The Louvre is the most-visited museum in the world, and its main pyramid entrance can see long queues at opening time, particularly on weekends and during summer.
Book a timed ticket online
The Louvre uses mandatory timed-entry booking, and reserving online in advance is the standard way to guarantee entry at a specific hour rather than relying on same-day availability.
Consider a side entrance
The Porte des Lions and the Carrousel du Louvre underground entrance are often quieter alternatives to the main pyramid entrance during busy periods.
The Mona Lisa room is the bottleneck
If seeing the Mona Lisa is a priority, visiting that gallery first thing after entry — before tour groups arrive later in the morning — tends to mean a shorter wait in front of the painting.
