Is the busiest time for the louvre in the morning or afternoon? We're planning to go on a saturday.<BR>

This won't be helpful if Saturday is the only time you can visit, but I want to the Louvre the Monday evening after Thanksgiving a couple years ago, and it was virtually empty. There wasn't even anyone standing in front of the Mona Lisa! It was a whole new experience. If Monday is available for you, you'll need to make sure it's still the late night.

Joe: Thanks for your advice, unfortunately we won't be in Paris on a Monday. Are you in Duluth?

Early as you can be there in the am will be the best. The crowds just grow as the day goes on.

From our experience of going to the Louvre twice on weekends in May, the earlier the better! The lines were incredibly long in the afternoon.

If you can get a museum pass you will avoid the long line which is the biggest drag when it's crowded. The museum is so big that you probably will be fine once you get inside.

I think first thing is the best idea, also. It seems to me the lines are longest in midday (maybe 11-3). I think they do often go down by late afternoon, as I've been there 4-5 pm with little problem in summer, but if you aren't going on a day when it's open late, that won't do. You might just want to buy a museum card, anyway, and then the lines won't matter -- however, I think it's still an issue of how crowded it is inside, of course.

We bought a Musee Carte, the museum pass that gets you into the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, etc and it was well worth it. We went to the Louvre late afternoon and stayed until it closed and it was not too crowded. Towards the end of the day, the crowds go home for dinner, etc and it was actually a good time to view the areas. Again, I would echo the other posts and buy the Musee Carte ahead of time to avoid the long lines and waiting.

Do you think it will be as bad since we're going "off-season" in November? I know the museums here seem to be worse on schooldays in winter when the kids are all on field trips and better in the afternoons or weekends.

Enjoyed your clever title to question.<BR>