Sara

We'll be in Paris for only (sigh) two days and tops on our list is the Louvre, a life long dream...Any tips as to the best entrance with the shortest line?

Anglo

We were just in Paris three weeks ago. <BR>We visited the louvre. <BR>As far as I can see there is no best entrance. <BR>All entrances lead into the one ticket purchasing area under the Pyramid. <BR>We went first thing in the morning and had to queue for about a half hour at the line outside the pyramid. Don't be put off by the length of the line, it really moves quite quickly. <BR>Was it worth it? You bet. <BR>We spent the whole day (8hours) inside. <BR>We ate lunch in the restaurant and the meal was surprisingly good, also not too expensive. However we had to wait 40 minutes to be seated!!! <BR> <BR>Enjoy the visit. <BR>

elaine

Hi Sara <BR>With time so short you might want to purchase advance tickets and then sail right in without waiting. Check out these websites <BR> <BR>www.ticketweb.com Louvre tickets <BR>www.louvre.fr Louvre tickets <BR> <BR>http://mistral.culture.fr/louvre/ <BR> <BR>

martha python

If you have the museum pass (buy it somewhere else), you go to the Richelieu entrance. Virtually no line. <BR>There is a huge line for the women's room near that entrance, however.

guylaine

I was there last week and went through the Porte des Lions entrance, took less than 5 minutes. It's between the Arc du Carrousel and the Tuileries gardens, off to the left. If you can't find it, just ask a guard standing in front of the pyramid, in front of the long line (that line is for GROUPS, by the way). <BR>Tip: bring your own water bottle, since there are no water fountains near the washrooms in the galleries, and if you're spending hours you'll dry up! <BR>Have fun! I spent two days in the Louvre and only saw a tiny portion of it.

Christina

They used to have an entrance with no line on the south side (street began with a J) but I think they've stopped that. I was there in July and both main and Porte de Lions entrances (if that was it) had very long lines. My tip, which is what I did as I have no desire to spend 8 hours in there, is go in late afternoon or evening on the night they are open late (Wed till 9:30 pm); there is no line then. You can still easily spend 4 hours there, and that's prob enough for most people.

Karen

One could spend days in the Louvre. If you are really short on time, they used to offer a tour that took you to all the hi-lights. I took this tour about 3 years ago and I think it lasted maybe 2 hours or so. I was something that we had to seek out at the information desk. It was a great tour and at least we were able to see the "famous" works. Try to go to the Musee D'Orsay-you can do it in 1/2 day and it is fantastic. Came home with many posters.

Linda

By all means get a Carte Musee pass to avoid the ticket lines, although it does not exempt you from waiting in line to get your bag checked. Best way in? Take the Metro to "Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre" and go in thru the underground entrance. You'll go thru the Carrousel du Louvre. <BR>I agree with the Richlieu Wing advice - everyone and their dog goes into the Denon first (where the Italian paitings live). You can - eventually - get to the Sully and the Denon if you stick to the maps and don't let yourself get too overwhelmed. <BR>Best times? Monday and Wednesday evenings after 7pm (open until 9:45) and first thing. My second day I showed up at 9 am, went to the Richlieu, and - get this - had the entire Cour Marly to myself. Just me and the horses and the security person. FANTASTIC.

Sara

Thank you everyone for the tips and advice - especially about the bottle of water.

elvira

I'm a big advocate of the Museum Pass (Carte Musee), but if you're not going to visit enough museums, the cost is high. An alternative is to get to the museum BEFORE IT OPENS. The line is virtually non-existent, and you are in and out of the museum (if you just want to hit the high spots) before the tour buses arrive (or visit all the high spots first, then head for the offbeat stuff like the Egyptian statues, etc. after - the tour buses pretty much skip those displays). <BR>The Mona Lisa is very tiny and behind glass, but she's wonderful to see; the Winged Victory is pretty imposing; so's the Venus de Milo. I like the four guys made out of fruits and vegetables in the Italian section. There's a courtyard with HUGE statues that's very cool - lots of sword-skewering and gnashing teeth. You can go below ground and see the foundations of the original palace. <BR>Be sure to visit the Museum Shop; absolutely incredible stuff (some of it is very expensive), especially in the children's shop (cool stuff even if you're an adult). There's another whole shop just devoted to postcards and prints of the artworks at the Louvre - I found Christmas cards there, also.

Linda

I was at the Louvre on Wednesday about 10:00 a.m. Long line outside the pyramid. An employee directed us across the way to a side entrance as we had the musuem card. Walked in and 20 minutes later we were on the English speaking tour which lasted 90 minutes and was terrific. I really do recommend the museum card. We also went to Versailles, Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame and the Arc d' Triomphe and did not wait in any lines. What a time saver (especially at Versailles)!! At 160 francs it's about $26 which is well worth the price if you're going to at least 3 places that use the card. Enjoy yout trip.

Stephanie Ryder

Hi... <BR>Just got back from 6 days in Paris....awesome. We purchased a Carte Museum Pass....as we were doing D'Orsay and the Louvre in one day! It about killed us...and L'Orangerie (Monet Exhibit) couldn't resist. Anyway...we went in the Richlieu entrance..no line..and the line was absolutely horrific that day...and the heat unbearable!! The cost was reasonable for the pass and was worth every penny. <BR>I will never forget that day...and what a treasure these museums are to the world. Have fun....and good luck.

sandi

Use the metro (subway stations) to buy your carte visite....a really fast purchase, instead of waiting in lines to buy it at your first museum!

elaine

Just to clarify <BR>Carte Visite is the metro pass <BR>Carte Musee is the museum pass <BR>