Tips for Visiting the Louvre with Kids
How to Make the Most of Your Visit to the Louvre
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
Sophie and Rachel relaxing outside the Louvre near sunset when the crowds had gone.
We knew we wanted to go to the Louvre during our time in France. Rachel is completely obsessed with art, architecture, and mythology. This was a day she’d looked forward to for weeks! She knew exactly which collections she most wanted to see. (Honestly, we were concerned about how much time would be left if Rachel saw everything on her list.) Sophie gave us a different challenge. While she had done a great job on our visits to some castles and to the Palace of Versailles, many of those had outdoor spaces where she could stretch and move her body. We’d learned a few things that had worked for her but we thought keeping her engaged the whole day, through so many rooms filled with art, might be a challenge. In this post, we’re sharing some tips to help you prepare for your visit and how to keep your kids engaged and happy throughout your tour.
Tips for Visiting the Louvre with Kids
Purchase your tickets online to guarantee your entry. This can be done at the Louvre’s official website. Purchasing and reserving your time slot is the only way to guarantee entry. It’s possible for tickets to sell out before you arrive so you’ll want to make sure you secure your ability to visit on your chosen day. Keep in mind that kids under the age of 18 are admitted free, but it is still highly recommended that you reserve your time slot online prior to arrival. (This is a great time to also reserve an audio tour.)
Don’t miss out on the exterior! The building itself is a work of art. There are hundreds of columns, carvings, and sculptures that adorn the building, many featuring kings, politicians, poets, and artists that contributed to the history and art you’ll find inside. The fabulous architectural glass pyramids designed by I.M. Pei are stunning to see and have become an iconic representation of the Louvre. The gorgeous neighboring Tuileries Gardens were commissioned by Queen Catherine de’ Medici and designed by the incomparable landscape architect André Le Nôtre whose work is found throughout France (including the Gardens of Versailles and the Gardens at Le Château d’Ussé). The Gardens are also free of charge and have some fun activities for your kids, some of which may require a paid ticket or rental.
Click on photo to enlarge and see descriptions.
Take advantage of the audio tour. The audio tour at the Louvre comes in the form of a Nintendo 3DS which is attached to a lanyard making it easy to carry. Headphones are also provided so it's easy to hear and helpful in mitigating the effect of the crowds surrounding you. The tour is available in 9 different languages and includes geolocation tracking so it will also help you find your way around the immense museum. You’ll benefit from really helpful information about each of the rooms, artifacts, and pieces of art that you’ll see throughout your visit. (You can add your audio tour to your ticket when you purchase online at the link in item 1 above.) Our kids enjoyed these audio tours at various castles and museums all over France. It definitely helps to keep them engaged during their visit. Since the adults elected to go without the audio guide during our time at the Louvre it presented the Littles with a unique opportunity to be in more of a teaching role, sharing interesting facts and information that they learned throughout the day.
Spend some time in advance reviewing and downloading the map of the museum and determining your top 3-5 must-see items. Due to the immense size of the museum and the tremendous crowds at the most popular attractions, you may be in for some long waits. Plan in advance so you are able to see the items that are important to you. We really wish we’d have done this! We knew that seeing the Greek and Egyptian artifacts was high on Rachel’s list so we made those areas a priority during our visit. However, with the immensity of the museum and the sheer number of impressive art pieces, we found ourselves scrambling a bit trying to figure out what the other must-see items were and getting to them before closing. Sit down and review the map online before you arrive so that you’re familiar with where your must-see items are located.
Take advantage of the amenities offered free of charge. Stop by the visitor amenities near the main entrance to borrow what you might need to make your tour more accessible. In addition to baby carriers and strollers that will help you with your children, the Louvre offers wheelchairs and walking sticks to help those who need a little assistance. Each of these items is available to borrow for free, in exchange for a form of ID that they’ll keep until you return the item at the end of your tour. If you prefer to bring your own stroller or baby carrier that is also allowed. Please note that there is a size limit on strollers and that only front baby carriers are allowed. While ours are beyond the stroller stage, we have learned that the Louvre is actually quite stroller friendly. Strollers are allowed in elevators reserved for guests in wheelchairs to help aid you in getting around. By letting your little ones rest, the enormous size of the museum will be much easier to manage.
Plan ahead for meals and snacks. We suggest that you have a hardy meal before you arrive. Also, take some time to review the restaurant options available once you’re inside. The Louvre has quite a few options ranging from take and go snacks and quick service, all the way to fine dining. You’ll find these restaurants in various locations throughout the immense building and even outside in the Tuileries Garden. Keep in mind that traditional meal times can get pretty crowded, so consider an off-peak time to eat (hence why we suggest a large breakfast/lunch before arrival). Also, please be patient when waiting and interacting with your servers. France is a much more formal culture than we’re used to in the United States. They place a high value on manners. A greeting of “bonjour,” and a pleasant “please” (s’il vous plaît) and “thank you” (merci) will go a long way in improving your experiences throughout your visit, whether that be just at the Louvre or anywhere else in France. During our time traveling France, we found that the locals were really impressed when our daughters made an effort to use their limited French. It even sometimes improved our service experience. Sophie dropped her fork once and told the server who went to pick it up, “je suis désolée” (I’m sorry). She was rewarded with a big smile and a response of “bon français” (good French)! She was thrilled by his compliment.
