So you're Paris and you decided to visit the world famous museum, le Louvre, but there is a long line outside the Glass Pyramid--perhaps there is even a longer line than you had expected, depending on the time of year you visit Paris.
Fortunately there are solutions, or rather alternatives to entering the Louvre through the "front door". Most tourists mistake the "main" entrance to the Louvre as the main entrance to the museum, but it is not. There are three other options (entrances) that you can use.
The first option is by métro. Take the métro line M1 and exit at the stop Louvre-Rivoli. As I recall there is an entrance directly to the Louvre area by métro. This exit has recently been renovated so it is sparkly clean.
The second option is the entance to the Carrousel du Louvre which is a small shopping center near the Louvre. The entrance is located near the corner of Rivoli and Place du Carrousel. There is a red awning with "Carrousel" which helps identify it.
The third option is my favorite because it's practically a "secret" entrance. If you find yourself at the Glass Pyramid entrance, disappointed seeing the number of tourists lined up to enter the museum, just turn around towards the Jardin des Tuileries. You will see an arch (see photo).
Next to its right (your left) there is what looks like a block or a little wall. It is in fact an entrance. This is what I call the "back door" to the Carrousel, or if you will, the Louvre.
There are no lines leading into this entrance--I've never seen one.
So once you are in the Louvre, you may want to leave your coat and/or bags that you might have wth you--travel lightly when you're looking at art at the Louvre. Go to the coat check room or vestiare to store your belongings in lockers. The service is free. There may be confused people when you enter. By pass this area and go directly to the back. There you will see lockers with clear doors. Available working lockers will not have blinking red lights. To test your locker to see if it works, close the door; press C, then any four digits of your choice--just remember the four digits; then pres the lock icon. If the red light is blinking, this means it is locked. To unlock it, simply press C again, then your four digits, and the lock icon. It should be open.
To buy tickets, you can use the ticket dispensers if you don't want to talk to a ticket vendor. Ticket vendors are also available on site if you want to interact with a human being. Yes, you can also order tickets online before you leave for your trip or order them while still in your hotel room before you go to the museum.
If you have any questions or feel that I have left something out, please feel free to contact me. Oui je parle aussi français.
Fortunately there are solutions, or rather alternatives to entering the Louvre through the "front door". Most tourists mistake the "main" entrance to the Louvre as the main entrance to the museum, but it is not. There are three other options (entrances) that you can use.
The first option is by métro. Take the métro line M1 and exit at the stop Louvre-Rivoli. As I recall there is an entrance directly to the Louvre area by métro. This exit has recently been renovated so it is sparkly clean.
The second option is the entance to the Carrousel du Louvre which is a small shopping center near the Louvre. The entrance is located near the corner of Rivoli and Place du Carrousel. There is a red awning with "Carrousel" which helps identify it.
The third option is my favorite because it's practically a "secret" entrance. If you find yourself at the Glass Pyramid entrance, disappointed seeing the number of tourists lined up to enter the museum, just turn around towards the Jardin des Tuileries. You will see an arch (see photo).
Next to its right (your left) there is what looks like a block or a little wall. It is in fact an entrance. This is what I call the "back door" to the Carrousel, or if you will, the Louvre.
There are no lines leading into this entrance--I've never seen one.
So once you are in the Louvre, you may want to leave your coat and/or bags that you might have wth you--travel lightly when you're looking at art at the Louvre. Go to the coat check room or vestiare to store your belongings in lockers. The service is free. There may be confused people when you enter. By pass this area and go directly to the back. There you will see lockers with clear doors. Available working lockers will not have blinking red lights. To test your locker to see if it works, close the door; press C, then any four digits of your choice--just remember the four digits; then pres the lock icon. If the red light is blinking, this means it is locked. To unlock it, simply press C again, then your four digits, and the lock icon. It should be open.
To buy tickets, you can use the ticket dispensers if you don't want to talk to a ticket vendor. Ticket vendors are also available on site if you want to interact with a human being. Yes, you can also order tickets online before you leave for your trip or order them while still in your hotel room before you go to the museum.
If you have any questions or feel that I have left something out, please feel free to contact me. Oui je parle aussi français.
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