Pyramid· Start here
Ordinary individual visitors; separate queues for ticket/Paris Museum Pass holders, visitors without tickets, and priority disabled visitors.
Cour Napoléon, Louvre Pyramid, 75001 Paris · Best default for a first visit and for information desks, audio-guide collection and equipment loans.
Carrousel
Ticket holders, groups and members.
99 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris · Indoor alternative convenient from Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre and the underground car park; not a secret/always-short queue.
Passage Richelieu
Qualifying groups, museum-activity and auditorium-event visitors, Louvre members, and certain professional/cardholding visitors.
Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris · Not for ordinary independent ticket holders. Closes after 5:30pm, or 7:30pm on Wednesday and Friday.
Porte des Lions
Pre-ticketed individual visitors approaching from the Seine or Denon side.
Quai François-Mitterrand, 75001 Paris · Ticket holders only and operationally less reliable. The entrance page says it closes at 6pm (last entry 5pm) and is closed Tuesdays; visitor regulations also say Fridays, so verify the live map that day. No wheelchair/stroller loans.
Metro
Lines 1, 7 · Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre
10 min walk
Nearest practical stop; walk time varies by entrance. Carrousel is convenient for ticket holders.
Metro
Line 14 · Pyramides
10 min walk
About 10–12 minutes on foot to the Pyramid.
Bus
21, 27, 39, 67, 68, 69, 72, 74, 85, 95
These routes stop near the Louvre.
Ferry
Batobus · Louvre, Quai François-Mitterrand
Useful when arriving along the Seine; Porte des Lions is nearby but has restricted/reliability-sensitive access.
Car
Underground car park, 1 Avenue du Général Lemonier
Driving is not a good first choice in central Paris; use the Galerie du Carrousel route from the car park.
Step 1
Arrive before your timed slot
Aim to arrive 20–30 minutes early for security; allow more time in summer, holidays, free evenings and heightened-security periods.
Step 2
Security screening
Every visitor’s bags and personal belongings are inspected; staff may ask to see inside bags or packages. A timed ticket does not bypass security.
Step 3
Timed-ticket / eligibility check
Present the ticket for its selected date and time. Bring original valid photo ID and supporting documents if using an EEA rate or free-admission category.
Step 4
Enter and orientate
At the Pyramid, use the information desks, collect any prebooked audio guide, and pick up a map before setting off. Exit is final.
Fine
Not allowed
Free self-service lockers are beneath the Pyramid and at Porte des Lions for items within the size limit; collect everything the same day and do not leave valuables. Porte des Lions lockers are accessible only until 3pm.
Source: musee.louvre.fr
The historic palace has long distances, level changes and renovation-related disruption. Use the Pyramid (central tube lift reserved for disabled visitors, wheelchair users and visitors with prams) or the Carrousel, which has lifts from 99 Rue de Rivoli and the car park to underground reception. Disabled visitors plus one companion receive free entry and priority queue access. Wheelchairs, folding stools, walking sticks, rolling chairs, pushchairs and baby carriers may be borrowed free beneath the Pyramid in exchange for ID. Ask staff for the current accessible route, especially to the Mona Lisa.
Source: louvre.fr