yk

I'm debating which entrance to use when we visit the Louvre next week.

We will be going on Monday afternoon, arriving no sooner than 2:30pm. We won't have a Museum Pass as we will only be visiting Louvre.

Will lines be horrendous at the Pyramid entrance at that time of day?

We are taking a bus to the Louvre, and the stop is just off Pont Neuf, so the Pyramid entrance is the closest.

The Louvre's website states that individuals can enter via the Porte des Lions entrance. Has anyone tried that? I don't want to walk all the way there to find out it's reserved for special groups only.

Travelnut

If you look on the Louvre website, you can see the entrances for "individuals":

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/pratique/venir.jsp?acces=1

<i>&quot;...Visitors without advance tickets or special passes should use the Porte des Lions, Galerie du Carrousel, and Pyramid entrances....&quot;</i>

If the Pyramid line is long, then just keep walking to the Porte des Lions entrance.

PalenQ

Pyramid line WILL be long at this time of year IME - esp on a Monday afternoon perhaps because the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays - there should be few at the Lion entrance even though it is very close to the Pyramid entrance

By using the Lion entrance you do miss the substantial info desks, etc at the main entrance it seems so you may want to head over there if looking for special talks, etc.

yk

I'm afraid you are right, PalenQ. I think many museums are closed on Mondays, so I guess Louvre will be extra crowded.

avalon

Enter thru the Carousel de Louvre shopping center. Tickets are purchased from the machine there. I
ve never waited using that entrance.

yk

avalon- how do we get to Carousel de Louvre? I think I used that entrance years ago, it is underground and connected to the Metro, right? Where do we enter if we're on the street level?

Do the machines readily accept US credit cards? or cash? Are there manned booths that sell tickets if we have trouble with the ticket machines?

Travelnut

yk, the Louvre link I posted shows a map of the entrances.

Continental_Drifter

Definately use this entrance and then head to the main entry area for maps, etc. You will go through typical security there. I have NEVER see a wait at this entrance.

Shhhh.... Don't tell anyone, or we might see a wait next time!

MelJ

Carousel de Louvre is the ONLY way to go. We've even used it during spring break in April! Just enter the shopping mall, go down the elevator and you'll see the Louvre entrance to the left.

Christina

I always use the Carrousel du Louvre entrance, also, but I'm always taking the metro there. There is a door out to the street, though, to go down there. It's on rue de Rivoli. YOu aren't at street level, there are stairs doing down just inside the door, you aren't anywhere at the door itself that you can stay, at least not the door where I've exited to the street from.

I've always seen waits at that entrance (from the metro), I've seen waits at every entrance, it just depends when you get there (the pyramid is always worst, I think). You don't wait an hour or anything, though.

I've gone in the Porte de Lions entrance once and it had a long line, also. People can see it right in the courtyard, I didn't think it was a secret.

avalon

If coming on the metro, get off at the Palais Royal stop as, you come out the entry is directly across the rue de Rivoli, there is a red awning over the entrance.

hpeabody

Bookmarking

yk

So, we arrived at the Louvre last Monday at around 2:30pm. We went straight for the Porte des Lions entrance. There was absolutely no one there except for museum staff! I'll make sure I use this entrance in the future (though I believe it's closed on Fridays).

ParisAmsterdam

Someone asked if the ticket machines at the Carousel entrance take
North American cards... they do.

There is also an attendant willing to help if you aren't sure what to do.

The entrances to the Carousel are on either side of the Petit Arc du Triomphe.

In August 2008 it took 2 minutes to buy the tickets and pass through security.

Rob