Some where I once heard or read that there's an entrance to the Louvre from the Louvres metro stop, as in you can purchase your pass and gain access to the museum from there; no long lines, no waiting. Does anyone have any information on this or if this is even true.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9109 posts
There are no lines when you enter via the underground shopping mall. Purchase your tickets/pass at the Tabac shop.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Yes,, its true. I never wait in ticket lines, and I never use a Museum pass to avoid them,, since I don't have to by careful planning. The Louvre is by far one of the easiest places to avoid long lines,, by NOT using the Pyramid entrance. I usually use the entrance through the underground mall ( as posted above)
There are always small lines for security, and nothing will allow you to bypass going through them, but most I have ever waited was 5 minutes or so.
Also to avoid possibly long lines at the Musee Orsay, visit the Rodin Musuem first and buy the one day combo ticket there. They are close enough to walk between and by having ticket in hand for Orsay you can skip to the security line.
Posted by
OP
Coffeyville, KS, US
42 posts
Perfect, that's just the info I was looking for. Merci!
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10555 posts
If you arrive at that entrance before the museum opens you will find a line, but nothing like the one for the pyramid entrance. Unless you need to get an early start you might try to arrive at least 30 minutes after they open.
Posted by
Orlando, Florida
676 posts
The last time we went we did get there between 30 and 60 minutes from when it opened, no line to get in, and about 5 people in front of us in security line.
Posted by
Huntington Beach CA
1157 posts
Yes, we did it in 07. I remember walking thru a mall from the metro stop to get to the Louvre entrance. In fact, there was a post office that we dodged into to get some stamps. There were several ticket machines available, no lines, and you have your choice of the 3 entrances to start from. We went after 6 pm, I believe it was a Wednesday when the Louvre was opened late. No lines to get in but lots of people inside. RS talks about this in his Paris guidebook.
Posted by
Westside, RP, Germany
109 posts
If you enter via the mall, make sure you stop at the pay toliet. It looks like a store, and they do sell novelty toliet paper, but it's the cleanest bathroom in Paris!
The little things make traveling so much more fun...
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32325 posts
Lori,
As the others have mentioned, there ARE other ways to enter the Louvre. I've used the entrance from the Metro on past occasions, and NO queue at all! Going through security was really quick! On my visit last year, I entered through the Mall, which was also quick.
Happy travels!