OK, heres my conundrum....My daughter and I are heading to Paris the end of Jan for an art/museum intensive visit. I was only in Paris for 2 days on a tour 22 years ago so this is really my first time. I'm trying to decide how many days to allow for the Louvre. Everything I'm reading says huge and also that every wing/area isnt open every day? Would 4 days be enough to really cover it? we are not as interested in asian or roman antiquities so those areas would be a stroll through once sort of thing. First time I went to the Met in NYC I spent a very happy 3 days if that is any indication. We are planning 14 to 16 days in Paris. Thanks for any input....lynda

If you can spend 3 days at the Met, I think 4 would be appropriate for the Louvre. It IS vast! I hope you're planning to see the other wonderful museums of Paris, too, though with 2 weeks there I guess you'll have plenty of time for that.

I recommend a 90-minute guided tour of the museum whatever you decide to do. You can read about mine here:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?J2DA222AA

But admittedly, there're others from this forum who didn't enjoy the tour as much as I did.

You should also take a look at this Telegraph article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...6/etlouvre.xml

The Destination Louvre guide (7.50 euros) is indeed quite good.

Personally I wouldn't spend 4 days in the Louvre (or 3 days in the Met -- but I live in NYC, so I go whenever I want).

Have fun.

I hope your daughter is as a museum buff as you - for me four hours there would be about two too long - but from your point of view 4 days may be appropriate - just hope your daughter shares your excitement for old art or 4 days there could be a long long 4 days. I'd definitely buy the museum pass so you can come and go and do a little at a time. Also gains quick entry without having to wait in line. Like StCirq says lots of other museums in Paris.

I guess when I wrote about my visit, the Mona Lisa didn't have its own room.

But now it does.

Thanks for the replys...Yes My daughter is a big art fans as well...last year we did 8 days each in Florence and Rome and had a blast. We will do lots of churches and walking through different areas of the city and hopefully we will have a few days nice enough for parks and outdoor cafes as well. she is 30 so will wander away to do her own thing if art fatigue sets in! Trust me, I have a long list of other museums to see as well. thats the happy side of having 2 weeks+ on the ground. 111op, I'm cruising amazon to choose a book dedicated to the Louvre, thanks for your web links..I will check them out...lynda

And how about a day trip to Chartres and that sublime cathedral?

I'd be interested in knowing which book you end up choosing for the Louvre (if you do buy one).

But you can buy Destination Louvre in the bookstore at the museum and look through it when you plan your visit. It has suggested routes and highlights.

For a casual museum goer, it's sufficient.

If memory serves, the Louvre publishes more extensive guides to various parts of the collection. There're even mimeograph notes I remember seeing. I can't remember how much is in English and how much is in French though.

Chartres is definitely on the agenda. I have about nixed Versailles since the gardens wont be worth it in jan/feb but still have Rouen on the hopefully if we have time and money list.....lynda