Consider arriving in the early evening on a Friday when the Louvre is open until 9:45 pm. On Fridays, the Louvre extends its hours until 9:45 pm, allowing visitors to linger longer or visit later in the day (just be sure to arrive at least 1 hour before closing). In addition, adult admission is FREE on the first Friday of each month (except July & August). Pair this with the fact that kids under the age of 18 are always free and you should be able to visit worry free! Even if you can’t see and do everything in one evening, at least you aren’t out any money. It could be the perfect opportunity to see some of the lesser known pieces and artifacts that may not draw as much of a crowd, saving those popular pieces for a weekday when the Louvre will likely be less crowded. The Louvre also offers free admission to all visitors on the 14th of July to celebrate Bastille Day. For a full list of days and individuals eligible for free admission, click on this link.
Extend the value of your ticket. Visit the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix. Located across the Seine River and just a 15-minute walk from the Louvre, you can visit the apartment, studio, and garden where painter Eugène Delacroix spent his final years. Admission is free for a same-day or next day visit with your Louvre admission ticket.
Don’t be discouraged by the crowds. Even if you make it to just ONE of your bucket list items, there is so much to see in the Louvre. While the crowds can be overwhelming for the little ones, it can also be an opportunity for you to find some lesser known items in areas where the crowds aren’t as bad. You will most definitely find a lot of hidden gems no matter where you look. Let your Littles go on their own treasure hunt. You might be surprised what they find that the crowds will completely miss.
Consider a guided tour. The Louvre offers a “My First Louvre” tour for visitors aged 6 and up that features family-oriented exploration of the Louvre. It includes the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, Egyptian antiquities, and major French paintings. The cost is a reasonable upgrade from the cost of admission. You could also consider a private tour. The interaction and guaranteed access might be worth the hefty price - particularly if this is a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip.
Artists - bring your sketchbook! The Louvre is very friendly to artists. There is even a prestigious art school, École du Louvre, located within the palace. We saw several artists sketching throughout the museum. The French Sculpture Garden, in particular, is a wide open space with great lighting, where we saw some artists sitting on the floor to sketch. (This definitely gave Rachel ideas for a future visit!) Art teachers are even given free admission with proof of the subject taught.
Know your limits. You know your little ones better than anyone. Pushing for an all day museum tour might not be possible. Conversely, your kids might love it and want to stay for many hours. Ours were 9 and 13 when we visited and were engaged and excited almost the entire day from 10:30am until around 4:30pm. Meeting their basic needs by making sure they are well fed and hydrated and keeping them engaged with an audio tour will go a long way in making your visit more pleasant for everyone. However, if they’re getting cranky and can’t be satisfied, it might be time to call it a day. (Remember, their admission is free so it’s not the end of the world.)
Be sure to look UP! We said this exact same thing in our Tips for Visiting Versailles with Kids post, but it bears repeating here. Some of the most astounding features throughout the museum are found by lifting your gaze. You won’t want to miss the stunningly detailed artwork and intricately carved moldings. This is a particularly helpful tip for your kids. Their low vantage point will likely have them staring at the legs and backs of the crowds of adults around them much of the day, especially on high traffic days like weekends. Make sure to remind them to look up where they can find some great details.
Be flexible and patient when taking photos. The Louvre is an extremely popular place and there will be crowds of people in every room. This could make capturing the photos you desire a bit frustrating. We recommend that you accept the crowds as part of your overall experience. You will have strangers in many of your photos. Take this as an opportunity to get creative with your perspective and your subject matter. We took advantage of a sunset stroll past the Louvre (on a different day than our interior visit) to capture some great photos outside when the crowds had already left for the day. (That’s when Ellie captured the feature photo of this post.) We also suggest that you hand a camera (or your phone) to your school-aged child. Taking their own pictures keeps them interested and it will be so much fun to look through their photos and see things the way they experienced them. Lastly, employ a bit of patience. Sometimes getting that great picture without others around is just a matter of waiting in the same area with your camera ready for a few minutes. You may be fortunate to find a brief break in the crowd that will allow you to capture that artistic photo or that selfie. With all that said, we also strongly advise you to be mindful of the other visitors around you. While it’s really tempting to spend time trying to get that Instagram-worthy selfie, it’s not in good taste to expect everyone around you to limit their experience for your benefit. If the opportunity is there, get your shot, but do it quickly and let others enjoy their experience as well.
Know what excites your child and make that a priority. Our 13 year old was literally in tears during our tour. It wasn’t because she didn’t love it. It was because she was afraid she wouldn’t get to see all the Egyptian and Greek artifacts that she wanted to see. She is drawn to all types of art but she is particularly passionate about those. We knew we had to make her interests a priority. For our youngest, we would let her move at her own pace within each area. She would move a little faster than her sister because she was younger and her attention span was a little shorter. Letting her go at her own pace allowed her to find something that would peak her curiosity and then she’d study it and ask questions. We kept a close eye on her but didn’t expect her to have the same level of passion as her sister. Pointing out some interesting facts and tying those to something she finds fun helped her engage.
There are so many things to see and discover at the Louvre. There are also lots of ways to make the visit fun and interesting for your kids (and more manageable for parents). We hope these tips encourage you to dive in and visit the Louvre with your kids when you find the opportunity. It is definitely a memorable experience that belongs on your bucket list. Have you visited the Louvre with your kids? Did we miss any tips that you’d recommend? We’d love to hear from you!
