Visiting the Louvre at 9 AM: What Actually Happened
Short answer
Yes, it was worth it.
Seeing the Mona Lisa was a lifelong dream, and we think everyone should see it at least once. Just don't expect an empty museum at 9 AM.
- 8:40We joined the queue
- 9:13Through security
- 9:19At the Mona Lisa
- €22Official 9:00 entry
- €12Museum guided tour
- 39 daysBooked ahead
Next time we would be in the queue by 8:00. And at the Mona Lisa, step to one side. The crowd packs in straight in front of her, while the view from the side is clear.
Our priorities, and why we chose 9 AM
We went in with a clear order of priorities:
- The Mona Lisa, the reason we booked the 9:00 slot.
- The Winged Victory of Samothrace.
- The Venus de Milo and the ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. We are big fans of sculpture.
Millions of visitors want the same first stop, which is why Louvre tickets are so hard to get. Months before the trip we read Reddit threads from people who had just been, and their verdict was blunt: seeing the Mona Lisa without a crowd is close to impossible. Your best chance is the 9:00 slot and a place near the front of the queue.
How we booked, and how early you need to
Louvre tickets often sell out three to seven days ahead, and morning slots go at least three weeks in advance. From watching the official site, we found that time slots are released about 40 days ahead.
We had only one free morning in Paris, so we set a reminder and booked 39 days before the visit, on the official Louvre ticket website:
| Ticket | Time | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Entry, permanent collections (full EEA rate) | 9:00 | €22 |
| "Another Louvre" guided tour, run by the museum | 10:30 | €12 |
Visitors from outside the EEA pay €32 for the same entry. Tickets carry your name, and the tour is booked separately. Official slots sold out? On Louvre Last Minute we compare every last-minute option, from entry tickets to guided and private tours, across all providers.
Why an early slot is better value: your ticket is valid all day, with no time limit inside. A 9:00 entry gives you the most time for the same price: stay as long as you have energy, leave when you are tired.
Why we skipped a highlights tour, and why you probably shouldn't
We know ancient Greek and Roman history well, so we chose the museum's 90-minute "Another Louvre" tour instead, one of the Louvre's official guided tours. It visits the parts many people miss, such as the giant winged bulls of the Cour Khorsabad.
For most visitors, though, a guided tour is a must: without a guide, it is hard to see why these works are so remarkable. Compare guided tours for your date.
Watch the start time: the museum's English highlights tour starts at 11:00 or 14:00, the peak hours, so you won't see the Mona Lisa without a crowd. See her on your own at 9:00 and join a tour later, as we did, or book a 9:00 tour with an official partner.
Read our full review of the tour: Another Louvre, the Louvre's own €12 guided tour.
The 9:00 queue: arriving at 8:40
We reached the Pyramid at 8:40, and a crowd was already there. People in the queue told us they had been waiting since 8:00. Everyone in this line already has a ticket: the queue is for the security check, and that is what slows everything down.
Near the entrance, the line is split by time slot, with signs for 9:00, 9:30 and 10:00 and staff pointing you to the right lane.
We were through security at 9:13, with at least 500 more people behind us who had also booked 9:00.
Our advice: to be among the first inside, book exactly 9:00 and join the queue at 8:00.
Reaching the Mona Lisa at 9:19
The route is simple. After security, turn right straight away and head for the Denon Wing. Huge Mona Lisa banners hang above the escalators, so you can't miss the way.
In the Denon Wing, follow the "Peintures italiennes" signs with the small Mona Lisa icon. You pass the Winged Victory of Samothrace on the way; we skipped her on purpose and came back later.
The last stretch runs through the Grande Galerie to Room 711, home of the Mona Lisa.
We reached her at 9:19, six minutes after security. There was no real crush: people stood only two or three rows deep at the barrier.
Wait a minute and you can easily reach the front row for a selfie, as we did. We were so happy to see her: a big box ticked. She hangs a long way back from the barrier, but she is beautiful and truly one of a kind.
Our Mona Lisa tip: almost everyone photographs her straight on, so that is where the crowd packs in. Step to the left or right: the view is clear, and her eyes keep following you, one of the painting's best-known secrets.
Want to try the same plan? Here is the best time to visit the Louvre and how to get a 9:00 slot.
