Louvre Museum

What first trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the Louvre? Certainly not ours. First off – this museum is huge! If you are coming here, then plan what you want to see. Unless you plan to spend more than a day here, you are not going to see it all and properly appreciate it as well. Everyone has a different appreciation of course so choose what you would like and also check their website in advance to see which areas are open or closed. With a museum of this size, there is likely always some areas under some level of renovation or maintenance. Of course, the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo are highlights on most everyone’s list but there is a lot to choose from. After about 4 hours for me though – total visual overload. Fortunately, we had seen most of what we came to see and were able to head out.

I’ve always loved art, even as a child, and the Louvre has been the #1 museum on my list to visit for so many years. Now, I can remove it from my bucket list because I made it to the Louvre and it was everything I imagined! It’s large, crowded, filled with incredible art, you’ll need months just to go through each gallery to fully appreciate the amazing works of art and objects here. I spent four hours here and I barely scraped the surface of what the Louvre has on offer. The audio guide is worth the 5 Euros and essential in providing context to the most famous works of art you’ll see. Naturally, the showstopper is the Mona Lisa, which I made a beeline for the moment I entered the museum. I’ve read about the Mona Lisa since I was a kid and I wanted to see what the hype was all about. It’s smaller than you think, demure and humble, just ignore the hundreds of gawkers (me included) gawping at it behind the barrier. Even if you’re not an art lover, I think most people would enjoy spending a few hours at the Louvre, soaking up art, beauty and culture. You won’t regret it.

love it for the art history and architectural design. many visits there and each time i am amazed..

This was my 2nd visit to the Louvre, and I love it. A lot of things to discover all over the place. The personnel was strict but friendly, and they helped me out when I missed the guided tour I had prepaid due to train arrival delay. The locker rooms for luggage are required (you’re not allowed to take stuff with you and the personnel is strict on that) and the locks are hard to figure out, but once you’ve got it, it’s free and easy. The location is easily reachable by metro (underground, subway).

The Louvre is a museum that I can never get enough of. In past years I have bought my ticket in advance but this year I decided to take a spontaneous approach. Despite having to stand in line, I found myself inside the museum within less than an hour. This hour includes security checks and purchasing a ticket. Once I had a ticket, I was able to roam through various halls and enjoy the expansive array of art. Although I went on a Saturday afternoon, the spaces were not overly crowded. With each visit I try to see a new wing although I find myself keep getting drawn back to the same pieces that I treasure so much.