Disappointing Photos Show What It's Like to Visit the Louvre in Paris

An arrow pointing to the Mona Lisa. There are crowds of people in front of the painting. — The Mona Lisa, obscured by crowds of visitors. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

2023-07-15T11:21:00Z

Home to iconic works such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Louvre is known to be packed.
Simply visiting the Mona Lisa can be an hours-long exercise in patience and determination.
I went to see the museum in June — peak tourist season. Here's what it was like.

Touring the Louvre, like seeing Rome's Colosseum or New York City's Statue of Liberty, feels like one of those things you simply must do when visiting Paris. For some travelers, seeing its most popular painting — Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa — is a bucket-list item.

I'm not necessarily one of those travelers, but I am susceptible to FOMO, and because millions of people visit the Louvre each year, I figured surely they must be onto something. So on a recent trip to Paris, I joined hundreds, if not thousands, of other tourists on a pilgrimage to see the Louvre.

I had prepared myself for it to be busy, and went in without much of an expectation to see anything without a flock of other curious people looking at it, too. All in all, it was about as packed as I expected, with shoulder-to-shoulder foot traffic clogging up most of the spaces.

From the entrance to the Mona Lisa, here's what it was like.

At the Pyramid, the Louvre's main entrance, an employee said the wait was about 30 to 45 minutes.

Crowds at the Pyramid, the Louvre's main entrance. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

I opted for a different entrance indoors, where the line was still about 20 minutes long — even for people who'd bought tickets online.

A line to get into the Louvre. — Even at a less busy entrance, the line was still about 20 minutes long. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Inside the museum, people milled around the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an iconic statue situated at "one of the most emblematic spots" in the Louvre.

People mill around the Winged Victory of Samothrace, a Greek sculpture housed in the Louvre. — The Winged Victory of Samothrace is a central work in the museum. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Source: Louvre

Visitors could get an unobstructed look at the sculpture once they got up close, though.

The Winged Victory of Samothrace in the Louvre Museum. — The sculpture is big enough to get a good look at, even with crowds of people. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Further into the museum, the gilded Galerie d'Apollon — home to the French Crown Jewels — was congested and dense with visitors.

The Galerie d'Apollon, a grand hall in the Louvre, is home to the French Crown Jewels. — The stunning Galerie d'Apollon was swamped with visitors. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Getting a good glimpse at any of the jewels was a challenge.

People gather around a display in the Louvre's Galerie d’Apollon. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Then, it was on to see the Mona Lisa. Its gallery, as expected, was packed.

Visitors waiting in line to see the Mona Lisa. — The line to see the Mona Lisa, although long, went by quickly. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

A long and winding line got visitors close to the painting — but cell phones obstructed the view.

Tourists taking photos of the Mona Lisa. — With everyone clamoring to get a photo, the view becomes harder and harder to see. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

With some patience, though, visitors are rewarded with a few moments with the masterpiece before shuffling to the next exhibit.

A photo of the Mona Lisa, unobstructed by tourists. — As close as you can get to the Mona Lisa. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Throughout the museum, many other paintings drew similarly large crowds of curious onlookers or group tours.

Tourists take photos of a painting. — Crowds weren't exclusive to the Mona Lisa. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Windows, with views of the museum's exterior, weren't spared from the tourist treatment.

Tourists take photos of the Louvre through a window. — Things as simple as an open window were impressive enough to draw crowds. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Even the cafe had a long, winding line.

Museum visitors waiting in line for a cafe in the Louvre. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Despite the crowds, I managed to find one or two nearly empty rooms — and relished in their brief tranquility before other visitors wandered in.

One nearly empty room in the Louvre. — One of few nearly empty rooms in the Louvre. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider

Disappointing photos show what it's like to visit the Louvre — including the Mona Lisa — during Paris' peak tourist season

At the Pyramid, the Louvre's main entrance, an employee said the wait was about 30 to 45 minutes.

I opted for a different entrance indoors, where the line was still about 20 minutes long — even for people who'd bought tickets online.

Inside the museum, people milled around the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an iconic statue situated at "one of the most emblematic spots" in the Louvre.

Visitors could get an unobstructed look at the sculpture once they got up close, though.

Further into the museum, the gilded Galerie d'Apollon — home to the French Crown Jewels — was congested and dense with visitors.

Getting a good glimpse at any of the jewels was a challenge.

Then, it was on to see the Mona Lisa. Its gallery, as expected, was packed.

A long and winding line got visitors close to the painting — but cell phones obstructed the view.

With some patience, though, visitors are rewarded with a few moments with the masterpiece before shuffling to the next exhibit.

Throughout the museum, many other paintings drew similarly large crowds of curious onlookers or group tours.

Windows, with views of the museum's exterior, weren't spared from the tourist treatment.

Even the cafe had a long, winding line.

Despite the crowds, I managed to find one or two nearly empty rooms — and relished in their brief tranquility before other visitors wandered in.

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Disappointing photos show what it's like to visit the Louvre — including the Mona Lisa — during Paris' peak tourist season

At the Pyramid, the Louvre's main entrance, an employee said the wait was about 30 to 45 minutes.

I opted for a different entrance indoors, where the line was still about 20 minutes long — even for people who'd bought tickets online.

Inside the museum, people milled around the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an iconic statue situated at "one of the most emblematic spots" in the Louvre.

Visitors could get an unobstructed look at the sculpture once they got up close, though.

Further into the museum, the gilded Galerie d'Apollon — home to the French Crown Jewels — was congested and dense with visitors.

Getting a good glimpse at any of the jewels was a challenge.

Then, it was on to see the Mona Lisa. Its gallery, as expected, was packed.

A long and winding line got visitors close to the painting — but cell phones obstructed the view.

With some patience, though, visitors are rewarded with a few moments with the masterpiece before shuffling to the next exhibit.

Throughout the museum, many other paintings drew similarly large crowds of curious onlookers or group tours.

Windows, with views of the museum's exterior, weren't spared from the tourist treatment.

Even the cafe had a long, winding line.

Despite the crowds, I managed to find one or two nearly empty rooms — and relished in their brief tranquility before other visitors wandered in.

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