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!