my friend, who had never been to France before, could get close: for the first ever I was able to get right up to the wooden barrier and get a better look (I still think it's over rated and anti-climatic but my buddy was thrilled).

Good luck,

@pencilstealer,
I have spent about 13 hours in the Louvre, but over 3 visits, not one. My second and third visits were greatly facilitated by Pam as she gave me some really good directions for my second and third visits. I always stop to see her favorite vase as a sort of acknowledgement of her help! : ).
My last trip to the Louvre, I had a 9 am ticket, I got in line about 8:30. My plan was to go straight to Mona, then the Napoleon apartments. However, I got turned around and saw the apartments first. Then I headed to Mona. I was still able to get an unimpeded view. So, if you head straight for her, you should be good.
My second trip was my son's first trip. For that day, I had a battle plan as well. I studied the maps and wrote out directions on paper that included which room to go through, what to see there, which stairs to take etc, to cover all of the things I wanted my son to see. Along the way, we of course saw some other beautiful things. All three visits I took a light meal break/rest in a cafe. The cafe that Pam mentioned does have an outside terrace. I don't know if smoking is allowed.
Please come back and let us know about your visit!

Pam - that is VERY good to know that its not as crowded as the Vatican. Although im sure there are as many people if not more, the sheer size of the louvre seems to facilitate the amount much better. However, I am aware that it is far from being a quiet museum. As suggested below im going to try to plot a map/write down the directions before I go in lol. Im not known for being organized however this is one of the things you have to be pretty well organized for (as well as the roman forum/palatine hill/ostia antica. Its very very easy to miss things in those places unless you know exactly what youre looking for and have a good idea where everything is).

John adams - Sorry I have multiple posts in multiple places for this trip already and its getting confusing what post has what info. Ill be there in april. Specifically the wednesday (I believe its the 15th or 16th of april). Its funny but people expect it to be this massive portrait (like many in that gallary) but its not very big at all. However getting close to it and not having to wrestle crowds does enable you to get more appreciation for it. Like I stated before its not my favorite painting, but I am well aware of its cultural/historical significance. Im much more interested in other paintings and sculpture (I bet ill stand infront of the winged victory for a solid 20 minutes)

its good to know that the plan of heading straight to Mona lisa "should" work! Thank you all for the help so far

Everything will be easier if you omit the Mona Lisa. I haven't seen her since my fist visit almost 30 years ago, and don't feel I am missing anything. And honestly, I really saw her then because I bought into the hype that you "must see" her when visiting The Louvre. Wonderful painting for sure—but not a wonderful experience and there is so much more to see there than her. Personally, I gravitate to the Dutch Masters in the Richelieu Wing and it is a much more thought-provoking and inspiring experience than the circus surrounding the Mona Lisa. By the way, getting there an hour early with a pre-purchased ticket is a must. But you won't be the only one.

Phil - I get that. But Im into art history enough that I cant just ignore it. its like going to the vatican and not going to see the sistine chapel or laocoon. Even if its not your interest you kind of have to see it at least once. But on the other hand, being able to ignore it and see the rest at my leisure is my usual way of doing things. But if im going there, id have to see it, and in order to do that im going to have to head straight to it first thing. Lucky for me (and not for others) I walk extremely fast.

@Vandabrud - you are so sweet! I'd like to think you were paying homage to Alienor as a Queen of 2 different countries! BTW, I went back and read the directions on your old thread and had totally forgotten that you could get to the Winged Victory by going up the stairs from Room 170. I might try that next visit...which happens to be Friday, hahaha!!

@Pencilstealer - You might want to start doing screen shots of helpful information and organizing them in the Notes (or similar) section of your phone. That way you know you have it at your fingertips. I do this with train tickets, etc as well as info about restaurant recommendations etc. I also put them in a googledocs document I can access offline which is easy to copy and paste to instead of screen shots. The Winged Victory is placed in a very dramatic position - at the end of a long gallery and up stairs - so your approach to it/her is just breathtaking.

Another thing about the Louvre vs the Vatican Museums is that there are not huge numbers of big tour groups going thru one after another. There are some small groups but mostly people on their own so you don't have all the tour guides with umbrellas, etc. In the Louvre you can ALWAYS find quiet/quietish galleries so you don't have that constant din.

I'm excited for your trip! You should see whatever is of interest to you regardless of the opinions of others, including me!

Thanks so much for this thread, I've bookmarked just so I can pull this up the next time we're visiting the Louvre. Pam, the details of your directions are pretty amazing, and lots of excellent info from others...

I admire your stamina, we're sort of braindead after about hour 3. So, perhaps blasphemy, but since you seem to love spending a lot of time in great museums, how about splurging & going twice during your stay? (Now that I've read your thread about visiting Germany, which was great fun, I see that you really do enjoy long days in museums, sounds like a long day at the Louvre suits your travel style!) And if you're hungry when you leave, I highly recommend Cafe Marly, eating on the terrace just outside the Pyramid entrance. We both had Caesar salads with a glass of champagne, excellent. Additionally, when you walk inside the restaurant, it has an amazing view into the ancient sculpture exhibit. https://cafe-marly.com/en/

Great subject for a discussion and thank you Pam for the guide. I've copied it for future visits.
I believe it was you who earlier mentioned the paintings in Room 903, Level 2 in the Sully Wing.
I was able to find the Room, only after some kind assistance from the Louvre staff, and was amazed to find that I had the room to myself for nearly 30 minutes.
Hope the OP enjoys their visit as much as I did.