Before You Go
Tickets
€22 timed entry — book at ticket.louvre.fr
Time Slot
Select the 9:00 AM slot (earliest available)
Arrival
8:15–8:30 AM at the Pyramid entrance
Getting There
Metro Line 1 → Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre, Exit 6
Avoid
Tuesdays (closed), Fridays (Egyptian dept. sometimes closed)
Essentials
Comfortable shoes, small water bottle, phone charged for photos
Your Route, Stop by Stop
Focused on the Denon and Sully wings — the Italian masters, Greek sculpture, and Egyptian antiquities. Minimal backtracking.
9:00 AM — Arrival & Orientation
Enter Through the Pyramid
Main Hall
After security screening, take the escalator down to the main hall beneath the Pyramid. Grab a free paper map at the information desk. Head for the Denon Wing escalator on your left — this is where you'll spend the first half of your visit.
Tip: Skip the audio guide rental to save time. The free Louvre app on your phone has the same content if you want commentary.
9:10 AM — First Stop (~20 min)
The Winged Victory of Samothrace
Denon Wing · Level 1 · Daru Staircase
Head straight up the Daru Staircase. At the top, the Winged Victory commands the landing — a 2nd-century BC Hellenistic masterpiece depicting Nike, the goddess of victory, alighting on the prow of a ship. The dramatic positioning on the staircase is deliberately theatrical. Walk around to see the extraordinary detail in the windswept drapery.
Hellenistic Greek
c. 190 BC
Parian marble
Tip: View it from below on the stairs first for the full dramatic effect, then walk up and around it. To the right from here is the Galerie d'Apollon with the French Crown Jewels — a quick 5-minute detour if you're curious.
9:30 AM — Second Stop (~25 min)
The Mona Lisa & Salle des États
Denon Wing · Level 1 · Room 711
From the Winged Victory, follow signs to "La Joconde." At this hour, the crowd will be building but still manageable. The Mona Lisa sits behind glass on the far wall. It's smaller than you expect — take your moment, then turn around: the enormous Wedding Feast at Cana by Veronese covering the opposite wall is equally stunning and far less crowded.
Leonardo da Vinci
c. 1503–1519
Veronese
Tip: Don't linger in the scrum directly in front of the Mona Lisa. Get your photo from the side where it's less packed, then spend your real time with the Veronese and other Italian works in this room.
9:55 AM — Third Stop (~30 min)
Italian Renaissance Galleries
Denon Wing · Level 1 · Grande Galerie
Exit the Salle des États and turn into the Grande Galerie — a breathtaking 450-metre corridor lined with Italian masterpieces from the 13th to 17th centuries. This is the heart of your visit. Slow down here. Look for works by Raphael, Caravaggio, and Titian among many others. The gallery itself, with its arched skylights and parquet floors, is a work of art.
Raphael
Caravaggio
Titian
13th–17th century
Tip: Don't try to study every painting — walk the full length at a comfortable pace and let yourself be drawn to what catches your eye. The Caravaggio works (Fortune Teller, Death of the Virgin) are standouts.
10:25 AM — Break (~15 min)
Coffee & Rest
Café Options
Museum fatigue is real. Head back toward the main hall for a coffee at the café under the Pyramid, or grab something from Paul's bakery (also in the main hall). Sit, hydrate, and rest your feet before the second half.
Tip: The cafés inside can be overpriced. A quick espresso and water is all you need — save the proper lunch for after your visit.
10:40 AM — Fourth Stop (~15 min)
Venus de Milo
Sully Wing · Ground Floor · Room 346
From the main hall, take the escalator up to the Sully Wing. The Venus de Milo (Aphrodite of Milos) is displayed in a dedicated space on the ground floor. This iconic 2nd-century BC Greek marble sculpture of the goddess of love is one of the most recognized works in art history. Circle the full statue — the composition changes beautifully from every angle.
Ancient Greek
c. 130–100 BC
Island of Milos
10:55 AM — Fifth Stop (~50 min)
Egyptian Antiquities
Sully Wing · Levels 0 & 1 · Rooms 320–340 & 630+
The crown jewel of your visit. The Egyptian collection sprawls across two floors and 30 rooms in the Sully Wing — one of the largest outside Cairo. On the ground floor, the thematic galleries cover daily life, funerary practices, and religion. Look for the Great Sphinx of Tanis in the Crypt, the reconstructed Mastaba of Akhethotep (you can walk inside this 4,400-year-old tomb chapel), and the collection of sarcophagi.
Upstairs on Level 1, the display takes a chronological approach through 5,000 years of Egyptian art. The star here is the Seated Scribe — his inlaid rock crystal eyes seem to follow you around the room. Don't miss the mummy (one of only one in the entire Louvre) and the jewellery collections.
Upstairs on Level 1, the display takes a chronological approach through 5,000 years of Egyptian art. The star here is the Seated Scribe — his inlaid rock crystal eyes seem to follow you around the room. Don't miss the mummy (one of only one in the entire Louvre) and the jewellery collections.
Great Sphinx of Tanis
Seated Scribe
Mastaba of Akhethotep
Mummy
Sarcophagi
Tip: The Egyptian department is somewhat isolated from the rest of the museum, which means fewer crowds. Prioritize the ground floor rooms for the monumental pieces, then head upstairs for the Seated Scribe and the chronological galleries. You won't be able to see all 30 rooms in 50 minutes — focus on what draws you in.
11:45 AM — Wind Down (~30 min)
Free Exploration & Exit
Your Choice
Use your remaining time to revisit anything that called to you, or take a quick detour into the Greek & Roman antiquities galleries (adjacent to the Egyptian rooms in Sully). When you're ready, make your way back to the Pyramid exit. Remember: once you leave, re-entry is not permitted on the same ticket.
Tip: The Tuileries Garden is directly outside — a perfect place to decompress and reflect on what you've just seen before heading to lunch.
Important: Check Before You Go
Some galleries close on rotation during the week. The Egyptian department has historically been closed on certain days (Thursdays and Fridays have been reported). Always check the room closure schedule on louvre.fr a few days before your visit to confirm your chosen galleries are open. Also double-check that you're not visiting on a Tuesday — the entire museum is closed.