Paris

5 of the best Louvre skip the line tours & tickets

by Paul Stafford  |  Published August 20, 2020

It’s one of the most iconic sites in a city jam-packed with iconic sites. Paris’s Louvre Museum is located inside the elegant Louvre Palace, which was originally started as Louvre Castle in the late 12th century until the city swelled up around it. The museum took over in the 18th century, but the building continued to be expanded well into the 20th century. Much later, architect I.M. Pei added the landmark glass pyramids in the main courtyard and the museum as it’s known today was formed.

Of course, there is much about the Louvre, inside and out (the Mona Lisa, for example), that draws in visitors in droves. That can mean a long wait for tickets and queues can stretch back for hours on the busiest days. However, it is possible to skip the queue with special tickets. And being the world’s largest art museum, it’s hard to know where to start, or finish, and guided tours will get you to the main draws with a minimum of fuss. Here are five of the best options.