How Much is the Entrance to Louvre Museum
With the Louvre Museum being one of the world’s most visited monuments, it is no surprise to hear that entrance is not free. From the iconic glass pyramid at the entrance to the vast collections of artwork on its inside, people around the globe are eager to visit the museum and explore its wonders. So how much is the entrance to the Louvre Museum?
In its current General Conditions, the entrance fee for the Louvre Museum is €17.00 for each adult (18+). Tickets purchased in advance have the same fee, but they benefit from fast-line access and no time restriction, so you can visit the museum at your own pace and without waiting in line. Furthermore, if you wish to explore the museum made famous by Dan Brown in ‘The Da Vinci Code’, you have the option of purchasing an eat-in ticket, granting you access to the permanent collection, and includes a meal in the I.M. Pei Pyramid, with prices starting at €59.00 (including the €17 entrance fee).
The Louvre Museum also offers ticket entrance for individuals under the age of 18, which is free of charge, however, the General Conditions state that this applies for children aged 18 and under living in the European Economic Area (EEA). In practice, a valid ID that states the age and place of residence of the visitor must be presented upon entry in order to take advantage of the free access.
Not only that but the Louvre Museum also offers full-time students dwelling in the EEA access to the museum with a discounted €9.00 ticket (the same fees applies for persons aged 18 or over with disabilities, who must also bring a valid identification upon entry). The ticket itself is not just valid for the afternoon, but for the entire day, for all of the permanent collections, so you can come and go as you wish, depending on the number of hours you decide to spend.
Noreen Jacob, a curator from the Louvre Museum, states “Obviously, the more time you spend in the museum, the richer the experience. With our ticket system, we hope to grant access to no one and to be as reasonably priced as possible while still upholding the museum’s prestige”.
The Louvre Museum is also a strong supporter of education, and as such it offers full-time students and lecturers, as well as visitors employed by the same museum, entrance to the museum completely free of charge. Thereby, students and teachers can gain access to the world-famous collection of artwork without spending a single dime.
For teachers specifically, the Louvre Museum also provides an educational booklet explaining the history of each artwork, as well as activities from kindergarten to High School. Their website states that “The booklet is free of charge and it is designed for teachers and students to explore the Louvre Museum exclusively, under their own guidance, at the pace of their own choosing.”
The Louvre Museums entrance fee of €17 is among the more affordable museum tickets in Paris, however, if you are an EU resident, you can save money and gain access for free, or for even cheaper. It is up to each visitor to decide how much time and money they are willing to spend in this iconoclast monument.
Discounted Tickets for Groups and Long-Term Visits
The Louvre Museum also offers discounted tickets to be purchased in-person by groups of over 10 people, whereby the entrance fee becomes €13.50 per person. Visiting the museum as part of a school, association or simply as a large group of friends, can therefore be a great way of enjoying a wonderful experience without breaking the bank.
In addition to being able to purchase tickets in-person at a discounted rate, the Louvre Museum also offers a variety of long-term subscriptions, with prices ranging from €57 to €77 per person. All of these tickets can be purchased at the museum’s website, and are valid for one year from the day of purchase, albeit the €57 ticket is specific for June to September only.
Ticket holders of a long-term subscription benefit from free access to every permanent collection, free access to multiple temporary exhibitions, and even free access to the Louvre Museum for a companion up to four times per year during the validity of the ticket. Therefore, those who wish to frequently return to the Louvre Museum and experience the wonderful collections and exhibitions it has on offer can do so without the need to repeatedly purchase tickets.
The Museum’s Digital Offerings
The Louvre Museum has also made itself available to its numerous admirers, who may be unable to make a physical visit to the museum, by providing its art collections digitally. The Louvre Museum introduces an open access policy, meaning that complementary to its ticket offer and donations, visitors can gain access to art collections through its website without the need to spend money.
Friends of the Louvre Museum can also benefit from a video game, available to Android users, in which visitors can follow a tranquil yet immersive story and explore the museum from their own homes. Moreover, users can receive weekly art selections, exclusive information regarding the museum’s happenings and stories about each piece of art, all for free. There is no need to purchase a ticket online in order to access the digital collections of the Louvre Museum.