Winged Victory and Venus de Milo
After the Mona Lisa, we went back for the Winged Victory. We love how she is placed: alone at the top of a grand staircase, so all your attention goes to her.
Up close, she is striking for her size and energy. It looks truly monumental, and you can feel her energy.
Then on to the Venus de Milo, which we reached at 9:44. Right next to her stands a bust of Alexander the Great, so look around before you move on.
For Artur, this had a backstory. Years ago in Sicily he was captivated by the Youth of Motya and later wrote about the Motya Charioteer on his travel site. That statue dates from 480–470 BC; the more famous Venus was made only in 130–100 BC. Seeing her had been his dream for years.
The Salle des Caryatides
Next came the Salle des Caryatides (Room 348, Sully Wing, Level 0), one of the most beautiful historic rooms in the Louvre.
Pierre Lescot designed it as a 16th-century royal ballroom. Molière first performed for Louis XIV here, and from 1692 it displayed ancient sculpture from the royal collections.
More on the Louvre's page about the Salle des Caryatides.
The caryatids, female figures holding up the musicians' gallery, were carved by Jean Goujon in 1550. Look out, too, for the Child Struggling with a Goose and Silenus Carrying the Infant Dionysus. In the morning, sunlight falls across the statues.
Can you move between wings?
Yes. Our 10:30 tour met in the reception area under the Pyramid, outside the galleries. Our tickets said "ALL EXITS ARE FINAL", yet afterwards we passed through ticket control into another wing without any problems, and our guide confirmed this is allowed.
The key distinction: leaving the museum building is final, while moving between galleries and the central reception area is not. Keep your ticket handy, as it may be checked more than once.
What we'd do differently
- Join the queue at 8:00. Even so, we were very happy with our timing and the whole visit.
- Know the route to the Mona Lisa before you go in, so the first minutes count.
- Check where your tour meets. Ours was under the Pyramid, and the ticket warns it can take up to 30 minutes to get there.
Is the Louvre worth it? Our verdict
Yes, absolutely, and everyone should see the Mona Lisa with their own eyes at least once. A 9:00 ticket won't give you the room to yourself, but it is your best chance of a calmer look. If ancient history isn't your field, add a guided tour, and leave time for rooms beyond the big three, like the Salle des Caryatides.
FAQ
How long is the line at the Louvre at 9 AM?
On our visit, it took just over half an hour, from joining the 9:00 lane at 8:40 to getting through security at 9:13. People at the front of the queue had been there since 8:00.
Is the Mona Lisa crowded at 9 AM?
Less than you might think. At 9:19 people stood only two or three rows deep, and after a minute we were in the front row. The crowd gathers straight in front of the painting; from the left or right side you get a clear view.
Do you need a guided tour at the Louvre?
For most visitors, yes: without a guide, it is hard to see why the famous works are so remarkable.
Can you leave the Louvre and come back on the same ticket?
You can move between wings and the reception area under the Pyramid, but leaving the museum building is final.
How far ahead do Louvre tickets go on sale?
In our experience, about 40 days ahead on the official site.
Is there a time limit at the Louvre?
No. Your ticket is valid all day, so you can stay until closing or leave whenever you are tired.
Is two hours enough for the Louvre?
For the highlights, yes. Our 2-hour itinerary and the visit-time planner help you plan a realistic route.
What if the 9:00 slot is sold out?
Compare last-minute tickets and tours for your date, or check 9:00 tickets for the Mona Lisa.
Planning your own visit
Check the official Louvre ticket website first, and download the official museum map to find the group reception area before you go.
How we wrote this article
- We bought our 9:00 entry tickets ourselves on the official site, 39 days ahead, at full price: €22 each.
- We visited on Saturday, 10 October 2026, and joined the museum's own tour at 10:30.
- Every photo and video is ours. The times in the captions are Paris time from our cameras.
- Room numbers and facts about the works are checked against the Louvre's own website and catalogue.
Louvre Last Minute is an independent comparison website. Nobody paid us for this article. If you book through a partner link, we may earn a commission.
About the authors
Artur builds websites professionally and has written about travel for years. He created and develops Louvre Last Minute. Jana is a professional UX and UI designer. She designed Louvre Last Minute. We write only about visits we made ourselves, and we are big fans of ancient sculpture and the history of Greece and Rome. Read more about us.