Therefore, the Louvre Museum offers a number of different options for its visitors, be them physically present or visiting the museum virtually, that grant access to its wonderful collections. Their offer is both diverse and affordable, while their open access policy leads to considerable savings if visitors wish to explore the museum even if they cannot make a physical visit.
The Museum Pass
The Louvre Museum is part of the Paris Museum Pass, offering holders of the Pass access to a large number of heritage sites across the French capital. So what is the Paris Museum Pass and how can it be used at the Louvre Museum?
The Paris Museum Pass grants access to over sixty museums and monuments in Paris, oftentimes offering fast-line entry and free access. Each Pass allows for two adults and three children under the age of eighteen to access any museums under the Pass for two consecutive days for the price of €48 per person.
Although a likely method of purchase is at the Louvre Museum’s entrance, with the Pass, visitors can buy the card valid for 2, 4, or 6 consecutive days in most museums and monuments, allowing them to have access to the selected site and the museum, while not having to wait in the ticket line.
One particular benefit of the Paris Museum Pass is that it counts towards certain discounts and promotions offered by the Louvre Museum. For instance, the Fast Pass allows holders of the Pass to enjoy a fast-track entry to the museum and it comes with an extra ticket which can be used at a temporary exhibition for free. Additionally, the museum offers a discount on tickets for a companion, at €9 per adult, for Pass holders.
The Paris Museum Pass is therefore a great way of saving money and enjoying the Louvre Museum and the numerous other sites of Paris. Note nevertheless, that the museum pass does not grant access to the permanent collections of the museum, and therefore separate tickets must be bought.
The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous changes to the world and the Louvre Museum is no exception. As the museum has been closed since March 2020, its opening fees are currently undergoing adjustments and today, no fees or tickets are charged; not even for the temporary exhibitions.
However, the Louvre Museum has still to reopen completely, albeit with a number of preventive measures in place for infectious disease control. Upon reopening, the museum is likely to start charging entrance fees, be them regular fees or a discounted rate.
As such, visitors and admirers of the Louvre Museum must factor in the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic when deciding how much money to spend to gain access to the museum. Although entrance fees cannot be estimated at this time, visitors may want to wait a few weeks for information on their prices and use of their tickets.
Furthermore, visitors who already purchased tickets when the museum was open, or bought tickets when the museum was closed, are eligible for refunds. Details on which tickets can be refunded and in which ways can be found in the museums General Conditions and by correspondence with the museum’s customer support.
Donations and Other Contribuitions
The Louvre Museum also relies heavily on donation and other forms of contribution, to keep its galleries and halls full of artworks, as well as its exhibitions vibrant and full of life. Although it is not strictly necessary to donate in exchange of access to the museum, the non-profit LVMH Luxury Foundation, associated with the museum, fund more than 50% of the museum’s annual budget. As such, any contribution is greatly appreciated.
Contrary to the belief of some, individuals donating to cultural activities such as the Louvre Museum do not receive personal benefits for their contributions. Nonetheless, the artworks, events and exhibitions are kept open to all visitors and admirers of the museum, as per the museum’s policy.
The Louvre Museum encourages individuals, companies, sponsors and other non-profits to donate and hold funds in exchange of publicity, in limited shots and after approval of the museum’s administration, to promote cultural activities, the visiting of the museum and the rediscovery of artpieces.
As a result, donations and sponsorships that promote cultural activities aim not just to preserve the art collections, but to encourange the appreciation of the artwork to all visitors. The museum’s website states that “The financial support they give us is essential to enable us to increase the scope of our activities.”
Conclusion
The Louvre Museum is a grand monument full of magnificent collections and exhibitions designed for anyone, regardless of age, to enjoy. Although entrance fees are required to get in, the museum offers a variety of pricing options, from free access to full-time students and teachers to discounted ticket prices for large groups. Moreover, visitors can explore its digital collections and take advantage of offers from the Paris Museum Pass.
The museum also relies heavily on donations and sponsorships in order to maintain and expand its art collections and exhibitions. The Louvre Museum is a cultural asset for all of its admirers, and continues to be open to visitors needing only to pay the price of their ticket or to make a contribution.
